Exciting, impressive and top-notch education best describe the study experience in Turkey. With many prestigious schools to choose from, Turkey is fast becoming a popular study destination. From comprehensive university education to infrastructural facilities and economic life, there’s a lot in store for students studying in Turkish universities. Want to know more about studying in Turkey from Nigeria? This article provides all the necessary information you need.
Why you should study in Turkey
It has a student-friendly environment
The Turks are quite accommodating and friendly to foreigners. This makes the environment conducive for international students. From restaurants to clubs, cinemas and recreation centres, there are several social places to visit in Turkey.
Turkey operates a quality, higher educational system
With over 206 universities offering several courses, Turkey boasts a good educational system. Degrees bagged from Turkish universities are highly recognised across the globe. These institutions also have modern campuses and state-of-the-art facilities.
Tuition fees and cost of living are quite affordable
Compared to other European and American countries, tuition fees and cost of living is cheap in Turkey. Most Turkish universities offer scholarships to exceptional students. These scholarships may cover tuition fees, insurance, accommodation and travel costs. In addition, housing, transportation, entertainment and food are also cheap.
Turkey boast a rich cultural heritage
Turkey is home to numerous historical and cultural monuments. These monuments date back many years. From the famous city of Troy to the Persian gods on Mount Nemrut, Eastern Europe has a rich cultural heritage.
Easy availability of accommodation
It’s easy to get a place to stay in Turkey. Most universities also provide accommodation for their students. Students can live in dormitories, privately run hostels or off-campus. Depending on the kind of accommodation you want, you can spend about $50 – $300 on housing.
Steps to study in Turkey as a Nigerian student
Choose a course and university
What are your goals? Which degree do you intend to pursue? Why do you want to study a certain course? Ensure you answer these questions. This will help you make informed decisions. Furthermore, find out about the institutions offering your preferred course of study. Curate a list of universities, check their admission requirements, credit points and course structure. Also, consider elements like accommodation, transportation and scholarships when selecting a university. There are over 640 programs to choose from when applying to study at any Turkish university.
Check admission requirements
Now that you have selected a program, you’ll need to check the requirements for the program and your eligibility. While it’s ideal to check admission criteria on the university’s website, here are general requirements for admission into any Turkish university.
- High school diploma/bachelor’s certificate/master’s certificate
- Application form
- A valid passport
- Academic transcript
- Proof of language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, etc)
- Motivation letter
- Recent CV or resume (if applicable)
- Thesis proposal (if applicable)
- Proof of funds indicating that you can support yourself throughout the duration of your study.
- Reference letters from professors or employers
Learn about scholarships and financing
If you wish to study in Turkey with a scholarship, there are several scholarship options offered by many institutions, organizations and universities. These scholarships may be fully funded or partial funded. You can check for scholarships online or on the university’s website.
Apply to university
This is probably the most important aspect of the admission process. As an international student, you might be faced with rejections. It’s advised you apply to multiple schools to increase your chances of acceptance. If you’re applying for a graduate program, you should apply for the fall semester (end of May) and spring semester (end of December). Enquire about the application deadline from the respective schools you’re applying to. If your application proves successful, you’ll be contacted via mail with your acceptance letter and admission guidelines. Proceed to obtain your student visa.
Apply for a Turkish study visa
As a Nigerian student, you’ll need to apply for a student visa to study in Turkey. Visit the Turkish embassy or consulate for your visa application. Ensure you go along with the following documents:
- Copies of the relevant pages of the passport (data and extension pages). The passport should be valid for at least 6 prior to the date of the visa application.
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Duly filled online visa application form with 2 biometric passport photos (6cmx5cm), with white background. The photos should not be affixed to the form.
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Admission and acceptance letter by the university.
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High school diploma and university graduate certificates (copies). The documents should be duly signed and approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thereafter.
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Payment receipt of tuition fees.
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Confirmation letter from the school acknowledging receipt of payment.
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Guarantee letter signed by the sponsor and the student, stating that the sponsor will cover all the expenses of the student. The letter should indicate that the student will not solicit financial support or scholarship from any person or institution.
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Bank statement of the sponsor including original approval/reference letter from the bank branch manager. The bank statement should be recent (at least 3 months).
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If you are less than 18 years old, you’ll need a notarized consent letter from the parents.
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Flight ticket
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Original and photocopy of National ID Card.
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“Vaccination Card” for yellow fever and typhoid diseases.
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Travel health insurance which covers the duration of stay in the country.
Bear in mind that if the above-mentioned requirements are not fully met and the documents are incomplete, your application will not be considered and you will need to book a new appointment in order to submit your full documentation.
Get settled
Congratulations! Everything is sorted. You’re one step away from achieving your dream of studying abroad in Turkey. Ensure you take along things that make for comfort. Want to know more about studying in Turkey as a Nigerian student? Check Nigerians’ study experience in Turkey. This will help ease the application process and broaden your knowledge about the country, culture, economy, among others. Good luck in your pursuit of great exploits! We hope you find this article helpful.
