YOS Exam for Foreigners to Study at Turkish Universities | How to Take YÖS Examination in Turkey

YOS Exam for Foreigners to Study at Turkish Universities

YÖS, now officially TR-YÖS (Exam for Foreign Students for Higher Education in Türkiye), is a standardized exam that many universities in Turkey require or accept for admission to undergraduate programs. The exam is run centrally by the Measuring, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). In 2026 it was held twice, on 12 April and 11 October; ÖSYM announces each year's dates on osym.gov.tr. The test measures the academic abilities and aptitudes of foreign students and is used by universities to determine their eligibility for admission.

Who Can Apply to the YOS Exam?

The most important condition to apply to YOS is to be a foreign national or to be a Turkish citizen who completed their high school education outside of Turkey. If any of these conditions is applied to you the rest of the conditions below becomes valid:

• Being a high school graduate or last year student
• Being a foreign national
• People who were born foreign nationals and later became Turkish citizens, and their children with dual nationality
• Turkish citizens who completed their high school education in any foreign country aside from Northern Cyprus
• Northern Cypriots who live and completed their high school education in Northern Cyprus and have their GCE AL results

How to Apply and Take the YOS Exam?

To take the YÖS exam, you must first register on ÖSYM's TR-YÖS application site (tryos.osym.gov.tr). You will need to provide your personal information, including your name, date of birth, and address, and you will also need to pay a registration fee.

Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email and a registration number, which you will need to bring with you to the exam. On the day of the exam, you will need to arrive at the test center at least an hour before the exam begins to allow time for check-in and security procedures.

During the exam, you will be required to answer multiple-choice questions in basic mathematics and numerical (quantitative) ability. The number of questions, the duration and the scoring are set out in ÖSYM's guide for each session, so read it before you apply.

If you are planning to take the YöS exam, it is important to prepare well in advance. You can find study materials and practice exams on the ÖSYM website, and you may also want to consider enrolling in a test preparation course or hiring a tutor to help you prepare.

Applying to Turkish Universities After YOS Exam

Once the YÖS exam has been taken, foreign students can use their exam scores to apply to universities in Turkey. The application process for universities in Turkey typically includes filling out an online application form, submitting transcripts and other required documents, and paying an application fee. Some universities may also require an interview or additional testing as part of the application process. Many universities also accept other results instead of TR-YÖS, such as SAT or ACT scores or national exams like China's Gaokao; each university publishes its accepted exams and minimum scores every year.

It is important to note that the YÖS exam is just one factor that universities consider when evaluating applications from foreign students. Other factors may include academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and the overall strength of the applicant's application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TR-YÖS is a standardized test that many universities in Turkey require or accept from foreign students who wish to study there. To take the exam, foreign students must apply online through ÖSYM's official TR-YÖS website and meet certain eligibility requirements. Once the exam has been taken, foreign students can use their scores to apply to universities in Turkey, which typically requires filling out an online application form, submitting transcripts and other required documents, and paying an application fee. The YÖS exam is just one factor that universities consider when evaluating applications from foreign students.