What Does "Tercih" (Application/Placement) Mean?

"Tercih" (the Turkish word for "preference" or application) means that a person submits a request to study at a specific university through an online portal or method determined by the university. The tercih process has several details, which we will explain here.

How much does a tercih cost?

At most universities, the tercih is free of charge. Some universities, however, charge a fee for their tercih, such as Erciyes Üniversitesi, Gazi Üniversitesi and a few others.

How many tercih rounds does each university have?

The number of tercih rounds varies from one university to another, for example:

1. Some universities run a single tercih but publish results with a primary list and a reserve list. For example, in 2019 Erciyes University had 10 computer-engineering seats but announced 20 names: 10 primary and 10 reserve. When a student on the primary list does not enroll, their seat is transferred to a student on the reserve list.
2. Some universities run several tercih rounds — sometimes up to 7 — until the seats are filled.
3. Other universities only run a single tercih.

What are the tercih requirements at a university?

The common requirements across universities are:

• The student must be a foreign national, or hold a second nationality other than Turkish.
• A valid passport or Turkish ID.
• At least one of the following certificates required by the university:
  • A specific YÖS exam certificate.
  • An international certificate such as SAT 1, SAT 2 or ACT (depending on the university).
  • A Turkish or foreign high-school diploma.

What are a student's chances of being accepted after the tercih?

The chances of admission to Turkish universities depend on several factors, the most important being:

• The certificate used to apply: Some universities require a YÖS certificate, but having one does not guarantee acceptance because the number of applicants is very large and a competitive score is required.
• Nationality: Most universities allocate a specific number of seats per country in each program. For example, of 50 medical seats, 20 may be reserved for Syrians and 30 for other nationalities.
• Age: Universities prefer younger students. When two applicants have the same nationality and score, the university prefers the younger one.
• Order of preferences: The preferences are the university programs the student selects during the tercih (usually 5). The first preference is the most important and is considered first. Choose your preferences carefully, because the university may admit the student to any of the listed preferences.