Associate Degree in Turkey: Two-Year Önlisans Programs With a TYT Score

An associate degree in Turkey, called önlisans, is a two-year university program that you can enter with a TYT score alone. For many students, it is the fastest way into higher education, because it needs no AYT, no minimum ranking and only two years of study. It can also lead to a bachelor’s degree later through the DGS exam. In this guide, we explain how önlisans placement works, who can apply, what the 2026 numbers show and when this route makes sense.

What is an associate degree in Turkey?

Önlisans is the Turkish name for an associate degree. In our count of the 2026 YKS guide (Kılavuz Tablo 4), all 267 önlisans program names are two-year programs scored on TYT. Many of them run at the vocational schools (meslek yüksekokulu) of universities, and open education (açıköğretim) offers önlisans programs too.

These programs prepare students for a profession, in fields such as computer programming, accounting or health technology. A bachelor’s program (lisans), by contrast, usually lasts four years, while a few, such as medicine, run longer. So an associate degree in Turkey is shorter and more practical than a bachelor’s.

Only a TYT score: how placement works

The 2026 YKS guide from ÖSYM states that to choose önlisans programs, your TYT score must have been calculated. As a result, you do not need AYT or YDT at all. A candidate with only a TYT score can choose önlisans programs, but not centrally placed bachelor’s programs.

How to get a TYT score

To get a TYT score, you need at least 0.5 net in Turkish or in basic maths. That is a low bar. However, every four wrong answers cancel one correct answer, so careless guessing can still hurt you. TYT itself has 120 questions in 165 minutes: Turkish 40, social sciences 20, basic maths 40 and science 20.

No minimum ranking

Unlike medicine, law or engineering, önlisans programs have no minimum ranking in the 2026 rules. Still, some programs have special conditions, so read each program’s notes in the ÖSYM programs and quotas guide. Each program also has its own base score and rank from past placements, which you can check on YÖK Atlas.

Associate degree in Turkey: the 2026 numbers

In 2026, state universities offered 216,328 önlisans places in formal programs, and students filled 216,291 of them, according to ÖSYM’s 2026 placement statistics. In other words, almost every state önlisans place found a student. For comparison, state universities offered 265,356 bachelor’s places in the same table. So önlisans is not a small side route, since it makes up a large share of state university places.

Who can apply for an associate degree in Turkey?

Turkish citizens apply through YKS. In addition, since 2026, foreign nationals, Mavi Kart holders and KKTC citizens who enrolled in or graduated from a Turkish high school can enter Turkish universities only through YKS. That rule covers önlisans as well. A few groups are exceptions, such as students of embassy schools and certain international schools. Foreign students who completed all of secondary school abroad, on the other hand, use the international quota, for example with TR-YÖS or SAT.

From önlisans to a bachelor’s: DGS

An associate degree in Turkey does not have to be the end of the road. The DGS (Dikey Geçiş Sınavı, the vertical transfer exam) lets önlisans graduates move into a bachelor’s program in their field. Graduates of vocational schools and of open education önlisans programs can apply. So can final-year students who have met every graduation requirement except the internship.

How DGS works

ÖSYM holds DGS once a year, and the 2027 dates are not out yet. As an example, the 2026 DGS took place on 19 July at 10:15, with 135 minutes of answering time. Applications ran from 15 May to 2 June. It is one aptitude test with a numerical (sayısal) and a verbal (sözel) section, and the 2026 fee was 1,400 TL. Your önlisans diploma grade also counts in the DGS score, while DGS results are valid only for that year’s placement. Finally, you can move only into the bachelor’s programs listed for your önlisans field in ÖSYM’s Tablo-2.

The 2026 change for foreign students

In general, ÖSYM does not place foreign or stateless candidates through DGS unless they become Turkish citizens before the preference period. However, the 2026 DGS guide adds an important exception. Foreign nationals, KKTC citizens and Mavi Kart holders who studied at a Turkish high school and won an önlisans place through YKS can now move to a bachelor’s through DGS. The exception does not cover students from embassy schools, MOBİS international schools or MEB and YÖK projects. Other foreign students, for example those who entered önlisans through the international quota, still cannot use DGS.

Is an associate degree in Turkey right for you?

Önlisans can be a smart choice in several cases:

• A quick start to a profession: two years is half the length of most bachelor’s programs.
• A solid TYT but a weak AYT: önlisans still gives you a university place.
• A second road to a bachelor’s: DGS can take you from önlisans to a bachelor’s in your field.

On the other hand, think carefully in these cases:

• A specific bachelor’s goal: check Tablo-2 first, because DGS opens only the programs linked to your önlisans field.
• A possible retake next year: a placement through YKS halves your diploma-grade (OBP) coefficient the following year, whether you register or not. Our guide to retaking YKS explains this rule.
• Plans to work in your home country: check how your country treats a two-year Turkish diploma, as our guide to recognised Turkish universities explains.

How ILEAP Academy helps you reach an associate degree in Turkey

ILEAP Academy is one of the first Arabic centers in Istanbul specialised in YKS. Since önlisans depends on TYT alone, a strong TYT is what matters most here. Every student starts with a level test, and then teachers explain the TYT topics in Arabic. We train the Turkish of the exam step by step and run timed practice exams with clear net reports. ILEAP Academy has three centers in Istanbul, and the same program also runs online. Discover ILEAP Academy to book a level test, and read our complete YKS exam guide for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an associate degree in Turkey?

Two years. In our count of the 2026 YKS guide, every önlisans program is a two-year program scored on TYT.

Do I need AYT for önlisans?

No. Önlisans programs need only a calculated TYT score. You need AYT or YDT only if you also want to choose bachelor’s programs.

Can a foreign student move from önlisans to a bachelor’s?

Since 2026, yes, if you studied at a Turkish high school and entered önlisans through YKS. Otherwise, ÖSYM does not place foreign candidates through DGS unless they become Turkish citizens before the preference period.