Diploma Equivalence in Turkey: The Denklik Document for YKS

Diploma equivalence in Turkey matters for every YKS candidate whose high school was outside Türkiye. ÖSYM adds your diploma grade to your placement score, but it does not read foreign diplomas itself. So you need a Diploma Denklik Belgesi from the Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB). Without it, ÖSYM counts your grade as 50 out of 100, whatever your real grade was. In this guide, we explain who needs the document, how to apply on e-Denklik and which deadlines to watch.

What is diploma equivalence in Turkey?

Diploma equivalence in Turkey (denklik) is MEB’s official decision that a foreign school diploma matches a Turkish one. The rules are in the MEB Denklik Yönetmeliği, which appeared in the Resmî Gazete on 9 July 2024.

For YKS, the document must show three things:

• your school type, as listed in Table 6 of the YKS guide
• your field or branch
• your diploma grade

The grade must appear on a 100-point scale. In Türkiye, the provincial education directorates (İl Millî Eğitim Müdürlükleri) issue the document. Abroad, Turkish education counsellors and attachés do the same job.

Who needs diploma equivalence in Turkey for YKS?

According to the 2026 YKS guide, you need the document if you completed secondary school abroad, or are still studying there. However, there are two exceptions: MEB-linked schools abroad, and schools in KKTC.

In practice, diploma equivalence in Turkey concerns three groups:

• Turkish citizens and dual nationals schooled abroad. If they want YKS results, they must sit YKS like everyone else.
• Final-year students abroad. For example, a final-year student in Jordan who plans to sit YKS in June.
• Foreign graduates of schools abroad who choose YKS. Most of them use the international quota instead, but some universities also accept YKS scores.

On the other hand, students at Turkish high schools usually do not need it, because ÖSYM gets their data from e-Okul. Our guide to YKS for foreign students explains the routes.

Why the document matters: your OBP

Your diploma grade becomes the OBP (ortaöğretim başarı puanı). ÖSYM multiplies your grade out of 100 by 5, so the OBP runs from 250 to 500. Then it adds OBP × 0.12 to your exam score, which means 30 to 60 extra points.

Without diploma equivalence in Turkey, or with a document that shows no grade, your school type and field become “Diğer”. In that case, your grade counts as 50, and your OBP is 250, the lowest value.

An example

Two students have the same exam score. The first sends a denklik document with a grade of 85, so her OBP is 425 and she gets 51 extra points. The second sends nothing, so his OBP is 250 and he gets only 30 points. That is a gap of 21 points from one missing document. Our guide to YKS score calculation explains the whole formula.

How to apply for diploma equivalence in Turkey on e-Denklik

You apply for diploma equivalence in Turkey online on e-Denklik, and you show the originals later. The Istanbul education directorate described these steps in July 2025:

1. Scan your documents. Each file can be up to 1 MB.
2. Fill in the online form. You need an e-Devlet password for this step.
3. Wait for the review. Officials check your upload and tell you by SMS or e-mail if something is missing.
4. Book an appointment. Then bring all your original documents to it.
5. Wait for the signature. After the appointment, this step can take up to a week.
6. Download the document. Finally, enter your registration number in “Başvuru Sorgulama” to get it as a PDF.

Documents for non-Turkish graduates

• ID: for example a residence permit, a Geçici Koruma ID or an international protection ID.
• Passport: the original.
• Diploma: the original, with an apostille or a stamp from the Foreign Ministry, an embassy or the education ministry.
• School records: transcripts or report cards for the last three years.
• Translations: documents in Turkish, English, Arabic, Persian, German or Russian need no translation, while other languages need a notarised one.

So Arabic documents need no translation. Also, applicants who cannot produce their documents because of war or disaster can take a level test (seviye tespit sınavı) instead.

Sending the document to ÖSYM: the deadlines

Getting the document is only half the job, because you must also send it to ÖSYM yourself. These were the 2026 rules:

• Where: directly to ÖSYM’s Sınav Hizmetleri Daire Başkanlığı in Bilkent, Ankara, not through application centres.
• Deadline: 15 April 2026.
• Final-year students: they could send a document with the final-year grade by 23 June 2026.
• No grade on the document: send the diploma and transcripts with Turkish translations and a petition, also by 15 April.

ÖSYM does not reuse documents from earlier years, so plan a new one for every YKS you take. The 2027 deadlines will be in the 2027 YKS guide, so check them as soon as ÖSYM publishes it.

Applying for YKS with a foreign diploma

Since your data is not in e-Okul, you apply at an ÖSYM centre. There, you choose “Yurt Dışı” as the school name, with code 910012, and leave the grade field empty. Later, from 23 to 30 June 2026, candidates confirmed their diploma grade in AİS, and the OBP used that confirmed data. Our guide to YKS registration walks through the whole application.

A checklist for diploma equivalence in Turkey

1. Start early. Open your e-Denklik file in the autumn before the exam.
2. Prepare the apostille first. Get the apostille or ministry stamp on your diploma before you need it.
3. Keep the scans small. Each file must stay under 1 MB.
4. Note the ÖSYM deadline. Take it from the current YKS guide, not from last year.
5. Keep proof of sending. When you post the document, keep the receipt.
6. Check your grade in AİS. Do it in the confirmation window.

How ILEAP Academy helps with the exam itself

ILEAP Academy is one of the first Arabic centers in Istanbul specialised in YKS. The paperwork is in your hands, but the exam is where we help. Every student starts with a level test, then joins the right group. We explain topics in Arabic, train the Turkish of the exam step by step and run timed practice exams with clear net reports. We have 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 does diploma equivalence in Turkey take?

It depends on the review and the appointment. The signature step alone can take up to a week after the appointment, so start months before the ÖSYM deadline.

Do I need diploma equivalence in Turkey after a Turkish high school?

Usually not for YKS, because ÖSYM takes your education data from e-Okul. Still, check your grade in AİS.

What happens if I miss the ÖSYM deadline?

You can still sit the exam, but your grade counts as 50 and your OBP is 250. In other words, missing diploma equivalence in Turkey can cost you up to 30 placement points.