Ashraf AboArafe
**An Academic Bridge Between Turkey and Egypt: Transitioning to Higher Education with the YÖS Exam**
Turkey is intensifying efforts to attract more Egyptian students to its universities through the promotion of the *Foreign Student Examination (YÖS)*.
Currently, Turkey hosts a total of **209 universities**, including **131 public universities** and **78 foundation (vakıf) universities**.
As part of this initiative, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, **Salih Mutlu Şen**, met with **Prof. Dr. Bayram Ali Ersoy**, President of the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (*ÖSYM*), during his official visit to Cairo. The meeting, held at the Turkish Embassy, explored additional strategies for promoting Turkish higher education opportunities to Egyptian students.
During the discussion, Prof. Ersoy emphasized that Turkey’s higher education system follows a strategy of internationalization, welcoming Egyptian students to pursue their academic journey in Turkish institutions.
Ambassador Şen highlighted Egypt’s large youth population, its deep-rooted cultural and social ties with Turkey, and the strong academic interest among talented Egyptian students in Turkish universities with internationally recognized standards.
Prof. Ersoy stressed the importance of encouraging more Egyptian students to participate in the *YÖS* exam, which will be held in Cairo and is offered in six languages—including Arabic—facilitating access to Turkish universities.
In a Facebook post following the meeting, Ambassador Şen stated:
*”During our meeting in Cairo with ÖSYM President Prof. Bayram Ali Ersoy, we agreed to promote the 2026 Foreign Student Exam (YÖS) more effectively among Egyptian candidates and ensure maximum participation.”*
He added: *”I personally hope to see 30,000 Egyptian students enroll in Turkish higher education institutions each year. Currently, many young Egyptians are already studying in Turkey. I hope they will go on to shape successful futures and contribute to Egypt’s development.”*
It is worth noting that globally renowned public universities in Turkey—such as *Middle East Technical University (METU)* and *Boğaziçi University*—offer education in English. For institutions offering instruction in Turkish, a one-year preparatory Turkish language program is typically provided.
