Schools in Türkiye: programmes, fees and enrolment
State schools teach in Turkish. Private schools (özel okul) offer Turkish, English, German and French programmes; all are supervised by the MEB.
For a family relocating, the main task is matching the curriculum to the child's previous schooling and getting the records recognised (denklik).
Programme options
- Turkish programme (state or private, MEB curriculum).
- English-first and bilingual private schools.
- International programmes (IB, British, American) at international schools.
- Anatolian and science high schools — by central exam.
Fees (market estimate)
| School type | Annual (estimate) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| State school | 0 ₺ | free, Turkish-medium |
| Private Turkish school | 400,000–2,500,000 ₺/year | market estimate, 2026/27 |
| International school (British/US) | 1,700,000–2,500,000 ₺/year | market estimate, 2026/27 |
| German programme | Deutsche Schule Istanbul (Abitur / DIA) | amount — no confirmed data |
| Russian programme | schools in Alanya and Antalya | ≈ 400,000–900,000 ₺/year (estimate) |
Enrolment documents
- residence/address record;
- previous school records and translations;
- denklik (equivalence) application with the MEB;
- vaccination card and health records.
Arabic and other language programmes
- Arabic schools — private schools teaching in Arabic (e.g. Rawdah/Özel Ravza in Istanbul: Arabic, English, Turkish);
- Arabic as a subject — at some state and private schools (including imam-hatip);
- list to be verified — check with meb.gov.tr and the schools' sites.
Frequent questions
- Are my child's foreign records recognised?
- Through the MEB equivalence (denklik) process; have the documents translated and apply.
- Can foreigners use state schools?
- Yes; with residence and address registration the child can enrol in a state school.
- Are there British or IB schools?
- Yes, international schools in Istanbul, Ankara and coastal cities offer British, IB and American programmes.
- When should I apply?
- Places at international schools are limited; apply early in the spring.
- Are the fees fixed?
- No, the figures are market estimates; request the school's official fee list.
School fees and availability change yearly; the ranges here are market estimates — take the exact figures from the school.