Prior to the announcement, universities could only accept international students if their total number did not exceed 50% of the overall student quota that each university defined annually for new admissions.
According to a report in the Daily Sabah medicine and dentistry courses will be the only exception where the 50% quota will still apply.
“However, universities with enough facilities to house a large number of students and meet criteria for education standards will be allowed to admit any number of students into these branches, providing a separate class for them,” the report stated.
YÖK president Yekta Saraç explained that the goal is to make Turkey “a centre of attraction for higher education opportunities”.
He pointed out that YÖK took the first steps to achieve this goal by setting up an international relations department and drafting a strategic plan for international efforts.
“I think we are conducting a successful process,” Saraç said, noting that Turkey signed deals with 34 countries since the 1980s in cooperation on education and to boost the number of students choosing Turkey for higher education.
“The recognition of our universities, especially in neighbouring countries, increased and we get good results from our initiatives to make Turkey more known for its universities in Africa and the Balkans.”
Saraç added that they have seen “a leap” in the number of international students. According to statistics released by YÖK last year, 125,138 international students were in the country in 2017-18.
“This is the result of serious planning… a new student and lecturer exchange program, updated accredited diploma regulations, new scholarships and initiatives to attract qualified foreign lecturers played a role in the increase,” Saraç added.
Speaking with The PIE News, vice director for Global Education and Partnerships at Istanbul Aydin University and coordinator of EURIE Ayse Deniz Ozkan noted that the lifting of undergraduate restrictions is expected to increase international student numbers overall.
In the past, when YÖK deregulated university admission criteria to allow institutions to set their own admission criteria, total international student numbers increased.
“Particularly foundation universities tend to take initiative and develop proactive marketing and admission policies when regulatory frameworks allow,” she said.
However, it is key that universities now develop the right internationalisation strategy to suit their individual institution.
“Some may open more English-taught programs, possibly where the majority of the students will be international,” Ozkan explained.
“We may see over-concentration of international students in certain study fields. These may create new challenges for university administrations.”
“It will be up to the universities themselves to navigate through this new era by setting the right admissions criteria and competitive tuition fees and by offering quality academic programs, and more services and support structures for international students,” Ozkan added.
Table of Contents
The HED magazine for applicants available in Arabic and Chinese
The fifth issue of the quarterly HED magazine has been published
Подведены итоги конкурса «HED-Scholarship»
International students in Russia can start studying without restrictions
The QS expert highly appreciates Valery Falkov's achievements as Rector of Tyumen State University
North-Eastern Federal University promotes Russian language and culture in China
Scholarships to study in Russia in 2020-2021
KazNU expands partnership with leading universities of Saudi Arabia
Uzbekistan and Japan will move to a new level of scientific cooperation
EU allocates 8 million euros to support education in Kyrgyzstan
RUDN University has created an integrated space for digital cooperation
Russia and China have mapped out joint plans in the field of science and higher education
China promotes international education in space science and technology
TPU International Week 2019 held in Tomsk
Webinar schedule: Internationalization of higher education
Study shows which universities lead the way in promotion of summer schools
The National Aggregate Ranking of Russian Universities
The Accreditation in Education Journal and the Public Fund Edinstvo have become partners
Belarus and Nigeria are cooperating in the field of education
Russian and Chinese universities have agreed to establish the International Transport Academy
Summer schools attract international applicants to Russian universities
Russian and German experts discussed the issues of university and academic science
The 15th FICCI Higher Education Summit in India
Russia to create 50 Pre-University Training Centers abroad by 2024
More than 30 Russian Universities in the THE ranking
Russia will simplify work rights for international students
The First Russia-UK University Rectors Forum
Webinar 'How understanding neuroscience can help you transform your team and your organization'
RUDN and Rosatom will train staff for African projects
Is Africa the future for recruiting international students?
Danish Government Scholarships under the Cultural Agreements
Over 7,000 foreign students will study IT at Russian universities
European Universities Initiative – Chances and challenges
Belgian students demand free higher education
Uganda and Russia signed a Memorandum of cooperation in higher education
The 10th ENQA General Assembly took place in Yerevan
Call for participation – Webinars under the aegis of APQN devoted to Quality Assurance
Regional universities move up in QS University Rankings: Emerging Europe & Central Asia
New Model of State Control (Supervision) in Education
HED Webinar under the aegis of APQN took place on October 10, 2019
Joint Master's programs to be launched by RANEPA and University of London