Bachelor's Application from Turkey to Germany 2026: Who Can Apply?

Applying for a bachelor's degree from Turkey to Germany can be much easier than many people think. However, this process varies depending on which type of high school you graduated from, your YKS score and your German proficiency. In this guide, which we have prepared according to the German education system standards updated as of 2026, you will find a clear and strategic roadmap for every profile.

Anatolian and Science High School Graduates: The Most Direct Route

If you graduated from an Anatolian High School or a Science High School and have been placed at a university in Turkey through the YKS, it is the simplest form of applying for a bachelor's degree in Germany. With your placement document in Turkey and your high school diploma, you can apply directly to the department at the German university you choose. There is no Studienkolleg requirement for applicants in this situation.

Mixed Education: 3 Years In-Person + 1 Year Open High School

If, for individual reasons, you studied your first 3 years at an Anatolian High School and your last year at Open High School and were placed through the YKS: Yes, you can comfortably apply. According to the guidelines of the KMK (Kultusministerkonferenz), if 75% or more of the education was completed at an in-person school, the graduation is accepted with "in-person high school" status.

Those Without University Placement: The Studienkolleg Route

• Studienkolleg: A 2-semester (approximately 10-month) preparatory program.
• German level: Minimum B1, recommended B2 or above.
• Curriculum: German + subject courses (T-Kurs: Engineering, M-Kurs: Medicine, W-Kurs: Economics).
• Final exam: FeststellungsPrüfung (FSP) — recognized by all universities in Germany.

Vocational High School graduates can also apply for a bachelor's degree in Germany by following the Studienkolleg route. A Vocational High School diploma can be accepted in Germany as "Fachgebundene Hochschulreife"; it is recommended that you establish a logical connection between the department you choose and your field of education.

How Important Is the YKS Score in Germany?

• In NC-Manuell (quota-limited) departments: The YKS score is converted into the German grading system and used in the university's ranking. Higher YKS = better converted score.
• In NC-Frei (no-quota) departments: YKS is an additional criterion taken into account when the application file is evaluated as a whole.

Grade conversion formula: German Grade = 1 + (4 × (Maximum Score − Your Score)) ÷ (Maximum Score − Minimum Score)

Step-by-Step Process

• 1. Determine your profile: Anatolian/Science + YKS → direct; no YKS → Studienkolleg; Vocational High School → Studienkolleg recommended.
• 2. German preparation: C1 for direct application (TestDaF 4x4 or DSH-2); B1+ for Studienkolleg.
• 3. Document preparation: high school diploma, YKS document, passport, language certificate, motivation letter.
• 4. Uni-Assist VPD: Have your documents verified.
• 5. Visa application: Blocked account (~€12,500 per year) + accommodation + health insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions