159 percent increase! Foundation universities compete with Oxford

While educational institutions are preparing for the new academic year, the annual fees of foundation universities have begun to become clear. Tuition fees at foundation universities increased by up to 159 percent this year. Annual fees for medicine, dentistry and law programs have become competitive with the world's leading universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

According to Milliyet's news; Higher Education Institutions Examination (2026-YKS) Higher Education Programs and Quotas Guide has been published and the preference marathon has started. Tuition fees of foundation universities have also reached a level that will hurt your pocket. While many universities increased their fees by 40 percent to 159 percent in the 2026-2027 academic year, the annual fee of the most expensive medical program was 3 million 740 thousand TL.

The prices of some foundation universities are as high as Oxford and Cambridge, which are among the most prestigious higher education institutions in the world. According to the guide, the fees of foundation universities are as follows: ■ Istanbul Nişantaşı University Medicine: 3.740.000 TL ■ Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Medicine: 3.300.000 TL ■ Üsküdar University Medicine: 2.495.000 TL ■ Istanbul Okan University Medicine: 2.423.674 TL ■ Bahçeşehir University Medicine: 2,415,000 TL ■ Yeditepe University Medicine: 2,300,000 TL ■ Istanbul Gelişim University Dentistry: 2,295,000 TL ■ Istanbul Kent University Dentistry: 2,210,000 TL ■ Altınbaş University Medicine: 2,190,000 TL ■ Sabancı University Undergraduate Programs: 2.170.000 TL ■ Bezm-i Âlem Vakıf University Medicine: 2.168.496 TL ■ Istanbul Atlas University Medicine: 2.110.708 TL ■ Istanbul Bilgi University Law: 2.092.500 TL■ Biruni University Medicine: 2.000.000 TL ■ İstinye University Medicine: 1,980,000 TL ■ Demiroğlu Bilim University Medicine: 1,980,000 TL ■ Başkent University Medicine: 1,980,000 TL ■ Özyeğin University Undergraduate programs: 1,975,000 TL It is necessary to check the tuition fees explained in the guide on the websites of the universities. Some universities may provide additional discounts and installment or cash payment options.

For example, Nişantaşı University reduces the fee, which it announced as 3.7 million TL, to 2 million 2 thousand 770 TL, with 30 percent first choice scholarship, 15 percent on-campus preference scholarship and 10 percent cash discount. Some universities only have 50 percent or scholarship programs. In this case, it is not the student who pays the full fee, but half of the fee explained in the guide is paid.

Providing information about the fees of foreign universities, Global Vision General Manager Deniz Akar said, "There is an opportunity to study abroad at the prices of foundation universities in Turkey. Especially in countries such as Italy and Germany, interest in these countries is increasing because students who meet the necessary conditions can receive free education. Fees at Oxford University vary between 37,380 pounds (2.3 million TL) and 62,820 pounds (3.9 million TL).

At Cambridge University, it starts from 29 thousand Pounds (1.8 million TL). 70,554 Pounds (4.4 million TL) is requested for medicine. Private universities in Germany cost between 6-10 thousand dollars.