Quick Summary
Ankara University, founded in 1946 as a personal project of Ataturk, was built from several pre-existing faculties including a Law Faculty dating to 1925 and a Political Science Faculty tracing to an 1859 Ottoman civil-service school. It enrolls roughly 50,000 students and rose over 100 places in the QS World University Rankings between 2025 and 2026.
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Institutional Profile
Who they are
Ankara University was established in 1946 as a personal initiative of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, built by consolidating faculties that already existed separately, including a Law Faculty from 1925 and a Faculty of Political Science whose roots trace to an 1859 Ottoman civil-service school relocated from Istanbul to Ankara in 1936. It rose more than 100 places in the QS World University Rankings between 2025 and 2026, moving from the 801-850 band to position 697, a jump the university itself has publicized as historic. Its Faculty of Political Science has functioned for generations as a primary training ground for Turkey's civil service and diplomatic corps, a legacy tied directly to its Ottoman-era origins.
Subject Strengths
Life Sciences and MedicineArts and HumanitiesSocial Sciences and Management
Founded1946
TypePublic
Total Students50000
Intl StudentsNot Available
Faculty RatioNot Available
CampusMultiple campuses across Ankara, with the main Tandogan campus housing the rectorate
Campus SizeNot Available
Affiliated HospitalsAnkara University Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Ankara University Cebeci Hospital
AccreditationCouncil of Higher Education of Turkey (YOK)
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Global Standing
Three independent ranking systems
QS World 2026
#697
Quacquarelli Symonds
Times Higher Ed
#1201-1500
THE World University
ARWU Shanghai
Not Available
Academic Ranking
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Academics & Research
What you can study
Undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across law, medicine, humanities, science, agriculture, and veterinary medicine
Programs
Yes, doctoral programs are offered across the university's faculties
PhD Programs
Limited distance-education offerings through select faculties
Online Programs
Multiple faculty-affiliated research centers including those tied to the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Agriculture
Research Centers
Ankara University's Faculty of Political Science traces its lineage to a civil-servant training school established in Istanbul in 1859 before relocating to Ankara in 1936, giving the university one of Turkey's longest-running research traditions in public administration. The university climbed over 100 places in the QS World University Rankings between 2025 and 2026, moving from the 801-850 band to rank 697.
Research Output
Council of Higher Education of Turkey (YOK)
Accreditation
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Admissions Brief
What it takes to get in
Entry Requirements
Acceptance RateNot Available
IELTS6.0
TOEFL78
Min GPANot Available
GRENot Available
GMATNot Available
SATNot Available
ACTNot Available
Key Dates
Application deadlines are being updated. Check the official website for current dates.
Required Documents
TranscriptsSOPEnglish ScoresLORsPassport
Insider Tip
International applicants typically apply through Ankara University's own international student examination or evaluation process rather than Turkey's national YKS exam used for domestic students, so applicants should confirm which admissions track applies to their nationality and prior schooling. Because the university operates across multiple faculty-specific campuses in Ankara rather than one unified site, admitted students should verify the physical location of their faculty, particularly for medicine and veterinary medicine which use separate teaching hospital campuses. Programs are primarily taught in Turkish, so non-Turkish speakers should check whether their chosen faculty requires a Turkish-language preparatory year (TOMER) before starting the standard curriculum.
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Cost Ledger
Amounts in Turkish Lira
UG Tuition
โบ40,018,002,900/yr
per year ยท TRY
Living Cost
Free
per year ยท TRY
PG Tuition
Free
per year ยท TRY
Total Estimated Annual Cost
$4,500/yr
tuition + living + essentials ยท TRY
Scholarships AvailableYes, including Turkiye Scholarships (Turkiye Burslari), a national government scholarship program that many Ankara University international students use
Financial AidDomestic students may access state-subsidized tuition and KYK loan/dormitory support; international students commonly rely on the national Turkiye Burslari scholarship program rather than university-specific aid
Work-StudyNot Available
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Featured & Popular Programs
A sample from Undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across law, medicine, humanities, science, agriculture, and veterinary medicine programs total
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
| Law | MASTER | 1-2 YRS |
| Political Science | PHD | 3-5 YRS |
| Veterinary Medicine | MBA | 12-24 MO |
| Pharmacy | BACHELOR | 3-4 YRS |
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Career Outcomes
Where graduates land
Not Available
Average Salary After Graduation
Not Available
Employment Rate
Internship PlacementMedical and veterinary students complete clinical rotations at the university's own Ibn-i Sina and Cebeci teaching hospitals and veterinary faculty clinics
Industry Connections
The Faculty of Political Science has historically supplied civil servants to the Turkish state given its origin as an Ottoman-era training school for government administratorsand the Faculty of Law counts multiple former Turkish presidents and prime ministers among its graduatesreflecting deep ties to national government institutions. This pipeline into public service is a distinguishing feature relative to Turkey's more industry-oriented technical universitieswhose graduate placement leans toward the private sector instead.
Notable Alumni
Law School graduates include Ahmet Necdet Sezer, former President of Turkey, and Adnan Menderes, former Prime Minister of Turkey, along with Bulent Arinc, a former speaker of the Turkish parliament.
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Campus & Student Life
Life beyond lectures
Housing
Yes, through KYK state dormitories and university-affiliated housing
Sports Facilities
Ankara University sports facilities including the university's own sports complex
Student Clubs
Numerous faculty-based student clubs and ESN Ankara University chapter for exchange students
Library Resources
Central library plus faculty libraries across Ankara University's constituent faculties
Exchange Programs
Erasmus+ program coordinated through the university's Erasmus Office
Summer Programs
Turkish language and culture summer courses offered through affiliated centers