Master’s in Psychology in Turkey: English Programs and Fees

Contents

• What is a psychology master’s in Turkey?

• Which universities teach psychology master’s programs in English?

• Can you study clinical psychology in English in Turkey?

• What do English-taught psychology programs ask applicants for?

• Thesis or non-thesis: how do the two routes compare?

• How are fees set for international psychology students?

• Is a psychology master’s the same as clinical psychologist training?

• How should you plan a psychology master’s application?

• Real-World Examples

• Frequently Asked Questions

• References

• Legal Notice

Introduction

International students can take a master’s in psychology in Turkey in English at several universities, including METU, Boğaziçi University, Koç University and Sabancı University. Most programs are research-focused, run through a graduate school and last about four semesters with a thesis. Clinical psychology tracks are the main exception to English-only study: Koç University, for example, asks non-Turkish speakers for B2-level Turkish. Fees are set by each university under national rules.

The scope of this guide is graduate study in psychology, not psychological services or therapy in Turkey. It answers five practical questions: where English-taught programs are, what admission usually involves, how the thesis and non-thesis routes differ, how fees are determined, and what a clinical psychology degree does and does not lead to. In some search results the degree appears as “masters in psychology”, “MA in psychology” or “MS in psychology”; the name depends on the university.

The sources are official: YÖK strategy documents, the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, the Official Gazette and the graduate pages of each university. Program lists, intake terms and language rules change from one admission period to the next, so every program detail here should be checked against the university’s own announcement. Mezun Kampüsü tracks those announcements as universities publish them.

What is a psychology master’s in Turkey?

A psychology master’s in Turkey is a graduate degree awarded by a Turkish university after study organized by its graduate school. A graduate school is the academic unit within a Turkish university that runs graduate education and manages application and enrolment procedures. Psychology master’s programs come in two forms, with thesis and without thesis, and the national Regulation on Graduate Education and Training sets the minimum structure of each.

A master’s with thesis is a graduate program completed through coursework and the preparation of a thesis. Under Article 6 of the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, published in the Official Gazette on 20 April 2016, a thesis master’s includes at least seven courses, a seminar and a thesis, with a minimum of 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits. Most English-taught psychology programs at research universities follow this thesis route.

A master’s without thesis is a coursework-focused graduate program completed with a term project instead of a thesis. In psychology, non-thesis programs are less common at the research universities named in this guide, though Özyeğin University in Istanbul lists a non-thesis Psychology master’s program on its graduate pages.

Degree names vary between universities. METU awards a Master of Science (MS) in its psychology areas, Sabancı University describes its Psychology program as an MS with thesis, while Boğaziçi University and Koç University use the Master of Arts (MA) title. The difference is one of naming tradition; it does not by itself indicate a different level. The Turkish Qualifications Framework (TYÇ) record for the clinical psychology thesis master’s at Bahçeşehir University, for example, places that degree at level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), with a credit value of 120.

Areas of specialization also differ. METU’s Graduate School of Social Sciences lists six psychology areas at master’s level: clinical, social, industrial and organizational, traffic, developmental and cognitive psychology. Koç University’s thesis MA offers developmental, social and cognitive concentrations. Sabancı University’s MS has social and cognitive tracks. Applicants who know their area of interest can narrow the choice of university quickly by matching it to these lists.

Which universities teach psychology master’s programs in English?

English-taught psychology master’s programs in Turkey are concentrated in a small group of research universities in Ankara and Istanbul. As of October 2026, official pages confirm English-medium psychology master’s options at METU, Boğaziçi University and Sabancı University, and English-language requirements at Koç University. Program availability changes by admission period, so each listing below reflects the university’s own page on the date checked.

The table below compares the programs by four criteria: the program names, whether a thesis is required, the language the university states, and a note on admission or structure. Where a university page does not state a detail, the table says so rather than filling the gap.

English-taught psychology master’s programs in Turkey: program names, thesis route and stated language (checked October 2026)

The table shows that “English-taught” covers different arrangements. At Sabancı University and in most METU areas, English is the stated language throughout. At Koç University, the clinical program combines English coursework with Turkish-language supervision and internships. Bahçeşehir University offers a contrast: its Clinical Psychology thesis master’s is listed as Turkish-medium on the university’s international site.

Other universities also list psychology master’s programs described as English-taught; those were not verified for this guide, so check the language in each university’s own program record.

Can you study clinical psychology in English in Turkey?

Clinical psychology can be studied partly or largely in English in Turkey, but clinical tracks often expect working Turkish because supervised practice involves Turkish-speaking clients. METU lists its Clinical Psychology MS as English or Turkish, and Koç University teaches most clinical courses in English but asks non-Turkish speakers for B2 Turkish. Among the clinical programs checked for this guide, METU, Koç University and Bahçeşehir University each list Turkish as a language of instruction or a requirement.

Koç University states the arrangement plainly on its program page for the MA in Clinical Psychology with thesis:

With the exception of supervision and internships, most program courses will be taught in English.
— Koç University, MA in Clinical Psychology (Thesis) program page, accessed October 2026

The same Koç University page asks non-Turkish speakers for a B2-level score from TÖMER. TÖMER is the common name for the Turkish language teaching centres attached to Turkish universities, which provide Turkish courses and issue certificates of Turkish proficiency. B2 is an upper-intermediate level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). For an international applicant, that requirement can add months of language study before the application.

Clinical admission is also narrower in academic background. Koç University accepts applicants with an undergraduate degree in psychology for its clinical program. METU’s graduate school states that its Clinical Psychology PhD for bachelor’s holders also requires a psychology bachelor’s. Applicants from other fields usually look at research-focused tracks, where a scientific preparatory program may be offered. A scientific preparatory program is a set of completion courses that a student admitted to a graduate program from a different field must complete before beginning the main program.

Research-focused programs are the more realistic English-only route. Social, cognitive and developmental psychology at METU, the Psychological Science MA at Boğaziçi University and the Sabancı University MS are listed as English-taught, with no Turkish requirement stated on their pages. Applicants who want clinical work later can still build research skills in one of these programs. They should check, however, how a non-clinical degree is treated for professional titles, a point covered in the section on clinical psychologist training.

Language arrangements can change between admission periods, so the program’s announcement for the relevant intake is the source to rely on.

What do English-taught psychology programs ask applicants for?

English-taught psychology master’s programs in Turkey generally ask for a bachelor’s diploma and transcript, an English proficiency score, a graduate admission test score (ALES or GRE), a statement of purpose and two reference letters. Many add a written science exam and an interview. Under Article 35 of the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, each university Senate sets the admission procedure for international applicants.

ALES is the centralised examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM) and used in applications to graduate programs and in academic staff recruitment in Turkey. International applicants often submit the GRE instead. METU accepts a GRE score converted through an ALES-GRE equivalence table, and Boğaziçi University lists ALES, GRE and GMAT as accepted graduate exam scores. Minimum scores vary by program and are set by each university.

English proof is the other constant. Boğaziçi University’s application page states: “Applicants must prove their competence in the English language via a language exam recognized by the University Senate.” Boğaziçi University’s psychology FAQ adds that graduates of English-medium universities still need to submit a score. Koç University accepts TOEFL iBT, YDS or YÖKDİL results, and METU lists TOEFL iBT and IELTS minimums that differ by psychology area.

A degree from abroad needs YÖK’s confirmation. A Certificate of Recognition is a document confirming that a higher education institution abroad, and the specific program attended there, appear among the institutions recognised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK); it does not mean the diploma has been declared equivalent to a Turkish qualification. Boğaziçi University asks international graduates of foreign universities to submit this certificate.

• Confirm the program’s language of instruction on the university’s own program page

• Request official transcripts and, where needed, certified English translations

• Book an English test accepted by the university Senate, avoiding home-edition formats where excluded

• Take the GRE or ALES and check the university’s equivalence table

• Apply to YÖK for a Certificate of Recognition for your bachelor’s degree

• Ask two referees for letters before the portal opens

• Draft a statement of purpose within the word limit the program sets

• Prepare for a science exam covering research methods and statistics

Most programs allow a missing test score at the application stage. Koç University accepts applications without ALES or TOEFL results provided they are submitted later, and Boğaziçi University gives conditional acceptance until the score arrives.

Thesis or non-thesis: how do the two routes compare?

A thesis psychology master’s in Turkey normally takes four semesters and leads naturally toward doctoral study, while a non-thesis master’s takes two to three semesters and centers on coursework and a term project. The Regulation on Graduate Education and Training sets these limits nationally. Universities may add stricter rules, so the program’s own regulations decide the detail.

The two routes differ on more than length. ALES, for instance, is a standard admission element for thesis programs; Article 5 of the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training allows non-thesis programs to admit students without an ALES score. Boğaziçi University’s psychology FAQ adds a practical point: graduates of a non-thesis MA cannot apply to its doctoral programs under YÖK rules as applied by the department.

Thesis and non-thesis master’s programs in Turkey: duration, credits, admission test and doctoral access under national rules

Article 35 of the same regulation also limits simultaneous enrollment: a student cannot be registered in more than one graduate program at once, with non-thesis master’s programs as the only exception. Program length also has a fee dimension. Article 10 of Presidential Decision No. 11625 allows universities to charge additional fees to graduate students who have not graduated within the duration set in the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training.

Applicants aiming at doctoral study generally choose the thesis route; those wanting shorter, structured coursework may consider a non-thesis program after confirming what it allows later.

How are fees set for international psychology students?

Fees for international students in Turkish graduate programs are set by each university within limits defined in an annual Presidential Decision. For 2026–2027, Presidential Decision No. 11625, published in the Official Gazette on 15 August 2026, governs those limits. Fees vary by university, program type and academic year, so the university’s own fee announcement is the only reliable reference.

Article 3 of Presidential Decision No. 11625 states that tuition for students enrolled within international student quotas is determined by the higher education institutions themselves, with a floor of twice the per-student service cost of the program. An international student quota is the application quota reserved for international students in higher education programs, separate from the general quota. Psychology applicants admitted through such a quota fall under Article 3.

The same Article 3 lets a university charge less than the standard international fee to a limited group. By decision of the university’s board, the reduced fee may apply to up to 10 percent of its international students; the exception does not cover fully funded scholarship holders or students in quotas allocated by YÖK.

State and foundation universities appear side by side in this guide. METU and Boğaziçi University are state universities, while Koç University, Sabancı University and Bahçeşehir University are foundation (non-profit private) universities with their own scholarship policies. Each of the five publishes its graduate fee schedule separately from its program pages, so the program page alone will not show the fee.

Scholarships change the picture for some applicants. Türkiye Scholarships, run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), lists support for master’s and doctoral students that includes tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance, accommodation and a Turkish language course. Koç University’s psychology page also mentions graduate scholarships and refers applicants to its graduate school for details. YÖK reported in April 2024 that about 95 percent of international students in Turkey fund their own studies, a figure that shows how much the scholarship route matters for those who obtain it.

Is a psychology master’s the same as clinical psychologist training?

A general psychology master’s in Turkey is not the same as clinical psychologist training. YÖK decided on 18 February 2026 that graduates of Psychology or Applied Psychology master’s and doctoral programs are generally not registered as clinical psychologists. The letter ties registration to clinical psychology as the field of the degree and cites Law No. 1219 as its legal basis.

The decision appears in a YÖK letter dated 4 March 2026, which amended an earlier YÖK decision of 18 July 2018 on how clinical psychology diplomas are registered. YÖK cites Additional Article 13 of Law No. 1219 on the Practice of Medicine and Its Branches as the legal basis. The letter adds two transitional points: diplomas issued before 18 July 2018 that name clinical psychology as a sub-field are registered directly, and diplomas in Psychology or Applied Psychology without a stated sub-field are considered through individual applications.

For an international applicant, the practical result is a choice between two kinds of degree. A clinical psychology master’s is a professional training route with supervised practice, usually in Turkish. A Psychological Science, social, cognitive or developmental psychology master’s is a research degree, often fully in English. Neither is better in itself; each leads to different next steps.

Professional practice is a separate matter from the degree. The conditions for using a protected professional title or working in a clinical setting in Turkey are set by health legislation and are outside the scope of this guide. Applicants planning clinical work, in Turkey or elsewhere, should confirm the rules with the relevant licensing authority before choosing a program.

How should you plan a psychology master’s application?

Planning a psychology master’s application in Turkey works best backward from the intake term, which at Boğaziçi University is fall only. Announcements for fall admission typically appear in February and March, according to Boğaziçi University’s psychology FAQ. Allow time before that for language tests, the GRE or ALES and YÖK recognition of your bachelor’s degree.

A practical order of steps looks like this:

1. Decide between a research track and a clinical track, using the section on clinical psychologist training as a guide.

2. Shortlist programs whose stated language matches your profile, and note any Turkish requirement.

3. Take the English test and the GRE or ALES early enough for scores to arrive before the deadline.

4. Apply to YÖK for a Certificate of Recognition for your bachelor’s degree.

5. Read each university’s fee announcement and scholarship pages for the relevant academic year.

6. Submit applications through each university’s online portal within the announced period.

7. Prepare for the science exam and interview if your application is shortlisted.

8. After admission, follow the graduate school’s enrollment and residence instructions for international students.

Timing differs between universities, so each step depends on the calendar of the programs you choose. Boğaziçi University notes that some programs are not opened every year, which makes a backup option sensible. Applicants who need B2-level Turkish for a clinical program at Koç University should start Turkish study a year or more before the planned intake.

Seasonal change affects every element of the plan. Program lists, language rules, test requirements and fee decisions are all revised for each academic year, and Presidential Decision No. 11625 applies only to 2026–2027. Before each step, check the university’s own announcement for the intake you are applying to.

Demand for places has risen over the past decade. YÖK’s strategy document of February 2025 records 72,178 international students in Turkish higher education in 2015 and 336,366 in 2024, and lists Turkey as the eighth-largest host country worldwide, based on 2023 data.

Real-World Examples

The examples in this section are illustrative scenarios created to explain situations applicants may encounter.

Amina, a psychology graduate interested in research. Amina holds a psychology bachelor’s from a university outside Turkey and wants a research career in social psychology. She speaks no Turkish. She compares the social psychology area at METU with the social track of the Sabancı University MS, since both state English as the language of instruction and both are thesis programs. She requests her Certificate of Recognition from YÖK early, takes the GRE instead of ALES, and plans to use her thesis as the basis for a later doctoral application. Her shortlist leaves out clinical tracks because her goal is research rather than practice.

Daniel, who wants to become a clinician. Daniel wants clinical training but has only basic Turkish. Reading the Koç University clinical program page, he sees that supervision and internships take place in Turkish and that non-Turkish speakers need B2-level Turkish. He enrolls in a TÖMER course and sets his clinical application for the following intake. Meanwhile he applies to a research-focused program as a second option, so that a year of language study does not leave him without a place. Either route keeps him in graduate study while his Turkish improves.

Leyla, who studied sociology. Leyla graduated in sociology and wants to move into cognitive psychology. She learns that clinical programs at Koç University accept psychology graduates, so she focuses on research areas instead. She asks the graduate school whether a scientific preparatory program would apply to her and how long it would add. With that answer, she can plan her residence and funding around a realistic completion date. She also keeps one research program at Boğaziçi University on her list, because its psychology FAQ notes that non-psychology graduates are accepted in some years.

Marco, comparing costs and options. Marco is choosing between a state and a foundation university. He finds that each university publishes its fee announcement separately from its program pages, so he downloads both announcements for 2026–2027 and reads them alongside Presidential Decision No. 11625. He also checks the Türkiye Scholarships application calendar and the scholarship page of each foundation university. Comparing the documents side by side, he builds a shortlist that matches both his academic goals and his budget. Because the decision covers only 2026–2027, he notes the date of each announcement so he can recheck the figures before the next intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mezun Kampüsü
Mezun Kampüsü is a platform that brings together the graduate programs, application calendars and academic announcements of universities in Turkey. For applicants considering psychology, the platform helps compare English-taught and Turkish-taught master’s programs, track graduate school announcements for each intake, and keep application deadlines in one place before starting a free application through the Universities section. Program details on the platform should still be confirmed on each university’s own pages for the relevant intake.

Legal Notice

This article is general information about master’s programs in psychology in Turkey. It is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. Regulations, fee decisions and university practices change over time, and program conditions such as language of instruction, intake terms and admission tests vary between universities and admission periods. Applicants should confirm every detail with the university’s graduate school and with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) before applying. The article draws on the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016), Presidential Decision No. 11625 (Official Gazette, 15 August 2026) and the YÖK letter of 4 March 2026 referring to Law No. 1219.