The Turkish Preparatory Year (TÖMER): What Afghan Students Should Know

If you are admitted to a Turkish-taught programme but do not yet speak Turkish well enough, you will usually spend a preparatory year learning Turkish at the university's TÖMER (Turkish language centre) before your degree starts. Many universities ask for C1, an advanced level, before you can begin. The rules are set by each university, so the details below are examples from official university directives. Always check the directive of the university you choose.

Who needs the preparatory year?

You need it if you are placed in a Turkish-taught programme and cannot show the Turkish level the university requires. Some universities also ask for Turkish in programmes where at least 30% of the courses are in English, because the rest are taught in Turkish.

You usually do not need it if:

• you already hold a Turkish proficiency certificate at the required level from a centre the university accepts, or
• you finished all of high school in a Turkish-medium school. Çukurova University, for example, does not ask these students for a Turkish certificate.

If your programme is 100% English-taught, you need English instead. That has its own preparatory year. See our guides on English-taught programmes and studying without IELTS.

What level is required?

Language levels follow the European scale from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native). For a Turkish-taught degree, C1 is a common requirement.

Çukurova University's directive for international students is a clear example:

Proof can come from the university's own Turkish proficiency exam at the start of the academic year, or from a certificate issued by its TÖMER or another Turkish teaching centre recognised by YÖK. Other universities use similar systems with their own exams and accepted certificates.

What is TÖMER?

TÖMER is the common name for a university's Turkish language teaching centre. Many state universities have one, for example Ankara University, Çukurova University and others. In the preparatory year you study Turkish full time: grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking, usually from A1 up to C1. At the end, you take the proficiency exam. If you pass at the required level, you join your degree programme.

How long can you stay in the preparatory year?

There is a time limit, and it is set by each university:

• Çukurova University: students who cannot document Turkish proficiency within two years of registering have their registration cancelled.
• TOBB University of Economics and Technology: students who do not meet its Turkish and English requirements within two years of registering lose their place.

Most students who study seriously reach C1 within one academic year. But the limit is real. If you fall behind, you risk losing the place you worked hard to win.

Does it count towards your degree?

No. Çukurova University's directive states that the preparatory period is not counted as part of the study period. A four-year bachelor's degree therefore takes five years if you need a preparatory year, and medicine takes seven.

Costs to plan for

The preparatory year means an extra year of:

• Living costs: accommodation, food, transport and health insurance. See our guides on accommodation and health insurance.
• Course fees, depending on the university. Ask whether the Turkish course has its own fee and whether it is included in your tuition.
• Residence permit renewals, since your permit must cover the whole time you are in Türkiye.

You also need to show the visa office that you can pay for this extra year. Our tuition fees guide explains how to build the budget.

Türkiye Scholarships students are in a different position: the programme lists a one-year Turkish language course among its benefits. See our Türkiye Scholarships guide.

How to prepare before you travel

You can save months by starting Turkish at home:

1. Learn the alphabet and basic grammar before you leave. Turkish uses the Latin alphabet, and its spelling is very regular.
2. Practise every day, even 30 minutes. Short daily practice works better than long sessions once a week.
3. Listen to Turkish through news, series and podcasts to train your ear.
4. Speak from the first week in Türkiye: in shops, on transport and with classmates.
5. Avoid living only with people who speak your language. Students who use Turkish every day reach C1 faster. Smaller university cities help too; see our guide to the best cities for Afghan students.

Turkish or English programme: which is easier?

It depends on where you start. If your English is already strong, an English-taught programme may let you start sooner. If your English is weak, a Turkish-taught programme with a preparatory year can be the more realistic route. You learn the language from the beginning, and it is the language of daily life, internships and future jobs in Türkiye. Many state university programmes are taught in Turkish, which can also lower your costs.

Common mistakes

• Not counting the preparatory year in your time plan and budget.
• Assuming B2 is enough for a Turkish-taught degree, when the university asks for C1.
• Ignoring the time limit, and losing a place after two years.
• Buying a certificate from a centre the university does not accept. Check first.

How we help

We check the language rules of every university on your shortlist before you apply: the level required, which certificates are accepted, the time limit and whether the course has its own fee. Then we build the preparatory year into your plan and your visa budget. See our bachelor's admission page or contact us.