Turkey’s 2026 YKS Preference Guide Shows 805,747 University Slots and New AI‑Focused Programs
The Higher Education Council (YÖK) released the 2026 YKS (University Entrance Exam) preference guide after the exam results were announced on 21 July. The guide sets the admission window for candidates from 29 July to 10 August 2026.
Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together offer a total of 805,747 places across associate‑degree, undergraduate and special‑talent programmes: 602,117 for state universities, 184,914 for private (vakıf) institutions and 18,716 for universities in the north‑Cyprus region. In addition, special quotas allocate 17,862 places for top‑school graduates, 3,673 for relatives of martyrs and veterans, and 10,363 for women over 34.
YÖK also introduced 16 brand‑new programmes, many centred on artificial‑intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, that will admit students for the first time. These include licence‑level “History and AI” (10 slots), “Philosophy and AI” (18), “Business and AI” (10), “FinTech” (30), “Biotechnology and Genetics” (40), “Paramedic” (40) and “Fishery Technology” (30). At the associate‑degree level, AI‑supported “Web Design and Coding” (80), “Design and Animation” (30), “Digital Game Technologies” (60), “Mobile Security Technologies” (30) and several other technology‑focused programmes were added. Open‑education also received two new tracks—AI‑Supported Coding and Data‑Visualization & Information Design—each with 250 seats.
These changes shape the options available to millions of high‑school graduates seeking university places in 2026.
Entities: 2026 Yükseköğretim Kurumları Sınavı (YKS) · Artificial‑Intelligence (AI) programmes · Higher Education Institutions (state, vakıf, KKTC) · Open‑Education (Açık Öğretim) programmes · Yükseköğretim Kurulu (YÖK)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 19 SOURCES] A total of 805,747 university slots are available in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for the 2026 admission cycle. (YÖK data)
- [● 19 SOURCES] Open‑education receives two new programmes – AI‑Supported Coding and Data‑Visualization & Information Design – each with 250 seats. (open‑education addition)
- [● 19 SOURCES] The new licence‑level AI programmes and their initial quotas are: History & AI (10), Philosophy & AI (18), Business & AI (10), FinTech (30), Biotechnology & Genetics (40), Paramedic (40) and Fishery ( (programme details)
- [● 19 SOURCES] Special quotas provide 17,862 places for top‑school graduates, 3,673 for relatives of martyrs and veterans, and 10,363 for women over 34. (YÖK special quota data)
- [● 19 SOURCES] University preference period runs from 29 July to 10 August 2026. (preference schedule)
- [● 19 SOURCES] YÖK added 16 new programmes (7 licence, 9 associate) focusing on artificial‑intelligence and digital technologies, admitting students for the first time. (new programme announcement)
- [● 19 SOURCES] Of the total slots, 602,117 are allocated to state universities, 184,914 to private (vakıf) institutions, and 18,716 to universities in the north‑Cyprus region. (YÖK allocation)
- [● 19 SOURCES] The 2026 YKS results were announced on 21 July. (official exam announcement)