Ranking of the Best Turkish Faculties Ahead of 2026 Exam Results

While millions of students in Turkey are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) results, the publication of new ranking lists has influenced the department selection atmosphere. According to the official calendar of the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), the final results will be released on July 22, 2026 [4]. Meanwhile, the GZT media outlet has published a critical list of the country's best faculties, helping candidates determine their priorities before the selection system opens [1].

Higher Education Leaders in 2026 According to the latest reports from the URAP ranking institute for the 2025-2026 academic year, Hacettepe University continues to maintain its position as Turkey's top university in academic rankings [2]. This university has been particularly leading in the faculties of medical and health sciences, ranking 574th globally. On the other hand, the QS World University Rankings 2026 introduced the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) as Turkey's top educational institution with a global rank of 285, showing brilliant performance in the faculties of engineering and basic sciences [3].

Top Faculties by Subject The list published by GZT focuses on criteria such as quality of education, research outputs, and graduate employment rates [1]. In the fields of architecture and engineering, Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) and ODTÜ remain at the top. In the foundation (private) university sector, Koç University and Sabancı University are included in the list of top faculties due to their international infrastructure and strong links with industry [1][4].

Criteria for Successful Department Selection Educational experts emphasize that candidates should not rely solely on the overall ranking of universities. Evaluating the "Faculty Reputation" separately, internship opportunities, student exchange programs like Erasmus, and employment rates in the labor market are vital factors that have received special attention in recent lists [1]. Given that the YKS results will be announced on July 22, this ten-day window is the best opportunity to analyze these specialized lists [4].