New Admission Criteria for Top Schools in Turkey Announced

The Ministry of National Education of Turkey (MEB) has revised the regulations regarding schools that admit students through the central exam (LGS). According to the amendment published in the Official Gazette on July 3, 2026, from now on, only qualified schools that meet high educational and research standards will be allowed to recruit students through the central examination system [1]. These changes aim to enhance the quality level of specific schools and ensure a fairer distribution of educational resources.

New School Evaluation Criteria According to the new regulation, the name or type of school is no longer the sole criterion for admitting students via the exam. Applicant schools must meet a set of quality criteria, including: - Academic Success: Review of average grades and academic progress of students in previous years. - Projects and Extracurricular Activities: Implementation of scientific, cultural, and artistic projects beyond the official curriculum [2]. - International Honors: Participation in national and international competitions and achieving top rankings. - Institutional Collaborations: The level of interaction between the school and universities, industrial centers, and reputable scientific institutions.

These criteria will be carefully reviewed by provincial commissions consisting of the provincial deputy director of education and educational inspectors [3].

New Application and Approval Calendar The selection process for these schools has also been redesigned with a specific timeline. Applicant schools must submit their requests to the District Directorate of National Education in January of each year. After field inspections and the preparation of expert reports in February and March, the final report is sent to the Ministry [1]. The Ministry of National Education makes the final decision by the end of April and notifies the governorships of the list of authorized schools by the end of May at the latest, to be included in the student preference guide [2].

New Facilities for Foreign Students Another important part of this amendment concerns foreign nationals studying in official Turkish schools. According to the new law, after graduation, these students can request an "Anatolian High School" diploma, issued in both Turkish and a foreign language, in addition to the standard diploma [3]. This measure has been taken to facilitate the process for these students to continue their education in universities abroad or international institutions.