Return of Talent Exams to Turkish Universities: Reversing a Controversial Decision

Correcting a Mistake on the Eve of the 2026 Entrance Exams With only a few days remaining before the Turkish Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), a major news story has impacted the country's educational landscape. According to reports published on June 15, 2026, Turkish educational authorities have retreated from their previous decision to eliminate talent exams (Yetenek Sınavı) for several key departments [1]. This move, reflected in the media under the headline "Return from a Wrong Path," has brought a wave of relief to candidates in art-related fields.

Details of Changes at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University The crisis began when Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ) announced that student admissions for "Graphic Design" and "Animation" departments for the 2026-2027 academic year would no longer be based on practical exams, but solely on written entrance exam (YKS) scores [2]. This decision, announced just 17 days before the major exam, caused confusion for thousands of students who had practiced for months and years for practical and design tests. Many of these candidates had not even registered for the second part of the written exam (AYT), as according to previous years' procedures, only the first part score (TYT) and the university's practical exam were sufficient for admission [1].

The Role of Media and Pervin Kaplan's Report Pervin Kaplan, a prominent education journalist, was among the first to react to this inconsistency. In her reports, she emphasized that changing the rules of the game at the last minute violates students' educational rights. Following these reports and public pressure, Mimar Sinan University issued a new announcement stating that for 2026, the admission system will remain based on talent exams, and the transition to a centralized written system has been postponed to 2027 [1].

Impact on Specialized Schools and Vocational High Schools Simultaneously with these developments at the university level, the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) has released the admission guide for fine arts and sports high schools. According to this calendar, candidates have until June 26, 2026, to apply for the practical exams of these schools [3]. This highlights the high importance of practical exams in the Turkish educational structure, which, despite efforts by some officials to eliminate them, remains recognized as the fairest method for assessing artistic and athletic skills [1][3].

Conclusion for Candidates Graphic design and animation candidates can now focus on their design skills and participate in practical exams as in previous years. Educational authorities have emphasized that any structural changes in the future must be announced to the public at least one year in advance to prevent similar crises. This media and student victory demonstrated that the educational system must be more sensitive to the preparation and long-term planning of candidates.