YÖK Postpones Special Talent Exam Decision in Turkey by One Year

Temporary Return to the Old Practical Exam System

Following recent developments in the Turkish higher education system, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) decided to delay the implementation of the controversial plan to cancel Special Talent Exams (Özel Yetenek Sınavı) for one year. This decision, reflected today in reputable media outlets such as Haber61, means that candidates for arts, sports, and design fields in the 2026-2027 academic year will still be admitted through practical and skill-based exams [1].

This move came after many prominent universities, including Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ), announced in June that they had removed practical exams for certain fields like graphic design and animation, opting to admit students based solely on central exam rankings [2]. This sudden change created a wave of concern among students who had spent years preparing for practical exams.

Main Reason for YÖK's Postponement

The Council of Higher Education of Turkey stated that the goal of this one-year postponement is to prevent the loss of candidates' rights and to respond to repeated requests from families. Since many applicants had adjusted their study plans and skill training based on the practical exam system, a sudden change in criteria on the eve of the registration season could have been unfair [1].

Furthermore, time conflicts resulting from international events in Turkey, including the NATO summit in Ankara which caused changes in the overall ÖSYM exam calendar in July, had placed additional pressure on the educational system [3]. This postponement gives universities and candidates the opportunity to move toward the new system with more complete preparation.

Status of Sports and Arts Fields in 2026

With the new directive, all fields that were previously scheduled to admit students only through the centralized ÖZYES system or theoretical scores are permitted to hold traditional special talent exams for one more period. This includes Faculties of Sport Sciences (BESYO) and Faculties of Fine Arts. Candidates should note that this is the last opportunity to enter university relying on practical skills, and the centralized admission system will likely be fully deployed starting from 2027 [1][2].

Educational experts recommend that despite this postponement, candidates should still focus on improving their Basic Proficiency Test (TYT) scores, as written scores continue to play a significant role in calculating the final entry points for Turkish state universities.