Turkey Among Top 10 Countries for Attracting International Students
The Turkish Ministry of Trade announced that by increasing its share in the global market for international students, Turkey is now among the top 10 countries in attracting foreign students. Recent data shows that Turkey’s share in attracting international students has risen from 2.9% in 2020 to 3.5% in recent years.
Official statistics indicate that the number of foreign students in Turkey has grown significantly over the past two decades. In 2002, there were only about 5,000 international students in the country, but this number has exceeded 337,000 in the 2024-2025 academic year. Additionally, the number of countries sending students to Turkey has expanded from 154 in 2012 to 180 this year.
The Turkish Ministry of Trade highlighted its support programs, stating that the development of educational services exports is among its priorities. Initiatives such as organizing international education fairs under the “Study in Türkiye” brand in countries like Kazakhstan, the U.S., France, Iraq, and Germany, registering educational trademarks, and increasing the support budget to 162.7 million liras last year were mentioned as key efforts.
According to the report, Turkey’s revenue from educational services exports reached $2.86 billion in 2024, marking a 15-fold increase compared to 2012. Turkish authorities stated that cooperation with the country’s Ministries of Education and Science will continue in 2025 to design new programs for attracting foreign students.
