What is 'denklik' and why do I need it?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
If you hold a foreign high school diploma, you cannot register at a Turkish university until your diploma is officially recognised as equivalent to a Turkish one. This recognition is called denklik and it's administered by the Ministry of National Education (MEB).
Without the official Denklik Certificate in hand, Turkish universities are legally prohibited from finalising your registration — even if you have the acceptance letter, the YÖS score, and the visa.
How to apply:
1. Apply online at e-denklik.meb.gov.tr (the central MEB portal) 2. Upload high-resolution scans of:
- Your original high school diploma
- Full academic transcripts (all years of high school)
- Passport biodata page
- Your Turkish residence permit or student visa
3. Your foreign documents must carry an Apostille (or full consular legalisation if your country is not a Hague Convention member — see the apostille fact) 4. Translations into Turkish must be done by a sworn translator authorised by a Turkish notary (noter) — not by any random translator or agency 5. After digital approval, you book an in-person appointment at a provincial MEB Denklik office or the Provincial Directorate of National Education to present the originals
Watch-outs
- Master's and PhD students bypass MEB denklik. Their prior degrees are recognised through a separate YÖK process. Only undergraduates and high-school graduates use MEB.
- Evaluation can take anywhere from a few working days to several months, especially if MEB needs to verify your curriculum with the issuing foreign ministry.
- A single missing link in the apostille or legalisation chain causes a categorical rejection. Redoing the chain from home is expensive and slow — fix it before submitting.
- "Sworn translator" has a specific meaning here. The translator must be officially authorised by a Turkish noter. A foreign translation doesn't count, no matter how official it looks.
Next step
Begin gathering and apostilling your documents before you leave your home country. Going home later to get an apostille is far slower than doing it before you fly.
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