Exercise and Sports for Disabled in Turkey

Exercise and Sports for the Disabled, in Turkish Engellilerde Egzersiz ve Spor Bilimleri, is a four-year bachelor’s that trains specialists to design safe exercise and sport for people with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. In Istanbul, Gelişim University teaches it in Turkish in its Faculty of Sport Sciences. Gelişim has not yet published a 2026–27 international fee, so ask for a written quote.

• Length: four years, plus a Turkish preparatory year if needed.
• Focus: adapted physical activity, motor development, fitness testing, and sport for disabled athletes, including Paralympic disciplines.
• Stated aim: Gelişim describes graduates as specialists who plan exercise around individual needs and measure motor skill, fitness and performance for people of every age and disability group.
• Language: Turkish, which you also need for placements with clients and their families.

The degree shares its science base with general sports sciences and then specialises in adapted activity and disability. A typical outline:

Placements are a large part of the course. Ask where students gain supervised practice and how the department supports international students in Turkish-speaking settings.

• School certificate with transcripts; biology is the most useful subject.
• Selection. Turkish applicants are placed through ÖSYM’s special-ability exam for sports sciences (ÖZYES). International students apply through the university’s own quota; ask whether any physical test applies.
• Turkish. You need a Turkish certificate or a preparatory year before the first year.
• After admission: diploma equivalence from the Ministry of National Education, a medical report for practical courses if requested, and a student residence permit.

1. Compared with Exercise and Sports Sciences. The general degree covers performance and health for everyone; this one goes deep into disability, adapted equipment and inclusive teaching.
2. Compared with Physiotherapy. Physiotherapists treat injury and impairment as health professionals; adapted-exercise specialists work on activity, fitness and participation.
3. Compared with Special Education Teaching. Special education prepares classroom teachers; this degree prepares movement and sport specialists.
4. Language. Because clients, families and centres work in Turkish, the programme suits students who plan to become fluent.

Graduates work in rehabilitation and special-education centres, disability sports clubs and federations, municipal and NGO inclusion programmes, fitness centres offering adapted training, and as assistant coaches for disabled athletes. A master’s leads to research in adapted physical activity.

Public-sector posts in Turkey generally require Turkish citizenship, and coaching licences come from sports federations. International graduates should check how their home country recognises the degree and whether adapted-exercise work there requires registration.

1. A year ahead: start Turkish and, if possible, volunteer with a disability sports club or inclusive activity programme at home.
2. Six to nine months ahead: gather your certificate, transcripts and passport, and ask Gelişim for a written fee quote for your intake.
3. Once admitted: confirm whether you start with the Turkish preparatory year and what medical report the faculty needs.
4. On arrival: complete registration, the residence-permit application and diploma equivalence.

• Confusing this degree with physiotherapy or occupational therapy, which lead to regulated health careers.
• Planning to rely on English during placements with disabled clients and their families.
• Ignoring how your home country recognises adapted-exercise qualifications before you enrol.

Gelişim’s latest published international fee list is for 2025–26; request a written 2026–27 quote before paying any deposit. Add a Turkish preparatory year if needed, sportswear for practical classes, travel to placement sites, housing, health insurance and the residence permit.