About the university
TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETU) is a private, non-profit university in Ankara established by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Its defining feature is cooperative education: students alternate academic terms with structured workplace periods and graduate with experience from three organisations.
The academic year runs across three terms. A standard four-year undergraduate route therefore includes roughly one year of professional experience without extending the degree beyond four academic years. This is a strong fit for students who want to test different roles before graduation, but the calendar is more intensive than a conventional two-semester schedule.
Ankara adds a useful professional setting for engineering, economics, international relations, law and medicine. Government bodies, technology companies, hospitals and national business organisations are concentrated in the capital, while daily travel is generally more manageable than in Istanbul.
Why students choose it
TOBB ETU is best assessed through its co-op model rather than one historic ranking position. The value comes from connecting coursework to real responsibilities, building references, and comparing employers before graduation.
Most undergraduate programs follow a 70% Turkish and 30% English model. International applicants should therefore plan for Turkish even if their English is strong. English preparation is compulsory for most programs unless the required level is demonstrated; the exact language route varies by department.
Faculties
The university offers 21 undergraduate programs across six faculties. Engineering includes Computer, Electrical and Electronics, Industrial, Mechanical, Biomedical, Materials Science and Nanotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. Economics and Administrative Sciences covers Economics, Business Administration, Political Science and International Relations, and International Entrepreneurship.
Architecture and Design includes Architecture, Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Industrial Design, and Visual Communication Design. The remaining faculties cover Medicine, Law, Psychology, History, and Turkish Language and Literature. Medicine has a separate price and a longer professional pathway.
Tuition and discounts
For international students entering in 2026-2027, full undergraduate tuition is $16,500 per year for every program except Medicine. Medicine costs $23,100 per year.
- 25% award: $12,375; Medicine $17,325.
- 50% award: $8,250; Medicine $11,550.
- 75% award: $4,125; Medicine $5,775.
The award reduces tuition only; it does not include housing or living costs. The three-term calendar allows the annual fee to be split into three instalments. The exact award and payment schedule must appear in the admission letter.
Accommodation
TOBB University of Economics and Technology is proud of its student dormitory located in the heart of Ankara, just a five-minute walk from the academic buildings. The dormitory offers not only comfortable housing, but also access to a variety of sports facilities located directly on campus. Students can keep in top physical shape by working out in the fitness room, swimming in the Olympic pool, and enjoying relaxing treatments in the Finnish baths and sauna.
There are also around 70 student clubs on campus, offering a wide range of interests and hobbies. You can be part of ETU Radio taking part in online broadcasts, join a dance club or learn martial arts such as Aikido.
How to apply with StudyU
The initial application normally includes a passport, high-school diploma or expected-graduation letter, and a complete transcript. Additional exam results and achievements may strengthen the academic review; portfolio-based programs can request creative work.
International undergraduate applications for 2026-2027 are open until 16 August 2026. Applying earlier leaves more time for the decision, student visa, diploma equivalency and final registration. Language preparation must be planned alongside academic admission because most programs use both Turkish and English.
StudyU can help compare departments, check the document set and explain the financial terms in an offer. The university alone decides admission and the award level.
TOBB ETU's co-op calendar: what to consider
A strong fit
The model suits students who learn well through practice and are willing to treat workplace periods as part of their education. An engineering student can compare design, operations and manufacturing; an economics student can test analytics and commercial roles; a design student can work with real briefs and deadlines.
The trade-off
Three active terms leave less room for a long summer break. Students planning frequent travel, a continuous outside job or lengthy summer schools should compare calendars before enrolling. A co-op placement provides supervised experience, not a guaranteed high-paying job, and available hosts depend on the program and employer network.
How to compare offers
Use the same six lines for every university: final annual tuition, language, preparatory year, housing, payment dates and professional practice. For TOBB ETU, add the timing and location of all three work periods. This reveals whether the career advantage is worth the more intensive calendar for your own plans.
Before paying a deposit
- Confirm the exact program and teaching-language mix.
- Check that the tuition award is written into the offer.
- Review the three-term payment plan.
- Ask how co-op placements are selected.
- Leave enough time for visa and final registration.
Student reviews
The first semester of my cooperative education, which was one of the main reasons I joined TOBB ETÜ, I spent my first semester at the Constitutional Court, every law student's dream. I realized how right my choice was when I learned that only TOBB ETÜ students intern at the Constitutional Court, the highest level of the Turkish legal system, despite the huge number of law schools in Turkey.
During my cooperative education, I worked with a different speaker each week, dealing with a variety of legal issues. In the first three weeks, I worked in the reception, commissions, and individual application stages at the chamber. I studied countless individual application cases, reports and articles. I participated in the admissibility phase of individual applications, conducting admissibility checks on cases referred to me by the rapporteur with whom I was working.
In the winter of 2014, we did a cooperative training at the University of Michigan in the US. We spent 3.5 months in Lansing as part of the cooperative education program. There, we had the opportunity not only to study as visiting students, but also to observe court proceedings two days a week and to gain experience in legal clinics. The two undergraduate courses we took, American Constitution and Criminal Procedure, allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the Anglo-Saxon legal system, which was somewhat foreign to us, and to broaden our horizons in terms of legal terminology and self-development. The courses we studied and the court cases we observed helped us to better appreciate our own courses and court systems and their value.
Frequently asked questions
Full undergraduate tuition is $16,500 per year, while Medicine is $23,100. With a 75% award, the respective annual fees are $4,125 and $5,775.
Students alternate academic study with three workplace periods in different organisations, gaining roughly one year of professional experience before graduation.
Most programs use approximately 70% Turkish and 30% English. Preparation and proficiency requirements depend on the department.
The core set is a passport, high-school diploma or expected-graduation letter, and transcript. Program-specific exams, translations or a portfolio may also be requested.
The published international undergraduate deadline is 16 August 2026. Earlier submission is advisable because visa and registration steps follow the admission decision.
Programs and tuition
| Program | Degree | Language | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Biomedical Engineering | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Economics | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Interior and Environmental Design | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Medicine | Bachelor | Turkish | $23,100/year |
| Political Science and International Relations | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Psychology | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
| Visual Communication Design | Bachelor | Turkish | $16,500/year |
Program and price data are for 2026; each university confirms its current tuition and available discount, and a personalised application route is prepared under an agreement with StudyU.
Get a free consultation
Talk to a real consultant. During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. A personal strategy, requirement checks, selection of agreed options, document preparation, applications, and support are provided under an agreement with StudyU.
- Clarification of your goal, profile, timing, and budget
- Verification of current tuition and university terms
- Help with visa and documents
- A personal consultant from the first message to enrollment
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