QS Best Student Cities ranking: Joint 89th
Turkey’s capital and second-largest city, Ankara is located in the north-western part of the country, and although it may seem like a bustling concrete jungle on first glance, a closer look will reveal that the city has much to offer international students.
Known as Ancyra and Angora in antiquity, Ankara has a history dating back to the Bronze Age, and archaeological sites from various periods of its history are still present in the city – from the Roman and later Byzantine Ankara Castle that overlooks the city and offers stunning views, to the remains of ancient Roman baths, and the Temple of Augustus and Rome.
Probably the most popular landmark in Ankara is the Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, which is particularly striking to visit on a national holiday such as Republic Day, when it lights up with celebrations. Ankara is also home to a number of interesting museums, attractive parks and open spaces, mosques, historic inns, bars, clubs and concert venues.
The city has a large population of students, and the government is a major employer. Many students will be pleased to hear that it’s a fairly affordable study destination, with reasonable living costs and tuition fees. You can find programs taught in English or Turkish, although international students may need to pay more to study in English.
Internationally ranked universities in Ankara
Bilkent University; Middle East Technical University; Hacettepe University; Ankara Üniversitesi |
More about Ankara
Number of universities ranked by QS |
4 |
Highest-ranked institution |
Bilkent University (ranked 501-510) |
Population |
4,750,000 |
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$3,800 |
Desirability rank |
117th |
Employer Activity rank |
79th |
Affordability rank |
39th |
Student View rank |
70th |
To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.