Turkey Ranked in Top 10 in Higher Education
December 5, 2020
Turkey has made significant progress towards becoming a center of
attraction for international students in higher education and ranked among
the top 10 countries in the world for the number of international students
in 2018.
According to the 2018 data published by UNESCO, Turkey became the 10th
country among the countries who host the most international students in
higher education, with 125,138 students.
According to the data, among 5 million 571 thousand 402 international
students in the world, 987 thousand 314 of them study in higher education
institutions in the United States. The U.S. was followed by the Great
Britain with 452,079 students and Australia with 444,514 students.
The top 10 countries hosting the most international students are as
follows:
1. USA 987.314
2. United Kingdom 452.079
3. Australia 444.514
4. Germany 311.738
5. Russia 262.416
6. France 229.623
7. Canada 224.548
8. Japan 182.748
9. China 178.271
10.Turkey 125.138
In his statement, CoHE President Prof. M. A. Yekta Saraç said that the
number of international students, which was 48,183 in 2014, had increased
greatly in the last five years in line with the strategies, decisions and
goals the New CoHE had followed according to its target-oriented
internationalization policy in higher education.
Saraç noted that Turkey had been strengthening its position to become a
center of attraction in higher education globally every year. “Determined
to be among the top 10 economies in the world, Turkey has first attained
this goal in higher education. The number of international students in
Turkey, which was 48 thousand 183 in 2014, increased by two and a half
times and rose to 125 thousand 138. Turkey was placed in the top 10
countries that attract the highest number of international students in the
world.”
He noted that while 1.07% of 4 million 495 thousand 697 international
students received education in Turkey in 2014, this rate had increased to
2.24% for 5 million 5 thousand 402 international students.
"With the increase of the number of international students to 125.138,
Turkey's share from the total number of international students has
increased by 110% during the first four years of the New CoHE. UNESCO's
data on higher education is 2-3 years behind. The 2018 data has just been
announced. We believe we will see Turkey continuing its rise in the coming
years and ranking higher among the top 10 countries. The number of
international students in Turkey, which was 154.505 in 2019, has exceeded
200 thousand as of today. Despite the conditions of the pandemic, we aim to
exceed 220 thousand as a result of the various decisions we take, virtual
fairs we organize, other promotional activities and most importantly, with
good team work in 2021. We believe that we will achieve this goal, just as
we have achieved the other goals we have declared to the public. Thus,
Turkey will be ranked higher and further increase its share from the
international students in the world,” he said.
“The New CoHE proceeds with its actions and projects, rather than brilliant
and sophisticated statements on higher education, prospective designs,
highly rhetorical drafts, and intellectual statements. The Target-oriented
Internationalization Project is a similar project. The success of the New
CoHE’s project is quite evident. This success has now been recognized at
the international level.
Lastly, the Turkish higher education continues to evolve gradually, in line
with our plans. UNESCO’s report also shows this.”