In our previous article, we examined the increase in recent years in the number of students from Turkey going abroad for higher education. We used data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the primary source of internationally comparable statistics. According to these figures, the number of higher education students from Turkey studying abroad rose from 33,000 in 2004 to 67,000 in 2023. In this article, we will examine how the country preferences of these higher education students from Turkey studying abroad have changed over the years.
The Shift in Leadership
The UNESCO data presented in the graph in a comparative format shows that, over the last decade, Germany has now taken the lead in terms of the number of higher education students from Turkey studying abroad. In other words, whilst the United States (US) was previously the leading destination for higher education students from Turkey, this situation has now changed.
As of 2023, it is evident that Germany (16,600 students) now hosts a greater number of higher education students from Turkey than the combined total of the US (8,000) and the UK (5,400). Germany’s increase in student numbers from 5,445 in 2014 to nearly three times that figure within a decade appears to be linked to the low-cost education and living expenses it offers, as well as the opportunities available after graduation. Although the US has seen a decline in student numbers over the past decade, it remains the second most popular destination for students from Turkey.
European Countries That Retain Their Appeal
The United Kingdom, much like the US, stands out as a global hub of attraction due to factors such as high-quality education and research opportunities, the global role of the English language, and its multicultural lifestyle. The UK continues to see a small but steady rise in the number of students from Turkey and ranks as the third most popular destination.
When looking at individual cities, it is worth noting that London is particularly attractive to students from Turkey due to its established academic institutions, cultural diversity and ease of transport.
The presence of countries such as Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, France, Austria and Switzerland alongside Germany and the United Kingdom among the top 12 countries demonstrates Europe’s appeal to students from Turkey. The rapid rise of Italy – alongside Germany – in recent years, as the fourth most popular destination for students from Turkey, is particularly noteworthy.
Countries such as Azerbaijan (3,602) and North Macedonia (3,384) remain attractive to students from Turkey due to linguistic proximity, low education and living costs, and ease of access.
Despite being far from Turkey, countries such as Canada and the USA continue to feature among the top 10.
Although the number of students it hosts has decreased since the start of the war, Ukraine continues to rank among the top 10 destinations for students from Turkey.
Increasing Competition
A comprehensive review of data from 2014 to 2023 reveals significant shifts in the preferences of higher education students leaving Turkey. In students’ choice of destination countries, factors such as geographical proximity, the cost of education and living, and employment opportunities may influence their decisions alongside academic quality. It is not possible to predict exactly which countries students will choose and in what proportions in the coming years; however, all available data indicates that student mobility and competition between countries will continue to increase.
