I am a foreign national, what should I do to take the TUS (Specialty Entrance Examination for Medicine and Dentistry)? What are the procedures?

According to Article 14 of the Regulation on Specialization Training in Medicine and Dentistry, foreign nationals who have graduated from medical faculties and wish to undergo specialty training without a scholarship in university and Health Ministry Training and Research Hospitals must also take the TUS.

Turkish citizens and individuals of Turkish descent who fall under the scope of Law No. 2527, which allows them to practice their professions and crafts freely in Turkey and work in public, private institutions, and workplaces, cannot benefit from foreign national quotas as they apply for general quotas. Foreign students who will specialize in Turkey under bilateral agreements will be governed by the provisions of those agreements.

For foreign nationals, separate quotas have been allocated in Health Ministry Training and Research Hospitals and university medical faculties, which are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

Candidates who have only selected "Foreign Nationals" in the "NATIONALITY" field can choose the Foreign National Quotas in this guide and cannot select other quotas.

Candidates who have selected "Foreign Nationals" along with other nationalities and mark the option "I want to benefit from the foreign national quotas" on the preference screen can choose the foreign national quotas. Foreign nationals will be placed in these quotas based on their scores and preferences according to the rules in this guide. Even if there are vacancies in general quotas, foreign national candidates cannot be placed in those quotas. Graduates from medical faculties in Turkish Republics, Asia, and the Balkans who wish to receive specialization training in our medical faculties are also required to take the TUS. Those who want to receive state scholarships among these candidates can apply to the Council of Higher Education by documenting their situation.

The quotas allocated for these candidates are also shown within the foreign national quotas. There is no separate Application Form and Guide prepared for foreign national candidates. Except for very specific situations that do not concern them, these candidates are subject to all the provisions of this guide.

Specialization training for foreign nationals:

Article 14 -

Foreign nationals may be admitted to specialty training provided that they meet the following criteria:

• There are quotas allocated for foreign nationals in institutions.
• They have graduated from a medical or dental faculty in Turkey or from a faculty in a foreign country and obtained an equivalency certificate from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to undertake the main field of specialization training, or they have obtained a specialist certificate from institutions providing specialist training in Turkey or a "recognition certificate" issued by the Ministry within the framework of Articles 23, 24, and 25.
• They do not have any hindrance to undergoing specialization training in Turkey.
• They have been granted a residence permit in Turkey.
• They present a document stating that they will receive a scholarship or their expenses will be covered during their specialization training.
• They have been placed in the relevant program through the entrance exams for specialization training.

Additionally, foreign nationals must submit documents proving their success in a Turkish language proficiency exam conducted by an institution designated by the Board, to measure their proficiency in the Turkish language to follow professional topics. This must be done within one year from the date they start their specialization training. Otherwise, their status as a specialization student will be terminated. Turkish language proficiency certificate is not required for those who have graduated from Turkish language departments of medical and dental faculties in Turkey.

Except for quotas allocated to foreign countries through international agreements established in accordance with the procedures, additional quotas up to 10% of the specialization student quotas may be allocated to foreign nationals who wish to pursue specialization training in Turkey.

Those who change their nationality to Turkish while undergoing specialization training in Turkey will continue their specialization training under the same status they started with.

Can Foreigners Take the TUS Exam?