A Decline in University Entrance Exam Applicants in Turkey
Decline in university entrance exam applications in Turkey indicative of societal alterations
The Lowest Number in Five Years
Turkey's university entrance exam witnessed a notable drop in the number of applicants in 2024, boasting a total of 2,560,640 candidates – a stark contrast to over 3.1 million applicants in the previous year, marking a decrease of over half a million students. This figure represents the lowest number in the last five years.
Causes of the Slump
Educational expert Cihan Yeşilyurt identifies several factors contributing to this downward trend, encompassing a mix of economic, social, and educational aspects.
The Allure of Studying Abroad
A notable trend sees a growing number of Turkish students expressing interest in pursuing their education overseas. Unlike previous years, where primarily students from foreign-language high schools opted for overseas education, interest has now spread among students from private and vocational high schools. In other words, the desire to study abroad is no longer an exclusive preference for students with a foreign-language background.
Diminishing High School Graduates
In the previous year, over 1 million 12th-grade students registered for the exam. However, this year's number has dwindled to 831,000. The cause? Some high schools aren't graduating students this year due to the reintroduction of preparatory years.
The Consequences of the "4+4+4" Education Model
Introduced in 2012, the "4+4+4" education model indicates three sequential four-year phases of schooling. This shift resulted in younger children starting school at age five. As a result, a temporary surge in 12th-grade students took place in 2024, a bubble that has since passed. Consequently, the 2025 candidate pool is expected to drop by roughly 270,000 students.
Economic Challenges and Uncertainty
Rising costs of accommodation and exam fees, combined with a youth unemployment rate hovering around 25 percent among graduates, make university attendance less feasible for many. Furthermore, trades such as plumbing, hairstyling, or carpentry are often seen as providing better income prospects compared to degrees.
Changing Educational Preferences
Beyond Turkey's borders, a global trend is emerging where students are gravitating toward technical and vocational education due to its practical skills orientation and employment relevance. It is possible that this trend is extending to Turkey, with students opting for vocational or alternative educational paths instead of university exams.
- The decline in university entrance exam applicants in Turkey, as seen in 2024, could be attributed to various factors such as the allure of studying abroad, diminishing high school graduates, the consequences of the "4+4+4" education model, economic challenges and uncertainty, and changing educational preferences towards technical and vocational education.
- This shift in educational-and-self-development trends, evident in the decreasing number of university exam applicants, coincides with a rise in political interest and general-news discussions about the feasibility and relevance of university education compared to other vocational paths.
