Thirteen universities in Turkey feature in the top 1000 of the THE World University Rankings 2027. Koç University and Middle East Technical University occupy the country’s highest band, 326–350. With Sabancı University and Boğaziçi University, they bring Turkey’s representation in the top 500 to four institutions.
The results were announced on 30 September 2026. THE updated its results announcement on 1 October; that timestamp does not establish a change to Turkey’s ranking table today. This article examines the Turkish institutions in the already announced 2027 results.
Key findings
- Turkey has 13 universities in the top 1000.
- Four of those institutions are in the top 500.
- The overall ranking includes 2297 institutions across 118 countries and territories.
The 13 universities and their global ranking bands
Institutions below are grouped by their global ranking bands. Their order within a band does not indicate a further ranking.
- Koç Üniversitesi — 326–350
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (ODTÜ) — 326–350
- Sabancı Üniversitesi — 376–400
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi — 401–450
- Bilkent Üniversitesi — 651–700
- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi (İTÜ) — 651–700
- Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- Atatürk Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- İstinye Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- Özyeğin Üniversitesi — 801–1000
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi — 801–1000
How to read the bands
A range such as 326–350 places an institution within a band, rather than assigning it one exact position. Koç and METU should therefore not be ordered within that band or described as sharing an exact rank. THE publishes precise ranks for the top 300 institutions in its 2027 edition, followed by bands for the rest.
What does THE assess?
The methodology uses 17 indicators across five dimensions: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. An overall university ranking is different from a subject ranking. This list covers Turkey’s institutions in the top 1000 of the 2027 overall table; it makes no claim about movement compared with the previous year.
What this means for prospective students
The top-1000 list can provide a starting point for students exploring universities in Turkey. Alongside an institution’s overall position, applicants should compare their chosen programme’s curriculum, teaching language, tuition fees, scholarship conditions and application timetable. Sharing a ranking band does not mean two institutions offer the same fit for every subject or for every student.
Inclusion is not a guarantee of admission, an entitlement to a scholarship or proof of programme accreditation. Applicants should check current entry requirements and any programme-level accreditation on the relevant official pages. This article is a comparison guide based on ranking results, rather than an announcement that applications have opened.
Questions answered
Which Turkish universities are in the top 500?
Koç University and METU are in band 326–350, Sabancı University in 376–400 and Boğaziçi University in 401–450.
Do universities in one band share an exact rank?
No. A band indicates a common range and should not be converted into an exact position or a claim of identical scores.
