Foreign National DUS 2026 Quota Guide: Application, Requirements, 9 Specialties

Related content: STS Dentistry Pillar | Foreign National TUS | Diploma Equivalency | DUS General Guide

TL;DR (Quick Summary)

• DUS: Dentistry Specialty Entrance Exam (Diş Hekimliğinde Uzmanlık Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı) — held twice yearly by ÖSYM (in 2026, on 26 April and 1 November).
• Foreign national quota: Available; the number is published in the ÖSYM guide and placement results each term.
• Application requirement: Foreign nationals graduated in Turkey OR foreign graduates + YÖK equivalency (STS Dentistry or direct).
• Exam format: 120 questions / 150 minutes / Turkish.
• 9 specialty fields: Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology, Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral-Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral Pathology.
• Training duration: 3 or 4 years depending on the field (Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Oral Pathology 4 years; other fields 3 years).
• Salary: Varies by form of work; giving a single range would be misleading (details in Section 12).
• Mandatory service: The state service obligation provision of Law No. 3359 does not name dental specialists; confirm its scope with the Ministry of Health.

1. What is DUS?

DUS (Dentistry Specialty Training Entrance Exam) is the national exam administered by ÖSYM for dental school graduates to enter specialty training. Foreign national dentists can enter DUS through two pathways:

1. Foreign national graduated from dental school in Turkey — enters the exam directly (admitted through TR-YÖS or similar channel + completed 5-year dentistry education).
2. Foreign dental school graduate + completed YÖK equivalency — enters DUS after being recognized as a dentist in Turkey through the equivalency decision (direct or after STS Dentistry).

Important distinction: DUS is an exam to become a specialist after becoming a dentist. If you are not yet a dentist (foreign education incomplete), you must first complete transfer + equivalency process.

2. 2026 DUS Calendar

Period	Application	Exam	Results	Preferences + Placement
2026-1 (April)	10-17 March 2026	26 April 2026	22 May 2026	Announced in the ÖSYM placement guide
2026-2 (November)	16-24 September 2026	1 November 2026	26 November 2026	Announced in the ÖSYM placement guide

3. Exam Format

• Number of questions: 120
• Duration: 150 minutes
• Penalty for incorrect answers: 4 wrong answers cancel out 1 correct answer
• Language: Turkish
• Topic distribution: Basic Sciences 40 questions, Clinical Sciences 80 questions; topic-based question numbers are in the ÖSYM guide.

4. Foreign National Quota

In Turkey's dentistry specialty training, a quota is allocated for foreign nationals:

• Total foreign national quota: Varies each term; the current number is in the ÖSYM guide and placement results
• By university: Each university determines its own quota
• By branch: Orthodontics and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery are among the competitive fields with high cutoff scores; the quota distribution changes from term to term, so check the current guide
• Official numbers: Published in ÖSYM guide for each DUS period

Foreign national advantage: Foreign national quota + Turkish citizen quota compete separately → competition can be lower.

5. Application Requirements

1. Foreign National Graduated from Dental School in Turkey

• Graduate of a Turkish dental school (5-year dentistry education)
• Diploma equivalency NOT required (Turkish diploma)
• Turkish proficiency (education in Turkish)
• Passport + student residence permit or work permit

2. Foreign Dental Graduate + Completed YÖK Equivalency

• Foreign dental school graduate (5+ years education)
• YÖK equivalency decision:
  • Direct equivalency (accredited university + full curriculum match)
  • Passed STS Dentistry (ÖSYM administered)
  • Completed supplementary education (1-3 semesters at Turkish university)
• Ministry of Health registration (professional practice authorization)
• Turkish proficiency (DUS conducted in Turkish)
• Residence permit / citizenship / work permit

6. 9 Dentistry Specialty Fields

Branch	Training Duration	2026-DUS/1 average cutoff score
Orthodontics	4 years	66.43
Oral Pathology	4 years	65.58 (single program)
Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery	4 years	64.60
Periodontology (gum)	3 years	63.74
Prosthodontics (implant)	3 years	63.37
Pediatric Dentistry	3 years	63.33
Endodontics (root canal)	3 years	62.61
Oral-Maxillofacial Radiology	3 years	61.12
Restorative Dentistry (aesthetic)	3 years	60.58

The average cutoff score is the average of the cutoff scores of the programs in the ÖSYM 2026-DUS/1 placement results; in programs with foreign national quotas the cutoff may be lower. In Oral Pathology the T (Basic Sciences) score is used for placement, in the other fields the K (Clinical Sciences) score. Training durations follow the schedule annexed to Law No. 1219.

Branch Selection Criteria

• Orthodontics: Highest average cutoff score, the most competitive field
• Surgery: Operation-focused, competitive field
• Endodontics + Prosthodontics: Fields frequently used in general practice
• Restorative (aesthetic): Aesthetic dentistry growing market
• Periodontology: Growing field with diabetes/aging increase
• Pediatric Dentistry: Pediatric patients + patient + branch fun (often female candidate preference)
• Radiology: Diagnosis-focused + calmer work pace

7. DUS Preparation Strategy (Foreign Nationals)

1. Turkish Academic Preparation

DUS is conducted in Turkish. Academic medical Turkish + dental terminology essential for foreign dentists:

• TÖMER C1 certificate (academic Turkish)
• Dental Turkish dictionary (each term Turkish + Latin + English)
• Reading Turkish dental textbooks (Turkish editions)

2. Topic Preparation

Area	Preparation Duration
Anatomy + Physiology + Biochemistry	2-3 months
Microbiology + Pathology + Pharmacology	2-3 months
Restorative + Endodontics	3-4 months
Periodontology	2 months
Pediatric Dentistry	2 months
Orthodontics	2-3 months
Prosthodontics	2-3 months
Surgery + Radiology + General	3 months

Total preparation duration: 6-9 months intensive (9-12 months if Turkish insufficient).

3. Question Bank

• Past DUS questions (last 10 years)
• Turkish DUS question banks (Tusdata Dental, Tusem Dental)
• Weekly practice exams (4-5 mocks)

8. Preferences + Placement

Preferences after DUS:

1. University + Branch combination: up to 30 preferences allowed; ranking matters
2. Cutoff score analysis: Previous years' data (ÖSYM placement)
3. City preference: Istanbul/Ankara/Izmir popular
4. Branch selection: Personal interest + salary + employment opportunity + training duration

9. Universities Most Accepting Foreign Nationals

• Istanbul University Dentistry: Established, wide quota, academic prestige
• Hacettepe University Dentistry: Turkey's most academic dental school
• Marmara University Dentistry: Modern + international
• Ankara University Dentistry: Established, wide quota
• Ege University Dentistry: Izmir, quality
• Gazi University Dentistry: Ankara, academic
• Çukurova University Dentistry: Adana
• Atatürk University Dentistry: Erzurum
• İnönü University Dentistry: Malatya
• Selçuk University Dentistry: Konya

Foundation universities (Yeditepe, Istanbul Aydın, Bezmialem, Acıbadem) take specialty after DUS.

10. Mandatory Service

The state service obligation provision of the Basic Law on Health Services No. 3359 names physicians, specialist physicians and sub-specialty specialists; dental specialists are not named in that provision. Therefore, before starting specialty training, confirm with the Ministry of Health's current announcements whether an obligation exists for dental specialists and what it covers. Mandatory service arising from training on a scholarship or on behalf of an institution is a separate matter and is explained in the DUS guide.

• Working in a private clinic or hospital after graduation
• For those who want to work in the public sector, the institution's current announcement and conditions
• Turkish citizenship + appointment long-term

11. Foreign National DUS Candidate Scenarios

Scenario A: Foreign National Graduated from Dentistry in Turkey

After arriving via TR-YÖS, 5 years of dentistry + DUS entry. Turkish academic fluency advantage + 5-year residency process for Turkish citizenship in parallel.

Scenario B: Foreign Dentist (Syria, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia)

Foreign diploma + YÖK equivalency (STS Dentistry or direct) + Ministry of Health registration → DUS application. On the STS Dentistry route, the process can take a long time because of the Turkish preparation, equivalency, STS and registration steps.

Scenario C: Refugee Dentist (Syrian)

Temporary protection + STS Dentistry + registration + DUS. NGO support (UNHCR/IRC). Details: Syrian Physician Guide pattern also applies to dentists.

12. Career Pathways

A. Public Hospital Specialist Dentist

• Whether you can work in the public sector depends on nationality and the relevant legislation; confirm with the institution's current announcement
• Salary: varies by form of employment; giving a single range would be misleading
• Mandatory service: for dental specialists, confirm its scope with the Ministry of Health

B. Private Clinic / Hospital

• Direct application + contract
• Pay: varies by contract; TDB's 2026 contractual recommended net pay schedule provides for a specialist dentist 135,600 TL full-time and 94,800 TL half-time (a recommendation, not binding)
• Pay varies greatly by branch, experience and patient profile

C. Academic Career

• University faculty (Dr. Lecturer → Associate Professor → Professor)
• Tenured appointment after Turkish citizenship
• Moderate salary + research + academic prestige

D. Opening Own Clinic

• Possible after Turkish citizenship
• Investment: clinic setup and equipment costs vary greatly by location and scope; giving a single range would be misleading
• Revenue: varies greatly by location, branch and patient profile; no unsourced range is given

E. Health Tourism (Turkey's Advantage)

• Turkey is one of the prominent countries in health tourism
• Dentistry is a significant sub-market (especially Europe + Gulf)
• Foreign national specialist + Arabic/English language advantage very valuable

13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How large is the foreign national DUS quota?

The number changes each term; official figures are in the ÖSYM guide and placement results.

Is DUS conducted in Turkish?

Yes, only Turkish.

Can a foreign dental school graduate enter DUS directly?

No, YÖK equivalency (direct or STS Dentistry) must be completed first.

When is STS Dentistry held?

It is administered by ÖSYM (on behalf of YÖK).

Is there mandatory service?

The state service obligation provision of Law No. 3359 does not name dental specialists; confirm its scope with the Ministry of Health before starting training.

Which branch is easy for foreign nationals?

"Easy" does not exist; quotas and cutoff scores change from term to term, see the ÖSYM placement results for the current distribution.

Can I go abroad after becoming a specialist in Turkey?

Working abroad is subject to the recognition and equivalency conditions of the target country; these differ by country and should be confirmed with that country's official bodies.

How long is preparation?

6-9 months intensive (Turkish + medical Turkish); 4-6 months for experienced dentists.

Foreign national specialist dentist salary?

It depends on the form of employment and sector; giving a single range would be misleading. For the private sector, TDB's 2026 contractual recommended net pay schedule provides for a specialist dentist 135,600 TL full-time; this is a recommended pay, not a public-sector salary.

Citizenship after graduation?

Application after 5 years of legal residency; additional evaluation for those working as specialist dentists.

14. Turkish Dental Association (TDB) Registration

• Mandatory provincial chamber registration for all specialist dentists
• Turkish-Foreign Dentists Commission
• Branch societies (after specialty: Orthodontics Society, Surgery Society, etc.)

15. Rehber Panda DUS Coaching

At Rehber Panda, DUS coaching is the same for everyone regardless of nationality. There are no subject lectures; coaching is built on a study plan, strategy and guidance, and Kazım İncebacak runs it online and one-to-one. Details are on the coaching page.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational + exam preparation + career guidance purposes; does not offer clinical/dental procedure recommendations. Medical content must be verified through medical reviewer approved sources. For DUS information, ÖSYM official guide (osym.gov.tr); for equivalency, YÖK; for registration, Ministry of Health + TDB. Private-sector pay information is based on TDB's 2026 contractual recommended schedule (not a basis for personal career decisions). Last updated: 2026-05-11.

More

For foreign national dentist process: STS Dentistry Pillar | Foreign National TUS | YÖK Equivalency | Medical Turkish | Refugee Physician.