Foreign National TUS 2026 Quota Guide: Application, Requirements, University Lists, Specialty Path

Related Content: STS Physician Pillar | Foreign National Medicine | Diploma Equivalency | TUS General Guide

TL;DR (Quick Summary)

• TUS: Medical Specialty Education Entrance Exam (Tıpta Uzmanlık Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı) — held twice yearly by ÖSYM (in 2026, on 15 March and 23 August).
• Foreign national quota: Available; the number varies by university and branch and is published in the ÖSYM guide each term.
• Application requirement: Foreign nationals who graduated in Türkiye OR foreign-graduates who completed YÖK equivalency.
• Exam format: Basic Medical Sciences Test (100 questions / 135 min) + Clinical Medical Sciences Test (100 questions / 135 min) — total 200 questions, 270 min, two sessions.
• Specialty branches: Many main branches (cardiology, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, neurology, anesthesia, etc.).
• Training duration: 3-5 years (by branch; ÖSYM 2026 TUS guide Table 7).
• Mandatory service: The state service obligation under Law No. 3359 provides for 300-600 days for physicians and specialist physicians; confirm with the Ministry of Health how it applies to foreign national specialists.

What is TUS? General Framework for Foreign National Candidates

TUS (Medical Specialty Education Entrance Exam — Tıpta Uzmanlık Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı), is the national exam held by ÖSYM for entry into specialty training for medical school graduates. Foreign national physicians can enter TUS in two ways:

1. Foreign national who graduated from a medical school in Türkiye — enters the exam directly (accepted via TR-YÖS or similar channel + completed 6-year medical education).
2. Foreign-trained medical graduate + completed YÖK equivalency — enters TUS after being recognized as a physician in Türkiye through equivalency decision (direct equivalency or post-STS).

Important distinction: TUS is the exam to become a specialist after becoming a physician. If you are not yet a physician (have not completed foreign medical education), you must first complete medical education + equivalency process.

2026 TUS Calendar

Term	Application	Exam Date	Results	Preference + Placement
2026-1 (March)	28 January - 5 February 2026	15 March 2026	15 April 2026	Announced in the ÖSYM placement guide
2026-2 (August)	8-16 July 2026	23 August 2026	17 September 2026	Preferences: 30 September - 7 October 2026

Dates follow ÖSYM's 2026 exam calendar and application guides; current announcements are at osym.gov.tr.

Exam Format

TUS consists of two sessions:

1. Basic Medicine Session (Morning)

• Questions: 100 (13 anatomy + 7 histology and embryology + 8 physiology + 18 biochemistry + 18 microbiology + 18 pathology + 18 pharmacology)
• Duration: 135 minutes
• Wrong answer penalty: 4 wrong answers cancel out 1 correct answer

2. Clinical Medicine Session (Afternoon)

• Questions: 100 (35 internal medicine group + 25 pediatrics + 30 surgery group + 10 obstetrics and gynecology)
• Duration: 135 minutes
• Wrong answer penalty: 4 wrong answers cancel out 1 correct answer

Total: 200 questions / 270 minutes (two sessions, same day).

Foreign National Quota

In Türkiye's medical specialty education, quotas are allocated for foreign national candidates. Allocation model:

• Total foreign national quota: Varies each term; the current number is in the ÖSYM guide and placement results
• University-based: Some universities open separate quotas for foreign nationals; some do not
• Branch-based: Quota numbers and cutoff scores vary markedly by branch; see the ÖSYM placement data for the current distribution
• Official numbers: Published in the ÖSYM guide for each TUS term

Important: Foreign national quota + Turkish citizen quota compete separately; they are not in the same ranking. This may provide an advantage for foreign national candidates (competition may be lower).

Application Requirements

1. Foreign National Graduate from Medical School in Türkiye

• Graduate of a Turkish university medical school (or last-year student)
• Diploma equivalency NOT required (Turkish diploma)
• Turkish proficiency (already exists if education is in Turkish)
• Passport + student residence permit or work permit

2. Foreign-Trained Medical Graduate + Completed YÖK Equivalency

• Foreign medical school graduate
• YÖK equivalency decision: direct equivalency OR passed STS Medicine OR completed complementary education
• Ministry of Health registration (authorized professional practice permit)
• Turkish proficiency (TUS is conducted in Turkish)
• Residence permit / citizenship / work permit

Representative example — a physician who completed medical education and specialty training in Saudi Arabia: To enter TUS in Türkiye the order is: 1) YÖK equivalency (direct or STS) → 2) TTB (Turkish Medical Association) registration → 3) TUS application → 4) Preference + placement.

Representative example — a Ukrainian general practitioner under temporary protection: Can enter TUS after passing STS Medicine; where the physician works after specialization is determined by legislation and circumstances.

TUS Preparation Strategy (Special Notes for Foreign Nationals)

1. Turkish Academic Preparation

TUS is conducted in Turkish. Academic medical Turkish is a critical block for foreign-trained graduates. Recommended:

• TÖMER C1 certificate (academic Turkish)
• Medical Turkish dictionary study — Medical Turkish guide
• Reading habit of Turkish medical textbooks (Cecil Turkish edition, Harrison Turkish, etc.)

2. Subject Preparation (100 + 100 = 200 questions)

Area	Number of Questions	Preparation Time
Anatomy	13	3-4 months
Histology and Embryology	7	2 months
Physiology	8	2-3 months
Biochemistry	18	2-3 months
Microbiology	18	2 months
Pathology	18	3 months
Pharmacology	18	3 months
Internal Medicine Group	35	4-5 months
Pediatrics	25	2-3 months
Surgery Group	30	2-3 months
Obstetrics and Gynecology	10	2 months

Total preparation time: 8-12 months (with intensive study); 6-9 months may be sufficient for experienced physicians.

3. Question Banks + Mock Exams

Turkish TUS question banks (Tusdata, Tusem, etc.) are critical resources. For foreign national candidates:

• Past 10 years' exam questions from ÖSYM archive
• Mock exams (1-2 weekly mocks)
• Subject tests (after completing each section)

Preference + Placement

Candidates make preferences after TUS. Considerations when making preferences:

1. University + Branch combination: up to 30 preferences allowed; order matters
2. Cutoff score analysis: Previous years' cutoff scores are a guide (ÖSYM placement data)
3. City preference: Istanbul/Ankara/Izmir popular but competitive
4. Branch selection: many branches; consider personal interest + salary + job opportunities + training duration

Popular Specialty Branches (For Foreign Nationals)

Branch	Training Duration	2026/1 Average Cutoff Score
Cardiology	5 years	56.49
Internal Medicine	4 years	52.97
General Surgery	5 years	50.03
Pediatrics (Child Health and Diseases)	4 years	48.32
Anesthesia + Reanimation	5 years	52.25
Radiology	5 years	63.69
Neurology	5 years	54.92
Psychiatry (Mental Health and Diseases)	4 years	67.44
Emergency Medicine	4 years	48.86
Family Medicine	3 years	51.31

Training durations follow Table 7 of the ÖSYM 2026 TUS guide. The average cutoff score is the average of the cutoff scores of the programs in the ÖSYM 2026/1 placement data; in programs with special quotas such as foreign national quotas, the cutoff may be lower. Because specialist pay varies by institution and contract, no pay figures are given in the table.

Universities Foreign National Candidates Can Consider

The list does not show how large a foreign national quota each university opens; the current quota is announced in the ÖSYM guide each term.

• Istanbul University (Çapa + Cerrahpaşa) — wide quota + international network
• Hacettepe University — academic prestige + foreign quota
• Ankara University (İbn-i Sina) — established medical + international cooperation
• Ege University — Izmir + warm climate + foreigner-friendly
• Akdeniz University — Antalya + internationally dense
• Marmara University — Istanbul + international medicine
• Gazi University — Ankara + academic
• Erciyes University — Kayseri
• KTÜ (Karadeniz Technical) — Trabzon + international quota
• Çukurova University — Adana

Foundation universities (Bahçeşehir, Yeditepe, İstinye, etc.) may open foreign national quotas but with fees; placement at state universities after TUS is free.

Mandatory Service

Under Additional Article 3 of the Basic Law on Health Services No. 3359, a state service obligation applies to physicians, specialist physicians and sub-specialty specialists; it is set separately for each training and, depending on the development level of the district, is 300-600 days (600 days in the most developed district centers, 300 days in the least developed places). Before starting specialty training, confirm with the Ministry of Health's current announcements how the obligation applies to foreign national specialists:

• Whether you can work in a private hospital or academic institution after graduation depends on the status of the obligation
• Whether you can work in the public sector depends on nationality and the relevant legislation; confirm with the institution's current announcement
• Long-term Turkish citizenship + appointment may be a long-term goal

Notes by Profile

Representative example: Physician Who Completed Specialty Training Abroad

For a physician who completed medical education and specialty training abroad, the path in Türkiye is: YÖK equivalency (direct or STS) → TUS foreign national quota → working as a specialist physician in a private hospital. Pay is set by contract; no single range is given. Knowing Arabic is an advantage for those who will work with Arabic-speaking patients.

Representative example: Physician Under Temporary Protection

Under temporary protection. The path is STS Medicine + TUS foreign national quota. The time needed to learn medical Turkish varies greatly from person to person; assess your Turkish level realistically when planning.

Foreign National Medical Graduate in Türkiye

6-year medicine + TUS entry after coming through TR-YÖS. Advantage of academic Turkish fluency. 5-year residence process for Turkish citizenship in parallel.

Graduate Who Came with Türkiye Scholarships

For a graduate who studied medicine in Türkiye with a Türkiye Scholarship, the TUS foreign national quota path is open; staying in Türkiye as a specialist or returning to the home country is a matter of personal choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many people are in the foreign national quota?

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

Is TUS conducted in Turkish?

Yes, TUS is conducted only in Turkish. No foreign language exam option.

I'm a foreign medical graduate, can I enter TUS directly?

No, you must first complete YÖK equivalency (direct equivalency or STS Medicine). Then TUS application.

How much is the TUS exam fee for foreign nationals?

The exam fee announced by ÖSYM for 2026 is 2,500 TL per test, 5,000 TL in total. Check the ÖSYM guide to see whether a separate fee is announced for foreign national candidates.

Is there mandatory service?

The state service obligation provision of Law No. 3359 provides for 300-600 days for physicians, specialist physicians and sub-specialty specialists; confirm with the Ministry of Health how it applies to foreign national specialists.

Which branch is easiest for foreign nationals?

There is no "easy branch" — balance of personal interest + academic background + salary + job opportunity. In the ÖSYM 2026/1 placement, the average cutoff score of programs differed markedly between branches (e.g. Mental Health and Diseases 67.44, Radiology 63.69, Cardiology 56.49, Family Medicine 51.31, Child Health and Diseases 48.32).

Can I go abroad after becoming a specialist in Türkiye?

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 TUS preparation time?

8-12 months with intensive study; 12-18 months if medical Turkish is insufficient; 6-9 months for experienced physicians.

What is the foreign national specialist salary?

It depends on the form of employment and sector; giving a single range would be misleading. As a reference, the basic net salary of a specialist physician in a public post (civil-servant grade 3/2) in July 2026 is about 103,250 TL (excluding revolving-fund payments); pay in the private sector and at universities is set by contract. Confirm with the relevant institution the status under which a foreign national specialist can work in the public sector.

Citizenship after graduation?

Citizenship application possible after 5 years uninterrupted legal residence; additional advantages for foreigners working as specialists.

Rehber Panda TUS Coaching

At Rehber Panda, TUS 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 advice, drug dosage, or patient care recommendations. Medical content should be verified through medical reviewer approved sources. For TUS information, ÖSYM official guide (osym.gov.tr); for equivalency, YÖK (yok.gov.tr); for registration, Ministry of Health (saglik.gov.tr) are current sources. Salary information is a general framework; not a basis for personal career decisions, seek independent career consultation. Last updated: 2026-05-09.

More Information

For foreign national physician/specialist process: STS Physician Pillar | YÖK Equivalency | Medical Turkish | Residence Permit | Refugee Physician Guide.