How Are University Preferences Made?
For candidates who have taken the university entrance examination and achieved successful results, the most important and final stage of the process is the preference period. Therefore, the question of how university preferences are made is of great importance. All details regarding the preference procedures are included in the Higher Education Programmes and Quotas Guide, which will be published by ÖSYM during the preference period.
The information provided in this guide serves as a general reference to help you understand how the university preference process is conducted. For the current preference rules and quota information, the guide published by ÖSYM must be taken as the official basis.
How Are University Preference Procedures Completed?
Candidates create their preference lists by logging into the ÖSYM Candidate Transactions System using their Turkish Republic Identification Numbers and ÖSYM candidate passwords. After the preferences are reviewed and approved, the process is completed and the list is submitted electronically to ÖSYM.
ÖSYM allows candidates who are eligible to make preferences to submit up to 24 choices. The current rules regarding the preference process are explained in the Higher Education Programmes and Quotas Guide published before the preference period. Therefore, it is important for candidates to review the guide carefully before creating their preference lists.
What Should Be Considered When Creating University Preferences?
- Candidates making university preferences should first determine the programmes they wish to choose by considering their interests, abilities, personality traits and career goals. They should not add a programme they do not want to their preference list solely because their achievement ranking is sufficient for admission.
- After the examination results are announced, candidates should create their preference lists by taking their achievement rankings into consideration. One of the most important factors in preparing a well-balanced preference list is establishing the correct balance between the order of personal preference and the achievement ranking.
- Candidates should also research the educational opportunities, academic staff, accreditation status, scholarship opportunities, exchange programmes such as Erasmus, internship opportunities and campus facilities offered by the universities they are considering.
- Obtaining information about the language of instruction, preparatory programme requirements, duration of education and post-graduation career opportunities of the preferred programme contributes to making the right decision.
- Candidates are not required to use all of the preference choices granted by ÖSYM. They may submit as many preferences as they consider suitable for themselves.
- When determining the programmes to be preferred, the Special Conditions and Explanations section of the Higher Education Programmes and Quotas Guide must be reviewed carefully.
- The preference list should be checked one final time. The preference procedure should be approved only after ensuring that the programme codes, scholarship status and order of preferences are correct.
A carefully prepared, informed and well-planned preference list that takes these key points into consideration will provide a significant advantage in the process of gaining admission to your target university and programme.