Student Housing in Turkey: Options, Costs and Contracts

Your three main housing options

Students in Turkey generally choose between state dormitories run by the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK), private or university-operated dorms, and private rental apartments, usually shared with other students. Each option differs sharply on price, availability and how easy it is to secure as an international applicant.

State (KYK) dormitories

KYK dorms are the cheapest option by far. For the 2025-26 academic year, monthly fees range from 750 to 1250 Turkish lira across six room types, a 40 percent rise on the year before, with a refundable deposit between 1,430 and 2,750 TL, according to Hürriyet . Fees include meals, cleaning and internet access, and the actual cost of running a room sits close to 15,000 TL a month, with the state covering most of it.

Demand for these subsidized rooms far outstrips supply, and priority generally goes to Turkish citizens and to scholarship holders, including Türkiye Scholarships recipients, who receive guaranteed KYK placement as part of their award. If you are an independent international applicant without a state scholarship, treat a KYK spot as a possibility rather than a guaranteed fallback, and apply as early as your university allows.

Private and university dormitories

Private dorm chains and university-run residences fill the gap for students who cannot secure a KYK room. They cost more than the state dorms but generally accept international students more readily, and many sit closer to campus with facilities like study rooms, gyms and cafeterias built in. Rates vary by city and by how many students share a room, so check the housing page of your specific university or search for licensed private dorm operators in your target city directly.

Private rental apartments

Shared apartments are common among students in larger cities like Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, where groups of two to four students split rent on a furnished flat near campus. This route gives you the most independence and often works out cheaper per person than a private dorm once you split costs, though you take on more responsibility for setting up utilities, internet and furnishings.

Expect to pay a security deposit worth one to two months rent up front, on top of your first month, and in many cities a share of the estate agent's fee if you use one to find the flat. Get everything in writing.

Contract and tenant basics

• Sign a written tenancy agreement (kira sözleşmesi) that states the rent, deposit, length of the contract and what happens if you leave early

• Check whether utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet) are included in the rent or billed separately in your name

• Photograph the apartment's condition when you move in, so you have evidence if the landlord disputes your deposit return later

• Keep proof of every rent payment, ideally by bank transfer rather than cash

• Register your address with the local authorities after you move in, since you need this for your residence permit application

Landlords in Turkey generally ask for a copy of your passport and, once you have one, your residence permit before signing a lease. If you arrive before your permit comes through, some landlords accept a short-term booking or a co-signed agreement with a local contact until your paperwork clears, though terms differ property to property.

Choosing between options

If cost is your main concern and you qualify for a scholarship with guaranteed housing, a KYK dorm room is the cheapest and simplest choice. If you value independence and flexibility, or you cannot secure a state dorm spot, a shared private apartment usually gives you the best balance of cost and control once you are settled. University or private dorms sit in between, worth considering for your first semester while you learn the city before committing to a private lease.