Turkey's 2026 YKS supplementary university entrance exam preferences to start in September

Thousands of Turkish students aspiring to enroll in associate or bachelor's degree programs are awaiting the official announcement for the 2026 YKS (Higher Education Institutions Exam) supplementary preference period.

This second round of preferences, held after initial university registrations and for vacant quotas, is a crucial opportunity for students who did not secure a place in the first round or who wish to change their programs. The process is managed by the ÖSYM (Student Selection and Placement Center).

According to current expectations, the supplementary preference period is likely to commence in the first half of September. Following the completion of university registrations, institutions will report any unfilled or unregistered spots to ÖSYM. Based on this data, ÖSYM will publish the Supplementary Preference Guide, officially opening the application window for candidates.

Students wishing to participate must use their Turkish identification numbers and passwords to access the ÖSYM Candidate Transaction System (AİS) or the ÖSYM AİS mobile application. A key requirement for the validity of these supplementary preferences is the timely payment of a designated fee.

During this period, candidates are permitted to list a maximum of 24 programs on their preference list. However, they are not obligated to fill all 24 slots, having the flexibility to choose any number of programs between one and 24.