Yüksekokullar

Yüksekokullar (Turkish: literally "higher schools") are institutional units within the Turkish higher education system that provide specialized post-secondary programs. The term commonly refers to two related types: meslek yüksekokulları (vocational schools of higher education), which typically offer two-year associate degree programs focused on applied and technical training, and certain specialized schools within universities that deliver longer undergraduate or professional programs in fields such as aviation, tourism, or health sciences.

Yüksekokullar operate under the governance of universities and the national Higher Education Council (Yükseköğretim Kurulu, YÖK), and their programs are subject to national quality and accreditation standards. Admission to many yüksekokul programs is coordinated through the centralized university entrance examination system, and curricula often emphasize practical skills, internships, and industry links to support workforce entry or further study.

Historically, vocational yüksekokullar expanded in response to labor market needs, providing an alternative pathway to traditional faculties and faculties of applied sciences. Graduates of two-year programs may enter the labor market directly or use articulation agreements and transfer mechanisms to continue to bachelor's degree programs. Yüksekokullar play a significant role in vocational education, regional development, and professional training within Turkey’s diverse higher education landscape.