During the 2026-YKS preference period held between 29 July and 10 August 2026, candidates used their right to submit up to 24 preferences for 805,747 available places. So why can two students with the same score be placed in different degree programs? The answer lies in the YKS ranking. While minimum admission scores may rise or fall depending on the difficulty of the examination in a given year, rankings provide a much more consistent indicator. This guide uses current data to explain which degree programs correspond to different ranking ranges in the SAY, EA, SÖZ, DİL, and TYT score categories.
Table of Contents
What Are Score Categories? The Difference Between SAY, EA, SÖZ, and DİL
Ranking or Minimum Admission Score? The Key Factor in University Preferences
Associate Degree Programs Admitting Students with TYT Scores
What Are Score Categories? The Difference Between SAY, EA, SÖZ, and DİL
Four-year undergraduate programs in the YKS admit students through four different score categories: Quantitative (SAY), Equal Weight (EA), Verbal (SÖZ), and Foreign Language (DİL). Two-year associate degree programs admit students solely on the basis of their TYT scores. These scores are not calculated arbitrarily. The formula used for A-SAY, A-SÖZ, and A-EA is as follows: (TYT Standard Score × 0,4) + (AYT Standard Score × 0,6) + (Secondary Education Achievement Score × 0,12). For the DİL score, the Foreign Language Test (YDT) replaces the AYT. The YDT is administered separately in German, Arabic, French, English, and Russian. The score category accepted by each degree program is clearly indicated next to the program in the ÖSYM preference guide, which is updated annually. Overlooking this information and calculating eligibility using the wrong score category is one of the most common preference-entry mistakes.
Ranking or Minimum Admission Score? The Key Factor in University Preferences
Even the same number of correct answers can produce a different score from one year to another because YKS coefficients are recalculated each year. Therefore, looking at the previous year's minimum admission score and assuming, “My score is higher, so I will be admitted,” can be misleading. University preference counsellors consistently emphasise that the main criterion is not the minimum admission score but the candidate's ranking. A ranking shows a candidate's position among all candidates within the same score category and, unlike examination scores, is barely affected by changes in the difficulty of the examination. A concrete example helps illustrate this point: in 2025, the candidate ranked 39,003rd was admitted to the English-medium Computer Engineering program at Eskişehir Technical University with a score of 458,11. The score corresponding to the same ranking may differ in 2026, but a ranking close to 39,003 would still indicate a similar level of competitiveness.
Which Degree Programs Can You Enter with a SAY Score?
The Quantitative score category covers mathematics- and science-intensive programs, particularly engineering and medicine. Medicine is the most selective program in this group: admission to public universities generally requires a score above 500 and a ranking within approximately the top 1-3% of candidates. For Dentistry, a score range of 480-500 and a position within the top 2-5% are commonly used as reference points, while Pharmacy generally requires a score of 460-490 and a position within the top 3-8%. There are also substantial differences among engineering disciplines. According to compilations based on 2025 YÖK Atlas data, competition is observed at score levels above 485 for Computer Engineering, above 470 for Electrical and Electronics Engineering, above 465 for Industrial Engineering, above 450 for Mechanical Engineering, above 440 for Civil Engineering, and above 430 for Chemical Engineering. These figures are not fixed and may shift by several points each year depending on changes in quotas and the number of candidates. They should therefore not be used as the sole reference.
Which Degree Programs Can You Enter with an EA Score?
The Equal Weight score category combines Turkish and mathematics performance in a balanced manner. Law, Psychology, Business Administration, and Primary School Teaching are among the main programs admitting students through this score category. Law faculties generally require the highest rankings within the EA category, with long-established public law faculties often admitting only candidates ranked within the first few thousand. For programs such as Psychology and Business Administration, however, ranking ranges vary much more widely between universities. The same degree program can differ by tens of thousands of ranking positions depending on the university and city.
Which Degree Programs Can You Enter with a SÖZ Score?
The Verbal score category covers programs primarily focused on literature and the social sciences. Turkish Language and Literature, History, Sociology, and Theology are typical examples. Since fewer programs use the SÖZ score category compared with EA, some candidates also consider alternative programs such as American Culture and Literature, which are primarily language-oriented but may accept SÖZ scores in certain cases. This flexibility means that candidates should check each program individually to determine the full range of programs available under their score category when preparing their preference lists.
Which Degree Programs Can You Enter with a DİL Score?
As its name suggests, the Foreign Language score category serves a relatively narrow range of programs. English Language Teaching, German Language Teaching, French Language Teaching, English Language and Literature, American Culture and Literature, Translation and Interpreting, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature admit students through DİL scores. Because of this limited range, even candidates with high DİL rankings may find that the number of programs available to them is relatively small. Having a calculated SÖZ score may provide access to alternative degree programs in such cases.
Associate Degree Programs Admitting Students with TYT Scores
The TYT score alone is used only for admission to two-year associate degree programs. Programs that provide direct vocational training, such as First and Emergency Aid, Computer Programming, Anaesthesia, Justice, Graphic Design, and Logistics, fall within this category. Rankings remain the decisive factor here as well. In 2025, all 100,907 places allocated to open education programs at public universities were filled, as were all 9,059 places in distance education programs. This indicates that competition in on-campus associate degree programs is significantly more pronounced than in open education.
Degree Programs with Minimum Ranking Requirements
For some degree programs, preferences submitted by candidates below a specified ranking threshold are considered invalid, even when the available quota has not been filled. According to the YÖK YKS Preference Guide, this requirement applies to programs such as Law, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Architecture, Teaching, and Pharmacy. The requirement is not limited to public universities. Foundation universities may also apply the same threshold or impose a more competitive ranking requirement through a senate decision. Even falling only a few places below the specified threshold results in the preference being automatically disregarded. Candidates targeting these programs must therefore review the special conditions section of the guide for each program individually.
How to Prepare Your 2026 University Preference List
According to the schedule announced by ÖSYM, following the electronic preference process completed between 29 July and 10 August 2026, successful candidates must complete their university registration between 24 and 28 August. Electronic registration is limited to 24-26 August. Taking this schedule into account, you can prepare your preference list by following these steps:
Step 1: Note the ranking shown on your results document for the score category you intend to use when making your preferences.
Step 2: Compare the minimum admission rankings of your target program over the past three or four years through YÖK Atlas. Do not rely on data from a single year.
Step 3: Arrange your list according to the order in which you genuinely want to attend the programs, not according to how likely you think you are to be admitted. Do not include any program you would not attend even if you were admitted.
Step 4: Remember that ranking fluctuations can be more severe in programs with small quotas. In a program with a quota of 50 students, the preferences of only a few candidates can significantly change the outcome.
Step 5: Keep in mind that the 16 new programs introduced by YÖK in 2026 have no historical admission data. For these programs, you should consider the quota and the university's overall level of competitiveness.
Step 6: You may revise your preference list as many times as you wish before the preference period ends. However, no changes can be made once the deadline has passed, so do not leave your final checks until the last day.
Common University Preference Mistakes
The list of mistakes repeatedly highlighted by university preference counsellors is actually quite short. The most common mistake is focusing on the score while ignoring the ranking. The second major mistake is arranging programs according to the perceived likelihood of admission rather than personal preference. Another frequent error is selecting a program without reviewing its special requirements, such as age restrictions, medical reports, or foreign language requirements. Finally, adding programs you have no intention of attending simply because you are worried about not being placed is one of the most common causes of regret after the placement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a ranking and a minimum admission score?
The minimum admission score is the score received by the last candidate admitted to a particular program and can change from year to year depending on the difficulty of the examination. A ranking indicates the candidate's position among all candidates in the same score category and provides a much more consistent reference point.
How many preferences can candidates submit, and how many places are available in the 2026 YKS?
Candidates used their right to submit up to 24 preferences between 29 July and 10 August 2026. The total number of available places reached 805,747, of which 407,080 were allocated to undergraduate programs, 371,476 to associate degree programs, and 27,191 to special talent programs.
Which degree programs have minimum ranking requirements?
According to the YÖK YKS Preference Guide, specific minimum ranking requirements apply to Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, Architecture, and Teaching programs. These requirements also apply to foundation universities.
Which degree programs can be entered with a TYT score?
The TYT score alone is used exclusively for placement in two-year associate degree programs. Vocational programs such as First and Emergency Aid, Justice, Computer Programming, Anaesthesia, Graphic Design, and Logistics fall within this category.
How can candidates apply for unfilled places?
ÖSYM publishes a separate supplementary placement guide for places that remain unfilled after central placement or become available because admitted candidates do not complete their registration. In 2025, 3,000 places at public universities and 27,000 places at foundation universities were made available through supplementary preferences.
A university preference list is not a game of chance; it is an exercise in interpreting data. A meaningful preference strategy emerges when you compare your ranking not in isolation, but alongside the ranking ranges of your target program over the previous three years. Your next step should be to open YÖK Atlas, compare the ranking data for your score category over the past three years with your target programs, and finalise your preference list accordingly.