Turkish Degree Evaluation: Diplomas, Degrees and Transcripts from Türkiye

Did you study in Türkiye and now need your diploma or degree recognized in the U.S.? A Turkish degree evaluation states the U.S. equivalent of your education, so that USCIS, employers, universities, licensing boards and military recruiters can compare it to U.S. standards. This guide is for anyone who earned a credential in Türkiye, and for the immigration attorneys who handle Turkish credential evaluation for H-1B and green card clients. It covers the Lise Diploması, Önlisans, Lisans, Yüksek Lisans, Doktora and professional degrees, the Turkish grading scale, and the documents you need. MotaWord's standard evaluation costs $65 with delivery in 72 hours. Same-day delivery costs $115 when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday.

Why You May Need a Turkish Degree Evaluation

A U.S. reviewer cannot tell from a Turkish diploma whether a Lisans is a bachelor's degree or what a Yüksek Lisans equals. An evaluation answers that in a written report. You will usually need one for:

• USCIS petitions: H-1B specialty occupation petitions need a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and EB-2 petitions need an advanced degree or its equivalent. See how an education evaluation supports an H-1B petition.
• University admissions and transfer credit: U.S. schools need your courses in U.S. credits and a GPA. See how evaluations work for U.S. university admissions.
• Military enlistment: recruiters need proof that your Lise Diploması equals a U.S. high school diploma. See how evaluations work for U.S. military recruitment.
• Employment: U.S. employers and background screening firms confirm that your degree meets the job requirement.
• Professional licensing: state boards review foreign education for doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers and accountants.

Understanding the Turkish Education System

Education in Türkiye is compulsory for 12 years, organized as four years of primary school, four years of middle school and four years of high school (lise). Graduates receive the Lise Diploması. Students in vocational and technical high schools also receive a high school diploma, with a vocational field. University admission is based on the national Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), run by ÖSYM.

Higher Education in Türkiye

The Council of Higher Education (Yükseköğretim Kurulu, YÖK) oversees all state and foundation (vakıf) universities, and the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) reviews their quality. Türkiye is part of the Bologna Process, so most programs carry ECTS credits. Read our guide to Bologna Process degrees across Europe. The main degrees are:

• Önlisans (associate degree): two years and about 120 ECTS, usually at a vocational school (Meslek Yüksekokulu)
• Lisans (bachelor's degree): four years and 240 ECTS in most fields
• Professional degrees: medicine is six years, and dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine are usually five
• Yüksek Lisans (master's degree): with thesis (tezli), usually about two years, or without thesis (tezsiz), usually shorter
• Doktora (doctorate): research-based, usually four years or more after a master's degree

Some Turkish universities also run open and distance education faculties (açıköğretim) that award Önlisans and Lisans degrees. Evaluators review these like other degrees, based on the program, its credits and its YÖK recognition.

The Turkish Grading System

Most Turkish universities use a 4.00 scale with letter grades:

• AA: 4.00
• BA: 3.50
• BB: 3.00
• CB: 2.50
• CC: 2.00
• DC: 1.50
• DD: 1.00
• FF: 0, a fail

Some universities grade on a scale of 100 instead, and high schools grade from 0 to 100. The 4.00 scale looks familiar, but the pass rules and the weight of each course differ from U.S. schools, so a U.S. GPA should come from an evaluation.

How Turkish Credentials Are Evaluated in the U.S.

The evaluation depends on the degree title, the length of the program, the credits and the institution. The patterns below are typical, and your evaluation report decides the equivalency for your documents.

Secondary and Associate Degrees

The Lise Diploması is usually evaluated as comparable to a U.S. high school diploma, including diplomas from vocational and technical high schools. A two-year Önlisans is often compared to a U.S. associate degree, depending on the courses and credits.

Bachelor's Degrees (Lisans)

A four-year Lisans of 240 ECTS is usually evaluated as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. That is good news for H-1B petitions, which need a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific field. The field of study matters as much as the level, so the report names the field and its U.S. equivalent.

Master's and Doctoral Degrees

A Yüksek Lisans that follows a Lisans is usually compared to a U.S. master's degree. A thesis program (tezli) is the clearest case. A non-thesis program (tezsiz) is often evaluated the same way, though the result can depend on its credits and length. A Doktora is usually compared to a U.S. research doctorate.

Medicine, Dentistry and Other Professional Degrees

A six-year medical degree from Türkiye is a first professional degree in medicine. Turkish doctors who want to practice in the U.S. go through ECFMG certification and the USMLE exams, and state medical boards make the licensing decision. Learn how certified translations support your USMLE and ECFMG file. Dentists, pharmacists, nurses and engineers follow their own state board rules, and an evaluation is usually one part of that file.

Transcripts, Grade Conversion and GPA

Your Turkish transcript (Transkript, or Not Döküm Belgesi) lists each course, its credits, the letter grade and the semester. Many universities also issue a Diploma Supplement (Diploma Eki) in English, which helps evaluators confirm the program's level and length.

There are two types of evaluation:

• General evaluation: states the U.S. equivalent of each credential. It is usually enough for USCIS and most employers.
• Course-by-course evaluation: lists every course with U.S. semester credits, converts each grade and calculates a GPA. Universities, licensing boards and some employers ask for it.

See how a course-by-course evaluation converts your Turkish grades into a U.S. GPA. If you are not sure which report fits, ask the institution that will receive it. To compare the report types in more detail, read our complete guide to diploma evaluation.

Turkish Credential Evaluation for Immigration Attorneys

If you are an immigration attorney with Turkish clients, the evaluation is often the document that decides whether an H-1B or EB-2 petition shows the right degree level. A few points help a file go smoothly:

• Match the field to the job: for H-1B petitions, the report should state the field of the Lisans in a way that connects to the specialty occupation.
• Send every degree: an EB-2 petition based on a Yüksek Lisans needs the Lisans and the Yüksek Lisans records in one report.
• Use official records: the diploma, the transcript and, if the diploma is not yet issued, the temporary graduation certificate (Geçici Mezuniyet Belgesi).
• Keep names consistent: names on the diploma, the passport and the translations must match, including Turkish letters such as ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş and ü.

Our reports follow the USCIS Policy Manual standard for evaluations: credible, logical and well documented. No evaluator controls the officer's decision, but a clear report makes the officer's review easier.

Documents You Need for Your Evaluation

Gather clear scans of every page, front and back:

• Diploma: the original university diploma, or the Geçici Mezuniyet Belgesi if the diploma has not been issued yet
• Transcript: the Transkript or Not Döküm Belgesi for each degree
• Diploma Supplement: the Diploma Eki, if your university issued one
• Graduation certificate from e-Devlet: the barcoded graduation certificate (mezun belgesi) from YÖK, which recipients can verify online
• Lise Diploması: for undergraduate admissions and military enlistment
• Proof of a name change: a marriage certificate or a court record if your name changed

Turkish diplomas and transcripts often need a certified English translation. Certified translation can be added to your evaluation order at the quote stage, where our system detects non-English documents. Certified translations cost $24.50 per page, with delivery in as little as 12 hours and free digital notarization. If you or your family prefer to read in Turkish, see our professional translation services explained in Turkish. Our translators sign an NDA to be able to work on our platform, and MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified.

How MotaWord Evaluates Your Turkish Credentials

You order online and follow everything from one place:

1. Upload: upload your diploma, transcript and any other records, and choose a general or course-by-course evaluation.
2. Document check: our team checks that every page is complete and readable, and tells you if anything is missing.
3. Evaluation: an evaluator reviews the title, institution, credits and grades, and writes the U.S. equivalency.
4. Download: your report arrives in your MotaWord client dashboard, with your invoices.

See everything you can do in your MotaWord client dashboard.

A standard evaluation costs $65 and is delivered in 72 hours, or $115 for same-day delivery when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 same day. Live chat is available 24/7 for support, whatever your time zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Turkish Lisans degree equal to a U.S. bachelor's degree?

Usually, yes. A four-year Lisans of 240 ECTS is generally evaluated as comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. The evaluation report confirms it for your specific degree and field.

Is an Önlisans the same as a U.S. associate degree?

Often. A two-year Önlisans from a Turkish vocational school is commonly compared to a U.S. associate degree. The result depends on the courses and credits on your transcript.

Is a non-thesis Yüksek Lisans a master's degree in the U.S.?

Often, yes. Evaluators usually compare both thesis and non-thesis Yüksek Lisans programs to a U.S. master's degree when they follow a Lisans. A short non-thesis program may be reviewed more closely based on its credits.

Do I need a course-by-course evaluation for my Turkish degree?

It depends on the recipient. USCIS and most employers accept a general evaluation. Universities, licensing boards and transfer credit reviews usually ask for a course-by-course evaluation with a GPA.

Can an immigration attorney order a Turkish degree evaluation for an H-1B client?

Yes. Attorneys can upload a client's diploma and transcript, choose the report type and the delivery speed, and download the report from the dashboard. Same-day delivery helps when a filing deadline is close.

Does a Turkish medical degree let me practice medicine in the U.S.?

Not on its own. Foreign medical graduates need ECFMG certification, the USMLE exams and a U.S. residency before a state board grants a license. An evaluation and certified translations are part of that file.

Get Your Turkish Credentials Ready for the U.S.

Whether you hold a Lise Diploması, a Lisans or a Doktora, a clear evaluation saves you weeks with USCIS, employers and schools. Order MotaWord's academic evaluation services to get a U.S. equivalency report for your degrees from Türkiye. Upload your documents for an instant quote, or talk to a real person on live chat 24/7.

Mark Rogers - Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord

Written and reviewed by Mark Rogers, Evaluation Specialist at MotaWord, drawing on the team's experience with diplomas and transcripts from Türkiye. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified and a corporate member of the ATA and ITI, providing academic evaluations and certified translations in 120+ languages. Every certified translation ships with a signed certification of accuracy and completeness meeting USCIS requirements. See our certified Turkish translation services →