2026 YKS Preferences Start on July 29: University Quotas Have Been Announced, Most Notable Increase in Which Department?

After the results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (2026-YKS) were announced, the 2026-YKS Higher Education Programs and Quotas Guide was published to provide preliminary information to candidates. Accordingly, YKS preferences will be made between July 29 and August 10.There are a total of 805,747 quotas in the universities in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, including 371,476 in associate degree programs, 407,080 in undergraduate programs, and 27,191 in special talent programs.602,117 of the quotas are for state universities, 184,914 for foundation universities, and 18,716 for universities in Northern Cyprus. 17,862 special quotas have been designated for school champions, 3,673 for the relatives of martyrs and veterans, and 10,363 for women over 34 years old.16 new programs, 7 of which are undergraduate and 9 of which are associate degree, opened by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) will accept students for the first time. This year, 10 quotas have been allocated to the 'History and Artificial Intelligence' department, 18 to the 'Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence' department, 10 to the 'Business and Artificial Intelligence' department, 30 to the 'Financial Technology' department, 40 to the 'Biotechnology and Genetics' department, 40 to the 'Paramedic' department, and 30 to the 'Fishery Technology' department.

We consider the quota issue not only as a numerical problem but also as a strategic element of our country's human resource planning. A very balanced and rational planning is carried out by evaluating the academic and physical capacity of our universities, the needs of the labor market, and the future fields of profession together.

At the associate degree level, there are 80 quotas in the 'Artificial Intelligence Supported Web Design and Coding' department, 30 in the 'Artificial Intelligence Supported Design and Animation' department, 60 in the 'Digital Game Technologies' department, 30 in the 'Mobile Security Technologies', 30 in the 'Pharmaceutical Production Technology' department, 90 in the 'Explosive and Energetic Materials Technician' department, 105 in the 'Animal Husbandry Technologies and Management' department, 30 in the 'Laboratory Animals' department, and 30 in the 'Fishery Technology' department.This year, the most notable increase was in the field of cybersecurity, with the educational capacity increasing by approximately 16 times, or 1520 percent.