The Flourishing of Turkish Students at Georgia Tech: A Confluence of Academic Excellence, Community, and Opportunity
In recent years, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech or GT) has witnessed a significant surge in its international student population, with students from Turkey representing one of the fastest-growing cohorts. This influx is not merely a statistical anomaly but a reflection of multifaceted educational, economic, and geopolitical factors that are increasingly positioning GT as a prime destination for ambitious Turkish students.
Academic Prowess and STEM Focus
Georgia Tech's consistent ranking among the top engineering schools in the United States serves as a major attraction for Turkish students, many of whom are keen on pursuing degrees in STEM fields. Engineering holds a place of high regard in Turkey, and competitive entrance exams emphasize aptitude in mathematics and science. Students who excel in these areas often seek institutions that offer rigorous technical training and abundant research opportunities. GT’s programs in mechanical, electrical, computer, and aerospace engineering align closely with Turkey’s national focus on technological advancement, drawing students eager to contribute to their country's growth.
Batur Ünlü, Berke Saka, Defne Taçyildiz and Mert Kilavuz are examples of successful Turkish students at Georgia Tech. They are all Olympic level swimmers. Deniz Ertan, another 2020 Tokyo Olympian, committed to Georgia Tech and joined in the 2022-23 campaign.
Ünlü was the first Turkish swimmer to arrive in Atlanta. For him, the balance of academics and swimming was paramount in his decision. According to Ünlü, education is the most important part for him. He saw that at Georgia Tech the balance is really good between education and swimming. Kilavuz wants to be an industrial engineer and Tech’s program is highly ranked. This made his decision easy. Saka was at the 2019 Junior Worlds with Kilavuz who had already committed to Georgia Tech. They started discussing going to the same university in the United States. According to Saka, it was one of the best things for him to go to a school where he knew someone, it would be much easier for him to get things done. Taçyildiz joined Saka and Kilavuz in the same freshman class. Taçyildiz joined the pipeline of Turkish Olympic caliber swimmers, her Georgia Tech Turkish family.
Institutional Partnerships and Exchange Programs
Beyond individual ambition, institutional ties between Turkish universities and GT are deepening. Programs such as the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Boren Awards, and Erasmus+ exchanges have facilitated research collaborations and student mobility. GT has also established formal agreements with institutions like Koç University, Middle East Technical University (METU), and Sabancı University, enabling dual-degree tracks, faculty exchanges, and joint research grants. These partnerships create pipelines: Turkish undergraduates participate in summer research programs at GT, and strong performance often leads to full-time admissions. Additionally, GT faculty regularly visit Turkish campuses to deliver guest lectures or co-supervise theses, further strengthening academic networks.
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Economic Factors and the Value of International Education
The rise in Turkish students at GT cannot be fully understood without considering domestic conditions. Over the past decade, Turkey has faced significant economic volatility, including high inflation, currency depreciation, and constrained public funding for higher education. As the Turkish lira loses value, studying abroad-once considered a luxury-has become a strategic investment for middle- and upper-middle-class families. Moreover, concerns about academic freedom and political pressures within Turkish universities have prompted some students and scholars to seek environments where intellectual inquiry is less constrained. GT, with its emphasis on open research and innovation, offers a compelling alternative. This trend is especially pronounced among graduate students. Many aim to return to Turkey after earning advanced degrees, bringing back skills in AI, robotics, and sustainable infrastructure-fields critical to Turkey’s industrial modernization goals.
Community and Support Systems
A growing community breeds more growth. As Turkish enrollment increases, so do support structures on campus. The Georgia Tech Turkish Student Association (TSA) hosts cultural events, mentorship programs, and networking nights with alumni working at companies. These activities help new students acclimate and build confidence in their academic journey. Additionally, GT’s Office of International Education provides advising for visa processes, housing, and academic planning-services that are particularly valuable for first-generation international students. The availability of prayer spaces, halal dining options, and Turkish-language resources further enhances inclusivity.
When Taçyildiz joined Georgia Tech, the boys and she started to get to know each other and they became like a small family. Taçyildiz and Ertan have been inseparable since high school. They both attended Ted Ankara College Foundation High School in Ankara, Turkey. Their swim careers are interwoven. They have competed at every national meet together and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics together. When it came down to deciding where to go for her collegiate swimming career, Ertan had a simple choice, because she knew that with Taçyildiz and the rest of her country people at Tech, she had someone she knew to help with being so far away from home and family.
Career Prospects and Return on Investment
One of the strongest magnets for Turkish students is GT’s career placement record. With strong ties to Atlanta’s tech corridor and proximity to Fortune 500 headquarters, GT graduates enjoy high job placement rates. Many enter roles in software development, systems engineering, or data science at firms like Microsoft, Google, and Raytheon. Others join startups emerging from GT’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC). This real-world experience is invaluable-even if they eventually return to Turkey to launch ventures or lead R&D teams. GT ranks highly for return on investment (ROI) among public universities. Turkish alumni networks in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir actively recruit GT graduates.
Admission and Application Process
Exchange student applicants should submit a Georgia Tech Non-Degree Application by the application deadline. The application deadlines are April 1 for the Fall semester and October 1 for the Spring semester. Turkish applicants must submit official transcripts (with English translations), standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. For graduate programs, identifying a faculty advisor whose research aligns with yours significantly improves admission odds. GT typically requires TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 7.0+.
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The Impact of Global Events
Dogancan “Can” Temel, president of Georgia Tech‘s Turkish Student Association, shared his insights after the Istanbul airport terrorist attacks. He highlighted the importance of physical presence and support during tough times, quoting a Turkish proverb: “Gözden ırak olan gönülden de ırak olur”, which means the one that is far away from the eye is also far away from the heart or an alternative translation would be, “Out of sight, out of mind.” He emphasized the need to be united and supportive, transcending classifications of race, sexual orientation, gender, or religion.
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