Kafkas University (Caucasus University) — Kars

Kafkas University (Kafkas Üniversitesi) — "Kafkas" means Caucasus in Turkish — is a public university in the city of Kars, in far northeastern Turkey near the borders with Armenia and Georgia. Founded in 1992, the university takes its name from its position at the gateway to the Caucasus mountains.

Ranking: Kafkas holds approximately the 52nd rank among Turkish public universities — a respectable mid-tier placement that significantly outperforms most regional eastern Anatolian universities.

Why Arab students choose Kafkas:

• Very low annual fees — among the lowest in Turkey
• Accepts large numbers of international students
• Active membership in Erasmus+ and Farabi (Turkey's domestic exchange program) — supporting student mobility

Language of instruction: Predominantly Turkish across all programs. International students typically complete TÖMER Turkish preparation before joining their main degree.

Structure: The university operates 11 faculties, 17 research centres, a large scientific laboratory, and 3 graduate institutes.

Notable faculties and programs:

• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine — historically a flagship given Kars's livestock economy
• Faculty of Engineering — bioengineering, chemical, mechanical, food engineering
• Faculty of Letters and Sciences — Azerbaijani Turkic language and literature, Russian language and literature, molecular biology and genetics
• Faculty of Education — including counselling and psychology, physical education and sports teaching
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences — management science, political science and public administration, economics, international trade and logistics
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Fine Arts — music, traditional Turkish music, wind and percussion instruments
• Faculty of Sports Sciences — sports management

Distinctive offerings: The Azerbaijani Turkic Language and Literature and Russian Language and Literature programs are particularly notable given Kars's position on the Caucasus frontier — useful for students interested in Turkic studies, regional history, or post-Soviet area studies.

Admission: Kafkas accepts SAT and high-school diplomas with adequate GPA. Apply at portal2.kafkas.edu.tr.

Tuition (international students): Approximately $300–800 per year for most undergraduate programs — among the lowest in Turkey. Veterinary medicine may be priced slightly higher.

Scholarships: Türkiye Bursları (full government scholarship) is the main pathway for fully funded international study.

Living in Kars: Kars sits at 1,750 m altitude in far eastern Anatolia, with very cold snowy winters, distinctive 19th-century Russian-built architecture (the city was under Russian rule from 1878 to 1918), and a strong regional cuisine (kaşar cheese, honey). Cost of living is among the lowest in Turkey — student rent typically $80–150/month. The city is reachable from Istanbul or Ankara by domestic flight (~2 hours) or train.

Recognition: Diplomas are accredited by Turkey's YÖK (Higher Education Council) and recognised across the Arab world. Kafkas is particularly attractive for students interested in veterinary medicine, Turkic studies, or extremely affordable Turkish public-university education.

Verify dormitory availability and current English-language support directly with the university before applying.