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(Ek Tercih)
The Additional Preference (Ek Tercih) process in the Turkish Higher Education Exams system (YKS) represents a genuine second chance for students who were not placed in any university program during the first round of preferences or who missed submitting their preference lists for various reasons.
In this comprehensive guide, we explain the concept of Ek Tercih, the strict eligibility requirements, how to read the available quotas published by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), and smart strategies to secure your university seat without losing an entire academic year.
1. What is the YKS Additional Preference (Ek Tercih) and When Does it Open?
After the initial YKS preference placement results are announced and accepted students finalize their official university registrations, some university departments and associate programs retain vacant seats. These empty quotas (Kontejan) occur either because the program was not fully filled or because some students chose not to complete their final enrollment.
The Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) collects these vacant quotas and re-opens them in a second placement round known as Ek Tercih, which features the following key aspects:
- It typically opens 2 to 3 weeks after the deadline for final university registrations from the first preference period.
- The preference submission window lasts only a few designated days via the official ÖSYM AİS portal.
- It requires paying a nominal application fee (Ek Tercih Ücreti) through ÖSYM-approved payment channels for your preference list to be officially validated.
2. Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply for Ek Tercih?
The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) enforces strict regulatory conditions to ensure fairness and equal opportunity among all candidates:
Who is Eligible to Apply for Additional Preferences?
- Students who submitted a preference list during the first round but were not placed in any program or university.
- Students who took the YKS exams and generated valid placement scores but did not submit any choices during the initial preference period.
Who is NOT Eligible to Apply for Ek Tercih?
- Students who won a university seat in the first preference round: Whether you finalized your registration at the university or not, simply receiving a placement offer in the first stage completely disqualifies you from applying for Ek Tercih in the same academic year.
3. The Strict Minimum Score Condition (En Küçük Puan Şartı)
Applying during Ek Tercih differs fundamentally from the first preference round in terms of how candidate scores are evaluated against available vacant quotas:
| Program Status in First Preference Round | Required Criteria for Ek Tercih Application |
|---|---|
| Programs that filled their quota in the first round and opened seats later | The student’s YKS score (Puan) must be equal to or higher than the score of the last student admitted to that program in the first round (En Küçük Puan). |
| Programs that did not fill their original quotas (new programs or original vacancies) | Students can apply as long as they meet the general minimum threshold requirements (Baraj) for that field, without needing to meet a specific prior minimum cutoff score. |
4. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply via ÖSYM AİS
- Download the Ek Tercih Guide (Ek Tercih Kılavuzu): Review the published table of vacant quotas and the minimum required scores for each program.
- Log into the System: Access the portal at ais.osym.gov.tr using your Turkish ID number and password or via e-Devlet authentication.
- Build Your Preference List: Enter the program codes for the vacant seats matching your score (the system allows you to select up to 24 choices).
- Confirm Your Submission (ONAY): Carefully review your program selections, check special prerequisite conditions, and approve your application.
- Pay the Application Fee: Complete the payment for the additional preference fee through the official ÖSYM online payment gateway (Odeme.osym.gov.tr) within the deadline, as unpaid applications are automatically canceled.
Strategic Tips for Success in Ek Tercih
- Focus on Score Verification Over Guesswork: Compare your actual YKS score directly against the published minimum score. Avoid placing programs where your score falls below the threshold, even by tiny decimals.
- Diversify Your Preferences: Do not restrict your list to a single city or university. Take advantage of vacant spots across different cities in Turkey to maximize your chances of admission.
- Read Special Conditions Carefully: Ensure you satisfy all special prerequisites (Özel Koşullar) listed next to the department code before adding it to your list.
Conclusion
The additional preference process (Ek Tercih) is a real lifeline for students who were not placed during the main YKS round. By evaluating minimum score criteria carefully and planning strategically, you can turn this second opportunity into a successful university placement and begin your academic journey without delay.
Maximize Your Second Chance Safely with Emisa Academy
Planning to apply for Ek Tercih and want to ensure you avoid mistakes with eligibility rules or score criteria? At Emisa Akademi, our educational consultants provide a complete analysis of available vacant quotas and help you select the ideal university programs for your score.
Contact us today and let us help you secure your university seat for this academic year
