Türkiye is one of the most geographically and culturally extraordinary exchange destinations on the YFU network. A country that straddles Europe and Asia, bridges ancient and contemporary, and contains within its borders an astonishing range of landscapes, civilisations, and cultural traditions. Istanbul alone is one of the world’s great cities; the wider Türkiye of Cappadocia, the Aegean coast, the Black Sea highlands, and the Kurdish southeast offers layers of historical and cultural depth that few other countries can match.
For Australian and New Zealand students, Türkiye carries a particular resonance through the Gallipoli connection and experiencing Turkish culture and hospitality firsthand gives that historical relationship a human depth that no school curriculum can provide. Turkish families are known throughout the region for their generosity toward guests, and exchange students consistently describe feeling genuinely welcomed and cared for from their first days.
Turkish family life is warm, generous, and shaped by strong bonds of family loyalty and a culture of hospitality (misafirpeverlik) that is among the most genuine on the YFU network. Guests are treated with great care fed abundantly, introduced to extended family, and included in the social rhythms of Turkish daily life. Tea (çay) is offered constantly and refusing it is not really an option; sharing tea is one of Turkey’s most fundamental social gestures.
Turkish culture bridges secular modernity and Islamic tradition in ways that vary significantly by region, family, and city. Istanbul and coastal Aegean cities tend to be more secular and internationally oriented; Anatolia and the interior are more traditionally conservative.
The natural environment is extraordinary: volcanic landscapes in Cappadocia, the turquoise Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, the dramatic Black Sea highlands, ancient ruins that include some of the best-preserved Greek and Roman sites in the world (Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon), and Istanbul’s incomparable skyline of minarets and domes. Most exchange students find Turkey’s physical and historical landscape overwhelming in the best possible way.
Turkish is the language of the exchange. It is a Turkic language with a logical and consistent grammatical structure once understood, written in a Latin-based alphabet since Atatürk’s reforms in 1928. YFU provides pre-departure language preparation.
Turkish secondary schools (Lise) cater for students aged 14–17 and run from September to June. Most YFU students attend academically focused Anatolian High Schools, where they study subjects such as Turkish, Mathematics, Sciences, History, English, Arts, and Physical Education. Schools are structured, academically demanding, and place a strong emphasis on respect for teachers.
Students are encouraged to take part in clubs, sports, and cultural activities, with social life often centred around cafés, shopping centres, parks, and local festivals. This provides excellent opportunities to make friends, practise Turkish, and experience everyday life in Türkiye.
Exchange students are expected to attend school regularly, follow school rules, and show commitment to their studies. Most students are placed in Years 9–11, with Year 10 often recommended as it provides a better balance between academics and social life. Placements are in public or partner private academic high schools, but not vocational or arts schools. Students are not placed in the final year of high school and will not receive a Turkish graduation diploma.
There are no language requirements to go to Turkey. It is advisable to be familiar with the language before you depart.
Family is at the heart of life in Türkiye, with close relationships, warm hospitality, and shared meals playing an important role. Teenagers enjoy strong family support, and living with a host family provides a genuine insight into Turkish culture, language, and daily life.
Most students are placed in Ankara or Istanbul, with a smaller number in cities such as Eskisehir and Izmir. Students are not placed in eastern or south-eastern Türkiye. Host families usually live in apartments, and students may have their own room or share with a host sibling of the same gender.
Both host parents often work full-time, so family time is commonly spent together on weekends. Students are expected to adapt to family life, follow household rules, and participate in family activities. Some families with younger children may ask students to spend time speaking English with them, while also supporting the student’s opportunity to learn Turkish and develop their own friendships.
No prior Turkish is required. Turkish is a Turkic language with its own grammatical structure, but it is written in a Latin-based alphabet (since 1928) which makes reading learnable quickly. English fluency is growing among Turkish young people, particularly in cities and in schools with international focus.
Turkey is a secular republic with a Muslim-majority population. The experience of Islam in daily life varies significantly by region and family. Istanbul and coastal areas tend to be more secular; Anatolian and interior regions more traditionally observant. YFU provides comprehensive cultural and religious preparation before departure, and exchange students are expected to approach local customs with respect and genuine curiosity.
Gallipoli (Gelibolu) is located in north western Türkiye the site of the 1915 ANZAC campaign that is central to Australian and New Zealand national identity. Many exchange students visit the ANZAC sites during their year in Türkiye and describe the experience of doing so while living with Turkish families whose great-grandfathers were on the other side of the same conflict as one of the most moving and perspective-expanding moments of their exchange.
Exceptional. Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s great food traditions, mezze (shared small dishes), kebabs in their extraordinary regional variety, fresh bread, baklava and other syrup-soaked pastries, and a breakfast culture of cheese, olives, tomatoes, eggs, and tea that most exchange students adopt within the first week. Turkish families take great pride in home cooking and exchange students eat extraordinarily well.
YFU places students across Türkiye in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and regional cities throughout Anatolia and the Aegean and Black Sea regions. Placements are matched to student profiles. Istanbul placements offer urban intensity and cultural richness; regional Anatolian placements offer a more traditional and community-oriented Turkish experience.
Yes. Australia and New Zealand citizens require a visa for Türkiye. For exchange programs, a student residence permit is typically required. YFU provides full documentation and step-by-step guidance through the Turkish visa and residence permit process as part of your enrolment.
Enrolment in a public or private school for the first semester and placement in an NGO project for the second semester
Placement in an NGO project (Typically related to childcare, women's care, environmental NGOs)
Our standard all-inclusive program price with no hidden fees.
Host a student and enjoy up to 20% off the program fee, plus receive up to $4000AUD / $4800NZD reimbursement for hosting a student*
Host a student and enjoy up to 20% off the program fee, receive up to $4000AUD / $4800NZD reimbursement for hosting* plus a further $2500 discount when you book your own flights**
*The host a student reimbursement is a payment of $100AUD/$120NZD per week
**When you book your own flights, you will be required to adhere to specific travel dates and arrival times in the destination country. This offer does not include exchange programs to Thailand, Korea, or China.
Exchange students. The term is known throughout the world but many lack the knowledge of the true meaning. Being an exchange student means being brave, independent, confident and open-minded. Being an exchange student means travelling to foreign countries, willing to jump in the deep end, having faith in your ability to persists.
The first weeks of an exchange student experience in Australia are often filled with excitement, curiosity, and unforgettable firsts. Known as the honeymoon phase of cultural exchange, this is the time when everything feels new—from landscapes and wildlife to food, school, and daily life.
As everybody is speaking about the FIFA World Cup, millions of people around the globe are gathering to cheer for their favourite teams, celebrate different cultures, and experience the excitement that only a global event can create. But while the World Cup lasts only a few weeks, there’s another international experience that can change your life forever: going on a youth exchange.
Enquire today about this program. We’ve got experts ready to assist with any enquiry about the countries, programs and the process.
Simply register and attend one of our in-person Information Evenings and you will automatically get $100 off your program fee.
