Following the announcement of the 2026 Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) results, university candidates entered the preference period. Candidates will start making their choices from Wednesday, July 29.
The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) announced that it opened 81 new programs in AI and information technology over the last three years, and this year added 16 new undergraduate programs to the preference guide, including history and AI, philosophy and AI, biotechnology and genetics, digital game technologies, and mobile security technologies.
While fields such as AI engineering, cybersecurity, big data analytics, digital transformation electronics and automation are rapidly growing in terms of employment, the new programs offer candidates different options.
Expert advice for candidates
Zafer Küçükşabanoğlu, President of the Artificial Intelligence Policies Association (AIPA), said that AI is transforming not only sectors but also ways of thinking, production models and daily life simultaneously.
"Studies show that AI and digital transformation will create millions of new jobs worldwide in the coming years, while many professions will also be reshaped."
Küçükşabanoğlu noted that Türkiye has the potential to become a regional hub thanks to its strong engineering infrastructure, growing technology ventures and young population. He called on young people, saying: "No matter which field you choose, be sure to develop yourself in AI. In the future, not only engineers but also doctors, lawyers, teachers, journalists, diplomats and public administrators who use AI will benefit."
Küçükşabanoğlu emphasized that interdisciplinary specializations will grow rapidly, and that lawyers, political scientists and international relations experts will be increasingly needed for the safe and transparent development of AI. He added that companies now look not only at university diplomas but at the projects candidates produce, their AI skills, foreign language proficiency and adaptability.
Mustafa Çalış, President of the Turkish Software Developers Federation (TÜYAFED), said AI is transforming all sectors, including health, defense, finance, agriculture, manufacturing and education.
"The most strategic professions of the next 10-20 years will take shape around AI. We predict that employment in this field will increase exponentially in Turkey as well."
Çalış noted that AI will not eliminate the software profession; on the contrary, engineers who know how to produce with AI will become the most valuable competency. He listed the sectors that will stand out as AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, robotics, data science, cloud computing, FinTech solutions and smart manufacturing systems.
Advising university candidates, Çalış said: "When choosing a department, do not focus solely on the name; a strong mathematics foundation, a foreign language, analytical thinking and continuous learning are the keys to success." He added that young people who develop projects and keep themselves updated will be among the technology leaders of the future.
