Abstract:
The number of Syrians migrating to our country as a result of the civil war started in Syria in 2011 is 3 million
632 thousand 622 as of 17 January 2019. Kilis is the province that has the highest population rate of Syrians
(84.48%), compared to the local population. Although the reasons of Syrian students’ learning Turkish vary,
their willing to continue academic education in undergraduate and graduate institutions in Turkey comes
forward. The Turkish lessons taken by the students are mainly general Turkish and aimed at fulfilling their daily
needs. The aim of the study is to determine the academic purposes and usageproficiency of Syrian students who
continue their undergraduate and graduate education at Kilis 7 Aralık University. In the study which was
carried out by using qualitative research method, phenomenology design was used. In the study, the data were
obtained through interviews with Syrian students who continue their academic education and their lecturers, and
the data obtained were analyzed using content analysis technique. Based on the views of Syrian students, it has
been determined that very few Syrian students take academic Turkish lessons and need academic Turkish
lessons. According to the opinions of the faculty members, most of the Syrian students do not have C1 level
language proficiency, changes should be made in the certification exams, and the academic Turkish skills of the
students are insufficient.
