TL;DR — Quick summary: Mechatronics engineering brings together the disciplines of mechanics, electronics, control, and software. The 4-year bachelor program is offered at 64 universities in Turkey. In the 2025 YKS placement, the highest threshold was at Yıldız Technical University (485.80618; success ranking 18,650) and the lowest at Sivas Cumhuriyet University (304.670). The 2026 average gross salary of a new mechatronics engineer is ₺39,000–49,000; experienced engineers earn ₺65,000–130,000. Defense industry, robotics, autonomous vehicles, smart manufacturing (Industry 4.0), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), electric vehicles, and medical devices are the principal employment areas. ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, TOGG, Arçelik, and BSH are regular employers.
The questions about mechatronics engineering — its definition, its prospects abroad, its future, its job market, its graduates, its specializations and its difficulties — were answered by Alperhan Bay, a mechatronics engineering student at Yıldız Technical University (original interview, 2019). This updated version preserves the interview while adding 2025–2026 data, sector trends, and current salary tables.
Page Contents
What is mechatronics engineering?
What do mechatronics engineering graduates do?
Job and internship opportunities?
The future of mechatronics engineering?
What is mechatronics engineering?
Mechatronics engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering branch that integrates mechanical, electronic, and software domains.
Who succeeds in this program?
Patient individuals with an interest in the fundamental engineering sciences and the discipline to work hard succeed here.
What do mechatronics engineering graduates do?
It is an engineering field that deals with any system from initial design to final stage. For example, graduates may design robotic systems, make improvements for functionality, and maintain them. To run analysis, simulation, and optimization, they must be proficient in many computer programs. Broadly, they work in R&D and innovation.
Which courses are taught?
Thermodynamics, C and C++ programming, robotic engineering, logic-circuit design, automatic control, industrial automation, communications systems…
What are the difficulties?
Taking courses from such different disciplines is quite demanding. For example, after a C++ programming class in the morning, you might attend Analog Electronics and then Statics — quite head-spinning. The pace is exhausting in the first years; in later semesters, courses encompass all three areas, and you adjust. 🙂
Job and internship opportunities?
It is generally easier to find a job in companies working in defense and automation. Opportunities also exist in electronics, software, and machine manufacturing.
The future of mechatronics engineering?
It is one of the foremost “professions of the future.” Today and in the near future, mechanization is increasing. Many efforts aimed at making life easier are mechatronic systems. As long as there are problems to solve, mechatronics engineering will remain.
New graduate salaries?
If you have a good GPA, you can earn ₺4,000–6,000 in defense and corporate firms. With strong skills but a weaker GPA, ₺3,000–5,000. (These figures reflect the original interview from 2019–2021; current figures are detailed in the 2026 section below.)
2026 Mechatronics Engineer Salary Table
| Experience & Position | Gross Salary (₺/month) | Sector Note |
|---|---|---|
| New graduate (private sector, average) | 39,000–49,000 | Above minimum wage; SME automation |
| New graduate (defense/automotive: ASELSAN, TOGG) | 55,000–72,000 | Bonuses, social benefits |
| 2–4 years (R&D, control engineer) | 65,000–90,000 | PLC/SCADA, robotics knowledge premium |
| 5–9 years (senior, team lead) | 90,000–130,000 | Project management and technical leadership |
| 10+ years (specialist, engineering manager) | 130,000–220,000+ | Management and special expertise (e.g., autonomous systems) |
Source: 2024 average ₺43,510; 2025 new-graduate average ₺39,000 (Kariyer.net + sector reports); 2026 reflects inflation and rising robotics demand.
Opportunities abroad?
For a bachelor’s-only graduate, finding work abroad is not easy. With 1–5 years of experience, your odds improve. To live and work abroad long term, our professors generally recommend completing a master’s — and, if interested, a doctorate.
Specializations?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Automation Systems, Autonomous Systems, Defense Industry, Industrial Design, Software, Robotics.
2020 Mechatronics Engineering Admission Scores
| University | Program | Score Type | Quota | Threshold | Success Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAHÇEŞEHİR UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 8 | 457.71373 | 25741 |
| YILDIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) | SAY | 50 | 454.07754 | 27822 |
| YILDIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 60 | 440.60482 | 35988 |
| ISTANBUL BILGI UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 4 | 436.58472 | 38559 |
| IZMIR ECONOMY UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 431.75968 | 41776 |
| ATILIM UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 5 | 413.14224 | 54760 |
| MARMARA UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 53 | 410.37982 | 56841 |
| ISTANBUL TICARET UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 405.18611 | 60696 |
| ÇANKAYA UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 8 | 401.74505 | 63336 |
| TURKISH AERONAUTICAL ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 4 | 399.73592 | 64897 |
| IŞIK UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 398.81339 | 65603 |
| ISTANBUL OKAN UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 2 | 397.89090 | 66323 |
| KADIR HAS UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 20 | 395.56072 | 68180 |
| KOCAELI UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 70 | 385.12882 | 76874 |
| IZMIR KATIP ÇELEBI UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) | SAY | 70 | 357.69076 | 102890 |
| ISTANBUL GELISIM UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 345.45648 | 116668 |
| BURSA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 60 | 344.87126 | 117334 |
| ISTANBUL GEDIK UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 343.97252 | 118455 |
| ATILIM UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (75% Discount) | SAY | 19 | 342.39663 | 120374 |
| NISANTAŞI UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (Scholarship) | SAY | 3 | 340.17654 | 123240 |
| KOCAELI UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (Evening) | SAY | 70 | 337.02119 | 127380 |
| BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (English) (50% Discount) | SAY | 40 | 330.09893 | 136751 |
| MARMARA UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics (M.T.O.K.) | SAY | 13 | 311.63472 | 166361 |
| PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 45 | 307.38968 | 174299 |
| MANISA CELÂL BAYAR UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 56 | 298.01787 | 193284 |
| SAKARYA APPLIED SCIENCES UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 56 | 321.85346 | 149160 |
| ERCIYES UNIVERSITY | Mechatronics | SAY | 60 | 291.92928 | 206958 |
(The full table including unfilled quotas appears in the Turkish original; a selection is kept here for SEO/content parity.)
For other engineering and undergraduate programs visit our tercih page.
2025–2026 Mechatronics Engineering Admission Scores (Summary)
In the 2025 YKS placement, example score thresholds for the SAY type are below. Data derived from ÖSYM and YÖK Atlas; for the full list use the official YÖK Atlas (yokatlas.yok.gov.tr).
| University | Program / Type | Threshold (SAY) | Success Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yıldız Technical University | Mechatronics (English) | ~485.80 | ~18,650 |
| Yıldız Technical University | Mechatronics (Turkish) | ~462.40 | ~32,000 |
| Marmara University | Mechatronics | ~440.20 | ~46,500 |
| Kocaeli University | Mechatronics | ~395.50 | ~75,800 |
| Sakarya Applied Sciences University | Mechatronics | ~360.10 | ~110,000 |
| Pamukkale University | Mechatronics | ~340.80 | ~138,500 |
| Erciyes University | Mechatronics | ~325.40 | ~157,000 |
| Sivas Cumhuriyet University (lowest threshold) | Mechatronics | ~304.67 | ~292,000 |
In private universities, scholarship-quota thresholds are noticeably higher than paid quotas. The English + Scholarship quotas at Bahçeşehir, Istanbul Bilgi, and Izmir Economy were in the 425–470 SAY band in 2025.
Mechatronics Employment in 2026
The mechatronics engineer’s employment axis has shifted substantially between 2019 and 2026. Classic factory-line automation has given way to:
- Defense industry and UAVs / armed UAVs: ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TUSAŞ, BAYKAR, Havelsan. Turkey’s defense exports rose to $7.1 billion in 2024, lifting demand sharply.
- Electric and autonomous vehicles: TOGG, Ford Otosan, Tofaş, Renault Türkiye. From batteries to motor control, from driver-assist to AI-based perception chips.
- Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0: Arçelik, BSH (Beko/Siemens), Vestel, Eczacıbaşı — digital twins, predictive maintenance, robotic adaptation.
- Robotics and cobots: Universal Robots, ABB, KUKA Turkish partners. Human-robot collaborative spaces; cobot use outside manufacturing (health, logistics, food).
- Medical technology and surgical robotics: Surgical robots, rehabilitation devices, portable diagnostics.
- Renewable energy and smart grid: Solar and wind monitoring-control systems.
- Space and aviation: Turkish Space Agency projects, Roketsan probe, Türksat joint orbital projects.
The typical 2026 skill set expected of mechatronics engineers in these fields: Python + MATLAB, ROS2, PLC/SCADA, embedded systems (STM32, ESP32), 3D modeling (SolidWorks, Fusion 360), control theory, machine-learning fundamentals, and sustainability topics (life-cycle analysis).
The Future of Mechatronics — 2030 Outlook
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 lists robotics and autonomous-systems engineers among the fastest-growing occupations of the next five years. In Turkey, TÜİK and İŞKUR projections show an annual shortage of 4,500–6,500 mechatronics graduates. This structural gap keeps salary levels above inflation.
AI integration is redefining mechatronics: “AI on the Edge” is emerging as a 2026 specialization distinct from classical control engineering. Students interested in this area should look to TÜBİTAK’s Industry Doctorate Program or graduate programs at Yeditepe, ITU, or METU.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the difference between Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical Engineering focuses on classical disciplines such as mechanical design, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. Mechatronics adds electronics, embedded software, and control systems. A mechatronics engineer has the advantage of designing “the whole system”; a mechanical engineer is deeper in mechanics.
2. Do mechatronics graduates only work in automotive and defense?
No. Medical, agriculture (smart farming), home appliances, robotics, logistics (warehouse automation), space, education technology, and game hardware — among many.
3. State or private university?
Among state schools, Yıldız Technical, Marmara, Kocaeli, ITU (via related departments), Sakarya stand out. Among privates, Bahçeşehir, Istanbul Bilgi, Atılım, and Izmir Economy offer strong labs. Look at lab/workshop infrastructure, industry partnerships, and international exchange options.
4. Which YKS subject is most critical?
AYT Mathematics and Physics. To hit a high success ranking, average nets in these two subjects must stay high. AYT Chemistry is moderate; Biology is low priority.
5. How does a mechatronics graduate move abroad?
A master’s degree is the safest route. Germany (TU München, Karlsruhe), Switzerland (ETH Zürich), the Netherlands (TU Delft), Canada (Waterloo, Toronto) offer mechatronics-friendly graduate options. IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL 80+ is standard.
6. Can a mechatronics graduate start their own company?
Yes. KOSGEB, TÜBİTAK 1512, TÜBİTAK 1507 offer serious funding for technical ventures. Mechatronics-founder startups have done well in industrial automation, smart agriculture, mobile robotics, and device design.
7. How many students entered mechatronics engineering via ÖSYM in 2025?
Total quotas across all universities: about 4,500. Of these, 3,800–4,000 were filled; some private programs (especially 50% discount and paid quotas) remained empty.
Sources
- YÖK Atlas, Mechatronics Engineering Admission Scores 2025 — https://yokatlas.yok.gov.tr
- ÖSYM, 2025 YKS Results — https://www.osym.gov.tr
- Üniversite Go, “2026 Mechatronics Engineering Admission Scores” — https://www.universitego.com/mekatronik-muhendisligi-taban-puanlari/
- Başarı Sıralamaları, “Mechatronics Engineering 2026 Preference Guide” — https://www.basarisiralamalari.com/mekatronik-muhendisligi-2024-taban-puanlari-ve-basari-siralamasi/
- Meslek Maaş, “Mechatronics Engineering Salaries 2026” — https://meslekmaas.com/mekatronik-muhendisligi-maaslari/
- Kariyer.net, “Mechatronics Engineer Average Salary” — https://www.kariyer.net/pozisyonlar/mekatronik+muhendisi/maas
- Eleman.net, “Mechatronics Engineer Salaries 2026” — https://www.eleman.net/meslek/mekatronik-muhendisi/maas
- World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025.
- TÜBİTAK, “Industry Doctorate Program (2244)” — https://tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler
