Turkey Scholarships 2026: Türkiye Bursları & More

Turkey offers one of the most generous government scholarship programmes in the world. Türkiye Bursları (Turkey Scholarships) provides full funding to international students: tuition, a monthly stipend of TRY 3,500–5,500, round-trip flights, free accommodation, and health insurance. The programme receives over 200,000 applications per year and awards roughly 5,000 scholarships. Beyond Türkiye Bursları, universities offer merit-based tuition waivers, and organisations like YTB run targeted programmes. This guide covers every major scholarship option, eligibility requirements, application timelines, and strategies to maximise your chances.

Türkiye Bursları: The Flagship Scholarship

Türkiye Bursları is funded by the Turkish government and managed by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). It covers all expenses for the entire duration of your degree.

Benefit	Bachelor’s	Master’s	PhD
Monthly stipend	TRY 3,500	TRY 4,500	TRY 5,500
Tuition	100% covered	100% covered	100% covered
Accommodation	Free university dorm	Free university dorm	Free university dorm
Health insurance	Full coverage	Full coverage	Full coverage
Flights	Round-trip annually	Round-trip annually	Round-trip annually
Turkish language course	1 year (free)	1 year (free)	1 year (free)

The monthly stipend covers living expenses beyond accommodation. At TRY 3,500–5,500 per month, you can live comfortably in most Turkish cities. Scholarship holders live in designated KYK dormitories or university housing at no charge.

Eligibility Requirements

Türkiye Bursları is open to citizens of all countries except Turkey. Key requirements:

• Age limit: Under 21 for bachelor’s, under 30 for master’s, under 35 for PhD
• Academic achievement: Minimum 70% GPA for bachelor’s, 75% for master’s and PhD
• Not currently enrolled at a Turkish university (current students are ineligible)
• No Turkish citizenship (dual nationals with Turkish citizenship cannot apply)
• Health: Must be medically fit (health certificate required if selected)

Application Process

Applications open in January and close in late February each year. The entire process takes 6–8 months.

Step 1: Online application (January–February). Register at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. Upload transcripts, diploma, passport, photo, language certificates, motivation letter, and reference letters. You can list up to 12 programme preferences at different universities.

Step 2: Document evaluation (March–April). YTB screens applications based on GPA, country quota, field of study, and motivation letter quality. Roughly 20,000–30,000 applicants advance to the interview stage from 200,000+ applications.

Step 3: Interview (April–June). Interviews take place online or at Turkish embassies. They last 15–20 minutes. Questions cover your academic goals, knowledge of Turkey, career plans, and motivation. Answer in English, Turkish, or Arabic depending on the panel.

Step 4: Results (July–August). Successful candidates receive notification by email. You get your university placement, which may differ from your preferences. YTB assigns universities based on programme availability and your profile.

Step 5: Turkish language year (September). Most scholars start with a one-year Turkish language programme at a TÖMER centre. This is mandatory for Turkish-taught programmes and recommended for English-taught ones.

Application Tips

• Write a specific motivation letter. Mention Turkey by name. Explain why Turkey, not just any country. Reference specific universities or professors.
• Show community impact. Türkiye Bursları values candidates who plan to contribute to their home country after graduation. Describe your post-graduation goals concretely.
• Include volunteer work and extracurriculars. The scholarship looks beyond grades. Community service, leadership roles, and international experience strengthen your application.
• Research Turkish culture. Interview panels ask about Turkey. Know basic facts: capital, population, major cities, cultural traditions.
• Apply early. The system slows down near the deadline. Submit at least one week before closing.

YTB Special Programmes

YTB (Yurtdışı Türkler ve Akraba Topluluklar Başkanlığı) runs additional scholarship programmes beyond Türkiye Bursları.

Success Scholarship: For current Türkiye Bursları holders who demonstrate outstanding academic performance. Provides an additional monthly bonus of TRY 1,000–2,000.

Ali Kuşçu Science Scholarship: Targets STEM students in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering. Offers additional research funding and laboratory access.

Ibn Haldun Social Sciences Scholarship: Focuses on social sciences, humanities, and Islamic studies. Includes additional academic support and conference funding.

Turkish Language Summer School: A 4–8 week intensive Turkish course for international students. Covers tuition, accommodation, and cultural trips. Applications open separately in spring.

University-Specific Scholarships

Many Turkish universities offer their own scholarships independently of government programmes. These are especially common at private foundation universities.

University	Scholarship Type	Coverage	Based On
Koç University	Merit scholarship	25–100% tuition	Academic record + interview
Sabancı University	Merit + need-based	25–100% tuition + stipend	Academic record + financial need
Bilkent University	Full scholarship	100% tuition + accommodation	National exam scores or YÖS
Bahçeşehir University	YÖS-based discount	25–75% tuition	YÖS exam score
İstanbul Bilgi University	Academic merit	25–50% tuition	GPA and language proficiency

Public universities generally do not offer separate scholarships for international students because tuition is already low (TRY 1,000–8,000 per year). However, some provide fee waivers for top-performing students and research assistantships for graduate students.

Other Funding Sources

Home country scholarships. Many governments fund their citizens to study abroad. Check with your national education ministry or scholarship council. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Indonesia, and Malaysia run large overseas scholarship programmes that can be used in Turkey.

TÜBITAK research fellowships. TÜBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) offers fellowships for graduate students and researchers. These cover a monthly stipend, health insurance, and research costs. Apply through tubitak.gov.tr.

Erasmus+ and exchange programmes. EU students can use Erasmus+ grants for semester exchanges at Turkish partner universities. The grant covers travel and a monthly contribution of EUR 350–500.

OIC scholarships. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation offers scholarships for students from member states to study in Turkey. Check the OIC website and your local OIC national committee.

Timeline and Deadlines

Scholarship	Application Opens	Deadline	Results
Türkiye Bursları	January	Late February	July–August
University scholarships	Varies (usually March–June)	Varies	1–4 weeks after application
TÜBITAK fellowships	Year-round	Rolling	2–3 months
Turkish language summer school	March	April–May	June

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate for Türkiye Bursları?

Approximately 2.5%. Out of 200,000+ applications, about 5,000 students receive scholarships. Competition is highest for bachelor’s programmes and in popular fields like medicine and engineering.

Can I choose my university with Türkiye Bursları?

You list up to 12 preferences, but YTB makes the final placement. Most students receive one of their top 5 choices. In rare cases, you may be placed at a university you did not list.

Is the Turkish language year mandatory?

For Turkish-taught programmes, yes. For English-taught programmes, the language year is strongly recommended but not always mandatory. Learning Turkish helps with daily life and employment prospects.

Can I work while on Türkiye Bursları?

The scholarship rules discourage full-time employment. Part-time work is generally allowed from the second year with a work permit. Discuss with your YTB coordinator first.

What happens if my GPA drops during the scholarship?

Türkiye Bursları requires maintaining a minimum GPA (usually 2.5/4.0). One semester below the threshold triggers a warning. Two consecutive semesters can lead to scholarship termination.

Can I apply for Türkiye Bursları if I already live in Turkey?

No. You must not be currently enrolled at a Turkish university or hold a Turkish residence permit for study purposes. Apply from your home country.

Do private university scholarships stack with Türkiye Bursları?

No. Türkiye Bursları covers tuition fully. You cannot receive a separate tuition scholarship. However, if you are not a Türkiye Bursları holder, you can combine a university scholarship with other external funding.

How do I improve my chances for Türkiye Bursları?

Maintain a GPA above 80%. Write a Turkey-specific motivation letter. Demonstrate leadership and community involvement. Prepare thoroughly for the interview with knowledge about Turkey and your field of study.