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Turkish Scholarship

The Turkiye Scholarship is a flagship funding programme offered by the Turkish government to international students. It covers tuition, accommodation and health insurance, and pays a monthly stipend. It is open to bachelor's, master's and doctoral applicants of all nationalities, and the Turkish government awards roughly 4,000 scholarships each year.

What the Turkish Scholarship Covers

Full coverage of university tuition fees

Free student accommodation, or a housing allowance

Comprehensive health insurance

Return flights

A free preparatory year to learn Turkish

Discount cards for transport and museums

Monthly Stipend

Bachelor

TRY 3,500

Master's

TRY 5,000

PhD

TRY 6,500

Turkish Scholarship Conditions

Maximum Age

BachelorUnder 21

Master'sUnder 30

PhDUnder 35

Minimum GPA

General70%

Medical Specialties90%

Application Timeline

Application

10 January to 20 February

Evaluation

March to May

Interviews

June and July

Results

August

Study Start

September

Available Specializations

Medical

MedicineDentistryPharmacyVeterinary medicinePhysiotherapyNutritionNursingMidwifery

Engineering

Computer engineeringSoftware engineeringMechatronics engineeringArtificial intelligence engineeringAerospace engineeringOil and gas engineeringArchitectureBiomedical engineeringCivil engineeringElectrical and electronics engineeringMechanical engineeringEnvironmental engineeringIndustrial engineeringChemical engineering

Business Administration

Business administrationTourism and hotel managementPublic administrationHealth administrationEconomicsIslamic economics and finance

Social Sciences

Media and communicationsJournalismInternational tradeIslamic studiesPolitical science and international relationsLaw

Natural Sciences

PsychologySociologyBiologyMathematicsEnglish language and literatureTurkish language and literature

Acceptance Rate

~5%

Around 5% (about 300,000 apply; 4,000-5,000 are accepted)

Scholarship Challenges

Language barriers: academic Turkish differs from everyday Turkish

Cultural adjustment: significant differences can cause culture shock

Most programmes at public universities are taught in Turkish

Visas are sometimes difficult to obtain

Living costs are high in cities such as Istanbul

How to apply for the Turkiye Scholarship

1Create an account at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr

2Complete the online application form with your personal and academic details

3Upload the required documents: certificates, transcript, passport and photographs

4Write and upload your letter of intent

5Attach your letters of recommendation

6Review the application and check that every field is complete

7Submit before the deadline (usually 20 February)

The Turkiye Scholarship for high-school students

Application Conditions

1The applicant must be under 21

2A grade average of at least 70% (90% for medical programmes)

3Not holding Turkish citizenship

4Not currently enrolled at a Turkish university

Required Documents

1High-school diploma or most recent transcript

2A copy of your passport

3A photograph against a white background

4Language certificates, if you have them

5Volunteering certificates and extracurricular activities

6Letter of intent

7Letters of recommendation

8A medical report

9Competition and award certificates, if you have them

10A translated and certified copy of the high-school diploma

The letter of intent for the Turkiye Scholarship

The letter of intent is one of the most important parts of a Turkiye Scholarship application. It should convey your character and your goals clearly.

Letter Sections

1Introduction: who you are and why you are applying

2Academic background: your achievements and educational experience

3Why Turkey: your reasons for choosing to study there

4Future goals: your plans after graduating and how the scholarship will help

5Conclusion: a summary that reaffirms your enthusiasm and readiness

Important Tips

Be honest and write in your own voice

Connect your goals to the programme you have chosen

Show how you will contribute to your community after graduating

Do not copy or paraphrase text from the internet

Reread the letter several times before submitting

The Turkiye Scholarship interview

The interview is the final and decisive stage of the selection process. It is usually held in June and July.

Question Types

1Personal questions: introduce yourself, your interests and your strengths

2Academic questions: why this field? what are your research plans?

3Questions about Turkey: why Turkey? what do you know about Turkish culture?

4Questions about the future: what are your plans after graduating? how will you serve your community?

5Questions about challenges: how will you handle living abroad and the language?

Interview Tips

Stay confident and calm throughout

Prepare your answers in advance, but do not memorise them word for word

Show genuine enthusiasm for learning

Dress formally and appropriately

Make confident eye contact with the panel

The letter of recommendation for the Turkiye Scholarship

You must submit a recommendation from a teacher or academic who knows you well.

1Who the referee is and how they know the student

2An assessment of the student's academic and personal abilities

3Specific examples of the student's achievements

4An explicit recommendation that the student be awarded the scholarship

The Turkiye Scholarship for Syrian students

Syrian students living outside Turkey are eligible to apply for the Turkiye Scholarship. Those already living in Turkey can access other support programmes instead.

1Confirm that you meet the eligibility conditions

2Prepare all the required documents

3Register through the official Turkiye Scholarship website

4Write a strong letter of intent that sets out your circumstances and ambitions

5Prepare for the interview

Common Rejection Reasons

1Not meeting the basic conditions (age, nationality, grade average)

2Missing or incomplete documents

3A weak letter of intent

4Intense competition, especially for English-taught programmes

5Problems during the scholarship interview

6Language and cultural barriers

7Applying late or after the deadline

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Turkiye Scholarship stipend?

Bachelor's: TRY 3,500. Master's: TRY 5,000. Doctorate: TRY 6,500 per month.

What is the acceptance rate for the Turkiye Scholarship?

Around 5%, because of the very large number of applicants.

When do applications open?

They open in January and run until the end of February.

How many students are accepted?

Roughly 4,000 to 5,000 students each year.

How can I improve my chances?

Submit a complete application, write a strong letter of intent, secure good references, and strengthen your CV with additional certificates and activities.

Need a Free Consultation?

The Taha team is ready to help you every step of the way