Every year the Turkish government funds thousands of international students through the state Türkiye Scholarships programme (Türkiye Bursları). A study grant in Turkey in 2026 is a real route to a degree from one of the country's leading universities without significant personal spending. The programme covers every academic level: from bachelor's to doctoral degree. Participants receive full funding — including tuition, housing, insurance and a monthly stipend for living expenses.
What is Türkiye Scholarships and who can apply
Türkiye Scholarships is a Turkish government scholarship initiative aimed at attracting talented international students to Turkish universities. The programme is funded by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).
Key features:
- Level coverage: bachelor's, master's, doctoral, research
- Full funding: tuition, accommodation, insurance, language training, stipend, flights
- Competition: the programme is in high demand — students from 180+ countries apply
Universities that provide financial support
The Türkiye Scholarships grant opens the door to a wide range of state and private universities. Among the best-known are:
- Middle East Technical University (METU/ODTÜ) — one of the country's leading technical universities, teaching in English, strong engineering programmes
- Istanbul Technical University (ITU) — world-renowned in engineering and architecture
- Hacettepe University — a variety of English-taught programmes in medicine, social sciences and humanities
A number of leading private universities also run their own grant programmes. Sabancı University and Koç University offer scholarships to international students on the basis of academic performance. You can see the full list of Turkish universities in the Edu Turkish catalogue.
How to apply for the grant
All applications for Türkiye Scholarships are submitted through the official platform turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. Applications usually open in January–February and close by April — the exact dates should be checked on the programme's website each year.
Application steps:
Meeting the deadlines is critical: late applications are not considered. A carefully prepared document package significantly increases your chances of being selected.
Requirements and selection criteria
To take part in the Türkiye Scholarships programme you need to meet the following conditions:
- Citizenship: any nationality except Turkish
- Age limits: bachelor's — up to 21, master's — up to 30, doctoral — up to 35
- Academic performance (GPA): bachelor's — at least 70%, master's and doctoral — at least 75%, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy — at least 90%
Additional requirements depend on the specific university and programme.
Evaluation of applications and selection of scholarship holders
After the application window closes, the committee reviews the materials against several criteria:
- Eligibility check — grades, age, citizenship
- Assessment of the motivation letter — persuasiveness, concrete goals, fit with the chosen programme
- Interview — some candidates are invited to an online or in-person interview
The final decision is based on a comprehensive analysis of all submitted information.
Tips for successfully winning the grant
Practical advice for candidates:
- Complete documents: make sure every document is up to date, meets the requirements and has the necessary certifications
- A strong motivation letter: explain specifically why this programme at this university, what you plan to achieve and what your long-term goals are
- Language preparation: if the programme is taught in Turkish or English, confirm your language ability with a certificate (TÖMER, IELTS, TOEFL)
- Meet the deadlines: a late submission removes you from the competition with no right of appeal
What the Türkiye Scholarships grant covers
The grant includes a full package of financial benefits for the entire study period:
- Tuition — full coverage throughout the programme
- Accommodation — free place in a student dormitory
- Health insurance — for the entire duration of studies
- Language training — a one-year Turkish course for students who do not yet have C1 level
- Monthly stipend — for living expenses (amounts are reviewed every year — current figures are on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr)
- Flights — round trip for the study period
Important: the monthly stipend amounts are regularly updated. The official source of current figures is turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.
