Türkiye Bursları Scholarships

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) is a government programme run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and funded by the Republic of Türkiye for international students from every country. What sets it apart from most government scholarships is that it goes beyond money: it places you in a university and department, gives you a full year of Turkish language study, and covers accommodation, health insurance and your flight, on top of a fixed monthly stipend.

The scholarship is competitive. Interview shortlists include candidates from more than 100 countries, so your chances depend on the quality of your file, not just on meeting the minimum criteria.

Which programme fits you?

The full criteria, documents, benefits and stipend of each programme are on its own page in the «Programmes» section below. This guide covers what all programmes share.

Who can apply in general: citizens of all countries, graduates, and final-year students who will graduate before August of the application year.

Who cannot: Turkish citizens and former citizens, and students already enrolled at a Turkish university at the level they are applying for (they have the Success Scholarship).

The usual timeline

These are the dates the programme repeats every year; the 2026 round ran from 10 January to 20 February. The 2027 dates have not been officially announced yet. The 2026 call was published on 29 December 2025.

How to apply on TBBS

Applying is completely free and is done only on the official TBBS portal: tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr

1. Create an account with your email and activate it.
2. Fill in your personal, contact and family details exactly as in your passport.
3. Enter your education: school or university, grades and national exam results.
4. Add your languages and any language certificate you hold.
5. Add experience and activities: volunteering, competitions, awards, research and work, if any.
6. Choose your preferences: up to 12 choices among the universities and departments the system offers you.
7. Write your letter of intent in the system.
8. Upload the required documents.
9. Review and submit before the deadline.

Documents: they depend on the programme; the full list is on each programme's page. Scan them clearly before applications open, and make sure your name matches your passport on every document.

How to choose your 12 preferences

The committee looks at how consistent your choices are with your previous studies and goals, not at how many famous universities are on the list.

• Keep your choices in one field or closely related fields. A list mixing engineering, literature and economics suggests you do not know what you want.
• Vary cities and universities. Do not put all 12 choices in Istanbul and Ankara, where competition is highest.
• Check the language of instruction. Many programmes are in Turkish; some are in English or other languages. The system shows this for each programme, and foreign-language programmes usually ask for a language certificate.
• Check that the degree is recognised in your country before you choose, especially for professional fields.
• You can compare universities, departments and teaching languages beforehand on the official YÖK Atlas portal: yokatlas.yok.gov.tr

The letter of intent and what the committee looks at

After a first check of the basic criteria, an expert committee reviews each file and assesses:

• Your academic record and previous qualifications.
• Your academic interests and career goals.
• How consistent your preferences are with your background.
• The content of your letter of intent.
• Your involvement in social and volunteer activities.

A high grade alone is not enough. A good letter of intent:

• Explains why this field and what led you to it, with a real example from your studies or life.
• Explains why Türkiye in particular, and what studying there adds for you.
• Links your studies to a clear plan after graduation, and how it will benefit your country or field.
• Mentions an achievement or activity that shows who you are: volunteering, a competition, a project, leading a team.
• Is written in your own words, short and specific. Letters copied from the internet are easy to spot.

Test and interview

Candidates who pass the evaluation are invited to an interview with a panel of academics and experts; the invitation gives the date and place.

The bachelor's test:

• Held on the same day as the interview.
• 30 questions in mathematics, geometry and logic in 60 minutes.
• Questions are in Turkish and English. Candidates for health sciences, science and engineering are expected to have enough English to follow them.
• The official website offers a mock exam with the answer key, so practise with it.
• In some countries with many applicants, the test can be longer.

The interview (usually 15–30 minutes):

1. Welcome.
2. Document check.
3. Why you applied.
4. Your academic knowledge and career goals.
5. Your own questions for the panel.

Likely questions: Why did you choose this field? Why Türkiye? What do you know about the university you chose? What will you do after graduating? Tell us about an activity you took part in.

Tip: bring the originals of all your documents and the certificates of your latest education; this is required. Reread your letter of intent before the interview, as questions are often based on it.

After the interviews, a selection committee reviews the results and announces the list of awardees in early August.

The Turkish language year

All awardees take a one-year Turkish preparatory course, even if their department teaches in English, Arabic or French:

• 960 hours of general Turkish + 140 hours of academic Turkish.
• The goal is a C1 certificate at the end of the year.
• Students who already hold a C1 certificate from the Yunus Emre Institute or a Turkish university language centre are exempt.
• Absences are penalised: more than 20 hours a month cuts the stipend by 25%, and more than 100 hours without excuse cancels the scholarship.
• If you fail at the end of the year, your stipend is frozen until you obtain the certificate. If you still do not have it by the end of the second year, the scholarship is cancelled.

Common mistakes that sink an application

• Applying on the last day: the portal gets crowded and can fail. Finish at least a week early.
• A generic letter of intent that would fit any scholarship and mentions neither Türkiye nor your field.
• Inconsistent preferences, or all of them at the most sought-after universities.
• Missing or unclear documents: tilted scans, an unstamped transcript, or a name that differs from your passport.
• Missing the age limit by a day: the limit is applied strictly, so check your date of birth against your level's rule.
• Leaving activities empty: an empty activities section weakens a file even with high grades.
• Trusting pages that ask for fees: applying is free and there is no official agent. Beware of anyone asking for money to "guarantee admission".

Source: the official Türkiye Scholarships website turkiyeburslari.gov.tr (criteria and programmes, benefits, calendar, application steps, evaluation and selection, and FAQ pages), reviewed in November 2026.