The Türkiye Burslari scholarship (officially Türkiye Bursları, run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, YTB) is the Turkish government’s flagship award for international students. It pays full tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, a return flight and a year of Turkish language study. Every year well over 100,000 people apply from more than 170 countries and only a few thousand are selected, so the competition is real. We have worked with scholarship applicants for years, and the ones who succeed are rarely the ones with the highest grades alone. They are the ones who understood what the committee is looking for
This guide covers the 2027 cycle: who can apply, what is paid, how the stages work and where most applications go wrong
What the Türkiye Bursları Scholarship Covers
The package is generous by any standard. Recipients get full tuition at the university where YTB places them, a dormitory place or housing support, general health insurance, one round-trip flight ticket and a one-year Turkish course at a TÖMER centre before their degree begins. On top of that comes a monthly stipend paid in lira
| Level | Age limit | Minimum grade | Monthly stipend (last published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Under 21 | 70% (90% for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy) | About 4,500 TL |
| Master’s | Under 30 | 75% | About 6,500 TL |
| PhD | Under 35 | 75% | About 9,000 TL |
| Research scholarship | Under 50 | Academic profile | About 12,000 TL |
Stipend amounts are revised from time to time to reflect inflation, so treat the figures above as a guide and check the official turkiyeburslari.gov.tr page for the current rates. The age limit is calculated against the application deadline, which catches some applicants who turn 21 or 30 in January
Who Is Eligible
Citizens of almost every country can apply, except Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship. You must have graduated from, or be in the final year of, the level below the one you are applying for. Students already enrolled in a programme at a Turkish university at the same level are not eligible, which is something we often have to explain to people who started a degree privately and hoped to switch to a scholarship
Turkish proficiency is not required to apply. Most scholars study in Turkish after the preparatory year, but a growing number of placements are in English-taught programmes, and you can indicate that preference
How the Selection Works
- Online application on the official portal, with documents uploaded and up to 12 university and programme choices
- Preliminary review of academic records, documents and essays, roughly from March to May
- Interview of shortlisted candidates in front of a panel of academics and YTB staff, usually in April to June, either at a Turkish mission or online
- Final evaluation and placement by YTB, with results normally announced around July or August
Some undergraduate candidates in science, engineering and health fields also take a short academic test during the interview period. Placement is decided by YTB, not by you, so you may end up at your third or seventh choice rather than your first
From our experience: list 12 choices you would genuinely accept, and spread them across several cities. Applicants who list only Istanbul and Ankara universities in the most popular departments reduce their chances without realising it
Documents You Need to Prepare
- A valid passport or national ID card
- A recent passport-style photo
- Diploma or temporary graduation certificate and full transcript
- National exam results where relevant, such as SAT, the national secondary school exam or GRE
- Language certificates if you have them, for example IELTS or TOEFL
- Two reference letters for master’s and PhD applicants
- A research proposal for PhD and research scholarship applicants
Documents do not need to be translated or notarised at the application stage, but they must be clear and complete. A blurred transcript scan has cost more than one of our clients a place on the shortlist. For a fuller list of papers you will need later for enrolment, see our checklist of documents required to study in Turkey
Writing the Essays and Letter of Intent
The application form contains several short essays: why you chose your field, how you will contribute to your country and to relations with Türkiye, what you know about Turkey, and how you have used your time outside school. This is where applications are won or lost. Committees read thousands of essays that start with dictionary definitions and end with the same promise to “serve humanity”. Specific examples, a clear plan and an honest voice stand out
Our separate article on how to write a motivation letter for Turkish universities goes through structure and common mistakes in detail. The same principles apply to the Türkiye Bursları essays
Want a second pair of eyes on your application?
Our consultants review Türkiye Bursları essays, help with programme choices and run mock interviews based on the questions candidates actually get. Book a free consultation with Saya Group
The Interview Stage
Interviews usually last 15 to 30 minutes. Expect questions about your field, your choices, your plans after graduation and your understanding of Türkiye. Panels like candidates who know why they chose a particular university and can talk about their own projects or volunteer work in concrete terms. They also check whether the person in front of them matches the person in the essays
A few practical points. Dress as you would for a job interview, have your documents printed, and if the interview is online, test your camera and connection the day before. Do not memorise a speech. Panels notice, and the follow-up questions usually go off script anyway
Rules You Must Follow After Winning
Getting the award is not the end of the paperwork. Scholars are expected to pass the Turkish preparatory year, usually by reaching at least C1 at the end of TÖMER, and failure can delay or suspend the scholarship. During the degree you must attend classes, keep your grades at a reasonable level and complete the programme within its normal duration. Students who fail repeatedly or stop attending can lose the stipend, and in some cases the entire scholarship
You are also not allowed to hold another scholarship from a Turkish public source at the same time, and paid work is restricted. YTB organises events, summer schools and alumni activities, and taking part in them is a good way to build contacts. Once you arrive, you will still need a residence permit, which YTB usually helps scholars arrange through the university, but it is worth reading our overview of the student visa and residence permit process in Turkey so you know what to expect
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Apply early in the window rather than on the last day, when the portal tends to slow down
- Show activities beyond grades, such as research, competitions, volunteering or community work
- Make your 12 choices consistent with the field you describe in your essays
- For graduate levels, write to potential supervisors and mention relevant faculty by name in your research proposal
- If you are not selected, apply again the next year with a stronger file, as many successful scholars do
If You Are Not Selected
Türkiye Bursları is only one route. Many Turkish universities, especially private ones, award their own tuition discounts of 25 to 100 percent based on high school grades or exam results, and these are often easier to obtain. Our guide to fully funded scholarships in Turkey compares the main options. If you plan to apply directly instead, you will find the steps in our article on applying to Turkish universities
Next Steps for the 2027 Cycle
Use the months before January to gather your documents, book a language test if you need one and draft your essays. Decide on a realistic list of programmes and research each university so you can talk about it in an interview. When the portal opens, submit early and keep a copy of everything you uploaded, because the interview panel may ask about any part of it
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Türkiye Bursları application open for 2027?
The application window has opened in January and closed around 20 February in recent years. Exact dates are announced on the official Türkiye Scholarships website, so check there in December
Is IELTS required for the Türkiye Bursları scholarship?
No, a language certificate is not mandatory. It helps if you want an English-taught programme, and some programmes may ask for one at the placement stage
Can I choose my university?
You choose up to 12 programmes, but YTB makes the final placement. You may be placed in any of your choices, and in a small number of cases you may be offered an alternative
Do Türkiye Bursları students have to study in Turkish?
Most do, which is why the scholarship includes a year of Turkish at TÖMER. Students placed in English-taught programmes still take the Turkish course, although the rules on exemption can vary
Can I apply if I am already studying in Turkey?
Not for the same level you are currently enrolled in. A student finishing a bachelor’s degree in Turkey can apply for a master’s scholarship, for example
