Türkiye Scholarships 2026: Application Process, Dates, Requirements

Türkiye Scholarships is the most comprehensive government scholarship program offered by the Republic of Turkey to international students. Run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the program selects roughly five thousand international students each year from more than 165 countries and fully covers tuition, accommodation, insurance, monthly stipend and a one-way flight ticket. The 2026 application window opens in January and closes in late February, with results announced in July. This guide walks you through every detail of Türkiye Scholarships, the application process and how to put together a winning file.

Scholarship Types

Türkiye Scholarships span three main academic levels and several specialized programs.

1. Undergraduate Scholarship: Covers four-year bachelor's degrees at Turkish public or foundation universities. Six-year programs such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary are also covered.

2. Master's Scholarship: Covers 1-2 year thesis-based master's programs. Strong academic backgrounds and previous research projects are advantageous.

3. PhD Scholarship: Covers 3-4 year doctoral programs plus a one-year Turkish prep course if needed. Age limit is 40-50.

4. Specialized Programs: 'Harran Scholarship' for Syrian refugees, 'Ibn Khaldun Scholarship' for social science candidates from the Muslim world, 'Ali Kuşçu Science and Technology Scholarship' for outstanding STEM students.

Scholarship Coverage

When you win a Türkiye Scholarship the following are fully covered:
- Full tuition (public or foundation universities)
- One year of Turkish preparatory training (TÖMER)
- Monthly stipend (BA 3,000 TL, MA 4,500 TL, PhD 6,000 TL — 2026 rates)
- Free dormitory or housing (KYK or YTB residence)
- General health insurance
- One-time arrival flight ticket
- Residence permit support throughout the program
- 5-9 years of total funding including prep year

Note that the flight ticket is provided only for arrival; return after graduation is the student's responsibility.

Eligibility

Undergraduate:
- Not a Turkish citizen and not previously enrolled in a Turkish bachelor's program
- Younger than 21 as of January 1 of the application year (born after 1 Jan 2005 for 2026)
- Minimum 70% high-school GPA (90% for medicine and dentistry, 85% for science/engineering)
- High-school diploma or transcript

Master's:
- Younger than 30
- Minimum 75% bachelor's GPA
- Bachelor's degree in the related field

PhD:
- Younger than 35
- Minimum 75% master's GPA
- Academic motivation letter, research proposal, references

Language:
- Turkish proficiency not required; one year of free preparation provided
- For English-medium programs, TOEFL 84+ or IELTS 6.5+ may be required

2026 Application Calendar
- 10 January 2026: Application portal opens (turkiyeburslari.gov.tr)
- 20 February 2026: Application deadline
- March-April 2026: Pre-evaluation
- May 2026: Interview invitations
- June 2026: In-person or online interviews
- July 2026: Final results
- August 2026: University placements
- September 2026: Arrival and TÖMER enrollment

Application File Tips

1. Motivation Letter: Explain why you want to study in Turkey, how the program supports your career goals and what you will give back to your country. Avoid clichés.
2. Academic Plan: Explain your three program choices. Mixing medicine, engineering and social science weakens your file.
3. Reference Letters: One academic and one professional letter is ideal.
4. Social Activities: Volunteering, clubs, sports, arts are highly valued.
5. Document Translation: Notarized Turkish or English translations. Start apostille processing early.
6. Photo and ID: High-quality biometric photo and clear passport scan.

Interview Tips

Interviews last 20-30 minutes, in Turkish or English. Common questions: Why Turkey? Why this program? Future plans? What do you know about Turkey? Your biggest success and failure?

For related topics see our 'TÖMER C1 Exam 2026: Complete Preparation Guide' and 'Student Residence Permit in Turkey: Step-by-Step Process'.

FAQ

1. What are my chances? About 5,000 awards from 200,000 applications, so ~2-3% acceptance.
2. Can I win for medicine? Yes, but minimum 90% high-school GPA is required.
3. Can I apply to multiple programs? Three program choices in one application.
4. Are interviews online? Possible for distant countries; most are in person.
5. How to keep the scholarship? Maintain 2.50/4 GPA, avoid disciplinary issues.

Türkiye Scholarships is highly competitive — the quality of your file makes nearly all the difference. Umar Eğitim's consultants prepare your motivation letter, university choices and interview readiness from start to finish, completely free of charge. Take a step closer to your dream — contact us today.