Scholarship programmes (grants) for international students
Winning a grant to study in Turkey is a real opportunity for international students to study at the country's best universities without a heavy financial burden. One of the best-known and most accessible programmes is Türkiye Scholarships (Turkish Government Scholarships), funded by the government of Turkey.
The programme covers every level of education: bachelor's, master's, doctoral and research programmes. It provides students with free tuition, accommodation, health insurance, language preparation and other benefits.
Universities that offer financial support
Turkey offers a wide choice of universities that support international students through various scholarships and grants. Among them:
- Middle East Technical University (METU) - one of the country's leading technical universities, offering programmes in English.
- Istanbul Technical University (ITU) - known for its engineering and architecture programmes.
- Hacettepe University - offers a wide range of English-taught programmes in medicine, social sciences and the humanities.
In addition, many private universities, such as Sabancı University and Koç University, offer their own scholarships for international students.
How to apply for a grant
Applications for a grant to study in Turkey are submitted through the official Türkiye Scholarships platform. The process includes the following steps:
- Register on the platform: create an account on the official website.
- Choose a programme and university: decide on your desired field of study and institution.
- Complete the form: provide personal information, academic details and a motivation letter.
- Upload documents: scan and upload the required documents, such as your school certificate, diploma, language certificates and so on.
- Submit the application: send the form and documents for review.
It is important to respect the application deadlines and to prepare all the required documents carefully.
Requirements and selection criteria
To take part in the Türkiye Scholarships programme you must meet the following requirements:
- Citizenship: the candidate must be a foreign national (not a citizen of Turkey).
- Age: up to 21 for a bachelor's, up to 30 for a master's, and up to 35 for a doctorate.
- Academic performance: at least a 70% average for a bachelor's; at least 75% for a master's or doctorate; and at least 90% for medical fields (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy).
There may also be additional requirements depending on the chosen programme and university.
How applications are assessed and scholars are selected
Once applications are submitted, the assessment process begins, which includes:
- Checking eligibility: reviewing academic performance, age and other criteria.
- Assessing the motivation letter: analysing the reasons for choosing the programme and university and your study goals.
- Interview: some candidates may be interviewed for a deeper understanding of their motivation and goals.
The decision to award a scholarship is made by the university admissions committee based on all the submitted information.
Tips for successfully winning a grant
To improve your chances of winning a grant to study in Turkey, we recommend that you:
- Prepare your documents carefully: make sure everything is up to date, correctly formatted and meets the requirements.
- Write a strong motivation letter: clearly set out why you chose the programme and university, as well as your goals and future plans.
- Improve your language skills: if the programme is taught in Turkish or English, take the relevant courses and obtain certificates.
- Respect the deadlines: make sure your application is submitted on time.
What the scholarship provides and other aspects
Türkiye Scholarships provides the following benefits:
- Free tuition: covering the cost of study throughout the programme.
- Accommodation: free housing in student dormitories.
- Health insurance: cover for the entire period of study.
- Language preparation: a one-year Turkish course for students who do not yet speak it well enough.
- Monthly stipend: 3,500 Turkish lira for a bachelor's, 5,000 for a master's, and 6,500 for a doctorate.
- Flights: return air tickets.
What the scholarship covers
The Türkiye Scholarships scholarship covers tuition in full at the chosen university, free accommodation in student dormitories, health insurance for the whole study period, a one-year Turkish language course for those who need it, a monthly stipend for everyday expenses, and return flights.
Strengthening your application: what actually moves the needle
Choose your up-to-12 programs deliberately instead of ticking everything; write the motivation letter about the match between your story and those exact programs; package volunteering, projects and sport into a clean one-page CV; upload tidy scans well before the deadline. The interview runs on video in English or Russian - prepare "why Turkey", "why this major", "what after graduation". And keep a parallel discount application at private universities: strong candidates hold both lines and choose between offers in May.
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FAQ
The main application window is usually in winter. For the 2026 intake, applications were open from January 10 to February 20. For the next intake, students should check the calendar early because a rushed application is rarely competitive.
A full award can include university placement, tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course, monthly stipend and travel support. It is a competitive scholarship, so grades, motivation, documents and program choices matter.
Yes. Many private universities in Turkey offer partial scholarships, early application discounts or partner tuition fees. For some families this route is more practical than a full grant because it gives faster offers, more English-taught options and clearer payment timing.
We help choose realistic programs, organize the documents, shape the motivation story and avoid random applications. At the same time, we keep a commercial route with discounts so the student does not lose the admission season if the full scholarship does not work.
