Scholarships and Student Financial Aid in Turkey

Türkiye Scholarships: the flagship route for international students

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) is the Turkish government's fully funded scholarship program for international students at every degree level, from associate to doctorate and postdoctoral research. It is competitive and merit based, and it covers your full tuition at a public university, university and department placement, a monthly stipend, free accommodation in a state dormitory, health insurance, a one-way flight ticket, and a fully funded year of Turkish language classes before your degree starts, according to the official Türkiye Scholarships site .

The monthly stipend scales with your degree level, running around 4,500 TL at associate and bachelor's level, 6,500 TL at master's level and 9,000 TL at doctorate level. Students selected for the program's merit track receive double the standard stipend. Applications run through an online portal and open once a year, typically across January and February, so check the official site closely as the window approaches, since the exact 2026-27 dates get confirmed shortly before applications open.

Who qualifies

Türkiye Scholarships is open to international students from any country, including other European countries, at any degree level. You apply directly through the online portal with your academic transcripts, and the program places you at a university and program based on your preferences and academic record rather than letting you pick your own placement outright.

What the application needs

• Completed online application form with your program and university preferences

• Academic transcripts and diploma, or proof you are in your final year

• Passport copy

• Language certificates, if you hold any

• A short personal statement or motivation letter, depending on the program level

Submit everything through the official portal only. The application is free, and the program warns applicants against paying any third party to apply on their behalf.

State study loans and grants for home students

If you are a Turkish citizen studying at home, the state credit and dormitory institution KYK runs a separate system of study loans (öğrenim kredisi) and non-repayable grants (burs) for students enrolled in Turkish higher education. These sit apart from Türkiye Scholarships, which targets international applicants, and you apply for them through KYK's own channels after you enroll.

University scholarships

Many foundation (private) universities in Turkey offer their own tuition scholarships to attract strong applicants, ranging from a partial discount to a full tuition waiver, usually tied to your rank in the university's own entrance exam or your TR-YÖS score. These scholarships apply on top of, or instead of, any government funding, and terms differ by school. Check the scholarships or financial aid page of each university you are applying to directly, since eligibility, renewal conditions and coverage vary widely and change from year to year.

Additional funding avenues

If you already study at a partner university elsewhere in Europe, check whether your home institution runs an Erasmus+ exchange or partnership agreement with a Turkish university, since a short exchange semester carries its own EU-funded mobility grant separate from Türkiye Scholarships and does not require you to transfer your full degree.

Turkish law allows international students to work part time from their second year of study onward with a separate work permit, which supplements your budget once your degree is underway, though it does not cover your costs from day one and should not replace a scholarship or savings plan for your first year.

How to plan your application

Apply for Türkiye Scholarships and any university-specific scholarships in parallel, since they run on different timelines and you hold offers from both until you decide. Gather your transcripts, language certificates and a personal statement well before the application window opens, since a strong, complete application matters more for merit-based programs like this than for standard admission.