Turkey Burslari Scholarship: Complete Step by Step Guide

Every year, the Turkish government funds hundreds of international students to study fully in Turkey. Free tuition. Monthly stipend. Accommodation. Flight ticket. Turkish language course. Health insurance. All covered.

Yet most students outside Turkey have never heard of it.

The Turkey Burslari Scholarship, officially called Turkiye Burslari, is one of the most generous government funded scholarship programmes in the world. If you are an international student looking for a fully funded Masters, Bachelors, or PhD opportunity, this guide covers everything you need to know from eligibility to application to what happens after you arrive.

What Is the Turkiye Burslari Scholarship

Turkiye Burslari is a scholarship programme run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, a government body under the Turkish Presidency. It was established to attract talented international students to study in Turkey and build long term relationships between Turkey and countries around the world.

The scholarship is available at four levels:

Students are placed at Turkish state universities across the country. You do not choose your university directly during the application. You rank your preferred universities and programmes and placements are made based on your scores and preferences.

What Does the Scholarship Cover

This is where Turkiye Burslari stands out from most other government scholarships.

The Turkish language course is mandatory for all scholarship holders unless your chosen programme is taught entirely in English. Most programmes at Turkish state universities are taught in Turkish, so the language course is a genuine preparation year, not just a formality.

Who Can Apply

Turkiye Burslari is open to international students from almost every country in the world. However, Turkish citizens and students currently enrolled in a Turkish university are not eligible.

General eligibility requirements are:

• You must be a citizen of a country other than Turkey
• You must not currently be enrolled in a Turkish university at the same level you are applying for
• You must meet the minimum age requirements (under 21 for undergraduate, under 30 for Masters, under 35 for PhD at the time of application)
• You must meet the minimum academic score requirements (see below)

Minimum Academic Score Requirements

These are minimum thresholds. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee selection. Competitive applicants typically score significantly above these thresholds, particularly for popular countries and programmes.

When to Apply

Turkiye Burslari applications open once per year, typically in January, and close in February. The exact dates vary slightly each year so always check the official website at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for the current cycle.

The full timeline looks like this:

Missing the application window means waiting an entire year. Set a reminder in December to check when applications open.

Step by Step: How to Apply for Turkiye Burslari

Step 1: Create an Account on the Official Portal

Go to turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and create an applicant account. Use a personal email address you check regularly. All communication from Turkiye Burslari will be sent to this email throughout the process.

Do not use third party websites or agents to apply. The only official application portal is the Turkiye Burslari website. Any agent claiming to submit your application for a fee is not legitimate.

Step 2: Fill in Your Personal Information

Complete your personal profile accurately. This includes:

• Full name as it appears on your passport
• Date of birth
• Nationality and country of residence
• Contact information
• Family information

Double check every detail against your passport before moving on. Errors in personal information can cause problems later in the process.

Step 3: Enter Your Academic Information

Enter your academic history starting from secondary school. For each qualification include:

• Name of institution
• Dates of attendance
• Qualification obtained
• Your grade or score as a percentage

If your grades are expressed in a system other than percentages, convert them accurately. Turkiye Burslari uses percentage equivalents for all assessments so knowing your score in percentage terms is essential.

Step 4: Choose Your Programme Preferences

This is one of the most important steps in the application. You will select up to 12 programme preferences in order of priority. Each preference includes a specific programme at a specific university.

Research your choices carefully before filling this in. Consider:

• Whether the programme is taught in Turkish or English
• The reputation of the university in your field
• The city and your personal preferences for where you want to live
• The competitiveness of the programme for applicants from your country

Listing 12 genuine preferences maximises your chances of placement. Do not leave preference slots empty.

Step 5: Upload Your Documents

Prepare and upload the following documents:

• Valid passport (photo page)
• Academic transcripts for all qualifications
• Diploma or certificate of completion for each qualification
• Proof of any standardised test scores (SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL if applicable)
• A recent passport size photograph
• Reference letters (one or two depending on the level)
• Medical report confirming you are in good health (required at a later stage for selected candidates)

All documents should be uploaded in PDF format. Scanned copies are acceptable but must be clear and legible. Documents in languages other than Turkish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Step 6: Write Your Personal Statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell Turkiye Burslari who you are beyond your grades. A strong personal statement for this scholarship covers:

• Your academic background and areas of interest
• Why you want to study in Turkey specifically
• What you hope to achieve during your studies
• How your education will benefit your home country after you graduate
• Any relevant work experience, projects, or achievements

Keep it focused and honest. Turkiye Burslari values applicants who have a genuine connection to or interest in Turkey and a clear vision for their future. Vague statements about wanting to experience a new culture will not stand out.

Step 7: Submit Your Application

Review every section of your application carefully before submitting. Once submitted, most sections cannot be edited. Check:

• All personal information matches your passport exactly
• Academic scores are entered correctly as percentages
• Programme preferences are listed in your genuine order of priority
• All required documents are uploaded and legible

Submit well before the deadline. The portal can experience heavy traffic in the final days and technical issues do occur.

The Interview Stage

Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, usually conducted at the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in their home country. Some interviews are conducted online depending on the country and circumstances.

The interview typically covers:

• Your academic background and why you chose your field
• Your reasons for wanting to study in Turkey
• Your knowledge of Turkey, its culture, and its higher education system
• Your career plans after graduation
• Your personal statement and application

Prepare by reading your application thoroughly and being ready to discuss everything you wrote. Research Turkey’s higher education system, the universities you listed as preferences, and current developments in your field. Show genuine enthusiasm for Turkey, not just for the free scholarship.

Life in Turkey as a Turkiye Burslari Scholar

Knowing what to expect after arrival helps you prepare and make the most of the experience.

Your first year will almost certainly begin with the Turkish language course, regardless of whether your programme is in Turkish or English. This year is fully funded and counts as part of your scholarship. Use it seriously. Your language skills will determine how well you integrate academically and socially for the rest of your time in Turkey.

Turkish state universities are spread across the country from Istanbul and Ankara to smaller cities like Konya, Trabzon, and Gaziantep. Each city has a very different character, cost of living, and social environment. Research the city, not just the university, when building your preference list.

The monthly stipend is enough to cover basic living costs in most Turkish cities, particularly smaller ones. Istanbul is significantly more expensive and the stipend may not stretch as far there. Many scholarship holders supplement their stipend through part time work or tutoring, though you should check the current regulations on working as an international student in Turkey.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying through unofficial agents or third party websites
• Leaving programme preference slots empty instead of filling all 12
• Entering academic scores incorrectly or in the wrong format
• Uploading unreadable or incomplete documents
• Writing a generic personal statement that does not mention Turkey specifically
• Missing the application deadline by not checking the official website early enough
• Not preparing seriously for the interview stage

Before You Apply: Checklist

• Check the official Turkiye Burslari website for the current year’s application dates
• Confirm you meet the age and academic score requirements for your level
• Convert your academic grades to percentage format before starting the application
• Research and shortlist at least 10 to 12 programme preferences across different universities
• Prepare all required documents in PDF format with certified translations if needed
• Write a personal statement that specifically addresses why you want to study in Turkey
• Ask referees at least three to four weeks before the deadline
• Create your account on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr only, not any third party site
• Submit at least five days before the official deadline

Is Turkiye Burslari Worth It

For the right student, absolutely. A fully funded degree at a Turkish university, combined with a year of free language training, health insurance, accommodation, and a flight ticket is an exceptional opportunity. Turkey has a growing higher education sector with several universities ranked among the top 500 globally and strong programmes in engineering, medicine, social sciences, and the humanities.

The scholarship also comes with an alumni network of Turkiye Burslari graduates across the world, which can be a genuinely valuable professional resource after graduation.

The main consideration is the language. Most programmes are in Turkish, which means the language year is not optional in practice. Students who commit to learning Turkish seriously tend to have a much richer academic and personal experience than those who resist it.

If you are open to studying in a non-English speaking country, willing to learn a new language, and looking for a fully funded opportunity with strong government backing, Turkiye Burslari deserves serious consideration.