Turkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026

Turkiye Burslari is one of the most popular fully funded scholarships among students from Pakistan, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — and for good reason. It funds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees at Turkish universities, covers living expenses, provides free accommodation, and includes a return air ticket every year.

The application window opens once a year and closes quickly. Every year, students miss it because they did not know the deadline or did not have their documents ready in time.

This guide gives you everything you need — what Turkiye Burslari covers, who can apply, what the deadlines are for 2026, and exactly how to put together an application that gets selected.

What Is Turkiye Burslari?

Turkiye Burslari — officially the Turkish Government Scholarship — is a fully funded scholarship program administered by the Turkish government through the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).

It funds international students to study at Turkish universities at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and Research scholarship levels. Turkey currently hosts more international scholarship students than most European countries, and Turkiye Burslari is the primary vehicle for that enrollment.

What Does Turkiye Burslari Cover?

The Turkiye Burslari scholarship covers:

Tuition fees — full tuition at the assigned Turkish university for the entire program.

Monthly stipend:

Bachelor’s students: 3,500 Turkish Lira per month
Master’s students: 5,000 Turkish Lira per month
PhD students: 6,000 Turkish Lira per month
Research scholars: 6,000 Turkish Lira per month

Accommodation — free university dormitory accommodation for the full duration of the program.

Health insurance — full health insurance coverage throughout the scholarship period.

Turkish language course — one year of Turkish language training before your program begins. All scholarship recipients attend this course regardless of their program language.

Return air ticket — one return air ticket between Turkey and your home country every academic year.

The total value of a Turkiye Burslari Master’s scholarship over two years exceeds $15,000 — not including tuition, which can reach $8,000 to $12,000 per year at top Turkish universities.

Who Can Apply?

Turkiye Burslari is open to international students from all countries except Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

Nationality: Any country except Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

Age limits:

Bachelor’s programs: must be 21 years old or younger
Master’s programs: must be 30 years old or younger
PhD programs: must be 35 years old or younger
Research scholarships: must be 45 years old or younger

Academic requirements:

Bachelor’s applicants: minimum 70% in secondary school
Master’s applicants: minimum 75% in undergraduate degree
PhD applicants: minimum 75% in Master’s degree
Health and Basic Sciences fields: minimum 90% for Bachelor’s applicants

You cannot apply if you are currently studying in Turkey on another scholarship or if you have previously received a Turkiye Burslari scholarship.

Turkiye Burslari 2026 Deadlines

Turkiye Burslari opens applications once per year. The application window is short — typically four to six weeks.

Expected timeline for 2026:

Application portal opens: January 2026
Application deadline: February 2026
Interview invitations: March–April 2026
Results announced: May–June 2026
Turkish language course begins: September–October 2026
Degree program begins: September 2027 (after completing language year)

The exact dates change slightly each year. Monitor the official portal at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for the confirmed 2026 opening date.

Available Programs and Universities

Turkiye Burslari places scholarship students at Turkish state universities. You do not choose your university directly — you rank your program preferences and the YTB assigns you to a university based on your preferences and availability.

You can specify up to 12 program preferences in order of priority. The more realistic and well-researched your preferences, the better your placement outcome.

Top Turkish universities receiving Turkiye Burslari students:

Istanbul University
Ankara University
Hacettepe University
Middle East Technical University (METU/ODTU)
Bogazici University
Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
Gazi University
Ege University
Selcuk University
Sakarya University

Programs are available in almost every field — engineering, medicine, social sciences, humanities, business, law, agriculture, arts, and natural sciences.

How to Apply for Turkiye Burslari 2026 — Step by Step

Step 1 — Create an account on the official portal

Go to turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and create an account when the portal opens in January 2026. The application is entirely online — there are no paper forms.

Step 2 — Fill in the online application form

Complete all sections of the online application — personal information, academic background, language proficiency, program preferences (up to 12), and motivation.

Step 3 — Upload your documents

Required documents for Turkiye Burslari 2026:

Passport or national ID copy
Secondary school diploma and transcripts (for Bachelor’s applicants)
Undergraduate degree and transcripts (for Master’s applicants)
Master’s degree and transcripts (for PhD applicants)
Motivation letter
Two reference letters
Language proficiency document — IELTS, TOEFL, or document confirming English-medium education
Medical report (some programs)
Portfolio (for fine arts and architecture programs)

All documents must be uploaded in the portal. Physical documents are not required at the application stage.

Step 4 — Write your motivation letter

The motivation letter is the only free-text document in the Turkiye Burslari application. It must explain why you want to study in Turkey, why you have chosen your specific programs, and what you plan to do after completing your degree.

Keep it to 500 to 700 words. Be specific about Turkey, your chosen programs, and your post-degree plans.

📝 Use our Free Motivation Letter Generator to create a structured Turkiye Burslari motivation letter.

Step 5 — Prepare for the interview

Shortlisted candidates receive an interview invitation. Interviews are conducted online or at the Turkish Embassy in your country. They are typically 15 to 20 minutes and cover your academic background, motivation for studying in Turkey, program preferences, and future plans.

Prepare answers to: Why Turkey? Why this field? What will you do after your degree? What do you know about Turkey?

Step 6 — Await results

Results are announced through the portal and by email. If selected, you will receive a placement letter confirming your university and program assignment.

Tips to Get Selected

Choose your 12 program preferences carefully. Research each program — the curriculum, the university, the city. Vague or random preferences signal that you have not thought carefully about your study plan.

Write a Turkey-specific motivation letter. Your letter must explain why Turkey specifically — not just why you want to study abroad. Reference Turkish academic strengths, cultural connections, or specific research being done in Turkey that relates to your field.

Prepare your documents before the portal opens. The application window is short. Have your transcripts, degree certificates, and language proficiency document ready before January.

Reference letters matter. Get reference letters from professors or supervisors who know your academic work. Generic letters from people who barely know you do not strengthen an application.

Be honest about your language proficiency. If your Turkish is zero, that is fine — the one-year language course covers it. Do not claim Turkish proficiency you do not have.

Use Our Free Tools for Your Turkiye Burslari Application

📝 Free Motivation Letter Generator — Turkey-specific motivation letter 📄 Free SOP Generator — Personal statement component 📑 Free CV Builder — Academic CV 📜 Free Reference Letter Generator — For your professors 📋 Free MOI Certificate Generator — English proficiency document

FAQ — Turkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026

Q: Can Pakistani students apply for Turkiye Burslari?

Yes. Pakistan is one of the highest-sending countries for Turkiye Burslari. Pakistani students apply in large numbers every year and receive a significant share of the annual quota.

Q: Is Turkiye Burslari fully funded?

Yes. It covers tuition, dormitory accommodation, monthly stipend, health insurance, Turkish language course, and annual return air ticket.

Q: Do I need to know Turkish to apply?

No. All scholarship recipients complete a one-year Turkish language course before their degree program begins. You do not need any Turkish knowledge at the application stage.

Q: Can I apply for Turkiye Burslari without IELTS?

For English-medium programs, most applicants submit IELTS or TOEFL. However, a document confirming English-medium education is generally accepted. Use our Free MOI Certificate Generator if your previous degree was in English.

Q: Can I choose my university?

You rank up to 12 program preferences. The YTB assigns you to a university based on your preferences and available quota. You cannot directly choose your university.

Q: How competitive is Turkiye Burslari?

Very competitive. Over 150,000 students apply annually and approximately 5,000 to 6,000 scholarships are awarded — an acceptance rate of around 3 to 4%.

Q: What happens during the one-year Turkish language course?

You attend a full-time Turkish language program at a designated university. Your scholarship continues — stipend, accommodation, and health insurance all remain active. After passing the language course, you begin your degree program.

Turkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026 — Fully Funded | Complete Guide