Türkiye Bursları (Turkey Scholarships): A Complete Guide

Türkiye Bursları (Turkey Scholarships) is a government-funded scholarship program that funds international students and researchers at Turkish universities. It's the most comprehensive scholarship available to international students in Turkey, and also one of the hardest to get.

What does it actually cover?

For students selected, Türkiye Bursları is close to fully funded. It covers university and program placement, a monthly stipend that varies by degree level, tuition fees, a one-off return flight ticket, health insurance, accommodation, and — for students who need it — a year of Turkish language instruction before their degree program begins.

• University and program placement
• Monthly stipend (amount varies by degree level)
• Tuition fees
• A one-off return flight ticket
• Health insurance
• Accommodation
• One year of Turkish language instruction, if needed

Who's eligible?

Eligibility is based mainly on academic performance and age. As a general guide, bachelor's degree applicants typically need a minimum academic achievement of around 70%, master's and doctorate applicants around 75%, and applicants to health science programs (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy) around 90%. There are also age limits: applicants are generally expected to be under 21 for undergraduate programs, under 30 for master's programs, and under 35 for doctoral programs. Exact figures can shift slightly year to year, so always check the current cycle's official criteria before assuming you qualify.

How competitive is it, really?

Very. Türkiye Bursları typically receives well over 150,000 applications a year for around 5,000 available spots, which puts the effective acceptance rate somewhere in the low single digits — competitive with some of the most selective scholarship programs in the world. That said, the program isn't only looking for perfect transcripts: selection is holistic, and evaluators also weigh extracurricular involvement, volunteer work, leadership experience, and a clear, well-argued statement of purpose.

When and how to apply

Applications are submitted entirely online through the official Türkiye Bursları portal, typically opening in January and closing in February each year — exact dates are announced fresh each cycle, so check the current year's announcement rather than assuming last year's timeline repeats exactly. You'll need academic transcripts, a passport, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose, and you can generally list several university and program preferences within a single application.

What makes an application stand out

Because grades alone don't separate most applicants at this level, the details matter: a specific, well-researched reason for choosing your particular field and (where relevant) city in Turkey; concrete evidence of achievement beyond grades, such as competitions, research, or community involvement; and recommendation letters that speak to your character, not just your marks. Applying only to the most oversubscribed programs at the most famous universities also reduces your odds — being realistic about program and university choice can meaningfully improve your chances.

Türkiye Bursları is worth applying to, but it shouldn't be your only financing plan — most international students in Turkey self-fund or combine partial university scholarships with a realistic cost-of-living budget. See our guide to the cost of living in Turkey for what a self-funded year typically costs, or get in touch and we'll help you think through your options.