Türkiye Scholarships 2027 | Fully Funded Turkish Government Scholarship | Complete Guide

The Türkiye Scholarships 2027 officially the Türkiye Bursları scholarship programme is one of the world’s most comprehensive and competitive fully funded government scholarships, offered by the Republic of Türkiye through the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), providing outstanding students from 180+ countries worldwide the opportunity to pursue Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, or Arts degree programmes at Turkey’s most prestigious universities — completely free of charge — with a monthly living stipend of TL 4,500 (Associate/Bachelor’s), TL 6,500 (Master’s), or TL 9,000 (PhD), full tuition coverage, free university dormitory accommodation, comprehensive health insurance, a one-off return flight ticket, and a free one-year Turkish language course. The Türkiye Scholarships 2027 applications open on 10 January 2027 and close on 20 February 2027 — a short window of only 41 days. Applications are submitted completely free of charge through the official TBBS system at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. With approximately 6,000 scholarships awarded annually and over 200,000 alumni from 180+ countries, Türkiye Scholarships is one of the largest government scholarship programmes in the world.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The Türkiye Scholarships programme (Türkiye Bursları) is administered by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB)  a Turkish government body operating under the Office of the President of the Republic of Türkiye. Established as part of Turkey’s broader foreign policy of cultural diplomacy and international engagement, the programme has grown from a small initiative to one of the world’s largest government scholarship systems — awarding approximately 6,000 scholarships annually to students from more than 180 countries, with over 200,000 alumni now working in leadership positions across government, academia, business, and civil society worldwide.

Turkey is home to some of the world’s oldest and most respected universities — including Istanbul University (founded 1453), Istanbul Technical University (founded 1773), Ankara University, Boğaziçi University, Middle East Technical University (METU), Hacettepe University, and dozens more — offering world-class education in Engineering, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Architecture, Business, Law, and the Arts. Türkiye Scholarships handles the entire university placement process: you select your preferred universities and programmes in the application system, and YTB places you at the most suitable institution based on your academic profile and preferences.

Benefits

5 Types of Türkiye Scholarships 2027

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Open to citizens of ALL countries worldwide — 180+ nationalities eligible. There are no country restrictions.
• Age Limits (Hard Stop):
  • Associate and Bachelor’s degree: Under 21 years old
  • Master’s degree: Under 30 years old
  • PhD degree: Under 35 years old
  • Research Scholarship: Under 50 years old
• Minimum Academic Achievement (GPA):
  • Associate and Bachelor’s candidates: Minimum 70%
  • Graduate (Master’s/PhD) candidates: Minimum 75%
  • Health Sciences candidates (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy): Minimum 90% — Bachelor’s level only
• Graduation Status: Must be a graduate or about to graduate before August of the current academic year (for the 2027 cycle: before August 2027).
• Turkish Language: Turkish proficiency is NOT required at the time of application. However, ALL selected scholars must attend and complete a compulsory 1-year Turkish Language Course upon arrival and attain C1 Level Certificate.
• No university offer needed: University placement is handled by YTB — you do NOT need to obtain a university acceptance letter before applying.
• Health Sciences at Graduate level: Türkiye Scholarships does NOT offer Graduate (Master’s/PhD) scholarships in Health Sciences fields. Health Sciences is available at Bachelor’s level only.

NOT Eligible:

• Turkish citizens
• Individuals who have lost Turkish citizenship
• Individuals currently enrolled in a Turkish university programme at the same education level they are applying for

Merit Scholarship — Extra Award for Top Students

The Türkiye Scholarships Merit Programme is a special track within the Türkiye Scholarships framework for students with outstanding academic credentials. Merit Scholarship awardees receive a monthly stipend that is DOUBLE the regular amount — meaning Bachelor’s Merit scholars receive TL 9,000/month and Master’s Merit scholars receive TL 13,000/month.

Required Documents

• Valid identity document — national ID card or passport (valid for duration of intended stay)
• Photograph — taken within the last 1 year
• Diploma or temporary graduation certificate — official document confirming completion or expected completion of your current level of education
• Academic transcript — showing grades for all years of study, with GPA clearly stated
• National exam results — if available (e.g. matriculation exam results from your country)
• International exam results — GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc. if required by chosen university or programme (especially for Merit Scholarship)
• International language test results — TOEFL, IELTS, DELF etc. if required by chosen university or programme or for Merit Scholarship eligibility
• Research topic proposal — and written example of research carried out (PhD applicants ONLY)
• Portfolio/artistic work samples — for Arts Scholarship applicants (photographs, audio/video recordings)

Application Timeline

Application Process

Step 1: Research Eligible Programmes — Start Now

Go to turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and use the programme search engine to find available universities and departments in your field of study. Note: not all programmes are available for all nationalities — the system shows only programmes available to you based on your country and academic background. Identify 2–3 programmes that match your academic background and career goals. Also check whether you want to study in Turkish or English — Turkish-medium programmes are more numerous, but English-medium options are available in many fields at top universities.

Step 2: Check Your Eligibility and GPA

Confirm you meet the age requirement for your desired level: under 21 (Bachelor’s), under 30 (Master’s), under 35 (PhD). Calculate your GPA percentage — minimum 70% for Bachelor’s, 75% for Master’s/PhD, 90% for Health Sciences and Merit Scholarship. If you are applying for the Merit Scholarship, verify you also meet the international exam score requirements (SAT/GRE/GMAT/ALES plus TOEFL/IELTS). Confirm you are not a Turkish citizen and not currently enrolled at a Turkish university at the same level.

Step 3: Prepare All Documents Before January 2027

Collect all required documents now — do not wait until the application window opens. Key documents: valid passport or national ID, recent photograph, official academic transcript, degree/graduation certificate, national exam results if applicable, and international exam results if applying for Merit Scholarship or English-medium programmes. If your documents are not in Turkish or English, get certified translations prepared in advance. PhD applicants should begin preparing their research topic proposal immediately. Arts scholarship applicants should prepare their portfolio materials.

Step 4: Register and Apply via TBBS — 10 January 2027

When the application window opens on 10 January 2027, go to tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and complete your application. The system is available in 8 languages — Turkish, English, Arabic, Persian, French, Russian, Spanish, and Bosnian. Select your preferred universities and study programmes within the system — YTB will place you based on your selections and academic profile. Upload all required documents. The application is completely FREE. Submit before 20 February 2027 — no extensions are granted.

Step 5: Test and Interview (If Shortlisted)

The Türkiye Scholarships selection process has 4 official stages: (1) Preliminary Assessment — checking GPA, age, and documents; (2) Expert Evaluation — expert committee reviews academic status, qualifications, career goals, letter of intent, and social activities; (3) Tests — undergraduate candidates sit a 30-question quantitative test (mathematics, geometry, logic — 60 minutes) on the same day as their interview; (4) Interview — a 15–30 minute face-to-face interview conducted by academics and experts in 100+ countries, covering purpose of application, academic knowledge, and career goals. Bring ALL original documents and certificates of your latest education to the interview. Countries with very high application numbers (Afghanistan, Sudan) may have 80–100 question exams instead of 30.

Step 6: Await Final Results — July 2027

Final scholarship results are announced approximately in July 2027. Successful candidates are contacted by YTB with official scholarship offers and guidance for pre-departure procedures. After acceptance, scholars travel to Turkey in September/October 2027 to begin the compulsory 1-year Turkish language course. English-medium programme scholars may begin studies directly without the full Turkish language year, but must still attend and pass the Turkish C1 course.

Top Turkish Universities Under Türkiye Scholarships

How to Apply

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Türkiye Scholarships 2027?

The Türkiye Scholarships 2027 (Türkiye Bursları) is a fully funded Turkish Government scholarship programme offering ~6,000 scholarships annually to students from 180+ countries for Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and Arts degrees at Turkish universities. Benefits include: monthly stipend (TL 4,500–9,000 depending on level), full tuition, free dormitory accommodation, health insurance, return flight ticket, and a free compulsory 1-year Turkish language course. University placement is handled by YTB — no separate university application needed. Applications open 10 January 2027, close 20 February 2027. Apply FREE at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.

2. When does the Türkiye Scholarships 2027 application open?

The Türkiye Scholarships 2027 application window opens on 10 January 2027 and closes on 20 February 2027. This is a fixed annual window confirmed from the official turkiyeburslari.gov.tr calendar page. The window is only 41 days long — start preparing documents now. Missing the 20 February 2027 deadline means waiting a full year for the 2028 cycle. Apply at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr — available in 8 languages including English and Arabic.

3. What is the Türkiye Scholarships 2027 stipend?

Monthly stipends confirmed from official turkiyeburslari.gov.tr (live September 2026): Associate/Bachelor’s: TL 4,500/month | Master’s: TL 6,500/month | PhD: TL 9,000/month. Merit Scholarship awardees receive DOUBLE these amounts. Stipends are paid in Turkish Lira — the value in USD/EUR fluctuates with exchange rates. In addition to the stipend, scholars receive free accommodation, health insurance, tuition, and a return flight ticket.

4. Do I need to know Turkish to apply for Türkiye Scholarships?

No — Turkish language proficiency is NOT required at the time of application. However, every selected scholar — regardless of whether their programme is taught in Turkish or English — must attend a compulsory 1-year Turkish language course upon arrival and achieve a C1 level certificate. The Turkish language course is provided FREE by the scholarship. English-medium programme scholars may begin their degree studies while simultaneously taking the Turkish course.

5. Do I need to apply to a Turkish university separately?

No — this is one of the biggest advantages of the Türkiye Scholarships programme. You do NOT need to independently contact Turkish universities or obtain admission letters. You select your preferred universities and study programmes within the TBBS application system, and YTB handles the university placement process for you. This is a significant simplification compared to most other international scholarship programmes.

6. Is the Türkiye Scholarships open to Pakistani students?

Yes — Pakistan is among the 180+ eligible countries. Pakistani students can apply for all levels (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) across all eligible fields. Pakistan is a priority country for Türkiye Scholarships given the strong diplomatic and cultural ties between Pakistan and Turkey. Pakistani applicants should apply through the TBBS system at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and may also contact the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad for additional guidance. There are no country quotas that exclude Pakistani applicants.

7. What fields are NOT available under Türkiye Scholarships at graduate level?

At the Graduate (Master’s/PhD) level, Türkiye Scholarships does NOT offer scholarships in Health Sciences fields. If you want to study Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, or related Health Sciences in Turkey under the government scholarship, you must apply at the Bachelor’s level only. At Bachelor’s level, Health Sciences requires a minimum GPA of 90% (compared to 70% for other fields).

Final Thoughts

The Türkiye Scholarships 2027 is one of the world’s most accessible, comprehensive, and generous government scholarship programmes — open to students from 180+ countries with no country quota restrictions, covering full tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, flights, and Turkish language training. With approximately 6,000 scholarships awarded every year and a consistent, predictable annual application window of 10 January to 20 February, Türkiye Scholarships offers one of the clearest and most transparent application processes in international scholarship programmes. The next application window opens 10 January 2027 — only 4 months away. Start preparing your documents, research your preferred programmes using the search engine at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr, and have everything ready before 10 January. Apply free of charge at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and visit turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for all official information.