The Turkish government offers 5000 scholarships annually for students from Afghanistan and worldwide to pursue their undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. studies or research in Turkish institutions and universities. This program is one of the most significant student scholarships offered for bachelor, Master, and PhD studies that fully supports your travel to Turkey and your stays during your studies.

The government of Turkey provides 5000 scholarships every year to Afghanistan and International students from around the world to study undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D studies or research in Turkish universities and institutions. This is one of the most significant scholarship programs available for students with full support during their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. studies.

Brief Details

• Application Start: January 10, 2025
• Application Close: February 20, 2025.
• Evaluation Process: March to May 2025
• Interview Period: June – July 2025
• Announcement of Results: Early August
• Initial Procedures: August 2025
• Travel to Turkey: September
• Location: Turkey
• Host Institutions: Turkish Universities
• Type of Scholarship: fully funded
• Level of Study: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D., and Research
• Fields of Study: Various Fields

Benefits of Turkey Scholarships

These are fully funded scholarships providing the following items to the students:

• For Merit Scholarship Monthly Stipend of 4.500 Turkish Lira (TL) for bachelor’s students, 6.500 TL for Master’s degree students, and 9000 TL for Ph.D. students.
• Monthly Stipend regular scholarship Undergraduate: : 3.500 TL, Master’s: 5.000 TL, PhD: 6.500 TL
• Dormitory accommodation or monthly Housing allowance (4000  TL in Istanbul and Ankara  and 3000 TL for other cities)  for Master and PhD students (after the first  year of staying at the dormitory)
• One-year free Turkish language training course and accommodation;
• Single-round travel cost to and from Turkey;
• Health insurance;
• Full Tuition fee coverage
• University and Program placement.
• Monthly Stipend for short-term  scholarships (1 year) include Undergraduate: 1.400 TL, Master’s: 2.000 TL, and Ph.D.: 2.750 TL;
• The research scholarship program only covers monthly stipends of 12,000 TL

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates can apply for this scholarship considering the points below:

• Hold the nationality of any country other than Turkey;
• Graduates or those who will graduate at the end of the current academic year (before August);
• Be researchers and academics;
• Be healthy;
• Meet the language fluency criteria;
• Meet the age requirement as follows:

1. Associate and Undergraduate Applicants: Under the age of 21
2. Master’s Applicants: Under the age of 30
3. PhD. Applicants: Under the age of 35
4. Research Applicants: Under the age of 50

• Have completed or are likely to graduate from an educational institution with the following academic achievements:

1. Undergraduate achievement: 70%
2. Graduate achievement: 75%
3. For Health Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy): 90%

Not eligible: 

• Turkish citizens and individuals who have lost Turkish citizenship
• Individuals who are currently enrolled in programs at the level of education at Turkish universities will apply.

Merit Scholarships applicants:

• General weighted Average (GWA): 90%
• Academic qualification exam score (SAT, IB for bachelor degree and GRE, ALES for master degree  and PhD
• National Exam score  for bachelor degree
• International Science Olympiad for Bachelor’s degree
• Foreign language proficiency exam score (TOEFL  80 for bachelor 90/120 IEILTS 7.0 / 9.0 for master and PhD

Required Documents of Turkish Government Scholarships

All candidates should upload the following documents to the Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS) online:

• Online application form;
• Valid ID card or passport;
• One photograph no longer than one year;
• National exam results (if any);
• Diploma or temporary graduation certificate;
• Previous study transcripts;
• International exam results, including TOEFL, DELF, GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc. (if asked by selected University or program);
• A research proposal for a topic;
• A written example of the research that the applicant has carried out (only for Ph.D. applications)

Note: All awardees who still need to prove C1 Level Certificate for the Turkish language, including applicants who received enrolment into English or other language programs, should attend a 1-year Turkish Language Course. They should attain the C1 Level Certificate by the end of their academic year.

How to Apply?

Eligible applicants may apply online for the Turkish Government Scholarships via Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS). The applicants must fill out the online application form, including their personal information, educational background, work experience, and social activities. By selecting the University in your Scholarship application, Turkey Burslarie will do the admission and registration for the applicants.

Please follow the instructions below:

1. Create a personal account on the TBBS portal
2. Upload all required documents
3. List your desired universities and program preferences.
4. Write an original intent letter explaining preferences, expectations, and goals for the future.
5. Review all application stages and documents, then submit your application.

Apply Here

Watch this video for Frequently Asked Questions

Selection Process

The selection committee will evaluate applications for Turkiye Scholarships according to the Candidate’s academic success, motivation, and social activities related to the chosen field. They will pass the following steps:

• Preliminary Assessment: Applications should meet the essential criteria such as minimum academic achievement, age limits, and required documents;
• Expert Evaluation: The Expert Committee will assess the applications from eligible candidates in terms of various criteria, including academic status, academic interests, career goals, previous qualifications, consistency of preferences, participation in social activities, and content of the letter of intent. Successful applicants will go for the interview process;

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Tests:

Undergraduate candidates applying for Turkish scholarships must complete a 30-question quantitative test covering mathematics, geometry, and logic before their face-to-face interviews with the Presidential Delegations.

The test evaluates applicants for fields like health sciences, engineering, and social sciences, which receive the most applications. Candidates in social sciences will also be assessed, with their scores compared to others in the same field. Questions requiring explanations will be provided in both Turkish and English, reflecting the common use of English in health, science, and engineering programs globally. Applicants are expected to have adequate English skills to understand and answer the questions.

While the test considers the educational curricula of the applicants’ countries, it primarily aligns with the Turkish curriculum. Candidates planning to study in Turkey should be familiar with its core educational standards.

Tests and interviews will occur on the same day, with sessions held in the morning and afternoon. Applicants will receive their specific test and interview times with their invitations. Each candidate has 60 minutes to complete the test.

Special Cases in the test:

1. Azerbaijan: The test consists of 50 questions on mathematics, geometry, and logic.
2. Greece and TRNC: The test includes 50 questions on Turkish, mathematics, science, and social sciences, held in a single session, with interviews following the exam.
3. Afghanistan and Sudan: Due to the high number of applicants, exams may include 80-100 questions.

These assessments are part of the comprehensive selection process to evaluate academic readiness and English proficiency for various programs in Turkey.

• Interview: Interview committees consisting of academics and experts will select candidates for the final list. The interview session usually lasts 15-30 minutes and will have the following format:

1. Welcome and entrance;
2. Documents check;
3. Purpose of the Candidate’s Application;
4. Career goals and academic knowledge;
5. Closing and questions of the Candidate to the committee

• Final Assessment: The selection committee will evaluate the results of the interviews and create a list of applicants who will receive scholarships. At this final evaluation stage, the selection committee will assess the general eligibility of the Candidate for Turkey Scholarships.

For more updates about the Turkish government scholarships, please visit the Turkiye Burslari Website.

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