Turkey — Study (Türkiye Bursları government scholarship)

Main requirements

Türkiye Bursları is a government scholarship for associate, bachelor's, master's and PhD study, open to citizens of all countries (except Turkish citizens and people already enrolled at that level in Türkiye). Minimum grades: associate/bachelor's 70%, master's/PhD 75%, medicine/dentistry/pharmacy 90%. Age limits: bachelor's under 21, master's under 30, PhD under 35, research scholarship under 50. You must have graduated or graduate before August of the application year.

According to the programmes page, Türkiye Bursları does not award graduate (master's/PhD) scholarships in health sciences; at bachelor's level health sciences, including medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, are open with the 90% minimum. You choose from the universities and departments the system offers you, and placement is done by the scholarship.

Documents

Passport; degree and transcript of the latest level; photo; statement of purpose; for graduate levels a research proposal and references; language certificate and test scores if you have them (required for the Merit track). Applications are online only via TBBS. Interviewees must bring all documents and certificates of their latest completed education.

Language

No language certificate is required to apply. All scholars, even in English-taught departments, take a one-year Turkish preparatory course; a C1 certificate from Yunus Emre or a university Turkish centre exempts you. If you do not reach the required level by the end of the second year the scholarship is cancelled. Bachelor's applicants sit a 30-question, 60-minute test (maths, geometry, logic), and good English is needed for science, engineering and health questions.

Costs and proof of funds

The scholarship covers tuition, a one-year Turkish course, accommodation, health insurance, a one-off flight at start and end, and a monthly stipend: TRY 6,500 bachelor's, TRY 9,500 master's, TRY 13,000 PhD (official figures as of October 2026). The Merit track (e.g. SAT 1400 for engineering) pays double stipend. The stipend is in lira and modest against big-city costs, so keep some savings.

Steps and timeline

Applications open every year from 10 January to 20 February. After document and profile screening, a committee shortlists for interview; bachelor's candidates sit the 30-question test before the interview; interviews are face-to-face with official delegations and take 15-30 minutes, then a selection committee decides. The official site doesn't say where interviews for Iranian candidates are held; follow the invitation you receive. Studies usually start that autumn with the Turkish year.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Iranians can apply like everyone else and need no visa for up to 90 days. YTB hasn't published how it converts a 20-point grade; a simple conversion makes the 70/75/90% thresholds about 14, 15 and 18 out of 20. Online applications use scans; if you are selected, legalise your documents (official Turkish translation, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the Turkish embassy or a consulate general), since Iran is not an Apostille party. Male applicants who haven't finished military service need a conscription exit permit to leave Iran for study; whether you can get one depends on your level and situation, so check with Iran's conscription organisation before paying anything. Competition is fierce, so pursue a state or private option in parallel.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

The student permit is obtained via e-İkamet. Student work rules are the same (bachelor's after year one with a work permit, graduates without that limit), but scholarship rules also apply. Graduates applying within 6 months can get a one-time short-term permit of up to one year. Student years count only half toward the 8-year long-term residence requirement.