If you want to study in Turkey for free, the Türkiye Bursları (Turkey Scholarships) program is one of the best options in the world It is a fully funded government scholarship run by Turkey, and it is open to students from almost every country Below is a simple, easy-to-understand guide covering everything about the 2027 cycle.
What Is Türkiye Bursları?
Türkiye Bursları is Turkey’s flagship government scholarship program, run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) It receives more than 165,000 applications every year from over 170 countries, and around 5,000 new students are chosen each year.
It covers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD study, plus research programs, at Turkish universities.
What makes this scholarship special is that it does not just pay tuition it also covers full tuition, free housing, a monthly stipend, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course, and a free round-trip flight, all with no cost to the student. It also places you at a university itself, so you don’t need an admission letter before applying.
Read More: No Application Fee Scholarships in Canada 2027 – Study in Canada
Türkiye Bursları 2027 Application Dates
This is the most important part, so here it is in easy words:
- Applications are expected to open on 10 January 2027 and close on 20 February 2027 a short window of only about 41 days.
- Every year, Türkiye Scholarships normally receives applications between 10 January and 20 February.
- Exact 2027 dates will be officially published by YTB on the turkiyeburslari.gov.tr website a few weeks before the portal opens, so keep checking the site close to January 2027.
Important tip: Don’t wait until the last days. The application portal has crashed in past years during the final few days before the deadline, so it’s safer to submit everything at least a week early.
Scholarship Benefits
In simple words, here is what you get if selected:
- Free tuition – 100% of your university fees are paid.
- Monthly stipend – TL 4,500 per month for Associate/Bachelor’s students, TL 6,500 for Master’s students, and TL 9,000 for PhD students.
- Free accommodation – You get a place in a university dormitory at no cost.
- Health insurance – Full coverage under Turkey’s health system (SGK).
- Flight tickets – One return economy flight ticket is provided at the start and at the end of your study period.
- Turkish language course – A one-year Turkish language course is fully funded for students who don’t already speak Turkish and are placed in a Turkish-medium program. If you don’t know Turkish yet, this is not a problem.
Do You Need to Know Turkish?
No, not necessarily. Most selected students get a free one-year Turkish course before starting their main degree But if you choose a program taught in English, the university may ask for proof of English ability, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
How Placement Works
You don’t apply to individual universities one by one Instead, you list up to 12 combinations of programs and universities in order of your preference, and YTB places you into one of your choices based on your academic profile, records, and how well you do in the interview.
Which Universities Are Included?
Many top Turkish universities take part in this program, including:
- Marmara University
- Hacettepe University
- Gazi University
- Boğaziçi University
- Anadolu University
- Ankara University
- Istanbul University
- Selçuk University
- Ondokuz Mayıs University
- Sivas Cumhuriyet University
- Social Sciences University of Ankara
- Çukurova University
These are among the eligible institutions where scholars can be placed.
Special Sub-Programs Under Türkiye Bursları
Türkiye Bursları also runs special tracks under different names, like Ali Kuşçu for engineering and natural sciences, İbn Khaldun for social sciences, and İbn Sina for medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy There is also a separate Success Scholarship for students already admitted to top-100 world universities, and a Research Scholarship for postgraduate researchers.
- The Research Scholarship accepts applications four times a year.
- The Success Scholarship usually accepts applications between October and November.
Basic Eligibility
- You must not hold Turkish citizenship.
- You must meet the age limit for your study level (this changes slightly for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels check the official portal for the exact age range each year).
- You must have a required minimum academic score (GPA/grades) depending on your program.
- You should have completed (or be about to complete) the required previous level of education.
Who Usually Applies?
In recent years, large numbers of applicants have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, Sudan, and Ethiopia, along with strong numbers from Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Arab world.
Documents You Should Prepare Early
Since the window is short start collecting these now:
- Valid passport or national ID
- Recent passport-size photo
- Academic transcripts
- Degree or graduation certificate
- National exam results (if your country requires this for university entry)
- International exam results (only needed for Merit Scholarship or English-medium programs)
- Certified translations if your documents are not in Turkish or English
PhD applicants should start preparing their research topic proposal early, and arts scholarship applicants should prepare their portfolio in advance.
How to Apply Step by Step
- Wait for the portal to open (expected mid-January 2027).
- Go to the official website: tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
- Create an account using your email and basic details.
- Fill in your personal and academic information.
- Choose up to 12 university/program combinations in your order of preference.
- Upload all required documents.
- Submit the application before the deadline don’t wait for the last day.
- Wait for evaluation results and interview invitation (if shortlisted).
The application is completely free of charge never pay anyone to apply for you.
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