Top 5 scholarships and fellowships in Turkey for international students
5 scholarships and fellowships in Turkey that international students can apply for, each checked on its official page, with funding, eligibility and deadlines.
Looking for funding to study or research in Turkey? We picked 5 scholarships and fellowships that the official pages say international students can apply for, 2 of them fully funded. Each one was checked on its official page on October 31, 2026.
Before you apply, read our guide to studying in Turkey for tuition, visa money and work rules.
The list at a glance
| # | Programme | Funding | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Burslari) | Fully funded | Not announced yet |
| 2 | Bilkent University Tuition Waiver Scholarships for International Students | Partly funded | Not announced yet |
| 3 | Koç University Merit Scholarships for International Undergraduates | Partly funded | Not announced yet |
| 4 | Sabancı University Admission Scholarships for International Undergraduates | Partly funded | Not announced yet |
| 5 | TÜBİTAK 2221 Fellowships for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave | Fully funded | November 30, 2026 |
1. Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Burslari)
Turkish government scholarship that places students at a Turkish university and covers tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance, accommodation, a Turkish language course and a one-time flight ticket.
- Who can apply: Citizens of any country except Turkey, under 21 for bachelor’s, under 30 for master’s and under 35 for PhD. Minimum grades are 70% for bachelor’s, 75% for graduate study and 90% for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. The official calendar gives the general application period as 10 January to 20 February without a year. The 2027 call has not been announced yet.
- Funding: Fully funded
2. Bilkent University Tuition Waiver Scholarships for International Students
Bilkent in Ankara awards tuition waivers at five levels, from 20 to 100 per cent. A small number of top students on a full waiver also get accommodation. Waivers last up to four semesters of English preparatory study and up to ten semesters of a four-year degree, and current students can earn merit scholarships each year.
- Who can apply: Awards are based on high school grades, national or international exam scores, choice of programme and other academic criteria. Students keep the waiver by taking the minimum course load and keeping an annual GPA of at least 2.00 (2.50 for students with accommodation).
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. Students are considered when they apply for admission. The scholarship page gives no deadline.
- Funding: Partly funded
3. Koç University Merit Scholarships for International Undergraduates
Koç University in Istanbul awards full or partial tuition scholarships for the whole undergraduate programme, and recipients do not need to keep a minimum GPA. The scholarships cover tuition only. International tuition for 2025 to 2026 was USD 38,000 a year for most programmes and USD 59,000 for medicine.
- Who can apply: All new international undergraduate applicants are considered automatically, and no set score guarantees an award. Recipients cannot apply for other Koç-funded aid, such as dormitory, book or living-cost support.
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. There is no separate application or scholarship deadline: results come with the offer letter. The fees page shows 2025 to 2026 figures, and the university has not yet published the next round’s dates.
- Funding: Partly funded
4. Sabancı University Admission Scholarships for International Undergraduates
Sabancı University in Istanbul offers tuition waivers to international undergraduates, and a scholarship lasts for the whole period of regular study. The waiver covers tuition only; a separate dormitory scholarship may cover accommodation. The university does not publish waiver percentages.
- Who can apply: Every international applicant who meets the admission requirements is considered automatically, and awards are limited. The committee looks at academic record, references, exam results, interviews and achievements such as Olympiad medals.
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. International applications for 2026 to 2027 ran from 15 December 2025 to 28 August 2026, and early applicants were given priority. Dates for 2027 to 2028 have not been published.
- Funding: Partly funded
5. TÜBİTAK 2221 Fellowships for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave
Pays for researchers to visit host institutions in Turkey, either for short stays of 7 days to 3 months or for long and sabbatical stays of 3 to 12 months. Visiting scientists receive up to 81,000 TL a month and sabbatical scientists up to 105,000 TL. The fellowship also pays health insurance of up to 560 TL a month for stays of 3 to 12 months and one return flight.
- Who can apply: Applicants need a PhD. Those working abroad in posts that require a doctorate need at least four years’ experience at a university, research centre or company.
- Deadline: November 30, 2026. There are four application rounds a year. In 2026 they were 2 February to 2 March, 4 May to 8 June, 3 to 31 August and 2 to 30 November; the system closes at 17:30 on the last day. Dates for 2027 have not been published.
- Funding: Fully funded
How we chose them
We included only programmes whose official pages show that international students can apply and that are currently running. Fully funded awards come first, then paid and partly funded ones. Amounts and dates are as stated on the official pages, so always confirm them before you apply.
Next steps
Read our guide to studying in Turkey, and see all scholarships and opportunities we have checked.