Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) for Indian Students: Fully Funded Study, Eligibility, Stipend, Calendar and How to Apply
Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) is a government-funded, competitive scholarship programme for international students and researchers to study at universities in Türkiye. It is open to citizens of all countries except Turkish citizens, so Indian students can apply. It funds associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study, plus arts, merit and short-term research scholarships. Applications are made through the official Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS).
Prepared on Saturday, 26 September 2026, 10:54 PM IST. Sources were read on 26 September 2026.
Türkiye Scholarships at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | Government-funded scholarship for study at universities in Türkiye |
| Levels | Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD (full-time); arts; merit; research and other short-term programmes |
| Who can apply | Citizens of all countries, except Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship |
| General application period | 10 January to 20 February every year (the site’s wording); 2027 notice not yet found |
| Where you apply | Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS), tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr |
| Minimum academic achievement | 70% (associate and bachelor’s), 75% (graduate), 90% (Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy candidates) |
| Age limits | Under 21 (associate and bachelor’s), under 30 (master’s), under 35 (PhD), under 50 (research scholarship) |
| Monthly stipend | Undergraduate 6,500 TL, master’s 9,500 TL, PhD 13,000 TL (as shown on the site) |
| Also covered | University and department placement, tuition fee, a 1-year Turkish language course, accommodation, health insurance, and a once-off flight ticket at the beginning of education and on graduation |
| Results | Early August (in the calendar), with transfers to Türkiye in September |
Who can apply?
- Eligible groups: citizens of all countries; graduates, or those who will graduate at the end of the current academic year (before August); and researchers and academics.
- Not eligible: Turkish citizens and individuals who have lost Turkish citizenship, and individuals who are currently enrolled in programmes at Turkish universities at the level they are applying for.
- Minimum academic achievement: 70% for associate and bachelor’s candidates, 75% for graduate candidates, and 90% for candidates in health sciences (Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy).
- Age: under 21 for associate and bachelor’s programmes, under 30 for master’s, under 35 for PhD, and under 50 for the Research Scholarship.
- The site advises checking, before you apply, the equivalence and validity of your chosen fields in your own country.
Health sciences at graduate level: on its full-time programmes page, the Graduate Scholarship Programme section says Türkiye Scholarships does not award scholarships in the field of health sciences. You can choose only the universities and departments offered to you in the application system, and these can vary with your educational background.
What the scholarship covers
- University and department placement
- A monthly stipend: undergraduate 6,500 TL, master’s 9,500 TL, PhD 13,000 TL (Turkish lira; check the site for the current amount)
- Tuition fee
- A Turkish language course for one year
- Accommodation
- Health insurance
- A once-off flight ticket, at the beginning of education and when graduating
The Merit Scholarship Programme is for international students with outstanding academic achievement, high grades and high scores in the international language and academic qualification examinations set by the Presidency. Students awarded it receive a monthly stipend twice the regular scholarship amount, and there are separate requirements for undergraduates, master’s and PhD candidates.
The Turkish-language rule
Many programmes at Turkish universities are taught in Turkish, but some departments and universities offer programmes in English and other languages. For those, you must provide an internationally accepted language proficiency certificate (TOEFL or an equivalent that the university officially accepts). All awardees who do not hold a C1-level Turkish proficiency certificate, including those placed in English or other-language programmes, must attend a one-year Turkish language course and obtain the C1 certificate by the end of that academic year.
Application calendar
| Programme | Stage | When |
|---|---|---|
| General application (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, arts, merit) | Application period | 10 January to 20 February |
| Evaluation | March to April | |
| Interviews | April to June | |
| Announcement of results | Early August | |
| Initial procedures | August | |
| Transfers of grantees to Türkiye | September | |
| Success Scholarship | Application period | October to November |
| Evaluation and results | November | |
| Research Scholarship (four periods a year) | 1st period | Apply January to March; results April |
| 2nd period | Apply April to June; results July | |
| 3rd period | Apply July to September; results October | |
| 4th period | Apply October to December; results January |
The Research Scholarship is designed to encourage international researchers and academics to carry out collaborative research at Turkish universities; the age limit is under 50. The site says the Success Scholarship, the Research Scholarship and other programmes have their own application periods, announced on its website and social media. We did not read the eligibility rules of the Success Scholarship, so please check the site before applying.
Documents you upload to TBBS
- A valid identity document, ID card or passport
- A photograph taken within the last year
- National exam results (if any)
- Diploma or temporary graduation certificate
- Transcript
- International exam results (GRE, GMAT, SAT and so on) if your chosen university or programme requires them
- International language test results such as TOEFL or DELF if your chosen university or programme requires them
- PhD applications only: a proposal for a research topic and a written example of research you have carried out
Undergraduate candidates who hold international qualifications such as SAT or GCSE instead of national exam scores must provide the minimum qualifications required for completing secondary school under those international exams.
How applications are judged
The site says applications are considered according to academic success, social activities and motivation related to the chosen field. There are five stages:
- Preliminary assessment: all applications are checked against basic criteria such as minimum academic achievement, age limits for each level and required documents.
- Expert evaluation: an Expert Committee considers academic status, previous qualifications, academic interests, career goals, consistency of preferences, the content of the letter of intent and participation in social activities. This produces the final list of candidates for interview.
- Tests: a 30-question quantitative test (mathematics, geometry and logic), lasting 60 minutes, is held for undergraduate candidates before the face-to-face interviews. It is also held for candidates in social sciences, whose results are compared with other applicants in the field. Interviews take place on the same day as the test, in morning and afternoon sessions.
- Interview: candidates from more than 100 countries are interviewed by committees of academics and experts, usually for 15 to 30 minutes: welcome and entrance; check of documents; the purpose of your application; academic knowledge and career goals; closing and your questions. Bring all documents and certificates of your latest completed education.
- Final assessment: a selection committee evaluates the interview results and creates the list of scholarship recipients, and it evaluates each candidate’s general eligibility.
How to prepare from now (our suggestion)
This is our own suggestion built around the official information.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now to December | Check the 70%, 75% or 90% minimum and the age limit for your level. Start collecting your ID, photograph, diploma, transcripts and any exam or language results. Use the programme search on the site to see which universities and departments are offered for your background. |
| December to early January | Watch turkiyeburslari.gov.tr and its social media for the 2027 announcement. |
| 10 January (expected) | Register in TBBS, choose your programmes in the order you prefer, write your letter of intent and, for PhD, your research proposal and writing sample. |
| By 20 February (expected) | Submit before the closing date. Keep a copy of your documents ready for the interview. |
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian students apply for Türkiye Scholarships?
Yes. The site lists “citizens of all countries” as eligible and excludes only Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship.
When is the application period?
The site says applications are open from 10 January to 20 February every year for associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes. The 2027 announcement has not appeared yet.
How much is the stipend?
On the site: undergraduate 6,500 TL, master’s 9,500 TL and PhD 13,000 TL a month.
Do I need to know Turkish?
Not to apply to an English-taught programme, but you must provide an accepted language certificate for it. All awardees without a C1 Turkish certificate must take a one-year Turkish course and obtain C1 by the end of that academic year.
Is there an age limit?
Yes: under 21 for associate and bachelor’s, under 30 for master’s, under 35 for PhD and under 50 for the Research Scholarship.
Can I get a scholarship for a master’s in medicine or health sciences?
On its graduate programme page the site says Türkiye Scholarships does not award scholarships in the field of health sciences at graduate level.
Are there interviews?
Yes. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, usually for 15 to 30 minutes, and undergraduate candidates also take a 30-question test.
Official sources (all read on 26 September 2026)
- Türkiye Scholarships: Application calendar
- Türkiye Scholarships: Criteria and scholarship programmes
- Türkiye Scholarships: Full-time programmes and scope
- Türkiye Scholarships: Application in 5 steps (documents)
- Türkiye Scholarships: Evaluation and selection process
- Türkiye Scholarships: 2026 applications announcement (29 Dec 2025)
