The Türkiye Scholarships programme (Türkiye Bursları) is one of the largest fully funded study-abroad schemes open to international students, covering undergraduate, master’s and PhD study at Turkish universities. Nigeria and India are both on the long list of eligible countries. The 2026 round has already closed, so this guide focuses on what to prepare before the next one opens.
Deadline and funding
The official Türkiye Bursları application system opened the 2026 cycle on January 10, 2026 and closed it on February 20, 2026 — that window is now shut. Based on this annual pattern, expect the 2027 cycle to open around January 2027 with a deadline in mid-to-late February 2027. The award covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, free university dormitory accommodation, health insurance, and an optional one-year Turkish-language preparatory course for students who need it.
Who is eligible?
Undergraduate applicants are generally expected to be under 21, and postgraduate applicants under 30, though the official criteria page lists exact cut-offs and academic-record requirements by programme level. Applicants must hold a diploma or degree equivalent to Turkish standards for the level they’re applying to, and meet the academic threshold set for their target field. Because requirements vary by degree level and subject, check the current Criteria & Scholarship Programs page against your own qualifications before the portal reopens.
How to apply
- Create an account on the Türkiye Bursları online system once the next cycle opens, and select your degree level and up to 12 programme/university preferences in order of priority.
- Upload transcripts, diploma or enrollment proof, a passport copy, and any language-proficiency or standardized test scores your target programmes require.
- Submit before the stated deadline — late or incomplete applications are not reviewed. Shortlisted candidates are typically invited to an interview (in person or online) before final placement.
Don’t wait for the portal to open to prepare: gather certified transcripts and translations now, since these take the longest to arrange, and Turkish universities’ own admission cycles run separately from the scholarship’s placement process.
Status checked 24 September 2026. Confirm the 2027 opening date on the official Türkiye Bursları site before applying.