Few scholarships in the world give you this much in one package: full tuition, a monthly stipend, free accommodation, health insurance, a round-trip flight, a year of language training — and they even place you at the university themselves. That's the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027, the Turkish government's flagship award for international students. Around 6,000 students from more than 180 countries win it every year, for everything from Bachelor's degrees to PhDs. The window to apply is short — about six weeks — so if Turkey is on your list, you need to be ready.
In short: The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded Turkish government scholarship for Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD study at Turkish universities. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend (6,500 TL undergrad, 9,500 TL Master's, 13,000 TL PhD), accommodation, health insurance, flights, and a one-year Turkish language course. Applications run from 10 January to 20 February 2027 via the TBBS online system.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Türkiye (Turkey)
- Host Institution: Turkish universities across the country (placement arranged by YTB)
- Degree Level: Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and Art programmes
- Program Duration: Full degree length + 1-year Turkish language course (e.g. Bachelor's: 1 year language + 4 years study; Master's: 1 year language + 2 years study; PhD: 1 year language + 4 years)
- Funding Type: Fully Funded (Turkish government)
- Deadline: 20 February 2027 (applications open 10 January 2027; portal time Turkey time, TRT/UTC+3)
Benefits of the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027
This is what "fully funded" genuinely looks like. Run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the package covers the practical things students usually stress about:
- Monthly stipend — 6,500 TL for undergraduates, 9,500 TL for Master's students, and 13,000 TL for PhD students, paid throughout your studies.
- Full tuition coverage — you pay no tuition or university fees at all.
- University and department placement — YTB places you at a suitable university and programme based on your preferences. You don't need an admission letter or to apply to universities separately.
- Free accommodation — housing in university dormitories at no cost.
- Health insurance — full health insurance coverage for the duration of your scholarship.
- Round-trip flight — a once-off flight ticket to Turkey at the start of your studies and another when you graduate.
- One-year Turkish language course — free, compulsory language training (at TÖMER) so you can study and live comfortably in Turkey — even if your degree is taught in English, you still take the Turkish course.
- Merit top-up — the Merit Scholarship Programme pays outstanding achievers a monthly stipend of double the regular amount.
Eligibility Criteria for the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027
The criteria are refreshingly clear-cut, published on the official Türkiye Scholarships site:
- Nationality — citizens of all countries are eligible. Turkish citizens and anyone who has ever held Turkish citizenship cannot apply.
- Graduation status — you must be a graduate, or on track to graduate by the end of the current academic year (before August 2027).
- Age limits — under 21 for associate and Bachelor's programmes, under 30 for Master's programmes, under 35 for PhD programmes, and under 50 for the Research Scholarship.
- Minimum academic achievement — 70% for associate and Bachelor's candidates, 75% for Master's and PhD candidates, and 90% for health sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy).
- Not already enrolled — if you're currently studying at a Turkish university at the same level you'd be applying for, you're not eligible for that level.
- Health sciences note — the Graduate (Master's/PhD) Scholarship Programme does not award scholarships in health sciences; health fields are available at Bachelor's level (with the 90% requirement).
Meeting the minimums gets your application read, not accepted — selection is competitive and merit-based, weighing academic record, achievements, motivation, and your interview.
How to Apply for the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027
Everything happens in one place: the Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS) at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. The application is completely free, and there are no authorized agents — you apply personally.
1. Create your TBBS account. Register on the Türkiye Scholarships application system with a valid email address. The system is available in 8 languages, including English and Arabic. 2. Fill in your profile. Complete every section: personal information, family, education background, national and international exam results, language skills, work experience, awards, and social activities. 3. Upload your documents. Scan and upload all required documents (list below). Poor-quality scans are a common reason applications get tossed, so make them clean and legible. 4. Search programmes. Use the programme search tool to explore universities and departments open to your educational background — the system only shows you programmes you're eligible for. 5. Choose up to 12 preferences. Select up to 12 university and programme combinations in order of preference. YTB places you at one of your choices based on your profile and interview. 6. Write your letter of intent. This matters a lot. Be specific about why Turkey, why this field, and what you plan to do with the degree — vague essays don't survive the evaluation. 7. Review and submit. Check every field, then submit before 20 February 2027. Don't leave it to the final days — the portal has struggled under last-minute traffic in past years. 8. Wait for evaluation and interview. Shortlisted candidates go through document evaluation (March–April) and interviews (April–June), with results announced in early August 2027 and arrivals in Turkey in September.
Required Documents
For applications made online through TBBS, all candidates must upload:
- A valid identity document, ID card, or passport
- A photograph of the candidate taken within the last year
- National exam results (if any)
- Diploma or temporary graduation certificate
- Academic transcript
- International exam results (GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc.) if required by the chosen university or programme
- International language test results (TOEFL, DELF, etc.) if required by the chosen university or programme
- A research proposal and a written sample of research you've carried out (PhD applications only)
Note that some universities and programmes have their own extra requirements — the system will show you exactly what's needed for each of your 12 choices. Applications missing required documents aren't evaluated.
Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The official application calendar on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr is the same every year: applications open on 10 January 2027 and close on 20 February 2027 (Turkey time). That gives you roughly 41 days. After the window closes, evaluation runs March–April, interviews April–June, results are announced in early August 2027, and successful scholars travel to Turkey in September. Missing the 20 February deadline means waiting a full year for the 2028 cycle — there is no late application round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship really fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, a monthly stipend (6,500 TL undergrad, 9,500 TL Master's, 13,000 TL PhD), free dormitory accommodation, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course, and round-trip flights. YTB also arranges your university placement, so there's no separate admission hassle.
When is the deadline for the Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027?
Applications open on 10 January 2027 and close on 20 February 2027. This is a fixed annual window published on the official calendar — it doesn't move around, so you can plan for it now.
Do I need to speak Turkish to apply?
No. In fact, the scholarship includes a compulsory one-year Turkish language course at TÖMER, and every scholar must reach C1-level Turkish by the end of it — even those in English-taught programmes. Some top universities do offer English-medium programmes if you prefer.
Do I need IELTS to apply?
Not necessarily. Many programmes don't require an English test. But if the specific university or programme you choose lists TOEFL or an equivalent as a requirement, you'll need to provide it. Check the language requirements of each of your 12 preferences in the system.
What are the age limits?
Under 21 for associate and Bachelor's programmes, under 30 for Master's, under 35 for PhD, and under 50 for the Research Scholarship. These are hard cutoffs on the official site.
Can I apply if I'm already studying in Turkey?
Only for a higher level. You can't apply for the same level you're currently enrolled in at a Turkish university. And if you hold or have ever held Turkish citizenship, you're not eligible at all.
How many universities can I choose?
You can list up to 12 university and programme combinations in order of preference. You can only pick from the programmes the system offers you based on your educational background — YTB then places you at one of your choices.
Does the scholarship cover Medicine or Dentistry?
At Bachelor's level, yes — health sciences programmes are available with a 90% minimum academic requirement. But the Graduate Scholarship Programme does not award Master's or PhD scholarships in health sciences, so plan accordingly.
Can I work part-time while on the scholarship?
Turkish regulations allow international students to work part-time under certain conditions, but your first priority is the degree — and with tuition, housing, and a stipend covered, most scholars don't need to. Check the current rules on residence and work permits before counting on it.
What happens after I submit my application?
Your file goes through expert evaluation (March–April), then shortlisted candidates are invited to interviews (April–June). Final results come out in early August 2027, initial paperwork happens in August, and scholars travel to Turkey in September.
Final Words
Türkiye Burslari stands out because it thinks about the whole journey — not just the tuition bill, but where you'll sleep, how you'll get there, and whether you can speak the language when you arrive. If you meet the age and grade cutoffs, the application itself costs nothing, so the only real risk is a rushed, last-minute submission. Get your documents ready early, write a letter of intent that actually says something, and submit well before 20 February 2027.
