The Türkiye Scholarships graduate program is the Turkish government’s competitive, fully funded route for international master’s and PhD applicants. The 2026 general application period ran from January 10 to February 20, 2027 and is closed. The official site has not published a separate 2027 call, so applicants should use the current criteria to prepare but must not treat an expected annual date as a confirmed 2027 deadline.
Quick answer: Graduate candidates generally need at least 75% academic achievement. Master’s applicants must be under 30 and PhD applicants under 35 under the current official criteria. The scholarship includes university and department placement, tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation support, health insurance, a one-year Turkish course and flight support. Applications are submitted free through the official TBBS portal.
Türkiye Scholarships graduate program at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Latest confirmed general call | Türkiye Scholarships 2026 |
| Application dates | January 10–February 20, 2027; closed |
| 2027 call | Not yet published as a separate official announcement |
| Graduate levels | Master’s and PhD |
| Graduate fields | Social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering; graduate health-science scholarships are not offered under this route |
| Minimum graduate academic achievement | 75% |
| Age limit | Under 30 for master’s; under 35 for PhD |
| Application cost | Free |
| Official application system | Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS) |
2026 deadline status
The government’s 2026 application announcement opened the general scholarship to international candidates from all countries between January 10 and February 20, 2027. That window covered associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral applications.
The official application calendar describes January 10–February 20 as the annual general period, followed by evaluation in March–April, interviews from April–June and results in early August. However, the calendar does not replace a cycle-specific announcement. Until the government publishes a 2027 call, there is no verified 2027 deadline to place in a title or application reminder.
Research Scholarships, Success Scholarships, KATİP and joint programs use different calendars. Do not assume the general graduate deadline applies to those routes.
Graduate eligibility
The current official criteria page lists the following general requirements. Meeting them makes a candidate eligible for consideration; it does not guarantee selection.
| Requirement | Master’s applicants | PhD applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum academic achievement | 75% | 75% |
| Age | Under 30 | Under 35 |
| Previous qualification | Bachelor’s degree, or able to graduate before August of the relevant cycle | Master’s degree, or able to graduate before August of the relevant cycle |
| Nationality | Citizens of all countries may be eligible, except the ineligible groups below | |
| Current study in Türkiye | A person already enrolled at a Turkish university at the same level being requested is ineligible | |
Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship are listed as ineligible. Researchers and academics can be eligible for other scholarship types, but the full-time graduate route is designed for degree study.
The old birth-year cutoffs in this article—1987 for master’s and 1982 for PhD—were tied to an earlier cycle and are no longer reliable. Use the age criteria displayed for the active call.
Eligible fields and degree levels
The full-time graduate program covers master’s and PhD study in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering. The government page explicitly says that Türkiye Scholarships does not award graduate scholarships in health sciences under this program.
Available universities and departments depend on the applicant’s academic background and the choices shown inside TBBS. Candidates cannot simply name any Turkish university or department outside the options generated by the system. The official benefits page currently says applicants may make up to 12 program choices.
Associate and bachelor’s scholarships are part of the wider Türkiye Scholarships program but are not the focus of this graduate guide. Applicants seeking every degree level can compare the site’s full Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026 guide.
Scholarship benefits
The current official benefit schedule presents Türkiye Scholarships as a comprehensive package rather than a tuition-only award.
| Benefit | Current graduate coverage |
|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | TL 6,500 for master’s students; TL 9,000 for PhD students |
| Tuition | Tuition fees covered |
| Placement | University and department placement through the scholarship system |
| Turkish language | One-year Turkish-language course |
| Accommodation | Dormitory eligibility in the first graduate year; later housing allowance under the current rules |
| Health | General health insurance |
| Travel | Flight support for arrival at the start of study and return after graduation under the official procedure |
The official benefits page currently states that master’s and PhD students may stay in a dormitory in their first year. In later years, it lists a housing allowance of TL 6,000 for Istanbul or Ankara and TL 5,000 for other cities. Benefit amounts can change, so the active award letter and scholarship procedures control.
Required application documents
All candidates upload documents to TBBS. A chosen university or program can require additional evidence.
| Document | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Identity | Valid identity document, national ID card or passport |
| Photograph | Candidate photograph taken within the previous year |
| Academic completion | Diploma or temporary graduation certificate |
| Academic record | Transcript |
| National exam result | Upload if applicable |
| International academic tests | GRE, GMAT, SAT or another result only when required by the selected university or program |
| Language test | TOEFL, DELF or another accepted result when required by the selected program |
| PhD research material | Research-topic proposal and a written example of prior research |
The official application-document page also tells candidates to check the teaching language while selecting programs. Upload readable, truthful documents and follow the file requirements shown in the active portal.
Application process
- Read the cycle announcement. Confirm the application dates, eligible levels and any program-specific change.
- Create a TBBS account. Applications are free and must be made through the official system.
- Complete personal and academic details. Make sure dates, names and qualifications match the supporting records.
- Review the available programs. TBBS generates choices based on the candidate’s educational background.
- Upload the required files. Add academic, identity, test and PhD research documents where applicable.
- Write a specific letter of intent. Explain the proposed field, preparation, goals and why the selected choices form a coherent plan.
- Check every section before submission. Missing or inconsistent details can prevent the application from passing preliminary review.
- Submit before the verified deadline. Use the official TBBS portal; do not pay a person to submit on your behalf.
Selection process
The official selection page describes four main stages: preliminary assessment, expert evaluation, interview and final assessment. The preliminary check covers age, academic achievement and required documents. Experts then consider academic history, previous qualifications, academic interests, career goals, consistency of program choices, the letter of intent and social activities.
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by academics and experts. Interviews generally last 15–30 minutes and cover document checks, the purpose of the application, academic knowledge and career goals. Candidates invited to interview must bring the documents and certificates from their latest completed education.
Language rules
A universal IELTS or TOEFL score is not imposed for every graduate choice. A recognized language result is required when the selected university or program demands one. Some programs taught in English or another language may also require an international academic test such as GRE or GMAT.
Separately, every awardee who does not hold a C1 Turkish proficiency certificate must attend the one-year Turkish course and reach C1, including students placed in an English-medium program. Applicants should plan for this requirement rather than assuming English-medium study removes the Turkish course.
Application strategy
- Choose a focused group of programs that fits the academic record and career plan.
- Explain a genuine reason for studying the selected subject in Türkiye.
- Connect past coursework, research or professional experience to the proposed graduate work.
- Use the letter of intent to show a coherent plan, not generic praise copied across applications.
- For PhD study, prepare a feasible research direction and a strong writing sample early.
- Document social, academic or community activity accurately; selection considers more than grades.
- Confirm test and language requirements for every choice before the application window opens.
- Keep originals ready in case of an interview.
Related Türkiye opportunities
The YTB–IsDB Joint Scholarship 2026 guide covers a separate co-funded route for eligible applicants from IsDB member countries and Muslim communities. Its terms and repayment conditions can differ from the standard Türkiye Scholarships program, so applicants should not merge the two sets of rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Türkiye Scholarships 2026 application still open?
No. The confirmed 2026 general application window closed on February 20, 2027.
Is a Türkiye Scholarships 2027 deadline announced?
No separate 2027 call announcement is published on the official site. The general calendar shows January 10–February 20 as the annual period, but applicants should wait for the cycle-specific notice before treating those dates as confirmed for 2027.
Can international students apply for a master’s scholarship?
Yes. Citizens of all countries can be eligible for the master’s route if they meet the current academic, age, graduation and enrollment rules and are not in an excluded group.
What are the graduate age limits?
The current criteria require master’s applicants to be under 30 and PhD applicants to be under 35.
How much is the graduate monthly stipend?
The current official schedule lists TL 6,500 per month for master’s students and TL 9,000 per month for PhD students. Active award terms should be checked because amounts can change.
Does the graduate application require IELTS or TOEFL?
Only when the selected university or program requires an accepted language certificate. Applicants must check each choice in TBBS.
Can graduate applicants study medicine or dentistry?
The official full-time program page says graduate scholarships are not awarded in health sciences. Health-science rules shown for other study levels should not be applied to the graduate route.
Is the Türkiye Scholarships application free?
Yes. The official program states that online applications through TBBS are free of charge.
Bottom line
Türkiye Scholarships offers one of the broadest government-funded graduate packages available to international students, but the confirmed 2026 application period has ended. A competitive future applicant should verify the next official call, meet the 75% and age thresholds, build a coherent program list, prepare the required documents and use only TBBS. Do not replace the closed 2026 deadline with an invented 2027 date.