Long and short-term academic programs are available in Turkey across many universities and educational centers. International students and researchers may apply to BA, MA, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research programs in Turkey. Moreover, summer schools and conferences are other excellent academic activities that make Turkey an attractive destination for scholars and scientists. Many programs also come with fully-funded scholarships and fellowships as well as travel grants and financial aid, thus every student, researcher, and professor can always find a suitable program in Turkey and apply.
Scholarships in Turkey
- Turkiye Burslary Scholarships
- Turkish Scholarship Program at Koc University
- Bilkent Scholarship in Turkey
- Eastern Mediterranean University Scholarship for Postgraduate Programs
- Chevening Scholarship in Turkey
- AGU Scholarship
- Turkish Educational Foundation Scholarship
- Graduate Women International Scholarship in Turkey
- Istanbul Aydin University Scholarship
Fellowships in Turkey
- EURAXESS International Fellowship in Turkey
- Fully Funded Fellowship Program in Istanbul, Turkey
- The Professional Fellows Program in Turkey
- Turkey-Armenia Fellowship Scheme, Hrant Dink Foundation
- TRT World Fellowship
- American Research Institute in Turkey Fellowship
- Turkey Heritage Organization the Non-Resident Fellowship Program
- Marmara University/SICOT Arthroplasty Fellowship
- TUBITAK Department of Science Fellowship
- Hand Surgery Turkey Fellowship
Summer Programs in Turkey
- Turkish Summer School Program, Yunus Emre Institution
- Turkish Language and Summer Program
- Delightful Istanbul Summer School, Istanbul Aydin University
- Bogazici University Summer Term
- THO Summer Research Program in Turkey
- Seven-Week Summer Study in Istanbul, Sabanci University
- Ottoman Summer Program, ANAMED
- Leadership Summer School, Youth Camp Turkey
- Intensive Ottoman and Turkish Summer School
Grants & Awards
- British Institute of Ankara Grants & Awards
- Research Grants in Modern Turkish Studies Grants
- FWO Cooperation with Turkey
- Istanbul Research Institute Grants
- Newton-Katip Celebi Fund grants
- Turkey-Armenia Travel Grant, Hrant Dink Foundation
- The Institute of Turkish Studies Grant Opportunities
- Turkish Academy of Sciences Awards
- IEEE Turkey Scientist Award
- Newton Mobility Grants
Turkey as an Academic Destination
Turkey historically attracts many international students because it's close both to Europe and Asia. There are more than 200 universities in Turkey, both public and private. The education system in Turkey is organized according to the European Bologna system. Therefore your diplomas from Turkey will be recognized in all the European countries.
The first link in the scholarships list above takes you to the Turkish Government Scholarships, which has fixed places for international students each year. So, before you start seeking other funding opportunities in Turkey, you might check the most important of them first.
There are many exchange programs that, among other opportunities, can help you appear in Turkish Universities. The majority of the Turkish educational institutions actively participate in Erasmus Programs. Two other exchange programs you can benefit from include Mevlana and Farabi.
You do not have to study Turkish for the education programs, as many universities organize English programs. Among such are Middle East Technical University, Istanbul Aydin University, Bilkent University, Istanbul Sehir University, etc.
Turkey is rich with globally high-ranked universities. The US news list of the Turkish universities will help you to navigate among the best options.
The highest ten positions in the list include:
- Bogazichi University Boğaziçi University
- Middle East Technical University
- Istanbul Technical University
- Hacettepe University
- Izmir Yuksek Teknoloji Enstitusu
- Bilkent University
- Ankara University
- Istanbul University
- Koc University - Turkey
- Cukurova University
Not surprisingly, many top universities come from the capital Istanbul, followed by Ankara and Izmir, as the popular cities for international students.
Many of the above-mentioned universities are among the oldest educational institutions in Turkey. The oldest of them is Istanbul University, founded in 1453. Istanbul Technical University is considered the second-oldest university, founded in 1773.
Turkey's most popular academic directions are Management, Architecture, Finance, Engineering, and International Relations.
How to apply?
Applying to Turkish Universities requires the standard group of documents such as completion certificate of the previous degrees, transcripts, etc. There might be a 30-100 $ application fee for international students depending on the program and university.
The deadline for the Bachelor's programs is usually August 1. There are two common deadlines for graduate degrees, including the end of May for the fall semester and December for the spring semester.
Turkey requires an entry visa from many international students. Check your country's visa requirements in advance, as in rare cases, you may be eligible to enter Turkey with your national ID.
The good news is the process of getting a student visa in Turkey is straightforward. You need to submit the Turkish university acceptance letter and the required visa application form.
Turkish university tuition fees are significantly less than that of Europe and the US. You may pay between 1000-4000 EUR per academic year in a public university as an international student. In private universities, the price per degree can be more than 20,000 EUR.
Many Turkish universities may offer lower fees for international students from the European Union and the European Economic Area. Check the details with your university in advance.
When it comes to living costs, it's possible to cover your daily expenses with 400-650 EUR per month.
Accommodation options for international students include university, state, or private dormitories and personal renting apartments. The latter can cost between 70-270 EUR per month. Carefully check the academic opportunities above. Some of them may also help you cover study-related costs.
To sum up, Turkey can be a good academic destination for you both from Europe and Asia, as it's located on both. You may consider this for the intermediary travelings to your home country while pursuing your degree.
It's also beneficial if you want to construct your further career in Europe. As already mentioned, Turkey's academic system corresponds to the main European standards. So you may gain an opportunity to have a diploma accepted by Europe, however, pay less compared to the European universities.