Sabancı University Master's Programs: Scholarships and Requirements

Contents

• What master's programs does Sabancı University offer?

• Who can apply to a Sabancı master's program?

• How do you apply and get a scholarship?

• Which documents should you prepare?

• What do Sabancı University master's scholarships include?

• When are the Sabancı application deadlines?

• Is IELTS accepted, and do all programs get scholarships?

• What should you do next?

• Real-World Examples

• Frequently Asked Questions

• References

• Legal Notice

Introduction

Sabancı University awards master's scholarships during the admission decision itself: the Admission Jury recommends a scholarship, and the board of the relevant graduate school finalizes it. According to Sabancı University's Graduate Scholarships page for 2026–2027, most students in academic graduate programs receive a full exemption from annual tuition fees, and many also receive a monthly stipend and a free dormitory room. Professional programs fall outside this scheme.

The topic is often searched as "Sabanci University masters scholarship", without the Turkish letter ı; both spellings refer to the same university, based on the Tuzla campus in Istanbul. The sources are Sabancı University's graduate regulation, published in the Official Gazette on 21 August 2023, and the university's admissions, scholarship and application-date pages for 2026–2027. Mezun Kampüsü brings these together so you can check each rule against the official page. According to Gazete SU, the university's news outlet, Sabancı University had 869 graduate students in an article published on 26 September 2025, and 12 percent of its students were international. Deadlines, test rules and scholarship terms are set for each academic year.

What master's programs does Sabancı University offer?

Sabancı University offers master's programs through three graduate schools: the Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Sabancı Graduate Business School. The admissions page for 2026–2027 states that English is the language of instruction. Each school offers academic programs, which are eligible for most scholarships, and some schools also run professional programs aimed at working applicants, which follow different admission and funding rules.

A graduate school is the academic unit within a Turkish university that runs graduate education and manages application and enrolment procedures. At Sabancı University, each graduate school sets its own exam requirements, interview format and application calendar, so the rules for an engineering applicant and a history applicant are not identical.

Two program formats appear across the schools. A master's with thesis is a graduate program completed through coursework and the preparation of a thesis. A master's without thesis is a coursework-focused graduate program completed with a term project instead of a thesis. Under Article 32 of the Rules and Regulations for Sabancı University Graduate Programs (Official Gazette, 21 August 2023), the thesis route requires at least seven courses and 120 ECTS credits. Article 34 sets at least ten courses and 60 ECTS credits for the non-thesis route.

The main program areas listed on the university's pages for 2026–2027 include:

• Engineering and natural sciences: the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences homepage lists 12 graduate program areas, including Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mathematics and Physics

• Professional engineering programs: Information Technologies (IT) and Data Analytics (DA), both non-thesis

• Social sciences: thesis master's programs in Economics, Cultural Studies, Political Science, Psychology, History, and Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design

• Business: professional programs such as the Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Master in Finance and Business Analytics for Professionals

Program lists can change between academic years, so check the graduate school's page for your term.

Who can apply to a Sabancı master's program?

Applicants to Sabancı University master's programs generally need a completed undergraduate degree, an accepted English proficiency score and, for most academic programs, an accepted entrance exam score. According to Sabancı University's admissions page for 2026–2027, applicants to thesis master's programs in engineering may also apply during the last term of their undergraduate studies, provided the degree is finished by enrollment.

An international student is a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and who is admitted to a higher education institution under international student status. Article 7 of the university's graduate regulation (Official Gazette, 21 August 2023) states that the Graduate School Administrative Board sets the admission conditions for international candidates, with approval from the Academic Council.

Degree recognition is part of eligibility. The Sabancı University admissions page states that international applicants' registrations are completed upon the approval of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and that the university makes the necessary enquiry itself.

The accepted entrance exams differ by school. ALES is the centralised examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM) and used in applications to graduate programs and in academic staff recruitment in Turkey. The admissions page for 2026–2027 also accepts GRE and GAT scores for thesis master's programs in engineering and the social sciences. Minimum scores are set separately for each school and program and are published on the admissions page.

Test rules by school, from the Sabancı University admissions page for 2026–2027:

Applicants who are citizens of a native English-speaking country are assessed by the Graduate School Administrative Board, under Article 7(9) of the regulation.

How do you apply and get a scholarship?

You apply to a Sabancı University master's program through the university's online application system, and the scholarship decision is made as part of the same evaluation. There is no separate scholarship form for the main university scholarships. The Admission Jury reviews each file, may invite shortlisted candidates to a written exam or an interview in English, and recommends both admission and a scholarship type.

The Sabancı University admissions page for 2026–2027 is direct about the channel: applications sent by email are not evaluated, and candidates may apply to more than one program. After you submit, the system emails your two recommenders a link, and the engineering sections state that letters must be uploaded within 3 days of the application deadline. Letters uploaded by the candidate are not valid.

The decision chain is described on the university's Graduate Scholarships page:

Scholarship recommendations are made by the Admission Jury and then finalized by the Board of the relevant Graduate School.
— Sabancı University, Graduate Scholarships page, 2026–2027 academic year

The process usually runs in four stages: you submit the online form and documents, your recommenders upload their letters, the Admission Jury invites shortlisted candidates to an exam or interview, and the graduate school board finalizes admission and the scholarship. For the June 2026 cycle, the Graduate School of Social Sciences held online, hybrid and face-to-face interviews depending on the program.

Applicants without a valid English score take a separate step. The English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE) is Sabancı University's own English test, used to assess graduate applicants who do not submit a valid score from a recognized English proficiency exam. The admissions page states that the ELAE is held right after the final application deadline and that invitations are sent by email.

Article 46 of the graduate regulation (Official Gazette, 21 August 2023) confirms that scholarships are assigned by decision of the graduate board, following principles set by the Board of Trustees.

Which documents should you prepare?

Sabancı University master's applicants generally upload an official transcript, a statement of purpose, a CV, a passport-sized photo, an entrance exam score where required and an English proficiency score, and arrange two recommendation letters. According to the Sabancı University admissions page for 2026–2027, transcripts must be issued by the previous institution's registrar, and original documents are requested at registration after admission.

The statement of purpose varies by school: engineering non-thesis programs ask for one to two pages, and the Graduate School of Social Sciences asks for an English statement of preferably no more than two pages. Some social sciences programs also request a writing sample in English of up to 30 pages, and research-based MA programs request a research plan of at least 1,000 words.

Test logistics matter for applicants based in Turkey. The admissions page states that TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAE and CPE exams taken in Turkey must be taken in a state university building, and home editions are not accepted.

• Confirm which graduate school runs your program and open its section of the 2026–2027 admissions page

• Request an official transcript from your university's registrar

• Write a statement of purpose that matches your school's length and content guidance

• Update your CV and prepare a passport-sized photo

• Check that your entrance exam score falls within the validity period for your school

• Book an accepted English test, or plan for the ELAE if you have no valid score

• Ask two recommenders in advance and tell them to expect an emailed upload link

• Prepare a writing sample or research plan if your social sciences program asks for one

• Keep original documents ready for registration and for the YÖK recognition check

Applicants who are not yet sure whether their previous field matches the program should note Article 11 of the graduate regulation. A scientific preparatory program is a set of completion courses that a student admitted to a graduate program from a different field must complete before beginning the main program. At Sabancı University, it cannot exceed two semesters, and its credits do not count toward the master's degree.

What do Sabancı University master's scholarships include?

Sabancı University graduate scholarships for master's students come in several types, and each combines a tuition exemption with different levels of living support. According to the Graduate Scholarships page for the 2026–2027 academic year, most students admitted to academic graduate programs receive a full exemption from annual tuition fees, while professional programs are excluded. Fees vary by university and academic year, so check the official page for figures.

The regulation sets a floor under this policy. Article 7 of the Rules and Regulations for Sabancı University Graduate Programs (Official Gazette, 21 August 2023) provides a full tuition exemption for at least 15 percent of the quota in thesis master's and doctoral programs each academic year. The university's scholarship page describes a broader practice than this minimum for most academic programs.

The table below compares the master's scholarship types listed on the Sabancı University Graduate Scholarships page for 2026–2027. Two types involve the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and its Science Fellowships and Grant Programmes Department (BİDEB). Amounts are not shown here because they change every year.

A Project Scholarship goes to students fully supported by research grants from bodies such as TÜBİTAK, industry partners or non-governmental organizations. The scholarship page encourages eligible master's applicants to apply to the TÜBİTAK BİDEB 2210 program; eligibility for that program is set by TÜBİTAK, not by Sabancı University.

The page also names school-specific scholarships, such as the Işık İnselbağ and Fuat Keyman scholarships, without further detail. The Distinguished Science and Technology Scholarship is for doctoral students only.

When are the Sabancı application deadlines?

Sabancı University runs two graduate application rounds a year, and the deadlines differ by graduate school and program type. As of October 2026, the open round is Spring 2026–2027: according to the university's Application Dates for Graduate Programs page, thesis master's and doctoral programs in the Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences close on 27 November 2026.

The Spring round is narrower than the Fall round. On the same page, the only other Spring 2026–2027 deadline is 11 December 2026, for the Management Doctorate Program at the Sabancı Graduate Business School. Social sciences master's programs and the professional business programs listed no Spring intake for 2026–2027.

The Fall 2026–2027 round, which has closed, shows how the calendar is usually built. Engineering thesis programs had an early deadline of 6 April 2026 and a final deadline of 15 June 2026. Graduate School of Social Sciences master's and doctoral programs closed on 8 June 2026, with an earlier deadline of 27 March 2026 for Economics. The professional IT, DA and business programs closed later, on 10 August 2026.

Interviews follow soon after the deadline. The Graduate School of Social Sciences announcement page listed interviews between 15 and 18 June 2026, about one week after its 8 June deadline.

Because each round's dates are published per academic year, the Fall 2027–2028 dates had not appeared on the Application Dates page as of 22 October 2026. Applicants planning for Fall 2027 should watch that page.

Is IELTS accepted, and do all programs get scholarships?

IELTS is not listed as an accepted English test for Sabancı University graduate admissions in 2026–2027, and not every master's program is covered by the main scholarships. The engineering sections of the university's admissions page state that YÖK does not accept the equivalency of IELTS, TOEFL-PBT and TOEFL-CBT, so these "will not be valid for Graduate Program registrations."

The Sabancı University admissions page for 2026–2027 lists TOEFL iBT, PTE, CAE, CPE, e-TEP and the Turkish exams YDS and YÖKDİL instead. TOEFL iBT "best score" reports are not accepted. An applicant who holds only an IELTS result can still apply and take the university's ELAE.

The ELAE route has a consequence worth understanding before you rely on it. Article 7(9) of the graduate regulation (Official Gazette, 21 August 2023) states that applicants who do not reach a satisfactory score register for the Foundation Development Year. The Foundation Development Year is Sabancı University's English preparatory program, in which admitted students who do not reach a satisfactory English score study before starting their graduate courses. For engineering applicants, the admissions page states that this preparatory year comes without scholarship support.

The second common confusion is about professional programs. The Graduate Scholarships page for 2026–2027 states that the full tuition exemption applies to academic graduate programs and excludes professional programs. Programs such as the Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Master in Finance and the IT and DA programs are aimed at working professionals and follow their own admission rules, including no ALES requirement for the business programs.

What should you do next?

The next step is to pick the Sabancı University graduate school and program that match your background, then work backward from its deadline. For the Spring 2026–2027 round, engineering thesis master's applications close on 27 November 2026, according to the university's Application Dates page, so test scores and recommender contacts are best arranged several weeks before that date.

A practical roadmap:

1. Choose the program and confirm whether it is academic or professional, since only academic programs are covered by most scholarships.

2. Check that your entrance exam score is within its validity period: 5 years for ALES and GRE, 2 years for GAT, according to the admissions page for 2026–2027.

3. Take an accepted English test, or plan for the ELAE and the possibility of the Foundation Development Year.

4. Prepare the documents in the checklist and brief your two recommenders.

5. Submit through the online system before the deadline and watch your email for exam or interview invitations.

6. After admission, follow the YÖK recognition check and registration steps the graduate school sends you.

Life in Turkey requires its own paperwork after admission. A student residence permit is the residence permit granted to a foreign national studying in Turkey, allowing them to remain in the country for the duration of their studies. The application is handled with the Presidency of Migration Management, and Sabancı University's Student Resources Office is the first contact for questions about enrollment.

The university's standing gives context for the decision. In the Research University Performance Rankings published by YÖK in December 2025, Sabancı University placed second in Turkey overall, according to Gazete SU on 5 December 2025. Rankings measure research output, not program fit, so read course lists and faculty profiles too.

Dates, test lists and scholarship terms are reset each academic year, so check the official pages before each round.

Real-World Examples

The examples in this section are illustrative scenarios created to explain situations applicants may encounter.

Amina, a computer engineering graduate with an IELTS score. Amina plans to apply to a thesis master's in Data Science and holds only an IELTS result. She reads the 2026–2027 admissions page and sees that IELTS is not listed among the accepted English tests. She can book a TOEFL iBT or PTE test, or apply without a score and take the ELAE after the deadline. Because the engineering section states that the Foundation Development Year comes without scholarship support, she books an accepted test early and keeps the ELAE as a backup.

Diego, a working analyst looking at business programs. Diego wants a business master's while keeping his job and assumes he will receive a tuition exemption. He checks the Graduate Scholarships page and finds that professional programs, such as the Master in Finance and Business Analytics for Professionals, are excluded from the main scholarship scheme. He compares two paths: a professional program with self-funding, or an academic thesis program that is eligible for scholarships. He contacts the Student Resources Office to ask how each program is structured before deciding.

Leyla, a psychology graduate applying to a social sciences MA. Leyla prepares a statement of purpose and asks two professors for letters. On the admissions page she notices that her program also recommends a writing sample of up to 30 pages and a research plan of at least 1,000 words. She adapts a chapter of her undergraduate thesis as the writing sample and drafts a research plan. She also notes that the Graduate School of Social Sciences offers no make-up ELAE, so she submits a valid TOEFL iBT score.

Kwame, a final-year physics student. Kwame is in the last term of his bachelor's degree and wants to start a thesis master's in Physics. The admissions page states that engineering and natural sciences thesis programs accept applicants in their final undergraduate term, provided the degree is completed by enrollment. He applies in the Spring round before 27 November 2026 and submits his current transcript. He also asks the graduate school which documents the YÖK recognition check will need, and keeps his final diploma ready for registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mezun Kampüsü
Mezun Kampüsü is a platform that brings together the graduate programs, application calendars and academic announcements of universities in Turkey. Applicants comparing Sabancı University's master's programs and scholarships with other universities can explore programs through Atlas, follow graduate application deadlines, track current announcements from universities, and start a free application through the Universities section.

Legal Notice

This article provides general information about Sabancı University's master's programs, scholarships and admission requirements. It is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. Graduate regulations, application calendars, accepted tests and scholarship terms can change between academic years, and conditions vary between programs and graduate schools. Before applying, confirm every detail with Sabancı University and, for degree recognition and residence matters, with the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Presidency of Migration Management. The main regulation referenced is the Rules and Regulations for Sabancı University Graduate Programs, published in the Official Gazette on 21 August 2023.