Türkiye Scholarships Application Portal: Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Contents

1. What is the Türkiye Scholarships application portal?

2. Who can apply through the portal for a master’s or PhD?

3. How do you complete the online application step by step?

4. Which documents do graduate applicants upload?

5. When does the portal open, and what happens after the deadline?

6. How do program choices differ between universities?

7. Is a portal application the same as applying to a university?

8. How should you prepare for the next application window?

9. Real-World Examples

10. Frequently Asked Questions

11. References

12. Legal Notice

Introduction

The Türkiye Scholarships application portal, officially the Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS), is where candidates for the Turkish government’s international scholarship apply online, free of charge. Graduate candidates create an account, enter personal and academic details, upload documents and rank up to 12 programs. For the 2026 intake, YTB opened the portal from 10 January to 20 February 2026.

Interest in the program has grown quickly. YTB reported 125,668 applications from 171 countries in 2025, and on 26 February 2026 it announced nearly 200,000 applications for the 2026 cycle. When the program launched in 2012, it received about 10,000 applications, according to the same YTB release. On the derived comparison, the 2026 figure is roughly 1.6 times the 2025 total (nearly 200,000 divided by 125,668).

This guide covers master’s and PhD applicants, sometimes searched as the “Turkey scholarship” or “Turkiye Burslari” for graduate study. It does not cover stipend or tuition amounts, which change by period. Mezun Kampüsü follows the application calendars of universities in Türkiye, and this article is written to sit alongside that work. Calendar months and criteria can shift from one cycle to the next, so confirm each detail on the official portal before you apply.

What is the Türkiye Scholarships application portal?

The Türkiye Scholarships application portal is the online system, called the Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS), through which international candidates apply for government-funded associate, undergraduate, master’s and PhD study in Türkiye. YTB runs the portal. As of October 2026, applications are made online, cost nothing, and include program preferences that YTB later uses to place successful candidates.

The legal basis sits in the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye on 17 June 2014 and last amended on 30 July 2021. Article 12 of the regulation states that applications are received electronically, in a way that is accessible to everyone and easy to understand. The same article allows paper applications only where an electronic application is not possible and the YTB Presidency decides so. In practice, that makes the portal the default route for almost every candidate.

The portal is not a university admissions system in the usual sense. Candidates do not apply to each university separately. They submit one scholarship application, list their preferred programs, and the selection process decides both the scholarship and the placement. YTB’s announcement of 15 January 2026 lists the elements a successful candidate may receive, including university and department placement, tuition, health insurance, housing support and flight ticket opportunities. Amounts are not discussed here, since they vary by period.

The 2026 program brochure describes the scale behind the portal. It reports around 125,000 applications a year, more than 15,000 grantees studying at any time, and around 150,000 alumni worldwide. The brochure also states that application forms are offered in eight languages: Turkish, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Bosnian, Persian and Spanish.

The Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS) is the online portal run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) through which candidates create an account, complete the scholarship application and submit their program preferences. Graduate candidates also use the system after submission: the brochure states that acceptance letters are sent through TBBS and by email.

Who can apply through the portal for a master’s or PhD?

Citizens of any country can apply through the Türkiye Scholarships portal, according to the 2026 program brochure. Graduate candidates must also meet an age limit and a minimum academic achievement level. Master’s applicants must be under 30 and PhD applicants under 35. Turkish citizens, and people who have lost Turkish citizenship, are not eligible under the Criteria and Scholarship Programs page.

The portal’s first filter is a preliminary assessment. The Türkiye Scholarships Evaluation and Selection Process page explains that applications are first “examined on the basis of basic criteria”, which include minimum academic achievement, age limits for each level and the required documents. An application that misses one of these basic criteria does not move on to the Expert Committee, so checking eligibility before opening an account saves time.

The program brochure sets a minimum academic achievement level for each degree. The exact threshold is listed in the brochure for each cycle, and candidates should compare it with the grade scale on their own transcript before applying. Final-year students can apply before graduating: the brochure states that a diploma is not required from final-year students. What to upload in its place, such as a temporary graduation certificate or a current transcript, should be confirmed in the program guide inside TBBS.

One group is limited by level rather than nationality. The Criteria and Scholarship Programs page, accessed in October 2026, states that candidates who are already enrolled in a program at a Turkish university cannot apply for the same level of study. A student already enrolled in a master’s program in Türkiye, for example, cannot use the portal to win a master’s scholarship. That student may still be eligible to apply at the next level, or through the separate Success Scholarship.

Table 1. Eligibility criteria the Türkiye Scholarships portal checks, by study level (2026 brochure and Criteria and Scholarship Programs page)

How do you complete the online application step by step?

Completing the Türkiye Scholarships online application takes five practical steps on the TBBS portal: create an account, enter personal and educational details, upload documents, choose up to 12 programs, then review and submit. A Türkiye Scholarships guidance page, accessed in October 2026, states that a confirmation email with an application reference number follows submission. The 2026 window closed on 20 February 2026.

Applications to Türkiye Scholarships are online and free of any charge.
— Türkiye Scholarships, program brochure 2026

Step 1 — Create an account. The Türkiye Scholarships guidance page tells candidates to create an account on the official system, which then opens the online application form. Use an email address you will keep for at least a year, because interview invitations and acceptance letters arrive by email and through TBBS.

Step 2 — Enter personal information and educational background. The form has sections for personal information, educational background and program preferences, according to the same guidance page. It warns that inaccurate or outdated information may lead to disqualification. Grades and dates should match the transcript exactly.

Step 3 — Upload documents. The Application in 5 Steps page states that “all candidates must upload the following documents to the system”. The list includes identity, a photo, diploma or temporary graduation certificate and transcript; PhD candidates add a research proposal and a writing sample.

Step 4 — Choose programs. The guidance page says candidates may choose up to 12 programs and universities. The Application in 5 Steps page notes that candidates “can check the language of instruction while choosing programs in the application system”, and the brochure states that a university and program guide is provided inside TBBS.

Step 5 — Review and submit. The guidance page advises reviewing the application thoroughly before submitting it. Keep the confirmation email and reference number.

The Evaluation and Selection Process page lists the letter of intent among the Expert Committee’s shortlisting criteria, alongside academic status, previous qualifications and career goals. A letter that links your chosen programs to one career plan helps the committee read the 12 preferences together.

Which documents do graduate applicants upload?

Graduate applicants to the Türkiye Scholarships portal upload an identity document, a recent photo, a diploma or temporary graduation certificate, and a transcript, according to the Application in 5 Steps page. Some programs also ask for international test scores such as the GRE or GMAT and language scores such as the TOEFL or DELF. PhD applicants add a research proposal and a sample of written work.

The 2026 program brochure confirms the same core list and adds national examination scores where a candidate has them. The brochure states that the diploma is not required from final-year students. A separate Türkiye Scholarships guidance page, accessed in October 2026, also mentions a CV and a motivation letter, and says some programs ask for recommendation letters. Requirements can differ by program, so the program guide inside TBBS is the place to confirm what each preference needs.

Interviews add a second document moment. The Evaluation and Selection Process page states that shortlisted candidates must bring all documents and certificates for their latest completed education to the interview, and that a document check is one of the interview’s stages. Scanning and storing originals before the window opens avoids a last-minute search in the weeks before an interview.

Use this list to prepare before the portal opens:

• Scan a valid passport or national identity card in clear color

• Take a recent passport-style photo in a common image format

• Request an official transcript and, if you have graduated, your diploma

• Ask your university for a temporary graduation certificate if you are in your final year

• Check whether each preferred program needs GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or DELF scores, and book the tests early

• Draft a motivation letter that connects your field to your career goals

• For a PhD, write a research proposal and choose one sample of your written research

• Ask referees early if a preferred program requests recommendation letters

Translation and certification rules for these files are not set out on the Application in 5 Steps page. Where a document is not in English or Turkish, contact the Türkiye Scholarships call center or check the program guide in TBBS before uploading, rather than assuming a format.

When does the portal open, and what happens after the deadline?

The Türkiye Scholarships portal opens for undergraduate and graduate applications once a year, from 10 January to 20 February in the 2026 cycle. After the deadline, YTB moves through evaluation, interviews and a final selection, with results announced in early August and arrival in Türkiye in September. Research and Success Scholarships follow separate calendars, as listed on the official Application Calendar page.

The two official sources give slightly different months for the middle stages. The 2026 brochure places evaluation from March to May and interviews in June and July. The Application Calendar page, accessed in October 2026, places evaluation in March and April and interviews from April to June. Both agree on the application window, results in early August and arrival in September. Candidates should plan for interviews at any point from April to July and watch their email and TBBS account throughout.

YTB closed the 2026 window with a record. On 26 February 2026, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus said: “By receiving over 200,000 applications, we have achieved a massive record in the history of Türkiye Scholarships.” The YTB release adds that evaluation had begun and would be followed by in-person interviews in candidates’ home countries.

Table 2. Türkiye Scholarships calendar stages for graduate applicants, compared across two official sources

How do program choices differ between universities?

Program choices on the Türkiye Scholarships portal differ mainly in language of instruction, entry documents and field structure. The Application in 5 Steps page notes that many programs are taught in Turkish, while programs in English or other languages ask for an accepted language certificate and, in most cases, international admissions test scores. Each of the 12 preferences can therefore carry different requirements.

Language is the deciding factor for many graduate applicants. The Application in 5 Steps page states that all scholarship holders without a C1 level certificate in Turkish attend a one-year Turkish language course, including students placed in English-taught programs. The 2026 brochure states that the course runs for eight months and that students are expected to reach C1 level by its end. That year sits before the graduate program begins, so it affects the total time a candidate spends in Türkiye.

The course is usually delivered through university language centers. TÖMER is the common name for the Turkish language teaching centres attached to Turkish universities, which provide Turkish courses and issue certificates of Turkish proficiency. A Certificate of Turkish Proficiency is the document showing an applicant’s level of Turkish and required for admission to Turkish-medium programs; the accepted level varies between universities.

Is a portal application the same as applying to a university?

A Türkiye Scholarships portal application is not the same as applying directly to a Turkish university. The portal application asks YTB for a scholarship and a placement together. Under Article 13 of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation, placement takes account of the scores candidates receive in the selection process and the preferences they listed. A direct university application, by contrast, follows each graduate school’s own calendar.

Some applicants assume that ranking a program on the portal secures a seat at that university. The regulation and the Evaluation and Selection Process page describe a different sequence: a preliminary assessment, an Expert Committee review, an interview and a final assessment by a selection committee. The 2026 brochure adds an admission stage in which acceptance letters are sent through TBBS and by email. A program preference is an input to that sequence rather than an admission decision.

A second confusion concerns the separate tests. The Evaluation and Selection Process page describes a written test, with 30 quantitative questions in 60 minutes, for undergraduate candidates. That test belongs to the undergraduate route. Graduate candidates are assessed through documents, the Expert Committee and the interview, which the same page says usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes and includes a document check, the purpose of the application, academic knowledge and career goals.

A third point involves students already in Türkiye. Candidates enrolled at a Turkish university cannot use the main portal for their current level of study, according to the Criteria and Scholarship Programs page. The Success Scholarship, with its own October and November window on the Application Calendar page, is the route designed for students already studying in Türkiye. Its conditions are set separately and should be checked on the official site.

Applying through the portal and applying directly to a university can run side by side. Graduate schools in Türkiye set their own international admissions calendars, which vary between universities, so a candidate can keep a self-funded or university-funded option open while waiting for the scholarship result in August.

How should you prepare for the next application window?

The next Türkiye Scholarships application window should be confirmed on the official portal once YTB publishes it; as of October 2026, the sources reviewed for this guide had not listed dates for a 2027 cycle. In the 2026 cycle the window opened on 10 January, so graduate applicants who prepare documents, test scores and a program shortlist in the preceding autumn arrive ready.

A practical roadmap for the months before the window looks like this:

• October to November: confirm your age and academic record against the latest brochure, and identify programs in your field by language of instruction.

• November to December: book any GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or DELF test that a preferred program lists, so scores exist before February.

• December: request transcripts, the diploma or a temporary graduation certificate, and recommendation letters where needed.

• December to early January: draft the motivation letter and, for PhD applicants, the research proposal and writing sample.

• From the opening day: create the TBBS account, enter details, upload files and rank up to 12 programs well before the deadline.

The 2026 brochure states that around 5,000 new scholarships are awarded each year against around 125,000 applications, and YTB reported nearly 200,000 applications in 2026. Those figures show that a parallel plan is sensible. Shortlisting a few programs for direct application keeps a route open whatever the scholarship result.

Seasonal change is normal in this program. The interview months already differ between the brochure and the Application Calendar page, and the regulation was last amended on 30 July 2021. Before acting on any date in this guide, check the Türkiye Scholarships site and the latest YTB announcement for the cycle you are applying to.

Real-World Examples

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

Amina, a final-year engineering student. Amina will graduate in June, after the February deadline. She worries the portal will block her without a diploma. Reading the 2026 brochure, she sees that a diploma is not required from final-year students. She checks the program guide inside TBBS for what to upload in its place, asks her faculty for a document confirming her final-year status, uploads her current transcript, and ranks master’s programs in mechanical engineering taught in English and Turkish. She also notes that original documents will be checked at the interview, so she plans to collect her final transcript as soon as it is issued.

Daniel, a PhD candidate with a broad shortlist. Daniel’s first draft ranked 12 programs across economics, sociology and public policy. His research proposal focuses on regional labor markets. Re-reading the Evaluation and Selection Process page, he sees that career goals and previous qualifications feed into the Expert Committee’s shortlist. He narrows his list to departments where labor economics is an active research area and rewrites the proposal so each preference fits the same plan. The result is a shorter list that reads as one coherent application.

Lina, already studying in Türkiye. Lina is in the first year of a self-funded master’s program in Ankara and wants scholarship support. The Criteria and Scholarship Programs page tells her she cannot apply through the main portal for the level she is already studying. She turns to the Application Calendar page and finds the Success Scholarship, which accepts applications in October and November. She checks its conditions on the official site and plans to apply through the main portal later for a PhD.

Arman, unsure about language. Arman, from Kazakhstan, prefers English-taught programs and assumes he will skip Turkish classes. The Application in 5 Steps page explains that scholarship holders without a C1 Turkish certificate attend a one-year Turkish course, even if placed in an English-taught program. He adjusts his timeline to include that year, keeps two English-taught and several Turkish-taught programs on his list, and books an English test so that every preference has its required certificate. He also checks the program guide inside TBBS to see which English-taught preferences ask for GRE scores.

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 preparing a Türkiye Scholarships application can use it to compare the programs they plan to rank, follow university application periods that run alongside the scholarship calendar, track current announcements, and start a free application through the Universities section.

Legal Notice

This article provides general information about the Türkiye Scholarships application portal for international graduate applicants. Regulation and practice can change over time, and the scholarship calendar, eligibility criteria and document lists are reviewed for each cycle. University and program conditions also vary by period. Before applying, confirm every detail with the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the official Türkiye Scholarships website and the universities you plan to rank. This article is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. The main regulation referred to is the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation (Official Gazette, 17 June 2014, last amended 30 July 2021).