Türkiye Scholarships Stipend 2026-27 for Master’s and PhD Students

Contents

• Introduction

• 1.What is the Türkiye Scholarships stipend?

• 2.Who can receive the stipend as a graduate student?

• 3.How does a new scholar receive the first payment?

• 4.What must you do to keep receiving the stipend?

• 5.How long is the stipend paid for master’s and PhD study?

• 6.What can reduce, freeze or cancel the stipend?

• 7.Does “fully funded” mean no other income is allowed?

• 8.What should a 2026-27 scholar do next?

• Real-World Examples

• Frequently Asked Questions

• References

• Legal Notice

Introduction

The Türkiye Scholarships stipend is a monthly payment that the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) deposits into each scholar’s account. For master’s students it can run for up to two years, and for PhD students up to four years, according to the Türkiye Scholarships Scholarship Procedures Directive approved on 17 April 2019. Amounts are set by YTB each year and published on the official program website.

Türkiye Scholarships, known in Turkish as Türkiye Bursları and often searched as “Turkiye Burslari”, is Turkey’s government scholarship for international students. Türkiye is the official name of the Republic of Turkey, and both names appear in this guide. The scholarship is sometimes called the Turkish government scholarship or simply the Turkey scholarship.

This guide answers the practical questions graduate scholars ask about the stipend: who receives it, when it starts, how long it lasts, and what can change it. It does not compare it with graduate assistantship stipends offered by universities in other countries.

The sources are the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation published in the Official Gazette on 17 June 2014, the Scholarship Procedures Directive of 17 April 2019, the official program pages at the Türkiye Scholarships website, and YTB statements from January and February 2026. According to YTB on 26 February 2026, the 2026 call received nearly 200,000 applications. A Daily Sabah report of 15 January 2026 quoted YTB as saying more than 15,000 scholars from 145 countries were studying at Turkish universities.

Stipend amounts, calendars and some procedures are updated each year. As of October 2026, applicants and current scholars should confirm every figure on the official Türkiye Scholarships pages before making decisions. Mezun Kampüsü follows these announcements for graduate applicants.

1. What is the Türkiye Scholarships stipend?

The Türkiye Scholarships stipend is the monthly cash payment within a wider scholarship package for international students in Turkey. The Türkiye Scholarships Regulation, published in the Official Gazette on 17 June 2014, gives the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) authority to decide which elements a scholarship includes, along with their amount and nature. The monthly stipend is one of those elements.

Türkiye Scholarships is the government scholarship program coordinated by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) that supports international students at Turkish universities from associate to doctoral level. YTB has run the program under this name since 2012, according to its announcement of 26 February 2026.

The official full-time programs page of the Türkiye Scholarships website, accessed in October 2026, lists the following as the scope of the scholarship:

• university and department placement

• a monthly stipend, with separate rates for undergraduate, master’s and PhD students

• tuition fee

• a Turkish language course lasting one year

• accommodation

• health insurance

• a once-off flight ticket at the beginning of education and when graduating

The stipend is therefore only one part of the support. Tuition, accommodation and health insurance are listed as separate elements, so the stipend is generally understood as money for daily living costs rather than for fees.

Rates differ by level of study. The same official page shows a higher monthly rate for PhD scholars than for master’s scholars, and a higher rate for master’s than for undergraduate scholars. Exact amounts are published on that page and can change between academic years, so this guide does not reproduce them.

The legal basis has two layers. The Türkiye Scholarships Regulation sets the general framework, and its Article 8(2) leaves the type, amount and nature of each support to YTB. The Scholarship Procedures Directive, approved on 17 April 2019 with approval number 41396, sets the detailed payment rules. Article 7(2) of the directive states that monthly payments determined by YTB each year are made by depositing them into students’ accounts.

For a graduate applicant, the practical meaning is simple. The stipend is a regular monthly payment linked to active student status, and it continues only while the scholar meets the obligations set out in the directive.

2. Who can receive the stipend as a graduate student?

A graduate student receives the Türkiye Scholarships stipend only after winning a full-time Türkiye Scholarship at master’s or PhD level. The official criteria page, accessed in October 2026, opens the program to citizens of all countries, with an age limit of under 30 for master’s applicants and under 35 for PhD applicants. Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship are not eligible.

The scholarship is designed for international students. 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 12(3) of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation adds that Turkish citizens, and dual citizens in certain situations, cannot benefit from Türkiye Scholarships.

The criteria page also excludes people already enrolled in a Turkish university at the level they are applying for. A student already in a master’s program in Turkey, for example, cannot apply for a master’s scholarship. Graduates, and students expected to graduate before August of the application year, are eligible.

Each level has a minimum academic achievement requirement, published as a percentage on the official criteria page. Applicants should read the threshold for their level there directly, since it can be revised.

The official full-time programs page adds a field restriction: Türkiye Scholarships does not award scholarships in health sciences. Master’s and PhD scholarships are offered in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering.

Table 1. Eligibility and stipend rules for master’s and PhD scholars, by level of study

The table shows that eligibility rules are close for both levels, while stipend periods and academic milestones differ. PhD scholars receive a longer stipend period but face a fixed deadline for the qualifying examination.

3. How does a new scholar receive the first payment?

A new scholar receives the first Türkiye Scholarships stipend after selection, placement and enrollment are complete. The official application calendar, accessed in October 2026, lists applications from 10 January to 20 February, document evaluation in March and April, interviews from April to June, results in early August, initial procedures in August, and transfer to Turkey in September.

The process starts on the online application system, known as TBBS. YTB’s announcement of 15 January 2026 confirmed that the 2026 call ran from 10 January to 20 February 2026 and covered associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Applicants choose only from the universities and departments that the system offers based on their educational background, according to the official full-time programs page.

YTB reported a record number of applications on 26 February 2026, after the call closed, while Daily Sabah reported on 15 January 2026 that YTB admits about 5,000 new scholars each year. Abdulhadi Turus, President of YTB, described the result in these words:

By receiving over 200,000 applications, we have achieved a massive record in the history of Türkiye Scholarships.
— Abdulhadi Turus, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), 26 February 2026

The same YTB statement explained that selected candidates are interviewed face to face in their own countries. According to YTB figures reported by Daily Sabah on 15 January 2026, interviews take place in nearly 100 countries.

Candidates who win a scholarship sign a scholarship commitment. Article 13(4) of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation states that this commitment sets out the scholar’s obligations and the sanctions for not meeting them. After arrival, the scholar enrolls at the assigned university. The scholarship package includes a Turkish language course of up to one year, which scholars take according to the program’s language rules.

Payments begin once the scholar is active in the system. Under Article 7(3) of the Scholarship Procedures Directive, each monthly payment covers the previous month, and a student who has no obstacle on at least 20 days of a month is treated as having earned that month’s payment. In practice, this means the first deposit generally arrives after the first month of active scholarship, not on the day of arrival.

4. What must you do to keep receiving the stipend?

To keep receiving the Türkiye Scholarships stipend, a scholar must meet the obligations in Article 5 of the Scholarship Procedures Directive and Article 23 of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation. Article 7(1) of the directive links every payment to those obligations, so the stipend continues only while the scholar stays active, attends, progresses academically and keeps information up to date with YTB.

Article 23 of the regulation lists obligations that apply to every scholar. Scholars are responsible for the accuracy of all information and documents they provide. They must send the documents YTB requests on time and correctly. They are expected to take the care needed to complete their studies without interruption and successfully.

The same article requires scholars to follow the attendance rules of their university, to obey the laws of the Republic of Turkey, and to follow the disciplinary rules of their institution and the rules of their dormitory. Article 23(5) states that scholars are generally expected to stay in Turkey during the period in which they receive the scholarship.

If a scholar is in their home country and something prevents them from continuing their studies, Article 23(7) asks them to inform the relevant Turkish diplomatic mission without delay and submit supporting documents.

The following actions reflect these obligations in a form a new graduate scholar can work through:

• Sign and keep a copy of the scholarship commitment before starting.

• Open or confirm the bank account YTB will use for monthly deposits.

• Enroll at the assigned university within the period YTB announces.

• Attend Turkish preparation classes regularly and track your absences.

• Submit any document YTB requests by the stated deadline.

• Check your graduate school’s grade and course-load rules each semester.

• Inform YTB before traveling abroad for an extended period.

• Ask YTB for written approval before taking any paid work.

These steps cover the most common reasons payments are delayed. The detailed academic milestones for master’s and PhD scholars appear in the directive itself, and graduate schools may add their own course and attendance requirements on top of the scholarship rules.

5. How long is the stipend paid for master’s and PhD study?

The Türkiye Scholarships stipend is paid for the standard length of each stage of study. Article 6(1) of the Scholarship Procedures Directive sets two years for a master’s degree and four years for a PhD. Turkish language preparation, limited to one year under Article 4(m), comes on top. An additional period of up to one year may be granted, with the stipend paid at a reduced rate.

The table below sets out how the stipend behaves at each stage, using only the directive’s own provisions.

Table 2. Stipend status at each stage of a Türkiye Scholarships graduate program, under the 2019 Scholarship Procedures Directive

Two points stand out. First, the clock for the stipend is separate for each stage, so a year of Turkish preparation does not shorten the two-year master’s period or the four-year PhD period. Second, language preparation has firm limits. Article 15 states that the scholarship is cancelled if language proficiency is still not obtained at the end of the second year.

For PhD scholars, the qualifying examination is a fixed milestone. A qualifying examination is the assessment of a doctoral student’s subject knowledge and research capability after the coursework stage, and is the condition for proceeding to the thesis stage. Article 20 of the directive states that the scholarship of a PhD student who has not been able to sit the qualifying examination by the end of the fifth semester is cancelled.

For master’s scholars, Article 19 requires credit courses and the seminar to be completed within four semesters, along with the minimum grade average the graduate school sets. Graduate schools at different universities apply their own regulations to thesis timing, so the length of a thesis stage can vary from program to program.

6. What can reduce, freeze or cancel the stipend?

The Türkiye Scholarships stipend can be reduced, frozen or cancelled when a scholar does not meet academic, attendance or administrative obligations. Article 14 of the Scholarship Procedures Directive allows YTB, after academic monitoring, to pay the stipend with a deduction of up to 50%, to freeze it, or to cancel the scholarship. Article 18 restores full payment once the cause of a deduction is removed.

The three outcomes have different weights. A deduction lowers the monthly payment for a period but keeps the scholarship active. A freeze stops payments until a condition is met, as with a language certificate under Article 15. A cancellation ends the scholarship.

The directive separates the general rule from institution-level practice. YTB applies the deductions and cancellations. Universities and graduate schools set their own grade averages, attendance rules and thesis procedures. A scholar can meet the scholarship’s minimum and still need to meet a stricter rule at a particular graduate school, so both sets of rules matter.

Attendance during Turkish preparation is the most common trigger. Article 21(1) reduces the stipend by 25% for the three months following excessive absence. For PhD scholars, missing the qualifying examination by the end of the fifth semester leads to cancellation under Article 20. For master’s scholars, Article 19 ties continuation to finishing credit courses and the seminar within four semesters.

Two further rules concern outside funding and work. Article 26(6) states that the scholarship of a student who receives a scholarship from an international organization, or from another public institution in Turkey, is cancelled. Article 25 addresses employment for graduate scholars.

Finally, Article 12(3) of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation states that YTB evaluates separately the case of a scholar who acquires Turkish citizenship and then decides whether the scholarship continues or is cancelled. Scholars whose circumstances change in this way should contact YTB directly rather than assume an outcome.

7. Does “fully funded” mean no other income is allowed?

“Fully funded” describes the scope of the Türkiye Scholarships package, not a guarantee that any other income is compatible with it. The package covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance and a monthly stipend, according to the official full-time programs page. Under Article 26(6) of the Scholarship Procedures Directive, however, a second scholarship from an international organization or a Turkish public institution leads to cancellation.

The phrase appears widely in promotional material, including posters and social media announcements for the 2026-27 intake. It is accurate in the sense that the main costs of study are covered. It is easy to misread in three ways:

• Other scholarships. A scholarship from an international organization, or from another public body in Turkey, is not combined with Türkiye Scholarships; the directive cancels the Türkiye Scholarship in that case.

• Paid work. Work is possible for graduate scholars only with YTB’s favorable opinion and a work permit, under Article 25, and the stipend may then be reduced or frozen.

• Equal stipends. Not every scholar at the same level receives the same amount. The official full-time programs page states that merit scholarship recipients receive a monthly stipend twice the regular amount.

The merit route is a separate call. The official calendar lists applications for the Success Scholarship in October and November, with evaluation and results in November. Criteria differ by education level and are published on the official program page.

The word “stipend” can also mislead readers from countries where a graduate stipend is a salary paid for teaching or research work. The Türkiye Scholarships stipend is not a salary and does not depend on assistant duties. It is a scholarship payment tied to student status and academic progress under the directive.

Graduation brings one more expectation. Article 23(10) of the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation states that scholars are generally expected to return to their countries within one year of completing their studies, with an exception for those granted a work permit in Turkey. The YTB statement of 26 February 2026 notes that graduates join the Türkiye Alumni network. According to YTB figures reported by Daily Sabah on 15 January 2026, more than 150,000 graduates live in 184 countries.

8. What should a 2026-27 scholar do next?

A 2026-27 Türkiye Scholarships master’s or PhD scholar should next confirm the current stipend rate, set up the payment details YTB requests, and map the directive’s academic milestones onto the graduate school’s calendar. The official calendar placed results in early August and transfer to Turkey in September, so most 2026-27 scholars will be in Turkish preparation or their first semester by October 2026.

A practical sequence for October to December 2026 looks like this:

1. Read the scholarship commitment you signed and note every obligation it lists.

2. Confirm the monthly stipend rate for your level on the official Türkiye Scholarships full-time programs page.

3. Check that YTB has the correct bank account and contact details on file.

4. Write down your attendance limits for Turkish preparation, since Article 21(1) links absence to a stipend deduction.

5. Ask your graduate school for its grade, course-load and thesis rules for your program.

6. Add your Article 19 or Article 20 deadline to your calendar: four semesters for master’s courses, or the end of the fifth semester for the PhD qualifying examination.

7. Ask YTB in writing before accepting any job, assistantship or second scholarship.

Future applicants for the 2027 call can plan around the same structure. The official calendar lists the general application window as 10 January to 20 February each year, with interviews from April to June. YTB reported more than 125,000 applications for 2025 and nearly 200,000 for 2026, so early preparation of documents and a clear statement of purpose are worth the time.

The Türkiye Scholarships website also hosts a scholarship procedures section, with guidance on scholarship deductions and termination, study extensions, and Turkish language proficiency. Checking that section at the start of each semester helps a scholar catch rule changes early.

Every element in this guide can change. YTB sets stipend amounts each year under Article 8(2) of the regulation, and the calendar is updated for each call. As of October 2026, the rules described here reflect the regulation as last amended on 30 July 2021 and the directive of 17 April 2019; confirm the latest versions on the official site before acting.

Real-World Examples

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

Amina finishes Turkish preparation with a few absences too many

Amina is a master’s scholar in engineering who arrived in September 2026. During Turkish preparation she misses more classes than the attendance limit allows after a long illness in her family. Her next three monthly payments are reduced, which matches the rule in Article 21(1) of the Scholarship Procedures Directive. Amina reads the directive, plans her remaining months with a tighter budget, and keeps her attendance within the limit for the rest of the course. Once the three-month period ends and no new absence issue arises, her stipend returns to the full rate under Article 18. She also asks her preparation center for an attendance printout each month so the situation does not repeat.

Daniel is offered a part-time research job

Daniel is in the second year of a PhD in physics and has completed Turkish preparation. A research group at his university offers him a paid part-time position on a project close to his thesis topic. Before accepting, he writes to YTB to ask for its opinion, because Article 25 of the directive allows graduate scholars to work in related fields only with YTB’s favorable opinion and a work permit. YTB approves the request and explains how his stipend will be handled. Daniel compares the income from the job with the stipend change, decides the research experience is worth it, and starts the work permit process with his university.

Leyla receives a second scholarship offer

Leyla is a master’s scholar in international relations. In her second semester an international organization offers her a scholarship for her thesis research. She reads Article 26(6) of the Scholarship Procedures Directive and sees that receiving a scholarship from an international organization leads to cancellation of the Türkiye Scholarship. Leyla weighs the two options, considering the length of each award, the tuition and accommodation that Türkiye Scholarships covers, and her thesis timeline. She asks the organization whether it can offer a research grant structured differently and contacts YTB to confirm how that structure would be treated before she replies.

Joseph plans his PhD around the fifth-semester deadline

Joseph starts a PhD in economics after a year of Turkish preparation. He learns that Article 20 of the directive cancels the scholarship of a PhD student who has not been able to sit the qualifying examination by the end of the fifth semester. With his supervisor, Joseph builds a plan: courses and the seminar in the first four semesters, and a qualifying examination date early in the fifth. He checks the graduate school’s own rules on when the examination committee meets. When one course is not offered in his third semester, he finds an equivalent course in another department early enough to stay on schedule.

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. International applicants weighing a Türkiye Scholarship can use it to compare master’s and PhD programs through Atlas, follow graduate school application periods and scholarship-related announcements from Turkish universities, track their academic process in one account, and start a free application through the Universities section.

Legal Notice

This article provides general information about the Türkiye Scholarships stipend for master’s and PhD students and is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. Scholarship rules, stipend amounts and application calendars are set by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and can change over time. University and graduate school conditions also vary by period and program. The article draws on the Türkiye Scholarships Regulation (Official Gazette No. 29033, 17 June 2014, as last amended on 30 July 2021) and the Türkiye Scholarships Scholarship Procedures Directive of 17 April 2019. Applicants and scholars should confirm every detail with YTB and their university before making decisions.