The Diyanat Burslari Scholarship (often spelled Diyanet) is a fully funded program run by Turkey's Diyanet Foundation, Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı. It is for one kind of student only: someone who wants to study Islamic Studies, Theology or Divinity in Turkey. If that is you, the package is unusually complete. If you were hoping to use it for engineering, business or medicine, stop here, because students from other fields are not eligible.
What makes it different from most scholarships Pakistani students look at is the range of levels. It runs from an international Imam Hatip high school program all the way up to a PhD, and every level comes with a year of funded Turkish language study before the degree starts. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide explains how the program actually works and where applicants slip up.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Diyanet Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı) |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Levels | High school, bachelor's, master's, PhD |
| Fields | Islamic Studies, Theology, Divinity |
| Country | Turkey |
| Application window (2026 cycle) | January 15 to February 28, 2026 |
| Typically opens | January |
| Official portal | dbys.tdv.org |
Four entry points, from Imam Hatip school to PhD
The program is split into four tracks, each with its own set of host institutions:
- International Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, across 15 schools
- International Theology Undergraduate Program, at 7 universities
- International Theology Graduate Program (master's), at 8 universities
- International PhD Program, at 8 universities
The undergraduate universities include Istanbul University, Ankara University and Marmara University. One detail many applicants miss: you do not pick your university. The Diyanet Foundation assigns students to institutions after selection. So if your heart is set on a particular city, this is not a scholarship that lets you choose it. Apply for the program, not the campus.
What the funding covers, line by line
Calling it fully funded is fair here. The benefits listed for the program are:
- Full tuition fee waiver at the participating school or university
- A monthly living stipend
- Free dormitory accommodation
- Health insurance
- A fully funded 1-year Turkish language course
- A return flight ticket
- Transportation support
- A books and clothing allowance
- Social and cultural tours
The amount of the monthly stipend is not stated in the information we have, so do not plan your budget around a figure you saw on a forum. Check the current amount with the foundation through the Diyanet Foundation website before you make family decisions based on it.
The year of Turkish before your degree
The language year is the first stage of the scholarship. It takes place at a Turkish university or language center with structured daily instruction, and the aim is to get students to around B1-B2 Turkish, which is enough to follow Theology and Islamic Sciences classes in Turkish. It also works as an orientation to Turkish campus life.
For a Pakistani student this matters in two ways. First, your degree is effectively one year longer than its nominal length, so plan your age, family commitments and career timeline with that in mind. Second, the year is a real opportunity. Students who treat it as a gap year struggle when lectures start. Students who take it seriously usually find the degree much easier. Some also use it to study Arabic more formally alongside Turkish.
Age limits and the two-year gap rule
Each track has its own eligibility conditions, and they are strict. All tracks require that you are not a Turkish citizen (the master's track makes an exception for IYP graduates).
High school track
Born after January 1, 2010, single, completed 8th grade with a score of 70% or more, no disciplinary record, family living outside Turkey, and not a refugee.
Undergraduate track
Born after January 1, 2005, a high school graduate with 70% or more, no disciplinary record, and no more than a 2-year gap after high school.
Master's track
Age 30 or under, a bachelor's degree in Divinity, Islamic Studies or an equivalent field, no 2-year education gap, and language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS or similar).
PhD track
Age 35 or under, a relevant bachelor's and master's degree, no 2-year education gap, and language proficiency.
The gap rule catches a lot of Pakistani graduate applicants. If you finished your BS, then spent a couple of years teaching at a madrassa or working before starting an MPhil, count the months carefully. A gap of more than 2 years in your academic education disqualifies you at graduate level, so lay out your dates honestly and make sure your transcripts and certificates support them.
On nationality: the program is described as open to international Muslim students from eligible countries. Confirm that Pakistan is on the eligible list for the current cycle when you register on the portal, since nationality is one of the first things the registration form asks for.
The paperwork the portal asks for
There are 9 items to prepare:
- Valid ID card or passport
- Recent photograph, taken within the last year, on a white background
- National exam results, if applicable
- Diploma or temporary graduation certificate
- Official academic transcripts from every institution you attended
- Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, DELF and similar), required for master's and PhD
- Letter of Intent, written by you personally
- Research proposal and a sample of previous research (PhD applicants only)
- Referee details: name, phone, email and institution
Transcripts and diplomas must be official. Unofficial copies are not accepted. If you are unsure what "official" means for Pakistani documents, our documents checklist for international scholarships and the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide are good places to start, though you should still follow whatever the portal itself specifies.
Why your Letter of Intent must be your own words
This is the one rule worth repeating. The program explicitly screens for AI-generated content in the Letter of Intent, and detection leads to rejection. That is unusual for a scholarship to state so plainly, and applicants should take it at face value.
A good letter here is simple and sincere. Explain why you want to study Islamic Studies or Theology in Turkey, what you have already studied, and what you want to do afterwards. Graduates of the program go on to work as imams, religious educators, Islamic administrators and academic researchers, so a clear link between your plans and one of those paths reads well. Polished English is not the goal. Honest, specific writing is.
Applying through the DBYS portal
Everything happens online at the Diyanet scholarship application portal. The steps are:
- Register with your nationality, date of birth, educational level, email and a password.
- Activate your account through the confirmation link sent to your email.
- Select your program level (high school, bachelor's, master's or PhD) and start the application.
- Fill in your personal information and upload a photograph with a white background.
- Upload your documents: ID or passport, transcripts, diploma and Letter of Intent, plus the other items that apply to your level.
- Add your referee details, review everything, and submit.
Register early in the window. Activation emails sometimes land in spam, and you do not want to find that out in the last week.
From February deadline to June results
The 2026 cycle followed this schedule:
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application period | January 15 to February 28, 2026 |
| Application evaluation | March 1-20, 2026 |
| Prospective student interviews | March 23 to May 31, 2026 |
| Interview evaluation | May 15-31, 2026 |
| Results announced | After June 15, 2026 |
That cycle has closed. The program typically opens around January, so if you are reading this later in the year, use the months before then to sort out documents, language scores and your letter. Dates change between cycles, so confirm the current window on the official portal rather than assuming the same days.
Preparing for the selection interview
The interview is where this scholarship differs most from academic programs in the UK or Europe. It covers:
- Quran recitation accuracy and Tajwid
- Basic religious knowledge in Aqidah, Ibadah and Seerah
- A visual aptitude test
- General cultural awareness and self-expression
- Language proficiency
Students from a madrassa background often feel comfortable with recitation but underprepare for the self-expression and cultural awareness parts. Students from a mainstream school background tend to have the opposite problem. Practise recitation with a qualified teacher who will correct your Tajwid, revise the basics of Aqidah, Ibadah and Seerah, and rehearse speaking about yourself clearly for a few minutes.
Who this suits, and common mistakes
This scholarship suits a Pakistani student who is committed to religious scholarship as a career, is comfortable living in Turkey for several years, and is happy to study in Turkish after the language year. It is a poor fit for someone using Islamic Studies as a back door into Turkey with plans to switch fields, since the program is built entirely around Theology and Divinity.
Mistakes we see most often:
- Missing the age cut-off by a few months. The limits are strict, so check your date of birth against your track before you start.
- Ignoring the 2-year gap rule at master's or PhD level.
- Uploading scanned photocopies instead of official transcripts and diplomas.
- Using AI tools to draft the Letter of Intent.
- Treating the interview as a formality and skipping recitation practice.
Once selected, you will still need a Turkish student visa. The Embassy of Turkey in Islamabad handles student visa applications, and the source also suggests contacting the Turkish Cultural Center for Diyanet scholarship information sessions. In Turkey, the Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara provides consular services to Pakistani students.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a subject other than Islamic Studies?
No. All four levels are in Islamic Studies, Theology and Divinity. Students from other fields are not eligible.
Do I need to know Turkish before applying?
The scholarship includes a fully funded 1-year Turkish language course before the degree starts. Master's and PhD applicants still need language proficiency scores such as TOEFL or IELTS when applying.
Can I choose which Turkish university I attend?
No. The Diyanet Foundation assigns universities after selection. You choose the program level, not the institution.
What happens if the Letter of Intent looks AI-written?
The program says it screens for AI-generated content and that detection leads to rejection. Write the letter yourself.
When are results announced?
In the 2026 cycle, results were announced after June 15, following document evaluation and interviews. Check the portal for the timeline of the next cycle.
Is there an age limit for the PhD track?
Yes. PhD applicants must be 35 or under, and master's applicants 30 or under.
Before you start, read the current call on the official Diyanet scholarship portal and review the Diyanat Burslari Scholarship page for the summary of requirements and links.