Türkiye Burslari is the Turkish Government's own scholarship programme, run by the Turkish Scholarship Council. It is fully funded, open to international students at Bachelor's, Master's and PhD level (Associate Degree is also listed), and it is open to Pakistani nationals. Each year more than 150,000 people apply for roughly 4,500 awards, so the odds are tight. But the package is generous, and the application is free of the government nomination step that many other state scholarships require.
This guide walks through the money, the age and grade cutoffs, the 12-choice ranking system and the mistakes that knock Pakistani applicants out early. For the condensed version, see the full scholarship details.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Provider | Turkish Scholarship Council / Government of Türkiye |
| Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Associate Degree |
| Application window | Opens January 10, closes February 20 (annual) |
| Country | Turkey |
| Choices per application | Up to 12 programs or universities, ranked |
| Official portal | tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr |
Who Türkiye Burslari suits, and who should think twice
This scholarship suits a student who is happy to spend an extra year learning Turkish before the degree starts, and who is open to living in a city other than Istanbul. Every recipient takes the one-year Turkish language preparatory course, even if the degree itself is taught in English. If you want to be in a lab or lecture hall within a few months of arriving, that extra year will frustrate you.
It is also a strong option for FSc pre-medical students. Medicine is available in English at nine Turkish public universities, and other universities teach it in Turkish after the language year. The catch is the 90% minimum academic score for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, which rules out a lot of otherwise good applicants.
Who should skip it? Anyone over the age limit for their level, anyone already enrolled at a Turkish university, and anyone already receiving another scholarship. Those three groups are ineligible, full stop.
The monthly stipend and the rest of the package
The scholarship pays for the following:
- Full tuition fee waiver at public Turkish universities
- A monthly stipend of 4,500 TL for Bachelor's, 6,500 TL for Master's and 9,000 TL for PhD students
- Free accommodation in state dormitories
- Comprehensive health insurance for the whole programme
- An international flight ticket
- The one-year Turkish language preparatory course
Two things to keep in mind. First, the stipend is paid in Turkish lira, so its value in rupees depends on the exchange rate when you arrive. Check the current figures on the official Türkiye Burslari website before you plan a budget. Second, the flight ticket terms (whether it covers only arrival or both arrival and departure) should be confirmed on the official site, so do not assume a return ticket until you see it in writing.
During the language year the scholarship stays fully active: tuition, accommodation, stipend and health insurance all continue. You are not paying your own way through that first year.
Age limits and grade cutoffs that decide eligibility
The rules are short, and they are strict. You must be a non-Turkish citizen. After that, it depends on your level.
| Level | Minimum academic score | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 70% | Under 21 |
| Master's | 75% | Under 30 |
| PhD | 75% | Under 35 |
| Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy | 90% | As per your level |
You also cannot be currently enrolled at a Turkish university or receiving another scholarship. Language requirements (English or Turkish) depend on the programme you choose. If you are thinking about an Associate Degree, check the official site for the score and age rules, since they are not set out with the other levels.
The age limit trips up more Pakistani students than the grades do. A student who finished FSc late, or took a gap year, can easily be past 21. Work out your age against the current cycle's rules before you spend a week on the motivation letter.
Picking your 12 programmes is the real strategy
Within one application you can rank up to 12 programmes or universities. The first choice is treated as your most preferred during placement. After final selection, changes to your programme or university are generally not allowed. Requests can be made in exceptional cases but are rarely approved. So the order you submit in February is very likely the order you live with.
A sensible approach:
- Only list programmes where you fully meet the entry requirements. The evaluation cross-checks your scores against each programme's minimum, and mismatches are filtered out automatically. A choice you do not qualify for is a wasted slot.
- Put your genuinely preferred, competitive programmes at top universities first.
- Fill the lower slots with backup options at universities in smaller cities such as Ankara, Bursa, Trabzon and Samsun. Competition for placements there is lower and living costs are lower too.
- Do not list anything you would refuse. If you would not go to a programme, leave it off.
Türkiye has over 200 universities, including Koç University, Sabanci University, Middle East Technical University (METU) and Bogazici University. Everyone wants those. Students who rank only big-name Istanbul options are taking a bigger risk than they think.
A note for Medicine applicants
English-medium medical programmes do not all ask for the same thing. Some require TOEFL, some require the Turkish YDS exam, and some require both. Check each programme on your list individually. One unchecked requirement can sink a choice you were counting on.
Documents to prepare before January
The window between January 10 and February 20 is short, so gather these early:
- Valid passport or national identity document
- Recent photograph, taken within the last 6 months
- National examination results (Matric, FSc or equivalent)
- Diploma, or a temporary graduation certificate if you are still awaiting your degree
- Academic transcript
- International exam results (GRE, GMAT, SAT), only if your chosen programme requires them
- Language test results (TOEFL, IELTS, YDS), only if your chosen programme requires them
- Letter of motivation, written by you
- CV in Europass format
- Research proposal and a sample of previous research (PhD applicants only)
- Recommendation letters, at least two strongly recommended
Recommendation letters are not always mandatory, but letters from supervisors or professors strengthen your profile, so treat two as the practical minimum. If you need to sort out attestation of your educational documents, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the process, and the documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful cross-check.
Two document rules that cause rejections
The motivation letter must be original. Türkiye Burslari screens for AI-written content, and detection leads to disqualification. Write it yourself, about your own reasons for choosing Türkiye and your chosen programme.
The CV must be in Europass format. Applications with non-compliant CVs are marked down in document review even when the content is strong. This is an easy point to lose for no reason.
Filling in the TBBS application
- Go to the TBBS application portal and create your applicant profile. This is the only valid portal, so do not use third-party sites.
- Search and select up to 12 programmes or universities in your preferred order.
- In the education section, select "Middle School" for Matric and "High School" for Intermediate. Pakistani applicants regularly get this wrong.
- Upload your Europass CV, motivation letter, transcripts and supporting documents.
- Submit before the February 20 deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
The application asks about achievements beyond grades. Research projects, community work, extracurricular activities, certifications and competitions all count toward holistic scoring, so list everything meaningful.
From February deadline to arrival in September
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| January 10 | TBBS portal opens |
| February 20 | Deadline, documents submitted before midnight |
| March - April | Evaluation of academic profile, documents and achievements |
| April - June | Interviews for shortlisted candidates (invitations by email) |
| Early August | Final results by email |
| August | Visa processing, dormitory assignment, language course registration |
| September | Students arrive in Türkiye and begin the language course |
These dates repeat annually, but confirm the current cycle's exact dates on the official portal before you plan around them. Keep checking your email from April onward, including spam folders, since interview invitations arrive that way.
Preparing for the interview
The interview is conducted by the Turkish Embassy or a panel evaluator and typically lasts 20-30 minutes. Expect questions about why you chose Türkiye, your academic and professional background, your career plans and the programmes you applied to. Interviewers look for genuine interest in Turkish culture, clear goals and confident communication.
The weakest answers are vague ones. If you cannot say why you ranked a particular university first, or what the programme involves, it shows. Reread your own application, learn the basics of each university on your list, and read a little about Türkiye's higher education system.
For visa questions after selection, the Embassy of Turkey in Islamabad handles Turkish student visas. If you are selected, the common student visa rejection reasons are worth reading before your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need IELTS for Türkiye Burslari?
It depends on the programme. English-taught programmes may require TOEFL or IELTS. Turkish-taught programmes rely on the one-year Turkish preparatory course instead, so no IELTS is needed for those.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is open to non-Turkish citizens, and Pakistani nationals are eligible. You apply directly on the portal, with no government nomination required.
Is the Turkish language year optional if my degree is in English?
No. All recipients complete the one-year preparatory course before starting their degree, whatever the teaching language. The scholarship stays fully active during that year.
What score do I need for MBBS?
Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy applicants need a minimum academic score of 90%. Other programmes need 70% for Bachelor's and 75% for Master's or PhD.
Can I switch university after I am selected?
Generally not. Changes after final selection are rarely approved, which is why your ranking of up to 12 choices deserves real research.
Is the stipend enough to live on?
Accommodation in state dormitories is free and health insurance is covered, so the stipend goes mainly toward food, transport and personal costs. Living costs are lower in smaller cities. Check the current stipend amounts on the official website, since lira values change.
Before the next cycle opens, read the announcements on the official Türkiye Burslari website and keep the Türkiye Burslari scholarship page bookmarked for the key details.