Hi there! My name is Datkaiym and I am currently pursuing my Master's in Public Administration at Sakarya University in Turkey. I am 26 years old and this year was my first time applying for the Turkiye Burslari scholarship. I am so grateful to have been selected, as I know the scholarship is extremely popular and competitive. In fact, out of the 180,000 applications received this year, only 5000 were successful. From what I understand, my home country of Kyrgyzstan had around 5000 to 6000 applicants, and only 80 students were accepted.

I am currently living in Sakarya, a city located about an hour outside of Istanbul by bus. It's a student city with a population of around 1 million people, and it is home to two universities. I am studying at Sakariya University, which has a diverse student body of around 80,000 students from all around the world. All of my classes are taught in Turkish.

Application Process

All details about the application process can be found on the official website: https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/applysteps. Here is the overview of how it went for me:

1st stage - Application form

The first stage is the submission of the application form and all required documents (listed here), which typically takes place in January-February. The application form asks for basic personal information such as your current location and educational background, as well as details about your skills, certifications, achievements, and extracurricular activities.

As part of the application process, you will also need to specify the major you wish to study. In my case, I chose Public Administration, and the platform automatically recommended me relevant programs in public administration, politics, and business administration. After selecting your desired major, you will be asked to choose up to 12 universities in Turkey as your preferred study locations. My top 3 choices were Istanbul, Ankara, and Gazi. Next, I had a write one motivation letter which is generic for all Turkish universities, rather than a specific one for each particular school. It’s possible to mention the 3 top choices in the motivation letter.

2nd stage - Interview

The second stage of the application process is the interview, which typically takes place in May or June. During this interview, I spoke with someone from the embassy and explained my motivations to study in Turkey.

Results

After the interview, the admissions committee will make its decision. It can be difficult to get into your top choice university as the quotas for each country vary and depend on where you are from. It is possible that you may receive an acceptance to your fifth or sixth choice university, as was the case for me. While I initially received acceptance to my fifth choice, I am very happy with my placement! I have noticed that many students often prefer to choose smaller cities and smaller universities because these institutions may be less competitive and offer a greater chance of acceptance.

Language requirements

If you wish to study in English, it is necessary to have a TOEFL certificate. Each university may have different score requirements for the TOEFL, with some of the top institutions requiring a score of 80 or higher. In addition to the option of studying in English, it is also possible to study in Turkish, as I did. To be eligible for a scholarship while studying in Turkish, it is necessary to have a C1 level of proficiency. Having proficiency in both English and Turkish can significantly increase your chances of acceptance.

Advice for learning Turkish

My native language is somewhat similar to Turkish, so it was not too difficult for me to learn. To improve my proficiency, I found it helpful to watch movies, and listen to music and podcasts on different topics in Turkish, such as politics and psychology, which are available on platforms like Spotify. With consistent practice, it is possible to reach the C1 level in around 6 months.

Scholarship benefits

Türkiye Scholarship is fully-funded! It includes tuition fees, flights, accommodation, insurance, and meals twice a day. You'll also receive a stipend to help cover your living expenses - Bachelor students receive 1,000 lira per month, Master's students receive 1,400 lira per month, and PhD students receive 1,800 lira per month. And as a bonus, you'll get a 1-year funded course in the Turkish language.

Speaking of expenses, for me the scholarship was enough to live comfortably (as long as I don't go out often), but I suspect that bachelor students might be struggling a bit. It also depends on where you live, in my city of Sakarya food and transportation are very cheap, especially for students. I even had the chance to save up and even travel to places like Bursa and Tarakli.

Important requirements

First of all, there is a requirement to return to your home country after finishing your studies, however, I heard of people staying in Turkey or going elsewhere after graduation. Secondly, while receiving the scholarship, it is not permitted to work. I heard you that there are exceptions if you work in certain areas, such as science, and obtain permission from the Turkie Burslari committee. If you have a remote job, it may be feasible to combine your work and studies.

Before you arrive

Moving to Turkey can be a complex process due to the country’s bureaucratic nature. When I first arrived, Turkie Burslari was helpful with getting a bank account and insurance, I only had to get residency by myself. But I heard that students who came to Turkey without Turkiye Burslari had a lot of difficulties navigating the bureaucracy and obtaining necessary documents.

Before coming to Turkey, I recommend doing a full checkup from a doctor and bringing all documents from your home country.

Advice to applicants

When it comes to winning the scholarship in Turkey, having a strong record of social work and volunteering can be a big advantage. I personally had around 40 certificates. The motivational letter is also a crucial component of the application process. This is your chance to explain why you specifically want to study in Turkey, what kind of contribution you can make to your home country, and what your future goals are. It's also essential to show that you are motivated to grow and develop personally and professionally. You should explain why your chosen major is of interest to you and how it will help you achieve your long-term goals. This is something you should start reflecting on in advance!