The call for applications for the scholarship program offered by Turkey’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) for international students started on Jan. 10, as Turkey prepares to open its doors once again to hundreds of thousands of foreign students from countries across the globe vying for a chance to entroll in the country’s world-class universities and benefit from Turkish institutions’s slew of knowledge and experience.
According to head of the YTB Abdullah Eren, students’ interest in scholarships offered has been on the rise with every passing year since Türkiye Scholarships have been entrusted to the group.
“Back in 2012, the Türkiye Scholarships program received 42,000 applications, while last year they reached a record number of 146,600 applications from 167 different countries. This year, we also aim to set a new record,” said Eren.
Referring to the great interest shown in the program, Eren pointed that it is due to its efficacy, covering a wide range of services.
“It is an all-inclusive program that covers costs such as tuition fees, accommodation, health expenditures and round-trip transportation fees. Hence, it’s one of the world’s most comprehensive scholarship programs.”
The Türkiye Scholarships have transformed Turkey into a center of attraction for foreign students pursuing an international education, with the number of students applying to study in Turkey increasing every passing day. While there were close to 30,000 international students studying in Turkey in 2011, this number has skyrocketed to 178,000, with 17,000 of them on scholarships.
The Presidency For Turks Aboard And Related Communities (YTB) maintains contact with students who have studied for their bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in Turkey, even after they’ve graduated.
Through “Alumni Gatherings” organized in dozens of countries across the world and the Turkey Alumni Foundations, graduated students are able to strengthen communication with each other, as well as their ties to Turkey. There are currently over 150,000 Turkey alumni across 160 countries.
The Turkiye Scholarships program, also known as Turkiye Burslari, offers a range of programs designed for each level of study, including undergraduate, graduate, research and language education opportunities in the most prestigious universities in Turkey for international students and researchers.
After the application process, the shortlisted students are invited for an interview in nearly 100 locations worldwide.
The YTB also enables video conference interviews for those applicants who are not able to attend the interview points due to its absence in nearby locations.
The candidates who are successful in interviews which are conducted by academicians and YTB experts, come to Turkey and take Turkish language classes free of any charges in their first year of studies. Students who manage to pass the language exam and receive certain grade are able to start their major courses.
In cases when candidates are able to pass the Turkish language exam and receive the C1 grade language proficiency certificate, they are allowed to immediately start the major courses without taking the Turkish language classes.
Afterwards, they enroll universities based on their preferences.
The scholarships include accommodation, stipends, as well as health insurance and flights to Turkey and back home after graduation.
Upon their graduation, the students do not lose their contact with Turkey and serve as voluntary envoys connecting Turkey and their home country.
For sustaining these ties, the Turkey Alumni network has been established with a member body of more than 150,000 graduates from more than 160 countries.
The program was launched in 2012, and the YTB received 146,600 applications, a record number, from 167 countries last year, which enabled Turkey to become an education hub for international students.
Established in 2010, the YTB is responsible for coordinating the activities of Turks living abroad and developing relations through economic, social and cultural activities.
