Khaberni - In light of economic challenges and the rising costs of university education regionally and globally, scholarships emerge as an important tool that enables talented students from various countries, including Arab nations, to pursue their university studies without burdening their families with the high costs that exceed their capacities and possibilities.
Turkish scholarships are among the most important educational opportunities looked forward to by students in the Arab world, due to many of them offering comprehensive support covering tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, and sometimes even living expenses.
Turkey represents the nearest and most attractive destination for Arab students, not only because of the strength of Turkish universities and the globally recognized quality of education, but also due to the geographic proximity and the historical, cultural links and similar customs and traditions, especially with the countries of the Arab Levant, making the experience of studying in Turkey easier and more integrated.
In this report by Al Jazeera Net, we highlight the top 5 Turkish university scholarships designated for international students including Arabs, enabling them to join some of the most important Turkish universities and benefit from the quality of education and the distinguished academic environment.
1- Turkish Government Scholarship (Türkiye Bursları)
This is the most famous and largest scholarship in Turkey, serving as the main scholarship program offered by the Turkish government to international students at all levels (diploma, bachelor's, master's, PhD).
Scholarship Benefits
According to the "Turkish Scholarships" platform (TurkiyeBurslari), the scholarship offers numerous benefits to students, most notably:
It fully covers the tuition fees at the Turkish university you are accepted to.
It provides university housing and health insurance.
It offers a monthly stipend, travel tickets, and a free preparatory year for studying the Turkish language before starting academic studies.
No prior university acceptance is required, as the scholarship manages the nomination and acceptance process at Turkish universities.
Eligibility Requirements
The applicant must not be older than 21 years old when applying for the bachelor's program.
A school grade average of no less than 70% in high school or its equivalent.
Completion or near completion of high school at the time of application.
The student must not be already enrolled in a Turkish university at the same level to which they are applying.
Open to all nationalities, including Arab countries.
Required Documents
For applications submitted online through the Turkish Scholarship Application System (TBBS), all candidates must upload the following documents to the system:
A valid identity document or passport and a photo of the candidate taken within the last year.
National examination results.
International examination results such as GRE, GMAT, SAT if required by the selected university.
International language test results such as "TOEFL" (TOEFL) or "IELTS" (IELTS) if required by the university or the institution applying to.
2- Koç University Scholarship
In cooperation with the aforementioned Turkish Government Scholarship, Koç University offers full scholarships to students from all countries, covering tuition, housing, and expenses according to the university's platform.
The university has been offering joint scholarships in collaboration with the Turkish Scholarship Program since 2019 for international students as follows:
5 university scholarships for bachelor’s degrees across all programs (except medicine, law, and nursing).
10 scholarships for master’s programs for all master's programs.
20 doctoral scholarships for all programs.
5-10 research scholarships (for academics holding a PhD or PhD students in the dissertation phase affiliated with universities abroad).
Scholarship Benefits
Full scholarships.
Accommodation in university housing (in accordance with the monthly support provided by the Turkish government scholarships).
A monthly stipend (according to the monthly support provided by the Turkish scholarships).
Travel tickets.
Other benefits (Turkish language lessons during studies, visa application support, social and cultural extracurricular activities).
How to Apply for Undergraduate Students
Fill out the electronic Turkish Scholarship application form, (after meeting the specific conditions mentioned previously) with selecting one of Koç University's eligible bachelor's programs as your first choice.
The form must be submitted before the annual application deadline in February, with careful adherence to all eligibility criteria and instructions on the "How to Apply" page of the Turkish scholarships.
For Koç University, the conditions also include obtaining a valid SAT score and a TOEFL score higher than the minimum required by the concerned college.
The results are announced in August/September each year.
Sabancı University Scholarship considered one of the best Turkish scholarships (Shutterstock)
3- Sabancı University Scholarship
The Sabancı University scholarship is considered one of the finest Turkish scholarships, offering excellent opportunities to aid students in obtaining appropriate funding to provide tuition fee waivers throughout the study period.
Sabancı University Scholarship Benefits 2025
According to "universityyat.com" platform, recipients of the scholarship enjoy the following benefits:
Full exemption from tuition fees Housing on campus.
Sabancı University Scholarship Criteria 2025.
The following conditions must be completed according to the "universityyat" and "Scholarship Region" platforms:
Completion of formal education (secondary or its equivalent) If the high school certificate is in a language other than Turkish or English, a certified official translation must be provided.
A certified official copy of the academic record, showing all courses and grades taken during the secondary education period.
TOEFL or IELTS certificate for undergraduate programs in English.
Full scholarship applications must be submitted within the specified deadlines.
Scholarship application must be supported with documents and information including the high school certificate, recommendations, and extracurricular activity certificates, and personal statements.
How to Apply for Sabancı University Scholarship 2025
Applying for the Sabancı University scholarship is straightforward and is automatically considered upon submitting an admission application.
Visit the university's online application portal.
Select the bachelor's or postgraduate program you desire.
Fill out the application form with your personal and academic information and other required details.
Successful applicants will be notified by email.
Scholarships are granted based on merit, academic performance, and supporting documents.
Kadir Has University offers scholarships which may reach up to $20,000 per year for undergraduate students (Shutterstock)
Kadir Has University Scholarship
The university offers scholarships that may reach up to $20,000 per year for undergraduate students, according to the university platform.
Scholarship Criteria
Major scholarship conditions according to the university's platform and "Oya Opportunities" (oyaop.com)
Scholarships are granted based on academic merit, the higher your grades, the better your chances of receiving a scholarship.
For programs taught in English, an internationally recognized language test result like TOEFL must be provided.
For majors taught in Turkish, you might be required to provide a Turkish proficiency certificate like TÖMER at a C1 level or equivalent.
To renew the scholarship or continue benefiting from it, a certain GPA set by the university must be maintained.
All personal documents such as a passport, high school certificate with a transcript, certified as required, must be submitted.
Bilkent University Source: University's Facebook Account
Bilkent University Scholarships
Bilkent University offers scholarships for international students at bachelor's, postgraduate, and PhD levels as follows, according to the university platform:
Applicants for the scholarship are evaluated based on: high school grades, national or international test results, the order of majors chosen, and related academic criteria.
The scholarship covers from 20% to 100% of tuition fees.
Housing support (for those who get a full scholarship) is granted for up to 8 academic semesters at most.
For more information, please return to the university platform.
Tips for Arab Students Applying
Despite the numerous benefits offered by Turkish scholarships, the criteria are very high and strict.
Here are some tips for Arab students wishing to apply, according to "Study Fans" platform:
The scholarships provided face very strong competition, for example, 165,000 international students from 137 different countries around the world applied for Turkish scholarships in 2021, so it's essential to prepare a strong letter of intent, academic recommendations, and a distinguished list of extracurricular activities, in addition to applying early.
Commitments and pledges such as maintaining a certain cumulative GPA, participating in community service, or returning to the home country after completing studies are required.
The Turkish Government Scholarship does not require prior university acceptance, as it takes care of nominating you for the appropriate university.
It's important to ensure your high school certificate is recognized for acceptance in Turkey.
It's advisable to apply for the Turkish Government Scholarship concurrently with private university scholarships to increase your chances of acceptance.
You must maintain a good GPA after obtaining the scholarship, as some universities require a minimum to continue support.
