Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) President Abdullah Eren said “Türkiye Scholarships program which received 42 thousand applications in 2012 has set a record with 145 thousand 700 applications from 167 countries across the world as of 2019.”

“Türkiye Scholarships” program carried out by YTB and offering international students higher education opportunity in Turkey has received a record number of applications from 167 countries across the world. YTB President Eren whose opinion found place in the remark thanked applicants for their intense interest in Türkiye Scholarships for which the application process for 2019 was completed.

Noting that the program initiated as the “Great Student Project” in 1992 and expanded across the world under the “Türkiye Scholarships” brand in coordination with YTB in 2012, Eren said:

“Türkiye Scholarships program which received 42 thousand applications in 2012 has set a record with 145 thousand 700 applications from 167 countries across the world as of 2019. Accordingly, we are seeking to increase and improve our scholarship facilities to meet the interest and demand increasing each year.”

Reminding that they extended the application duration upon the heavy demand this year, Eren emphasized that Türkiye Scholarships have made significant contributions to the internationalization of higher education in Turkey and they aim to increase the current number of 17 thousand international scholars to 25 thousand by 2023.

Applications accepted online

Nearly 5 thousand students are given scholarship each year under the Türkiye Scholarships program which assumes a significant role on the internationalization of the higher education system in Turkey. Those scholarships offered only to foreign country citizens can be applied online within a specified time period each year. Students who enter required information in the system and successfully pass the first assessment phase are then invited to interviews at about 100 different spots around the world. Candidates who successfully pass those interviews conducted by academicians and YTB specialists become entitled to scholarship. Those who come to Turkey are placed in universities based on their choices after learning Turkish through the language course provided during their first year. The program covers accommodation, food and monthly out-of-pocket costs of students. Additionally, their health insurance premiums are also paid during their stay in Turkey. YTB also pays for students’ first trip to Turkey and then return trip to their own country upon their graduation.

The family of Turkey graduates is expanding

YTB also stands with the graduates who return to their own country after receiving education at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels at various universities in Turkey. The “Graduate Gatherings” held at tens of countries help to improve the communication between graduates and reinforce links with Turkey. Turkey’s voluntary ambassadors “Turkey Graduates” form a big family with nearly 150 thousand members across 160 countries. Turkey graduates consisting of bureaucrats, businesspeople, journalists, academicians and politicians who hold significant positions in their country play an important role in strengthening the fellowship and cooperation between their own countries and Turkey.