Scholarships and funding

This page is for Turkish students and families looking for scholarships and financial support to study in the United States. It covers government scholarships awarded from Türkiye (Fulbright, MEB 1416 Scholarships, TÜBİTAK), scholarships and assistantships offered by U.S. universities, and federal aid and scholarship taxation for people living in the United States. Be sure to read the specific obligations of the Fulbright and MEB scholarships (J-1 visa, return to Türkiye, compulsory service).

• Your own and your family's resources: even if schools provide scholarships, they require documentation showing that you can cover your expenses.
• Institutions in Türkiye: the Türkiye Fulbright Education Commission, MEB (scholarships under Law No. 1416), and TÜBİTAK. Fulbright also lists scholarships from institutions such as YÖK and the Turkish Education Foundation, as well as some foundations and associations, as options.
• U.S. universities: need-based scholarships, merit scholarships, athletic scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships.
• U.S. federal student aid: only for U.S. citizens, green card holders, and certain persons specified by law. F-1 and M-1 students cannot receive U.S. government-funded student aid.
• According to EducationUSA, most scholarships cover only part of the expenses and are not always open to international students in their first year. Scholarship applications are generally submitted together with admission applications.

• Coverage: up to $60,000 per academic year: tuition and expenses, a monthly living allowance determined by city, $1,000 for books, $350 for settling in, and $2,000 for round-trip airfare. Health insurance (ASPE) is covered separately. You pay any expenses exceeding this amount.
• Duration: up to 2 academic years; the second year depends on success in the first year. For doctoral programs, the scholarship covers the first two years; you must find funding for subsequent years (family, school, assistantship).
• 2027–2028 period: the application deadline was April 10, 2026; applications are currently closed. Interviews were held starting in June 2026. Follow the Fulbright website for the announcement of the new period.
• Grade point average: at least 3.00/4.00 (or 76.66/100) for master's programs; at least 3.50/4.00 (or 88.33/100) for doctoral programs.
• English (minimum score): TOEFL iBT 75, IELTS Academic 6, PTE Academic 60; METU İYS 75 and Boğaziçi BÜYES "C" are valid only for the Fulbright application. If you are nominated, you must take the TOEFL or IELTS for applications to universities. The test result must be valid on the application deadline.
• MBA and business subfields: at least 1 year of full-time work experience is required at the time of application.
• Who cannot apply (important):
  • People who are not Turkish citizens
  • U.S. citizens, green card holders, and those whose green card applications have been accepted and whose processes have begun
  • those residing, working, or studying in the United States during the application and selection process
  • those who have lived in the United States for 5 years or more during the last 6 years (living in the country for 9 months or more in a calendar year counts as living there that year)
  • clinical fields of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and psychology requiring direct patient contact
  • JD programs for law graduates (only LLM applications are allowed)
  • those who have previously completed a doctorate when applying for a doctoral scholarship
• You do not need to have been admitted by a U.S. institution to apply. GRE/GMAT scores are not required at application; if you are nominated, they may be required depending on your field. There is no upper age limit.
• After the scholarship: there is no compulsory service or repayment obligation; however, scholars travel on a J-1 visa and, under the J-1 rule, must return to Türkiye and remain there for 2 years at the end of their studies. See 2.3 Exchange visitor (J-1).
• Other Fulbright programs (Turkish citizens): doctoral dissertation research, academic research, postdoctoral research, foreign language teaching assistantship, Hubert H. Humphrey, vocational higher education scholarships, excellence in education program, and others. All currently appear to be closed.

• Under Law No. 1416, MEB sends graduate students abroad in return for compulsory service to meet the needs of universities and public institutions. In its current announcements, MEB refers to the program as "1416 Scholarships."
• 2025 period: applications for 811 students were accepted through REBUS (rebus.meb.gov.tr) on December 19–30, 2025. The application fee was 580 TL. Successful applicants were announced on REBUS on August 14, 2026.
• 2026 period: the new guide has not yet been published. Announcements are made at yyegm.meb.gov.tr.
• Application requirements (2025 guide):
  • Be a Turkish citizen
  • Hold at least a four-year bachelor's degree (graduates of foreign universities must obtain equivalency before applying)
  • Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50/4 or 65/100
  • Have an ALES score of at least 75 in the relevant score type (ALES results from the last 5 years are valid)
  • Be born in 1995 or later for the "Master's" and "Master's and Doctorate" fields, and in 1992 or later for the "Doctorate Only" fields
  • Have no disciplinary penalty more serious than a reprimand; have no military-service impediment for men; meet the health requirement
• Selection: the application score equals 40% of the ALES score plus 20% of the graduation grade (up to 60 points). Up to three times the quota are invited to the oral examination. In the oral examination, field knowledge, ability to express oneself, communication, openness to science, and academic aptitude are each evaluated for 20 points. Placement is made on REBUS according to preferences; up to 30 preferences.
• Study: 1416 scholars studying in the United States travel on a J-1 visa. Permission may be granted for up to 6 months of language study before the main study in the United States. The university for the main study must have ranked in the top 60% in field-based THE, Shanghai, or QS rankings during the last 3 years. Obtaining admission is the student's responsibility; a waiting period of up to 1 year (+6 months in mandatory cases) is granted.
• Compulsory service: twice the period for which a scholarship was paid abroad. Compensation proceedings are initiated against those who do not complete their level of study.
• October 2026 regulation: under the communiqué published on October 1, 2026, the monthly scholarship for graduate scholars taking a domestic language course increased from 4,650 TL to 8,000 TL. The maximum amount payable for mandatory health insurance increased from 1.5 times to 2 times the monthly overseas scholarship.

• 2026 applications open: the deadline is December 31, 2026, at 17:30; applications are submitted through the TÜBİTAK Management Information System (TYBS).
• Who: candidates who have reached their final undergraduate year, completed their bachelor's degree, are enrolled in a graduate program, or have completed a master's degree; those wishing to pursue a doctorate abroad.
• Supported fields (2026): history of science, energy storage, pharmaceutical and vaccine technologies, advanced materials, quantum technologies, micro/nano/opto-electromechanical systems, Internet of Things, robotics-mechatronics, cybersecurity, satellite and space technologies, artificial intelligence and data science, semiconductor and chip technologies, and next-generation communications.
• Scholarship: covers 2 years of the doctorate. Up to $60,000 annually, including living expenses, tuition, and health insurance; the monthly scholarship is $1,900 in all countries.
• Requirement: return to Türkiye after study. You must report your overseas address and support received from another institution within 15 days and submit a student certificate and transcript each term.
• Contact: 444 66 90 (from within Türkiye), bideb2213@tubitak.gov.tr

• Need-based scholarship: awarded according to the family's financial situation. Documentation showing the family's income is required.
• Merit-based scholarship: awarded to a small number of students with very high grades, strong test scores, and references. Leadership and volunteer work are also considered.
• According to Fulbright, most institutions offering need-based and merit-based scholarships are private universities; obtaining an undergraduate scholarship from public universities is very difficult. Full scholarships are few; schools mostly provide partial scholarships.
• Athletic scholarship: for athletes at national-team or licensed-club level. You must contact coaches at NCAA Division I schools and share footage of your games and training. You must maintain your GPA for the scholarship to continue.
• Those who do not receive a scholarship in their first year may apply for a tuition discount (tuition waiver) by raising their GPA above 3.00; this opportunity varies by school.
• EducationUSA's "Find Financial Aid" tool lists scholarships offered by U.S. schools to international students.

• Research assistantship (RA): you work on research projects in the department. It may be full- or part-time and covers a significant portion, sometimes all, of school and living expenses.
• Teaching assistantship (TA): you help a professor in classes and laboratories. It generally includes a tuition waiver and a monthly payment (stipend).
• Graduate/administrative assistantship: partial support in return for working in department offices.
• Fellowship: a scholarship that does not require work in return.
• Assistantships are very common in doctoral programs. Competition is high: you need high grades, strong English, good test scores, and an effective statement of purpose.
• Start early: scholarship deadlines may be as early as 18 months before the program begins. Contact faculty members in the department; they play a major role in funding decisions.
• Before accepting an offer, learn the work hours, duration, and payment amount in writing.
• F-1 rule: on-campus work is limited to 20 hours per week during the term; it may be full-time during breaks. On-campus work performed as a condition of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship is considered part of the academic program. Work at off-campus locations that have an educational connection with the school and are tied to a contracted research project at the graduate level may also be considered on-campus work.

• To receive federal student aid (grants such as Pell Grants and federal student loans), the law requires the student to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the United States (green card holder), or someone who can document that they are in the United States intending to remain permanently.
• Applications are submitted through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov.
• F-1 and M-1 students cannot receive U.S. government-funded student aid.
• States and schools have their own aid programs; ask the school's financial aid office.
• If you are asking about the effect of aid received by green card holders on an immigration case, see 16.5 "Public charge".

• Tax-free portion: if you are a degree candidate, amounts from the scholarship spent on tuition, required fees, required books, supplies, and equipment for the course are tax-free.
• Taxable portion: expenses such as room and board, travel, optional equipment, and payments for teaching or research performed as a condition of the scholarship (TA/RA compensation) count as income.
• Türkiye–U.S. tax treaty: a student who was a resident of Türkiye immediately before coming to the United States and is in the United States for full-time study is exempt from U.S. income tax on subsistence and education funds coming from outside the United States. Faculty members and researchers who were residents of Türkiye before coming to the United States are exempt from tax on teaching and research payments received from abroad if they stay in the United States for no more than 2 years.
• For filing, residency, and treaty details, see 15.1 Tax residency, 15.3 Tax return, and 15.5 Türkiye–U.S. Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation.

• Türkiye Fulbright Education Commission – Ankara: Tepe Prime İş Merkezi B Blok No: 124, Dumlupınar Bulvarı 266, 06800 Çankaya / Ankara · +90 312 428 48 24 · fulb-ank@fulbright.org.tr · Scholarship advising: advising@fulbright.org.tr
• Fulbright – Istanbul: BJK Plaza A Blok No: 107, Süleyman Seba Caddesi, Vişnezade, 34357 Beşiktaş / İstanbul · +90 212 245 28 14 · fulb-ist@fulbright.org.tr
• MEB Directorate General of Higher Education and Overseas Education (1416 Scholarships):
  • Address: Emniyet Mah. Milas Sk. No: 21, 06500 Yenimahalle / Ankara
  • 1416 Scholarship procedures: +90 312 413 45 56
  • MEB Communications Center: 444 0 632 (from within Türkiye)
  • Email: yoydegm.ylsy.1416@meb.gov.tr
• 1416 scholars in the United States: the education consultancy or attaché office responsible for the state where you study; contact information is on the 6.6 page.
• TÜBİTAK BİDEB: 444 66 90 (from within Türkiye), bideb2213@tubitak.gov.tr
• U.S. universities: the financial aid office and department secretary's office of the school to which you apply.

• Applying to Fulbright while living in the United States or while a green card application is pending.
• Failing to account for the fact that compulsory service under the 1416 scholarship is twice the scholarship period.
• Planning for an H-1B or green card after a government-funded J-1 scholarship and overlooking the two-year return requirement.
• Accepting an assistantship offer without learning the work hours and payment amount.
• Working off campus without authorization, other than an assistantship, while in F-1 status.
• Assuming that proof of financial sufficiency is no longer needed after receiving a scholarship.
• Not knowing that the room-and-board portion of a scholarship is taxable.

• I am a green card holder; can I apply to Fulbright? No. Green card holders and those whose applications have been accepted and whose processes have begun cannot apply.
• Can I travel on an F-1 visa with the 1416 scholarship? According to the guide, students travel with the visa type designated by the Ministry; for the United States, this is J-1.
• Can I apply for TÜBİTAK 2213-A while pursuing a master's degree in the United States? Those enrolled in a graduate program and those who have completed a master's degree may apply. Check the other requirements in the call announcement.
• Can I receive a scholarship from the United States for undergraduate study? Yes, but there are few; most are partial and are primarily offered by private universities.
• Is assistantship income taxable? Yes. Payments for teaching or research count as income.

• Fulbright – Scholarships for Turkish citizens
• MEB REBUS – Official Scholarship Student System
• MEB YYEGM announcements
• 2025 1416 Scholarships Application and Preference Guide (PDF)
• TÜBİTAK Management Information System (TYBS)
• TÜBİTAK scholarship programs
• EducationUSA – Find scholarships and financial aid
• FAFSA (for citizens and green card holders)
• IRS – Scholarships and tax (Topic 421)
• IRS – Publication 901: Tax treaties