Turkey — officially known as Türkiye — sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and its government has built one of the most generous fully funded scholarship programmes in the world for international students. The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, monthly living expenses, health insurance, flights, and even a one-year Turkish language course before your degree begins — all at no cost to you. Nigerian citizens are fully eligible to apply, and no prior admission letter is needed before submitting your application. In 2025, more than 120,000 students from 170 countries applied for this scholarship, and around 5,000 were awarded. This guide explains everything you need to know to be one of them.
The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship is administered by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), a body under the Turkish government. The programme exists to attract outstanding international students and researchers to Turkish universities, promote cultural exchange, and build lasting ties between Turkey and countries around the world. It covers all major degree levels — undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD — across virtually every academic discipline, and it handles university placement as part of the application process, meaning you do not need to secure an admission letter before you apply. Applicants choose up to 12 preferred programmes and universities during the application, and the scholarship committee assigns placement based on academic profile and preferences.
Who Can Apply — Eligibility Requirements
The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship is open to all nationalities, and Nigerian citizens are fully eligible. The following requirements apply depending on your level of study:
For Undergraduate Applicants:
- You must be under 21 years of age
- You must have a minimum academic achievement of 70% in your secondary school results
- You must have completed secondary school or be in your final year
- For health sciences programmes (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy) a minimum of 90% is required
For Master’s Applicants:
- You must be under 30 years of age
- You must have a minimum academic achievement of 75% in your undergraduate degree
- You must hold a Bachelor’s degree or be completing one before the scholarship start date
For PhD Applicants:
- You must be under 35 years of age
- You must have a minimum academic achievement of 75% in your Master’s degree
- You must hold a Master’s degree or be completing one before the scholarship start date
Additional requirements across all levels include being a non-Turkish citizen, being in good health, and not currently enrolled in a Turkish university or receiving another Turkish government scholarship. While IELTS and TOEFL are not mandatory for the application itself, some individual programmes taught in English may require language proficiency evidence — check your chosen programme’s specific requirements. All Türkiye Burslari scholars, regardless of their language background, are required to complete a one-year Turkish language course (TÖMER) before beginning their main academic programme.
What the Scholarship Covers
The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship is one of the most comprehensive government-funded awards available to Nigerian students. Successful scholars receive all of the following:
- Full tuition fees for the entire duration of your programme — paid directly to your Turkish university
- Free university accommodation in student dormitories for the full duration of your studies
- A monthly living stipend — 4,500 Turkish Lira per month for undergraduate students, 6,500 Turkish Lira per month for Master’s students, and 9,000 Turkish Lira per month for PhD students. Special scholarship tracks such as the Merit Scholarship and Arts Scholarship offer doubled stipend amounts
- A one-year Turkish language training course (TÖMER) before your degree begins — fully covered, with no extra cost
- Health insurance for the full duration of your scholarship
- A one-time round-trip economy class flight ticket between Nigeria and Turkey
- Access to cultural activities, internship opportunities, and integration seminars throughout your programme
One important note on the stipend — Turkish Lira amounts should be understood in the context of Turkey’s cost of living, which is significantly lower than Western Europe. Combined with free accommodation, the monthly stipend is generally sufficient for comfortable day-to-day living in most Turkish cities, though Istanbul is notably more expensive than other cities like Ankara, Konya, or Bursa.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Check your eligibility carefully. Confirm you meet the age and academic percentage requirements for your intended level of study before you begin. The age limits are strict — under 21 for undergraduate, under 30 for Master’s, and under 35 for PhD. If you fall outside these limits you are not eligible regardless of your academic record.
Step 2: Create your account on the TBBS portal. All Türkiye Burslari applications are submitted exclusively through the official online portal at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr. There is no other way to apply — no agents, no institutions, and no third-party websites are authorised to submit applications on your behalf. Register your account well before the deadline, as the portal often experiences heavy traffic close to the closing date and can be slow or unstable.
Step 3: Complete your online application form. Fill in all required sections accurately — personal information, educational background, language skills, and extracurricular achievements. Select up to 12 preferred programmes and universities in order of preference. Be strategic with your choices — spread your selections across reach, realistic, and safety options, and align them with your academic field and career goals.
Step 4: Write a strong motivation letter. The motivation letter — also called a Letter of Intent — is one of the most important parts of your application. It must be specific, well-written, and clearly explain why you want to study in Turkey, why you have chosen your field, and what you plan to do after graduation. Generic letters that could apply to any country or any programme are a common reason for rejection. Reference Turkey specifically and connect your goals to what Turkish universities can offer you.
Step 5: Upload your supporting documents. Standard documents required include your academic transcripts and certificates, a valid Nigerian passport, a passport-size photograph, and any language proficiency certificates if applicable. For Nigerian undergraduate applicants, your WAEC or NECO results will be required. Ensure all files are clear, correctly formatted, and within the required file size limits before uploading — document upload errors are a common reason applications are flagged as incomplete.
Step 6: Prepare for your interview. Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews conducted in more than 100 countries, either online or at the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate. For Nigerian applicants, interviews are typically conducted in Abuja or Lagos. The interview includes both an academic component and a personal discussion covering your motivation, your study plan, and your post-graduation plans. Prepare clear, concise answers focused specifically on your academic goals and your connection to Turkey.
Deadline Information
The Türkiye Burslari Scholarship application window typically opens in January and closes in February each year. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the application period ran from January 10 to February 20, 2026. After closing, applications are evaluated from March to May, interviews are held in June and July, results are announced in early August, and successful scholars arrive in Turkey in September. The 2027–2028 application window is expected to open in January 2027.
Given that over 120,000 students applied in 2025 for only around 5,000 scholarship slots, the acceptance rate is between two and five percent. This makes Türkiye Burslari genuinely competitive, and preparation matters — strong academic results, a well-written motivation letter, and a clear post-graduation plan are what separate successful Nigerian applicants from unsuccessful ones. Moreschooling will publish a full update as soon as the next application window opens. Bookmark this page and visit turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for the most current information.