Turkish students have access to several well-established scholarship pathways for study abroad — from Erasmus+ mobility (the most widely used) to the highly competitive Fulbright Turkey programme. This guide covers the main options by destination, what each covers, and what English test scores they require.
1. Erasmus+ — The Most Used Scholarship for Turkish Students
Erasmus+ is not just for EU students. Turkey is a full Program Country in the Erasmus+ scheme, meaning Turkish students enrolled at Turkish universities can access the same mobility grants as EU students — to study at a European university for one or two semesters.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Enrolled at a Turkish HEI (university) that holds an Erasmus+ Institutional Charter |
| What it covers | Monthly living grant (€310–700/month depending on destination country) + travel allowance |
| Tuition | Waived at the host university — you continue paying your Turkish home university fees (or nothing if state) |
| Duration | 1–2 semesters |
| Language requirement | Depends on host programme — English-taught programmes at most European universities require B2 English; OLS (Online Language Support) is provided |
| Application | Through your Turkish university's Erasmus coordinator — not directly to Brussels |
| Top destinations for Turkish students | Germany, Spain, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Portugal |
Key note: The Erasmus+ grant is not a full scholarship — the monthly stipend (~€500/month for Western Europe) rarely covers all living costs. Many Turkish students supplement with part-time work. The value is the combination of full tuition waiver at the host university + a contribution toward living costs.
See our full guide: Erasmus+ for Turkish Students.
2. DAAD Scholarships (Germany) — Research and Postgraduate Level
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service) has a strong bilateral relationship with Turkey and offers multiple scholarship categories to Turkish nationals for study and research in Germany.
| Scholarship | Level | Covers | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Postgraduate Scholarship | Master's / PhD | ~€861–1,200/month stipend + travel + health insurance | October – December |
| Helmut Schmidt Programme | Master's (public policy, development) | Stipend + full costs | October |
| Research Stays for University Academics | Academic / researcher | Stipend + travel | Rolling, varies |
| DAAD Study Visits | Group stays | Group funding | Various |
English requirement for English-taught master's: IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL iBT 2026 band ~4.0–5.0 (legacy 80–100), depending on the specific programme in Germany. German-taught programmes require TestDaF 4 or DSH-2 instead.
Key advantage: German public universities charge approximately €350/semester in administration fees — tuition is effectively free. DAAD scholarships therefore primarily cover living costs, not tuition. Even without DAAD, self-funded study in Germany is far cheaper than the UK or USA.
See our DAAD Scholarship Guide.
3. Fulbright Turkey — Fully Funded for the USA
The Fulbright Turkey programme (jointly administered by the US Embassy and the Fulbright Commission in Turkey) offers fully funded scholarships for Turkish nationals to pursue graduate study in the United States.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Full tuition at a US university + monthly living stipend + airfare + health insurance |
| Duration | 1–2 academic years (master's) or longer (PhD) |
| Eligibility | Turkish nationals with a bachelor's degree and strong academic record |
| English requirement | TOEFL iBT 2026 band 4.5+ (legacy 90+) typically required; some programmes also require GRE/GMAT |
| Application window | May – June each year (via Fulbright Turkey — tr.usembassy.gov/fulbright) |
| Results | December – January |
| Competitiveness | Very competitive — strong personal statement and project plan required |
Who it suits best: High-achieving Turkish students targeting graduate programmes (master's or PhD) in the USA, particularly in STEM, social sciences, arts, or policy fields. The scholarship also supports non-degree research stays.
English test note: TOEFL is strongly preferred for US graduate admissions and Fulbright Turkey specifically. IELTS is accepted by many US universities but TOEFL is the standard.
4. Orange Tulip Scholarship (Netherlands)
The Orange Tulip Scholarship (OTS) is a Dutch government and private sector funded scholarship for students from a selection of countries — Turkey is one of them. It covers study at Dutch higher education institutions.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Partial to full tuition fee waiver; some include living stipend — varies by participating institution |
| Duration | Full degree programme (bachelor's or master's) |
| English requirement | IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL equivalent (per the specific Dutch institution) |
| Application | Through the Nuffic (Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education); apply via your target Dutch university's OTS page |
| Deadline | Typically January – February each year |
Who it suits best: Turkish students targeting English-taught bachelor's or master's programmes in the Netherlands (TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Maastricht) who meet the academic requirements and can demonstrate financial need or merit.
5. Eiffel Scholarship (France) — Excellence Programme
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is a French government programme for high-achieving international students to study at French grandes écoles and universities at master's and PhD level.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Monthly stipend (~€1,181/month for master's, ~€1,400/month for PhD) + accommodation allowance + health coverage + cultural activities |
| Duration | Master's (1–3 years); PhD (10-month stays) |
| Language requirement | English or French depending on programme |
| Application | Via your target French institution — they nominate candidates to the French Ministry |
| Deadline | Typically January each year |
| Fields | Engineering, economics/management, law/political science |
Who it suits best: High-achieving Turkish students targeting engineering or business master's degrees at French grandes écoles (École Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec, ESSEC, HEC), with strong academic profiles. Institutions nominate candidates — apply to the university first.
6. Chevening Scholarship (UK) — For Mid-Career Professionals
Chevening is the UK government's flagship scholarship for a one-year UK master's degree. Turkish nationals are eligible.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Full tuition + monthly living allowance + airfare + visa fees |
| Duration | One academic year (master's degree) |
| Work experience | Minimum 2 years required |
| English requirement | IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0); note IELTS UKVI Academic needed for the UK visa specifically |
| Application window | August – November |
| Results | March – April |
Who it suits best: Turkish professionals (3–7 years of work experience) in public service, civil society, business, or academia, targeting a one-year UK master's degree. Chevening emphasises leadership potential alongside academic achievement.
7. Turkish Government Scholarships Abroad (Yurt Dışı Burs)
The Turkish government (YÖK and Ministry of National Education) also offers scholarships for Turkish citizens to study abroad — separate from the Türkiye Scholarships (YTB), which is for incoming international students. The outbound programme for Turkish nationals to study abroad exists but is significantly smaller and more competitive.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Covers | Tuition + living allowance (varies by level and destination) |
| Eligibility | Turkish citizens only |
| Fields | Priority fields include medicine, engineering, natural sciences |
| Application | Via Ministry of National Education (MEB) channels |
| Note | Availability and terms change periodically — check meb.gov.tr for current status |
Scholarship Timeline for Turkish Students
| Scholarship | Application Window | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ (via home university) | Spring (typically March – May) | EU countries |
| Orange Tulip | January – February | Netherlands |
| Eiffel | January | France |
| DAAD | October – December | Germany |
| Chevening | August – November | UK |
| Fulbright Turkey | May – June | USA |
English Test Requirements Summary
| Scholarship | Destination | English Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmus+ (English-taught host) | EU | B2 CEFR — IELTS 5.5–6.0 or equivalent |
| Orange Tulip | Netherlands | IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL equivalent |
| Eiffel (English-taught) | France | IELTS/TOEFL per programme |
| DAAD (English master's) | Germany | IELTS 6.0–7.0 or TOEFL band 4.0–5.0 |
| Chevening | UK | IELTS 6.5 (IELTS UKVI for visa) |
| Fulbright Turkey | USA | TOEFL band 4.5+ (legacy 90+) |
For US scholarships (Fulbright), TOEFL is the standard. For UK (Chevening), IELTS — specifically IELTS UKVI Academic for the visa. For EU destinations, either is generally acceptable. See our IELTS vs TOEFL for Turkish Students guide for a full comparison.
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