How an Indonesian Scholar Earned the Fully Funded Türkiye Bursları Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Physics at Sivas Cumhuriyet University

Hi, my name is Riska Delvia, and I come from Indonesia. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Physics in Türkiye with a full scholarship. My passion for physics began back in high school, where I often participated in science competitions. Over time, I found myself increasingly curious about the many phenomena explained by physics, how the world works at both the smallest and largest scales. This deep curiosity and enthusiasm are what motivated me to continue my studies and dive deeper into the world of physics at the graduate level.

Türkiye Bursları Scholarship Details

For my master’s degree, I am supported by a scholarship under the Joint Program Scholarships, a collaborative initiative between the Government of Türkiye and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), offered through Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları). This program follows the same requirements and procedures as the general Türkiye Scholarships scheme, but it is specifically designated for students from ASEAN countries. My current scholarship provides a monthly stipend of 6,500 TL for master’s students, with undergraduate and PhD students receiving 4,500 TL and 9,000 TL, respectively. The monthly stipend is usually increased annually, depending on the economic conditions in Türkiye. Besides the stipend, the scholarship fully covers tuition fees and includes a one-year Turkish language course, accommodation, health insurance, and a one-time flight ticket provided at the beginning of the studies as well as upon graduation. This is not my first time receiving this scholarship; during my undergraduate studies, I was awarded the Full-time Undergraduate Scholarship under the general program.

Educational Background

My passion for physics began long before university, during my middle school years when I started participating in science competitions. These early experiences shaped my interest and curiosity in how the physical world works. I pursued this passion further by enrolling in a bachelor’s program in Physics in 2019, graduating with a final score of 92.76 out of 100. Later, I applied for a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.53 out of 4.00.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Sivas Cumhuriyet University?

To apply for my master’s degree in Türkiye, I prepared several important documents and standardized test scores. One of them was the ALES (Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Exam), which is sometimes required for international students who completed their undergraduate studies in Türkiye. I also took the YDS (Yabancı Dil Sınavı), which is a standardized foreign language proficiency test in Türkiye, commonly used for academic and professional purposes. Although it wasn’t mandatory for my master’s program, which is fully taught in Turkish, I took the exam as an additional step. Having a valid language score could still give me extra points during the evaluation process and demonstrate my academic readiness.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Türkiye Bursları Scholarship?

I began my scholarship application by preparing all the required documents, including my ID card, diploma, CV, and academic transcript. Since I completed my bachelor’s degree in Türkiye, I had the advantage of not needing to translate my academic documents into Turkish. Although translation is not mandatory at the first stage of the application, having documents in Turkish helped streamline the overall process and avoid additional steps later.

At the same time, I contacted potential referees who could provide strong letters of recommendation. While collecting these documents, I also began completing the other sections of the application through the official online portal.

I gave special attention to writing my Letter of Intent (LOI) and research plan, ensuring that both were compelling, clear, and well-structured. I discussed these documents with my professors and seniors to receive valuable feedback and further improve their quality. Additionally, I researched the universities and cities I was applying to, so I could make informed decisions based on academic programs and living conditions.

After completing the first stage of the application, I continued to prepare myself by improving relevant skills, especially communication and language proficiency, which are essential for scholarship interviews and for adapting smoothly to a new academic environment.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe several factors contributed to making my application stand out. First, my strong academic background, both during my undergraduate studies in Türkiye and my consistent interest in physics since middle school, demonstrated my long-term dedication to the field. Second, I tried to outline my research interests as clearly as possible, especially in the areas of solid-state physics and nanotechnology, through my research plan.

In addition to academics, I was also actively involved in extracurricular activities, such as student organizations and social initiatives, which reflected my ability to balance academic and community engagement. Furthermore, I created content on YouTube to share my scholarship experience and introduce Türkiye as a study destination. This initiative not only showed my communication skills but also my commitment to helping others through accessible information and storytelling.

Overall, I believe that a combination of my academic interests, personal motivation, and involvement in activities beyond the classroom may have helped convey my dedication and balanced profile as an applicant.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Looking back, I tried to submit the best application I could at the time, given the circumstances. However, if I had the chance to go through the process again, I would put more effort into refining my research plan. While it was already well-prepared, I believe there was still room for improvement in how I structured my research goals and presented the significance of my proposed work.

At that time, I was also in the middle of my final exams during the seventh semester, which made it quite challenging to dedicate as much time as I would have liked. Because of the tight schedule, I felt that I couldn't maximize the quality of my research plan as much as I had intended.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My biggest advice is to start preparing early and take every step seriously, especially the documents like your Letter of Intent, CV, and research plan; they are not just formalities, but your chance to show who you are and what you want to achieve. Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, alumni, or seniors for feedback; their insights can make a big difference.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of genuine motivation. Scholarship committees can tell when an applicant is truly passionate. Lastly, believe in yourself, even if you feel uncertain, just take the first step. You’ll learn and grow along the way.