Türkiye Bursları Scholar, Yasmin from Kazakhstan, Studies Architecture at Istanbul Technical University with a Fully Funded Scholarship

My name is Yasmin, I am a student at Istanbul Technical University and a recipient of the Türkiye Bursları 2023 scholarship.

I am originally from Kazakhstan and a graduate of NIS (Nazarbayev Intellectual School) of Physics and Mathematics in Aktobe. NIS is a state school established with the support of the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Unlike regular schools, we study for 12 years instead of 11, we can choose our specialized subjects, and starting from grade 11, we study them in English. All high school subjects follow the Cambridge A-level format. Instead of the national exam (UNT), we take MESK – an international exam by the Cambridge Council, which is mandatory for all NIS students and directly affects the final diploma.

I am currently a second-year Architecture student. At first, I wanted to study bioengineering since I participated in Olympiads in biology and ecology. But since childhood, I loved drawing and building things with my own hands, so at the end of grade 10, I switched to architecture. I have never regretted that choice for a second.

Türkiye Bursları Scholarship Details

I was admitted to the Türkiye Bursları Scholarship program. Türkiye Bursları is a major government scholarship program in Turkey. It is open to citizens of all countries for every level of education, as well as to researchers and academics.
This program is one of the most generous for undergraduate students, which is why I chose it.

What Does It Cover?

• Tuition (with the possibility to retake courses and extend studies for one year free of charge)
• One-year Turkish language course up to C1 level
• Round-trip flight tickets
• Dormitory accommodation
• Meals
• Monthly stipend ($110)
• Visa fees
• Health insurance
• For Master’s and PhD students, in the second year, instead of dorms, they receive financial support for renting housing

By my calculations, this scholarship saves students between $90,000 and $120,000 over the entire study period.

A distinctive feature of this program is that the final placement of students is decided by the scholarship committee. They evaluate your academic performance, chosen field, goals, and expectations, and then assign you to the most suitable university. This way, they can guarantee your admission.

For example, I selected 12 universities: 6 in big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, and 6 in smaller ones like Bursa, Konya, Eskisehir, and Antalya. My top 3 were Istanbul Technical University, Middle East Technical University, and Yildiz Technical University. I was placed at my first choice – Istanbul Technical University.

The admission process has two stages. The first is an online application through turkiyeburslari.com, open every year from January 10 to February 20 (sometimes extended by a few days due to high traffic). Applications are free, and you don’t need to translate documents into English – you can even complete the application in your native language. For instance, I filled mine in Russian, while my documents were in Kazakh, Russian, and English.

The second stage is the interview. Only about 10–15% of applicants are invited, and this percentage varies greatly by country. In Kazakhstan, competition is the highest among CIS countries: every year, there are around 12,000–16,000 applicants, out of which about 400–500 are selected.
The interview is offline, usually in May–June. Applicants choose the city themselves; in Kazakhstan, the options are Astana and Almaty. In addition to the interview, there is a math and logic test similar to the TR-YÖS (an exam for international students in Turkey). It can be taken in English or Turkish. The interview committee comes from Istanbul, and there are translators available if you prefer to speak in your native language. The interview lasts about 5–7 minutes, and you must bring original copies of all submitted documents, as well as SAT and IELTS certificates.

Top Universities in Turkey

• Istanbul Technical University
• Middle East Technical University
• Bogazici University
• Koc University
• Istanbul University
• Istanbul Cerrahpasa University
• Bilkent University
• Hacettepe University
• Yildiz Technical University
• Ankara University

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes. I received a 60% tuition discount from Kadir Has University in Istanbul after winning an online English Olympiad organized by a language center in Aktau.
I also received two scholarships in the USA:

• SCI-Arc in Los Angeles: Admissions Scholarship worth $50,000 over 5 years.
• Hofstra University: Dean’s Award of $92,000 over 4 years.

In addition, I was admitted to Politecnico di Torino and Sapienza University of Rome, but since I had already accepted the Turkish scholarship, I didn’t apply for the DSU scholarship in Italy.

Educational Background

As I mentioned earlier, I graduated from Nazarbayev Intellectual School with a GPA of 4.82/5.0, which had a huge influence on shaping my personality and goals. NIS students are ambitious and highly motivated, often staying after 8–9 hours of classes to work on personal projects, volunteer, or prepare for Olympiads. I believe if I had studied in a regular school, my main goal would have been to continue my education in Astana or Almaty, which is also great, but I wouldn’t have felt fully satisfied. Among my classmates, about half continued their studies in the USA, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Hong Kong, and South Korea, while the other half went to Nazarbayev University in Astana and the Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty. I think this environment really helped me set bigger goals and work hard to achieve them.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Istanbul Technical University?

First of all, I did thorough research on the countries I found interesting. I always checked the global ranking of the university and the prestige of its architecture faculty. Another key factor was the language of instruction (English) and the availability of a full scholarship, since I wasn’t financially ready to pay $15,000–20,000 per year.

I also took the SAT and IELTS. I scored 7.5 on IELTS, but I was not satisfied with my SAT score of 1360 and regretted not retaking it in December 2022.

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

I collected the basic set of documents: my grade 10 diploma, transcripts for grade 11, and the first semester of grade 12. I asked for recommendation letters from my school counselor, my biology teacher (who prepared me for Olympiads), my English teacher, and the head of the American Corner in Aktobe, where I ran my own Women Empowerment Club.
It is very important to keep both electronic and hard copies of all your achievements so that when the application time comes, you don’t panic trying to find them.

While applying, I also watched a lot of YouTube videos with interviews of students, university reviews, and experiences with scholarship programs.

How Is Your Experience at Istanbul Technical University?

To be honest, I didn’t expect the studies to be this difficult, and I wasn’t mentally or physically ready for such a workload. There were many sleepless nights when I had to finish a model or drawing. Few applicants to architecture truly realize the academic load involved, which is an important factor when choosing this field.

Like in many other countries, I also faced some racism. People in Turkey often comment on my eye shape and call me Chinese, Thai, or Korean. Luckily, I haven’t experienced direct discrimination based on nationality.

Another important point: without Turkish, living and studying here is very challenging. Even though I “lost” one year for language studies, it helped me adapt, rest after school, and explore Istanbul.

One more issue few people talk about is that some professors, despite teaching in programs officially in English, give lectures in Turkish. Personally, I find this very disrespectful to international students, and I faced this during my first semester.

How Do You Rate Your Istanbul Technical University Academically and Why?

I would rate it 7/10. ITU was the first university outside the US to receive NAAB accreditation. In the US, this certification allows graduates to apply for a professional license, which was a key factor in my decision.

My university also has more than 340 Erasmus agreements worldwide, and I am especially interested in Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, and Delft University of Technology. There is also an Erasmus Internship program: if you get an internship offer from a company abroad, the university helps cover some of the expenses.

I also like the many facilities available for students: gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, several libraries, and labs. Another nice detail is that lunch and dinner at my university cost around €1. Students can also conduct research under the guidance of professors.

There are many student clubs as well. During my first year, I was active in the IAESTE club, which exists in many countries and offers short student exchanges (3–5 days). Last year, our students visited Norway, Tunisia, Poland, and Switzerland, and in return, we hosted students from these countries in Istanbul. The club also helps students find paid internships abroad—for example, one of my friends interned in Prague, Czech Republic, and another in Doha, Qatar.

How Does Istanbul Technical University Support International Students?

To be honest, there is not much support for international students compared to countries like Korea or Hong Kong. Out of 30,000 students, there are only about 2,000 international students, so the support system is limited. I was a little disappointed by this, and I advise future applicants to keep it in mind.
The only significant support I can mention is that the university submits residence permit applications on behalf of international students, which is very convenient—you only need to bring your physical documents to the office and then wait for your residence permit.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Turkish?

My program is 100% in English. When applying for the scholarship, students can also choose programs that are 30% in English and 70% in Turkish, or entirely in Turkish.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically, Not Knowing Turkish?

Most professors do teach in English, as required, but unfortunately, some often switch to Turkish. If you don’t know Turkish at an academic level, it may be hard to follow. That’s why I think it’s very important to complete the one-year Turkish language course before starting your studies.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think my application stood out because of the number and quality of my extracurricular achievements, as well as a strong motivation letter and good interview answers. I prepared for the interview for more than a week, studying Turkey’s history, politics, economy, and its relations with Kazakhstan. I also researched my top 3 universities, famous Turkish architects, and their projects in Kazakhstan.
I also brought my creative portfolio (two huge A3 folders) to the interview. Later, after I was admitted, I spoke with the head of the YTB office in Istanbul, and he told me he remembered me because of my portfolio. Unlike the usual 5–7 minutes, my interview lasted 12–14 minutes because the committee carefully reviewed my drawings.

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

I would probably not have applied to the USA and instead focused on countries offering generous funding, such as Hong Kong. I also wish I had retaken the SAT in December 2022 (the last paper-based SAT). Apart from that, I gave my best effort and wouldn’t really change anything.

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

I recommend achieving high SAT and IELTS scores, preparing your application carefully, and not leaving it until mid-February, since the website often crashes near the deadline. I also advise researching the city, dormitories, and the university itself, because perhaps METU will suit you better than ITU.
If possible, I suggest taking the TR-YÖS exam as it increases your chances of receiving the scholarship. And definitely have backup options. For example, Bilkent University offers a 100% tuition waiver for students with a strong GPA and SAT score or high UNT (Unified National Test) results.