Türkiye spans Europe and Asia and brings together cultural influences from both regions. It is known for its historical sites, museums, and architecture while also supporting modern technology projects, including Togg electric vehicles, Baykar’s Cezeri flying-car concept, and Roketsan’s ALKA directed-energy system.
When it comes to the cost of studying in Türkiye, international students may be eligible for fully funded scholarships through the government-funded Türkiye Scholarships program. Full-time awards include university and department placement, tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, a one-year Turkish language course, accommodation, health insurance, and flight tickets at the beginning of the program and after graduation. Universities and private institutions also provide additional funding options. These programs have limited places and can be highly competitive, so students should carefully review the eligibility rules and prepare their applications early.
How to Study in Turkey for Free
1. Study hard and have a good application
Earning a college degree can be an important step toward your future. If you are currently a secondary school student, higher education may help you prepare for a career and identify the field you want to pursue. For working professionals, a master’s degree or another advanced qualification may help update their skills and deepen their knowledge.
Universities in Türkiye establish their own admission criteria, and an application is often the admissions committee’s first opportunity to assess a prospective student. Applicants should therefore review each university’s requirements carefully instead of assuming that the same documents or qualifications are accepted everywhere.
Your application should clearly present your academic background, current abilities, and potential. Study consistently, prepare the required documents early, and monitor official admission dates and deadlines. A strong application cannot guarantee a scholarship, but it can improve your chances of receiving admission and financial support.
2. Apply for Scholarships in Turkey
Scholarships can provide valuable support to international students. Governments, universities, charitable organizations, and other institutions offer awards with different eligibility rules, benefits, and application procedures.
Some university scholarships cover tuition only, while others may also provide accommodation, a living stipend, insurance, or travel assistance. Applicants should confirm exactly what an award covers and whether they must submit a separate scholarship application.
When preparing applications to universities in Türkiye, review the universities that offer scholarships. Gather current information from each scholarship provider and apply for awards for which you meet all eligibility requirements. Applying to several suitable scholarships may give you more funding options, but each application should be accurate and tailored to the award.
3. Apply to cheap Turkish universities
Receiving a fully funded scholarship can substantially reduce the financial burden of studying abroad. However, scholarships are competitive, so it is sensible to compare lower-cost programs as a backup plan. Tuition in Türkiye varies considerably by university, program, academic level, and year of entry. For example, Middle East Technical University’s latest published fee table lists tuition of USD 800 to USD 1,200 per semester for newly enrolled international undergraduate students at its Ankara and Erdemli campuses. At some universities, medicine and dentistry cost considerably more than other fields. Always use the university’s current official fee table rather than relying on a general national tuition range.
For your backup plan, consider applying to affordable universities. Middle East Technical University and Abdullah Gül University may be worth comparing, but their fees and scholarship conditions should be checked directly before applying. Koç University and Istanbul Okan University should not be described as universally inexpensive because their fees vary substantially by program. Research-based master’s and PhD applicants should review scholarship and assistantship opportunities separately from the published tuition price.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Turkey
Türkiye Scholarships provides government-funded awards at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels. For full-time undergraduate recipients, the current benefits include university and department placement, tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of TL 4,500, a one-year Turkish language course, accommodation, health insurance, and flight tickets at the beginning of the program and after graduation. Applicants interested in Istanbul University should confirm that their intended university and program appear among the options available to them in the current Türkiye Scholarships application system.
Students interested in Ankara University should complete the same verification before applying. The universities and departments available through Türkiye Scholarships can vary according to an applicant’s educational background and the options presented in the application system. Students should not assume that every program at a particular university is eligible each year.
International students can also investigate scholarship opportunities at Abdullah Gül University. AGU states that it offers tuition-fee scholarships to a limited number of students, including support intended for international students from low- and lower-middle-income countries. Because eligibility criteria and the number of awards are limited, applicants should verify the current coverage and continuation conditions directly with the university rather than assuming that every recipient will automatically receive a full waiver for the entire degree.
Meanwhile, Bilkent University awards international undergraduate tuition-waiver scholarships ranging from 20% to 100% in increments of 20%. Accommodation scholarships may also be offered to a limited number of top students who receive a full tuition waiver. Recipients must meet the university’s course-load, attendance, and annual GPA requirements to retain their awards.
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Turkey
Completing a master’s degree in Türkiye without paying tuition may be possible through Türkiye Scholarships or a university-funded award. Koç University currently lists ten joint Türkiye Scholarships awards for eligible thesis-based master’s programs. The awards exclude the master’s program in Clinical Psychology, the LL.M., and non-thesis master’s programs. Benefits include a 100% tuition scholarship, dormitory support, the current Türkiye Scholarships master’s stipend of TL 6,500 per month, flights, a Turkish language course, visa application support, and social and cultural activities.
Sabancı University states that almost all students admitted to its academic graduate programs, excluding professional graduate programs, receive full exemption from annual tuition fees. Most also receive additional support. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the university’s full master’s scholarship includes a 100% tuition exemption, a monthly stipend of TL 43,500 for ten months, a free double dormitory room or monthly transportation support of TL 10,000 for eligible students who do not use the dormitory, private health insurance, a laptop computer, and limited annual conference support. Scholarship decisions are based on academic merit and approval by the relevant graduate school.
Applicants interested in master’s programs at Istanbul University or Ankara University should confirm that the intended program is available through the current Türkiye Scholarships application system. Under the general full-time Türkiye Scholarships package, master’s recipients receive tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of TL 6,500, accommodation, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course, and flight tickets at the beginning of the program and after graduation.
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Turkey
A funded PhD in Türkiye is possible, but applicants should not assume that every doctoral offer is fully funded. The Turkish government and several universities provide scholarships to selected international doctoral students. Koç University and Sabancı University both publish doctoral funding opportunities, although eligibility, benefits, and selection procedures vary.
Koç University currently lists twenty joint Türkiye Scholarships awards for PhD programs. Selected candidates receive a 100% tuition scholarship, dormitory support, the current Türkiye Scholarships PhD stipend of TL 9,000 per month, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course, and flight tickets at the beginning of the program and after graduation. Candidates must satisfy both Koç University’s admission process and the Türkiye Scholarships selection process.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, Sabancı University’s standard full PhD scholarship includes a 100% tuition exemption, a monthly stipend of TL 67,500 for twelve months, a free single dormitory room or monthly transportation support of TL 10,000 for eligible students who do not use the dormitory, private health insurance, a laptop computer, and limited annual conference support. The listed stipend increases to TL 75,000 per month after the PhD qualifying examination. The university also offers project-funded and distinguished scholarship categories with different benefits and selection requirements.
Studying in Türkiye may appeal to students who want to experience its historical heritage, cultural diversity, and contemporary development. International students can choose from a broad range of institutions and programs, including the universities in Türkiye featured in this guide. The official Study in Türkiye portal describes tuition and everyday expenses as comparatively affordable, but a student’s actual cost of studying and living in Türkiye will depend on the university, city, housing arrangement, exchange rate, and personal lifestyle.
We hope this article on how to study in Türkiye for free was helpful. Make sure to also check the Study in Turkey and Available Programs for International Students!
