Application Window: January 10 – February 20
Türkiye Burslari has one of the shortest application windows among major scholarships. You have roughly 40 days to submit everything.
Portal Crash Warning
The application portal (tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr) crashes every year in the final 3-5 days. In 2024, the server was down for 8+ hours on Feb 19. In 2023, upload speeds dropped to near-zero on the last day. Submit by Feb 10 at the latest. Do NOT gamble with your application.
The Full 20-Month Timeline
From opening your application to sitting in your first university lecture, the entire journey takes approximately 20 months.
Application Portal Opens
Create account, fill in personal details, start uploading documents.
Application Deadline
Final day to submit. Portal closes at 23:59 Turkish time (UTC+3). No extensions ever given.
Document Review
YTB staff reviews 250K+ applications. Most rejections happen at this stage. No feedback given.
Interview Period
Shortlisted candidates receive interview invitations. ~7 days notice. In-person or online depending on country.
Evaluation Period
The longest wait. No updates, no tracking. Just silence. This is when applicants lose sleep.
Results Announced
Acceptance or rejection email. Accepted scholars receive university placement and visa instructions.
Arrive in Turkey
Travel to your assigned city. KYK dormitory check-in. Orientation events.
TOMER Turkish Language Year
Full-time Turkish language training. A1 to C1 in 12 months. Attendance is mandatory.
Degree Programme Begins
20 months after you first clicked "Apply." Your degree journey officially starts.
Surviving the 6-7 Month Wait
Apply to Other Scholarships
Don't put all eggs in one basket. The 2-5% acceptance rate means statistically you'll probably be rejected. Apply to alternatives simultaneously.
Continue Your Education/Work
Don't pause your life waiting for results. Continue studying, working, or volunteering. If you're accepted, you can leave gracefully. If not, you haven't lost months of productivity.
Start Learning Turkish
Even before results, start basic Turkish. If accepted, you'll have a head start at TOMER. If rejected, you've learned a new language. Win-win.
Avoid Obsessive Checking
Checking the portal daily won't make results come faster. Join a Telegram/WhatsApp group of applicants from your country for emotional support, but don't let anxiety consume you.
Separate Timelines
Success Scholarship
The Türkiye Başarı Bursu for top-100 universities has a different application period, usually opening earlier. Check turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for exact dates.
Research Scholarship
Short-term research scholarships (3-12 months) for postdoctoral researchers have their own timeline and portal section.
Check Your Chances
With 250K applicants for 5K spots, understanding the competition by country can help you prepare better.
Success Rate Data →