Türkiye Bursları University Placement 2027

The 12-Preference System

Türkiye Scholarships places you at a university — you don't apply to universities separately. In TBBS you can list up to 12 university-programme combinations in order of preference. But here's the truth: the system rarely gives you your top pick.

The universities and departments you can pick depend on your educational background; you can only choose from what the system offers you.

The "Big Cities" Quota Trap

Why your Istanbul dream is probably not happening

Around 80% of applicants list Istanbul universities as their top choice, and Istanbul's quotas simply can't absorb that demand. With nearly 200,000 applications in 2026, the maths doesn't work in your favour:

Estimates: 80% of ~200,000 applications, against roughly 800 Istanbul places reported by scholars.

Strategic Selection Tips

Tip 1: Your 5th choice might be your best bet

Universities in cities like Konya, Trabzon, Sakarya and Eskişehir often have excellent programmes in specific fields but receive far fewer applications. Less competition means a higher chance of getting your preferred programme.

Tip 2: Research programme quality, not city prestige

Hacettepe (Ankara) is one of Türkiye's best medical schools. METU (Ankara) dominates engineering. Sabancı (Istanbul) excels in social sciences. Don't pick a city first and a programme second — reverse that order.

Tip 3: Mix big and small cities (the 2:10 rule)

List at most 2 big-city universities (dream picks) and 10 in mid-size or smaller cities. This maximises your chance of placement while still giving you a shot at your top choices.

Tip 4: Check the language of instruction

Some listed programmes are only available in Turkish. Even after TÖMER, starting a master's thesis in Turkish is much harder than in English. Verify the instruction language before selecting.

Transfer Rules: You Get ONE Transfer

If you're unhappy with your placement, you can request a transfer to another university once during your scholarship. But:

1. Transfer requests are not guaranteed to be approved.
2. You need a valid academic reason (not just "I don't like this city").
3. The receiving university must accept you and have places available.
4. You may lose a semester during the transfer.
5. Once used, there are no more transfers — you're committed.

Top Turkish Universities by Field

Knowing which universities excel in your field helps you choose well.

Note: Türkiye Scholarships does not award master's or PhD scholarships in health sciences, so the medicine list matters mainly for undergraduate applicants.

Hidden Gem Universities

These are universities scholars didn't expect to love — but ended up appreciating more than their big-city alternatives.

Next: Learn About TÖMER

Wherever you're placed, you'll normally start with a compulsory year of Turkish. Read the Turkish language guide.