The Turkey Success Scholarship — officially the Success Scholarship Program, run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) — is not a scholarship for students applying to study in Turkey for the first time. It’s a stipend awarded to international students already studying in Turkey on their own funding who’ve posted strong grades. If you’re still abroad and looking for a scholarship to get into a Turkish university, this isn’t the program you want — check our [Turkiye Burslari Scholarships guide]({LINK: Turkiye Burslari Scholarships}) instead, which is the comprehensive program covering tuition, accommodation, and stipend for new applicants. If you’re already enrolled in Turkey and performing well academically, read on.
Quick Facts
- Administered By: Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) — the same body that runs the main Türkiye Bursları program
- Who It’s For: International students already enrolled and residing in Turkey, self-funded, with at least one completed academic year behind them
- Degree Levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD (including preparatory-year students)
- Coverage: Monthly stipend only — does not include tuition, accommodation, or health insurance
- Duration: One academic year
- Application Window: Typically opens in October and closes in November, with results announced in December (exact dates are announced each cycle — for example, the 2024 round ran October 1 to November 22)
- Application Portal: Turkey Scholarships Application System (TBBS) at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr — the same portal used for the main Türkiye Bursları program
Who Qualifies for Turkey Success Scholarship
- Hold foreign citizenship. Dual citizens who also hold Turkish nationality are not eligible, and exchange students are not eligible.
- Currently reside in Turkey.
- Have completed at least one full academic year (2 semesters) of study in Turkey at undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD level, including preparatory-year study.
- Meet the minimum GPA for your level:
- 3.00 / 4.00 for undergraduate students
- 3.50 / 4.00 for Master’s and PhD students
- 2.50 / 4.00 for undergraduate students in Medicine, Dentistry, or Pharmacy (the one exception to the general undergraduate threshold)
- Have never previously received, and are not currently receiving, any award under Türkiye Scholarships (State, Government, or Sponsorship categories), including a scholarship that was later cancelled.
- Are not currently benefiting from any other scholarship from any institution or organization, Turkish or otherwise.
What the Success Scholarship Actually Covers
Just a monthly stipend — that’s it. Unlike the main Türkiye Bursları program, the Success Scholarship does not include tuition fee coverage, accommodation, or health insurance; you’re expected to already be covering those yourself, which makes sense given it’s designed as a reward for existing self-funded students, not a full relocation package. The exact monthly stipend amount is set fresh each application cycle and varies by degree level — check the official YTB announcement for the current cycle’s figure rather than relying on a number that may be outdated by the time you read this.
Required Documents
- A completed online application through the TBBS portal
- A Student Certificate, issued by your university’s Student Affairs office with a wet signature and official seal, dated after the cutoff specified in that cycle’s announcement
- An Official Transcript, also wet-signed and sealed by your university’s Student Affairs office, meeting the same dating requirement
- Any additional supporting documents requested in that year’s specific call
While it’s not a formal requirement for the Success Scholarship itself, keeping a strong recommendation letter on file from a professor is genuinely useful groundwork if you plan to apply for other scholarships or opportunities alongside this one — studytribune.com/scholarships/recommendation-letter-for-scholarship-sample-example-template-format/. The same goes for a well-written personal statement, which plenty of other Turkey-based funding and exchange opportunities do ask for.Personal Statement for Scholarship / SOP Examples
How to Apply
- Confirm you meet every eligibility point above, particularly the one-completed-year and GPA requirements — these are checked against your official university records, not self-reported.
- Create or log into your profile on the Turkey Scholarships Application System (TBBS) at tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.
- Request your Student Certificate and Official Transcript from your university’s Student Affairs office, making sure they’re dated within the window that cycle’s announcement specifies.
- Complete your application — personal information, educational background, and social activities — and upload your documents before the November deadline.
- Watch for results in December.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the Success Scholarship if I’m still in my home country? No. This scholarship is only for international students who are already enrolled in and residing in Turkey. If you haven’t started studying in Turkey yet, look at the main Türkiye Bursları program instead.
Does the Success Scholarship cover tuition and accommodation? No. It covers a monthly stipend only. Tuition, accommodation, and health insurance are not included — this is one of the most commonly repeated errors about this program online.
What GPA do I need? 3.00 out of 4.00 for undergraduate students, 3.50 out of 4.00 for Master’s and PhD students, and 2.50 out of 4.00 specifically for undergraduate Medicine, Dentistry, or Pharmacy students.
Can I hold this scholarship alongside another one? No. You can’t be currently receiving, or have previously received and lost, any Türkiye Scholarships award, and you can’t be benefiting from any other institution’s scholarship at the same time.
How long does the Success Scholarship last? One academic year. It isn’t automatically renewed — you’d need to reapply and requalify in a future cycle.
When can I apply? Applications typically open in October and close in November, with results announced in December. Exact dates shift slightly each year, so check the current cycle’s official announcement rather than assuming last year’s dates.
Can exchange students apply? No. Exchange students are explicitly excluded from the Success Scholarship Program.
What if I hold dual citizenship, including Turkish citizenship? You’re not eligible. The program requires foreign citizenship, and dual nationals who also hold Turkish citizenship don’t qualify.
Official Resources
- Application portal: tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
- Program information: turkiyeburslari.gov.tr