Türkiye Scholarships 2027 for Nigerians

Türkiye Scholarships is a government-funded scholarship programme that gives international students the opportunity to study in Türkiye with financial support and university placement. Nigerian students can apply for eligible associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, provided they meet the programme’s academic, age and other conditions.

The regular application period is held each year from 10 January to 20 February. The official Türkiye Scholarships calendar currently lists that period as the general application window. Because the 2027 call has not yet been published, applicants should use the current calendar as a guide rather than treating it as a confirmed 2027 deadline. citeturn0search13turn0search12

This guide explains what Nigerian applicants should know about Türkiye Scholarships, including eligibility, funding, study levels, documents, application steps and how to prepare before the next application window.

Quick Facts About Türkiye Scholarships for Nigerians

Item	Current information
Programme	Türkiye Scholarships
Country	Türkiye
Eligible nationality	Citizens of all countries, subject to programme rules
Study levels	Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD
General application period	10 January to 20 February each year
Undergraduate minimum academic achievement	70%
Graduate minimum academic achievement	75%
Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy minimum	90%
Age limit	Under 21 for associate/bachelor’s, under 30 for master’s, under 35 for PhD

What Are Türkiye Scholarships?

Türkiye Scholarships is a government-funded higher education scholarship programme administered by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). It is designed for international students and combines financial support with university and department placement. citeturn0search9turn0search3

Unlike a scholarship that only pays part of your university costs, the full-time programme can combine tuition support, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend, a Turkish language course and flight support. citeturn0search0turn0search3

Can Nigerians Apply for Türkiye Scholarships?

Yes. The programme states that citizens of all countries are eligible to apply, subject to the specific scholarship criteria. Nigerian citizens can therefore apply for qualifying programmes through the Türkiye Scholarships Application System. citeturn0search14

Being eligible to submit an application does not mean that every course is available to every applicant. The programmes and departments shown to you can depend on your education background and the scholarship level you choose.

Türkiye Scholarships Eligibility Requirements

Minimum academic achievement

The general minimum academic achievement is 70% for associate and bachelor’s applicants and 75% for master’s and PhD applicants. Candidates applying for health sciences such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy must meet a higher 90% threshold. citeturn0search14

These are minimum thresholds, not a guarantee of selection. Türkiye Scholarships is competitive, so applicants should aim to present an academic record that is as strong as possible.

Age requirements

The current general criteria state that applicants should be:

Under 21 for associate and bachelor’s programmes
Under 30 for master’s programmes
Under 35 for PhD programmes
Under 50 for the separate Research Scholarship programme

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Graduation status

The programme allows graduates and applicants who will graduate at the end of the current academic year, before August. This means final-year students can be eligible if they will complete their studies within the required period. citeturn0search14

Other eligibility rules

Turkish citizens and people who have lost Turkish citizenship are not eligible under the general criteria. Applicants who are already enrolled in a Turkish university at the same level of education for which they are applying are also excluded under the stated criteria. citeturn0search14

What Does Türkiye Scholarships Cover?

The full-time scholarship package is one of the programme’s main attractions. The official programme information currently lists:

University and department placement
Monthly stipend
Tuition fees
One-year Turkish language course
Accommodation
Health insurance
One-off flight ticket at the beginning and end of the scholarship

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Current monthly stipend

The current official full-time programme page lists monthly stipends of:

6,500 TL for associate and bachelor’s students
9,500 TL for master’s students
13,000 TL for PhD students

These figures are current programme information and can change in future scholarship cycles. citeturn0search0

Accommodation

Türkiye Scholarships provides accommodation support. Undergraduate scholars can stay in covered dormitories for the duration of their studies, while master’s and doctoral scholars receive dormitory accommodation under the programme’s current conditions, with different arrangements possible after the first year. citeturn0search3

Turkish language training

The full-time scholarship includes one year of Turkish language education. This can be useful even when your eventual academic programme is taught in another language because it helps with everyday life and access to local academic and social environments. citeturn0search3

What Can Nigerians Study in Türkiye?

Türkiye Scholarships offers programmes across areas such as engineering, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and other fields. The official full-time programme page states that graduate scholarships cover social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering.

One important exception is health sciences. The current full-time scholarship information says Türkiye Scholarships does not award scholarships in the field of health sciences under the graduate programme, while the general criteria separately identify medicine, dentistry and pharmacy as health-science areas with a 90% minimum academic threshold. Applicants should therefore check the actual programme list for the level and field they intend to study rather than assuming that every health-related course is available. citeturn0search0turn0search14

Do You Need IELTS for Türkiye Scholarships?

There is no single English-language test requirement that applies to every Türkiye Scholarships applicant. Requirements can depend on the university, department and programme.

The scholarship application system lets candidates choose programmes according to the available options and their academic background. If a selected programme requires proof of English proficiency, applicants should meet that institution’s stated requirement.

Do not assume that having IELTS automatically makes you eligible, and do not assume that every programme requires IELTS. Check the requirements attached to the programme you select.

Documents Nigerian Applicants Should Prepare

The exact document list can vary by level and programme, but applicants should be ready to provide documents such as:

Valid identity or passport information
National identification information where requested
Diploma or temporary graduation certificate
Academic transcript
National examination results where relevant
International examination results where applicable
Language test results where required by the selected programme
Motivation or supporting information requested in the application system
Research proposal for applicants whose chosen programme requires one

Use the current application system’s document instructions rather than relying on a checklist copied from an old scholarship blog. Requirements can change between cycles.

Our guide to scholarship application documents students may need can help you organise your file.

When Does Türkiye Scholarships Open?

The official calendar currently lists 10 January to 20 February as the general application period. The 2026 call followed those dates, opening on 10 January and closing on 20 February 2026. citeturn0search12turn0search13

For the 2027 cycle, applicants should wait for the official Türkiye Scholarships announcement before treating any date circulating on social media or scholarship websites as confirmed.

The current calendar also lists evaluation from March to April, interviews from April to June and results in early August. These are programme calendar dates and may be adjusted for a particular cycle. citeturn0search13

How to Apply for Türkiye Scholarships

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm your academic average, age, graduation status and the conditions for your intended level of study. Pay particular attention to the higher academic threshold for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. citeturn0search14

Step 2: Choose your study level

Decide whether you are applying for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or PhD scholarship. The available departments and selection rules differ by level.

Step 3: Research available programmes

Use the official Türkiye Scholarships programme search to identify universities and departments that fit your academic background and career plans.

Step 4: Prepare your documents

Scan your certificates and transcripts clearly. Make sure names and dates are consistent across your documents and application.

Step 5: Complete the online application

Applications are submitted through the Türkiye Scholarships Application System (TBBS). The regular full-time application is online and does not require applicants to submit the initial application through a Nigerian agent. citeturn0search0turn0search10

Step 6: Select suitable preferences

Türkiye Scholarships provides university and department placement. The programme states that candidates can select up to 12 choices in the online application. Choose programmes that genuinely match your qualifications rather than filling choices with unrelated courses simply to increase the number of selections. citeturn0search3

Step 7: Complete interviews if shortlisted

The general calendar currently places interviews between April and June. If shortlisted, be prepared to explain your academic background, career goals, chosen field and reasons for studying in Türkiye. citeturn0search13

Step 8: Wait for the result and placement process

The current calendar places scholarship results in early August, followed by initial procedures and transfers to Türkiye in August and September. citeturn0search13

Is Türkiye Scholarships Fully Funded?

The full-time Türkiye Scholarships programme is commonly described as a fully funded scholarship because it combines tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend, Turkish language training and flight support. The exact scope and amounts should always be checked against the current official programme information for the year you apply. citeturn0search3turn0search0

Can Nigerian Students Apply Without an Admission Offer?

Türkiye Scholarships is different from scholarships that require you to secure university admission first. The programme itself provides university and department placement as part of the full-time scholarship process. citeturn0search3

This means you should still research universities and departments carefully, but you do not need to treat a separate university admission offer as the starting point for the regular Türkiye Scholarships application.

Common Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid

Using an old deadline: Check the official annual announcement before applying.
Ignoring the age limit: Türkiye Scholarships has different age ceilings for different study levels.
Applying with the wrong academic average: Check the minimum for your level and field.
Choosing programmes at random: Your preferences should fit your academic background and future plans.
Assuming every health programme is available: Check the current programme list carefully.
Relying on agents: Use the official TBBS application system and official Türkiye Scholarships information.
Copying another applicant’s motivation statement: Your application should explain your own academic and career goals.
Uploading unclear documents: Make sure certificates and transcripts are legible before submission.

How to Make Your Application Stronger

Start preparing before the application window opens. A strong application should connect your academic record, proposed field of study and long-term goals.

For postgraduate applicants, be specific about the problem you want to work on and the skills you expect to gain from the programme. For undergraduate applicants, explain why the chosen field fits your interests and future plans.

Our guide on how to write a scholarship personal statement can help you prepare your written responses.

Official Türkiye Scholarships Sources

Use the official Türkiye Scholarships website for application dates, eligibility criteria, programme searches and application instructions.

Türkiye Scholarships: criteria and scholarship programmes

Türkiye Scholarships: full-time programmes

Türkiye Scholarships: application calendar

Türkiye Scholarships: frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nigerians apply for Türkiye Scholarships?

Yes. The programme accepts applications from citizens of all countries, subject to its eligibility criteria.

When does Türkiye Scholarships open?

The general annual application period is currently listed as 10 January to 20 February. The exact 2027 dates should be confirmed through the official announcement when released.

How much is the Türkiye Scholarships monthly stipend?

The current full-time programme page lists 6,500 TL for associate and bachelor’s students, 9,500 TL for master’s students and 13,000 TL for PhD students.

What is the minimum CGPA for Türkiye Scholarships?

The programme states a minimum academic achievement of 70% for associate and bachelor’s applicants and 75% for master’s and PhD applicants. Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy have a 90% minimum.

What is the age limit for a master’s applicant?

The current general criterion is under 30 years old for master’s programmes.

Is Türkiye Scholarships fully funded?

The full-time scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend, a one-year Turkish language course and one-off flight support under the programme’s conditions.