Is IELTS Required for Turkey Burslari Scholarship? The 2027 Answer

No, the Türkiye Bursları (Türkiye Scholarships) programme itself does not require IELTS. Its official document list asks for a language test result only "if required by the chosen university or program", so whether you need IELTS depends on the programmes you pick, not on the scholarship.

There are two exceptions to know about: English-taught programmes may ask you for an accepted English certificate, and the separate Merit Scholarship sets IELTS minimums. And every scholar without advanced Turkish spends a year learning Turkish first. Here is what the official pages said when we read them on 27 October 2026.

What the official document list says

The Application in 5 Steps page lists the documents every candidate uploads to the online system (TBBS): an ID card or passport, a recent photo, your diploma or temporary certificate, your transcript, and national exam results if you have them. It then lists two items that are conditional:

• international exam results such as the GRE, GMAT or SAT "if required by the chosen university or program", and
• international language test results such as TOEFL or DELF "if required by the chosen university or program".

PhD applicants also upload a research proposal and a sample of their research. IELTS is not named on the page at all. So if none of your chosen programmes asks for an English test, you can apply without one.

When you do need an English test

Most programmes in Türkiye are taught in Turkish, but some universities offer programmes in English or other languages. For those, the same official page says students "must be able to provide an internationally accepted language proficiency certificate", meaning TOEFL or an equivalent "if university officially stated acceptable". The page doesn't say whether this is needed at the application stage or after placement, so check the programme's language rule while choosing your programmes in the application system, which shows each programme's language of instruction.

In practice:

• Turkish-taught programme: no English test is needed for the scholarship. You learn Turkish in your first year.
• English-taught programme: expect the university to ask for an accepted English certificate. Whether it takes IELTS, or a letter saying your degree was taught in English, is the university's decision; none of the Türkiye Bursları pages we read mentioned such letters. Our article on scholarships without IELTS explains how MOI letters work elsewhere.

The Merit Scholarship asks for IELTS

Türkiye Bursları also runs a Merit Scholarship, which pays twice the normal monthly stipend. Its programme page lists language scores for it:

So IELTS matters only if you are aiming for the Merit Scholarship, or your English-taught programme asks for it.

Do you have to learn Turkish?

Yes, unless you already hold a C1 Turkish certificate. The Turkish education FAQ says scholars take Turkish preparatory courses in their first year whatever their language of study: 960 hours of Turkish and 140 hours of Academic Turkish. Students placed in English, Arabic or French-medium departments also complete the one-year Turkish preparatory programme. You finish it by getting a C1 Turkish certificate. Missing more than 20 hours of class in a month cuts the stipend by 25%, and failing to reach the required level by the end of the second year cancels the scholarship.

Holders of a C1 certificate from the Yunus Emre Institute or a university Turkish teaching centre are exempt. The Turkish year adds a year to your time in Türkiye, so plan the whole stay around it.

Is there an English test in the selection?

Not a separate one. The evaluation and selection page says undergraduate candidates take a 60-minute, 30-question test in maths, geometry and logic before the interview, with questions in Turkish and English. Candidates for health sciences, science and engineering are expected to show enough English to follow and answer the questions. Shortlisted candidates then have an interview of about 15 to 30 minutes.

Other questions Pakistani applicants ask

What are the age limits and marks? The criteria page gives under 21 for bachelor's, under 30 for master's and under 35 for PhD, with at least 70% for undergraduate, 75% for graduate and 90% for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.

How much is the stipend? The programme page lists 6,500 Turkish lira a month for undergraduates, 9,500 for master's and 13,000 for PhD, alongside tuition, accommodation, health insurance, the Turkish course and a flight at the start and end of your studies.

When is the deadline? The application calendar says the general application period runs from 10 January to 20 February each year. Confirm the 2027 dates on the calendar when it opens.

Does it cost anything? The official pages say applications are made free of charge through TBBS. Never pay an agent to apply for you.

Your next step

Shortlist your programmes with our Türkiye Bursları page and note each one's language of instruction. If any is taught in English, check that university's English requirement now, and book an English test only if it asks for one or you want the Merit Scholarship. Our IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo guide and the Study in Türkiye guide help with the rest. The official Türkiye Scholarships pages are the final word on every rule.