Turkiye Burslari (Turkey Scholarship)

I received an e-mail confirming my acceptance to the Turkiye Burslari or Turkey Scholarship for graduate studies on June 29 2:00+AM. The best pre-Ramadhan gift ever! And the reaction of normal people: EXTREME HAPPINESS EVER! Who wouldn’t be happy when you know you’re one of the select few plus the fact that they received 24,000++ applications for graduate studies this year! Just to be given this rare chance to get international education is enough to drive me crazily happy. Here’s a picture of my acceptance e-mail. :)

The e-mail that changed my entire life. :)

Like all government scholarships for international students, Turkiye Burslari aims to deepen the bilateral relations between Turkey and the scholars’ country. And to accomplish this, the scholars have to return to their country after their graduate program. This is why during interviews they ask the applicant’s plan after graduation. I was so happy that I so love reading everything. Prior to my d-day, I come across a file that mentioned of the criteria for selection. So during the phone interview, I was able to state my plan of returning to Philippines and conduct a wildlife research in my province and if possible teach at the state university where I earned my Bachelor’s degree. Cultural exchange is another exciting aspect of this scholarship because they invite foreign students coming from different countries.

This is a full scholarship so everything is free: air ticket to Turkey, accommodation, Turkish language proficiency classes for eight months, free tuition, public health insurance and of course, monthly allowance of 450 USD for graduate students. So technically, what is required from the scholars is good academic standing.

Here’s basic information about the scholarship.

How to apply?

The application is online and free. You can visit their site at www.turkiyeburslari.org. You will have to attach everything (i.e. diploma, TOR, passport, and certificates) in their online application system. They will send a confirmation e-mail that your application has been submitted to the e-mail address you provided in their system. They will send you updates to your e-mail and possibly an invitation for interview. In my case, I never received an invitation for interview however the scholarship team called me after two months and had an impromptu interview that lasted only for 6 minutes and 33 seconds! Imagine my surprise! The scholarship will be open for application next year somewhere in March 2014 for graduate level. So keep posted! By the way, in the application, you have to answer several essay questions. 

Criteria for Selection

The selection of candidates is carried out according to academic achievement and inter­view performance. Türkiye Scholarships is a program based on academic success of the candidates. Academıc criteria of the applicants will be measured according to these documents:

• Diploma Grade

• General Average Grades Received Until The Last Term (*)

• University Entrance Exam Grade (if any)

• High School Graduation Exam / Baccalaureate Grade (if any)

• International Test Score (if any)

• Other academic assessment score

(*) cumulative GPA

Candidates must have at least

• For vocational school applications 70 %

• For Undergraduate applications 70 %

• For Master’s and Ph.D. 75 %

• For Medicine 90 %

Candidates among those who completed the application fully will be invited to interview according to their academic success. Interview information will be delivered by e-mails and online application system. Inter­views will be held face to face or via communication tools in the countries without Turk­ish Consulates or Embassies.

Evaluation

The selection of candidates is carried out according to academic achievement and interview performance. In calculating the academic success, Academic Criteria Table given above is taken into consideration as a criterion. During the interviews, the applicants will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• The coherence between candidate’s academic background and program preferences,

• The extent of awareness regarding the importance for his/her country and for his/her career path, of getting an education in Türkiye,

• A significant interest for social and cultural activities,

• A clear vision about promoting relations between Türkiye and his/her own country.

Candidates are required to provide the original copies of the documents they submitted during the application process at the time of the interview.

I will post another blog entry about TURKEY! But for the meantime, I have to start learning their language. J