This scholarship stands out from many other scholarships because it not only provides financial support but also arranges your university department placement for you, offers accommodation, a monthly stipend, health insurance and even a flight ticket to and from Turkey.

This is why, for students from Bangladesh and around the world, this is a highly competitive opportunity.

Samia Afrose Sruty, an awardee herself, explains, “I think it is pretty difficult because every year from Bangladesh they take a maximum of 60/70 students all together in undergrad, post-grad and PhD.”

Samia secured this scholarship and is now studying Environmental Engineering at Ondokuz Mayıs University.

The application process

Samia first learned about Türkiye Bursları when she was “basically searching for scholarships that cover everything for undergraduate students” and discovered that a senior from her college had won it too.

For the application process, she advised starting early because, as she stated, “One very important thing to do is start early. They give us a month to apply, and I think we should use most of it. I have seen people applying overnight, and because of that, they couldn’t present themselves perfectly.”

While the process may vary, Samia mentioned that for her undergraduate application, she mainly faced two stages. In stage one, she completed the online form with personal, academic and extracurricular information.

She uploaded her transcripts along with a relevant Statement of Purpose and at least two recommendation letters. There are options for academic tests like SAT or YOS. For programmes taught in English, you must submit TOEFL, and IELTS is not accepted.

In stage two, you will sit for a written test and an in-person interview conducted at the Turkish Embassy in Bangladesh, if you qualify from the first stage.

As Samia explains, “Viva is very unpredictable. You have to be prepared for any type of questions. They would go from academic to personal goals.” Her advice was to practice with sample questions and prepare confidently.

Extracurricular activities (ECAs) and preparation

For any competitive scholarship, ECAs play a significant role in standing out. Samia emphasises that “extracurricular involvement is something that makes you stand out.

It is very important that the candidates are involved in relevant extracurricular activities.” We asked Samia to share her significant extracurricular activities with us and she said, “In my case, I had been very involved in the olympiad.

I was a gold medallist in IMDO AND USMDO. I was also involved in other club activities and research work.” These, combined with her academic strength, helped her reinforce her application significantly and created a perfect candidate profile.

One of the biggest pulls of this scholarship is the support it offers to students once they arrive in Turkey. Samia says, “The authorities will assign you to a dorm in your allocated city and send the flight ticket. They will also come and receive the awardee from the airport.”

In Turkey, undergraduates are generally required to stay in university dormitories. This provides a structured living environment while you settle into academic life. Samia notes that part-time job opportunities vary by city, so experiences differ for students depending on where they are placed.

When we asked her about her major and university placement, she reflected realistically. She says, “Did I get my most desired one? The answer is no, but I somewhat got my preferred one.” In her interview, the panel changed her major to Environmental Engineering after discussing her background and goals. And she believes that they read her right.

Looking ahead, Samia says she is focused on lab work and academic curriculum, aiming for strong performance throughout her degree.

Advice for future applicants

Samia gave many thoughtful tips for those who are preparing to apply. On SOPs and recommendation letters, Samia advised, “SOP should reflect specific growth, alignment of passion, and a clear future plan. Avoid generic writing, make it personal and aligned with your goals.” Secondly, on preparation, “Break the application down into steps: gathering academic documents, writing a solid SOP and collecting strong recommendation letters.” Her final piece of advice: “I would suggest focusing on the SOP and choosing your university and major wisely. Best of luck.”

Samia’s journey is an inspiring example of how careful preparation, genuine motivation, and confidence in your own profile can help you succeed in a competitive global scholarship like Türkiye Bursları.

This article is written in partnership with Abroadmates, the all-in-one mentorship platform for study abroad.

To know more about the Türkiye Bursları Scholarship, book a session at https://surl.li/lvfclj