Applications for the European Union Scholarships Project are now open from 15 September to 1 November 2025, offering financial support and opportunities in social cohesion and employability to undergraduate, graduate, 2-year post-secondary vocational students and associate degree across Türkiye, including those are Turkish citizens as well as under temporary and international protection.
The EU Scholarships Project, implemented by the Representation of ICMPD in Türkiye in collaboration with Ankara University, Hasan Kalyoncu University, and Marmara Municipalities Union, provides both stipends and tuition reimbursements to students. It is estimated to reach out to over 2,500 students this year. Beyond financial aid, the project supports beneficiaries with activities designed to strengthen social cohesion and enhance employability skills. Since its launch, the EU Scholarships have had a tangible impact on students’ academic journeys and prospects. In 2023 and 2024, the programme reached 1,756 students across 23 provinces of Türkiye, awarding a total of 2,645 scholarships. To date, 189 beneficiaries have successfully graduated from higher education, while continuing students maintain strong academic performance with an average GPA above 2.5, meeting the scholarship’s success criteria.
Monitoring results and student testimonies reveal the programme’s wider influence:
- "The scholarship eased our financial burdens, allowing us to concentrate on studies, stay motivated, and develop vital soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership."
- "It also indirectly supported our employability. Having the EU Scholarship on our CV, combined with coaching and mentoring, gave us clearer career direction and recognition among institutions working in EU and migration fields."
These reflections underline the dual value of the programme: immediate financial support that ensures educational continuity, and broader contributions to students’ confidence, skills, and career orientation.
In the months prior to the call between June and September, the EU Scholarships Project conducted various activities across its three components. A comprehensive outreach campaign was launched along with the new term, including the planning for the university orientation days, visits to international offices, online information meetings, and collaboration with municipalities, NGOs, and community leaders. In August, the Peer Guide Volunteer Programme was introduced, enabling experienced scholarship recipients to actively support new applicants while fostering peer-to-peer engagement and community building.
Students also benefited from educational and skills-development initiatives. Summer language clubs covered topics such as job interviews, hobbies, and technology. Also, an online B1 English course at Ankara University Turkish and Foreign Languages Application and Research Center (TÖMER) engaged 23 students, with 17 successfully receiving certificates. A full-day Project Management and Artificial Intelligence Training attracted 57 participants, and the “Belonging in the City: Student Orientation & Discovery Walk,” in Istanbul provided an intercultural learning experience.
During this period, surveys were conducted to assess beneficiaries’ access to internships and employment. Findings showed that while scholarships help reduce financial stress and indirectly improve employability, there is a clear demand among students for more structured internship opportunities and stronger links to the labour market.
Building on these insights, the ongoing application process aims to address such needs by ensuring sustained guidance and support for prospective beneficiaries.
- Applications will remain open until 1 November 2025, supported by continued outreach and counselling.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old and not older than 35 by the application deadline. Additionally, to apply for the scholarship, students must have a GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, or 65 and above on a 100-point scale.
- The successful candidates will be contacted in late November and early December when the results of the applications will be publicly announced.
- Payments to successful beneficiaries are scheduled to begin in December 2025.
- For undergraduate students, the scholarship provides an annual allowance of €360, or alternatively, a maximum university fee contribution of €500. Graduate students receive an annual allowance of €540, or the same maximum university fee contribution of €500. These payments are made in two instalments each semester, following verification of the student's enrolment and continued academic performance.
- Academic counsellors based in universities will provide application guidance and psychosocial support, particularly in provinces with a high number of potential applicants such as Şanlıurfa, Bursa, Mersin, Mardin Karabük.
- Further activities are also planned, including the Urban Encounters Youth Meet-Up on 1 October 2025 and the Career Craft Training for winners of the Attracting Young Talent Contest in November.
For more information about the European Union Scholarships and to apply, please visit: www.euburs.org
For detailed inquiries, contact: euburs@icmpd.org
