Don’t Panic If The Scholarship Rejection Came, Follow These First Steps
Many students face the same situation, and often it can be due to a systemic flaw or a small error in the documentation. First step: plan, not panic.
Review Your Documents, Maybe There’s Another Chance
Some scholarship programs may open additional quotas or invite new applicants to replace students who have submitted incomplete documents. So try contacting the institution you applied to again. Maybe they will give you an opportunity to complete any missing documents.
Understanding the grounds for rejection is critical for new applications
If you are not satisfied with a scholarship rejection letter that simply says “you are not accepted”, ask for clarification. If the reason for rejection is academic average, language proficiency or some other technical reason, you can update your next applications accordingly. Some students even get scholarships the following semester because they prepare the right way.
Affordable University Options: Private or Government?
If you have been refused a scholarship, this does not mean that you cannot study in Turkey. In fact, some universities, especially state institutions, are quite accessible in terms of fees.
Tuition Fees at State Universities
Turkey’s public universities can also charge foreign students in USD rather than Turkish Lira. Here are a few examples:
These prices can vary according to departments such as faculty of education, engineering or medicine. But compared to Europe or the US, it is quite reasonable.
Payment Plans and Scholarship Admissions at Foundation Universities
Private (foundation) universities are generally more expensive but offer many scholarship opportunities. Some universities offer merit scholarships ranging from 25% to 100%. These scholarships can also be applied for online after the deadline.
In addition, thanks to the foundation universities that offer installment payment options, it is possible to divide the payment into 8-12 months. This makes it still possible to study after “scholarship refusal”.
Meeting Education Costs with Part-Time Work in Turkey
If you have been denied a scholarship and do not receive a full scholarship, an alternative solution may be to work. Turkey offers part-time jobs for international students, albeit limited. In other words, it is possible to study and partially cover living expenses.
How Long Is The Legal Working Time And Which Areas Have Jobs?
Foreign students, especially at undergraduate level, can apply for a legal work permit at the end of their first year. You are allowed to work a maximum of 24 hours per week. You can find the most jobs in: cafes, restaurants, call centers, translation services and tutoring.
Thanks to these jobs, many students are able to practice and earn between 250-500 USD per month.
How Student Residence Permit and Right to Work Progresses?
In order to obtain a work permit, you must have a valid student residence permit. If you want to get detailed information about this process, I suggest you take a look here: Part-time Work Permit in Turkey: Conditions and Application Process
Also, remember that your work must be registered with the SSI (social security) system. Otherwise, legal problems may arise and this may interfere with education.
Up-to-date information on legal working time and student work permits can be found on the Department of Migration Management website.
Smart Ways to Reduce Housing Expenses
The cost of living in Turkey varies from city to city, but the biggest item is usually accommodation. If you have received a scholarship rejection, you should take careful steps in this area, which affects your budget the most.
KYK Dormitories or Shared Houses?
State dormitories, i.e. KYK dormitories, vary between 60-80 USD per month. These dormitories are both safe and cheap, but their quotas are limited. If you cannot find a place, you can consider the shared house option. Especially around the university, apartments shared with 2-3 people rent for around 100-150 USD per person.
Some students use platforms such as Airbnb to arrange temporary accommodation for the first few months and then turn to longer-term solutions.
The Effect of Accommodation on Residence Permit
In order to obtain a residence permit in Turkey, you need to have an official accommodation address. Students staying in hotels, hostels or temporary houses sometimes have problems with this.
If you are curious about the details, you can get information here: Acceptable Accommodation Options for Residence Permit in Turkey
Non-University Scholarships and Association Support
You don’t have to rely only on official scholarships. Many foundations, associations and NGOs in Turkey offer scholarships for foreign students. These opportunities are often not well known, but with the right research you can apply for one.
Which NGOs Support Foreign Students?
- Turkey Religious Foundation
- Ensar Foundation
- Federation of International Student Associations (UDEF)
- IHH and similar aid organizations
These institutions can usually offer scholarships of 50-200 USD per month. Some provide only housing or food scholarships, while others provide direct cash aid.
What are the Application Requirements? What kind of documents are required?
The following documents are usually requested:
- Passport photocopy
- Residence permit
- Student certificate
- Letter of intent (motivational letter)
- Transcript
Applications can be submitted via email or in person. Application calendars may vary each year, but most recruit in the September-October period. Therefore, it is useful to check frequently.
Is it possible to get an education loan in Turkey?
If you have been refused a scholarship and have no other resources, education loans may be the last option. In Turkey, banks do not lend directly to foreign students, but in some cases it is possible through a guarantor or sponsor.
Bank Loan Options for Foreign Students
Large banks such as Kuwait Turk, Ziraat Bank and Türkiye İş Bankası can provide education loans to students who will be staying in Turkey for a long period of time on the condition that they have a guarantor. Interest rates on these loans are around 1.5-2% and monthly payments can be 100-200 USD.
But beware: For these loans, a person with a fixed income residing in Turkey must be a guarantor.
Alternative Methods for Financing Education
Some students try to finance their education by crowdfunding through online platforms (such as GoFundMe, Scholarships.com). In addition, installment payment plans offered by universities can also be a solution in the short term.
Legal Support and Protection of Rights after Scholarship Refusal
“I didn’t get a scholarship, I don’t have any rights anymore” is not true. Turkey is a party to many international agreements and is obliged to protect the fundamental rights of foreign students.
What Do Country-Recognized International Agreements Say?
Turkey is a signatory to many documents, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the UNESCO Convention on Non-Discrimination in Education. This means that your right to education cannot be arbitrarily denied.
If there is a practice that prevents you from studying after a scholarship refusal, there are legal mechanisms you can apply to. Especially for long-term residence or work permit applications, you can appeal if the grounds for rejection are unlawful.
Where Can You Get Legal Support?
Many universities have established legal offices that offer free counseling to foreign students. The “foreigners’ law” sections of bar associations also provide support.
Are You Ready for a New Beginning?
You may have been denied a scholarship and not received a full scholarship. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dream of education. Turkey is still waiting for you. With low-cost education options, alternative scholarships and part-time work, there are other paths ahead.
Your Education Dream Didn’t End, It Just Changed Direction
Dreams sometimes come true through small routes. Don’t forget the big picture: This is just a transitional period. Now is the time to act.