What is scholarship cancellation and who does it affect?
For international students studying in Turkey, scholarships are not only a financial support, but also a life assurance. However, the continuity of the scholarship is not guaranteed. In certain circumstances, scholarship cancellation can occur, which can affect both the student’s education plan and their life.
Cancellation of a scholarship means that the scholarship is completely or temporarily terminated if the student does not fulfill the conditions set by the relevant institution. The most common reasons include academic failure, absenteeism, disciplinary penalties and registration freezes. These situations affect not only local students but also foreign students, especially those living on scholarships.
The Importance of Scholarships for Foreign Students
If you are a foreign student coming to Turkey to study, the scholarship you receive probably covers not only your tuition fees but also your daily needs such as accommodation, transportation, health insurance and sometimes even food. Therefore, scholarship cancellation can disrupt not only education, but life as a whole.
Differences Between Scholarship and Loan
Institutions such as the KYK provide scholarships to some students and loans to others. The scholarship is non-repayable, but the loan is repaid after graduation. If the scholarship is canceled and turned into a loan, the student will be in debt. Therefore, it is always more advantageous to keep the scholarship.
When the scholarship is terminated, it turns into a support loan in the KYK system. To understand these differences more clearly, you can take a look at our article “Comparison of Scholarship and Loan Systems in Turkey“
In what circumstances will your KYK scholarship be terminated?
Most scholarship providers in Turkey require a certain General Grade Point Average (GPA) or achievement percentage to maintain the scholarship. If this average is not met, your scholarship may be withdrawn.
- KYK (Credit and Dormitories Institution): Students who receive scholarships or student loans are expected to have a year-end grade point average of at least 2.00 out of 4.00. Students who fall below this average will lose their scholarships. While there is no success requirement for preparatory class students, those who have failed courses in their undergraduate or associate degree programs may lose their scholarships if their GPA falls below 2.00.
- TEV (Turkish Education Foundation): Undergraduate scholarships generally require at least 2.40 GPA out of 4.00. Even if you have failed courses, your scholarship can continue if your GPA meets this requirement. However, you are expected to have a GPA of 3.20 out of 4.00 for the “Outstanding Achievement Scholarship” and a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00 for graduate scholarships, as well as no failed courses.
- Turkey Scholarships: The year-end grade point average for undergraduate students must be 70%, for master’s and doctoral students 75%, and for students in the field of health sciences 90%. If these conditions are not met, the scholarship may be withdrawn.
- University Scholarships: Each university has different scholarship requirements. For example:
- METU: Generally, 2.75 GPA over 4.00 is required for the continuation of the scholarship.
- ITU: Scholarships generally require 2.50 GPA over 4.00.
- Izmir Zirve University: There is a 2.00 GPA out of 4.00 requirement for OSYM scholarships.
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University (Academic Achievement Scholarship): In addition to completing at least 50 ECTS credits annually, there is a requirement of 3.50 GPA.
- Foundation Scholarships (Ex: Yıltaş Foundation, Galatasaray Education Foundation):
- Yıltaş Foundation: For undergraduate students 2.50 out of 4.00 (or 70 out of 100) and for graduate students 3.00 out of 4.00 (or 80 out of 100) GPA is required. The scholarship status of students with failed courses from the previous year can be evaluated by the Foundation Board of Directors.
- Galatasaray Education Foundation (GEV): The scholarship is terminated if the student repeats a grade or fails a maximum of 2 courses. This is a rare and specific rule based on the number of courses.
Cancellation Criteria According to Scholarship Types
Not all scholarships have the same cancellation conditions. The most common types of scholarships in Turkey are KYK, Turkey Scholarships (YTB) and various foundation scholarships. You can clearly see these differences with the table below.
KYK Scholarship Cancellation: When does it become a loan?
The KYK scholarship turns into a loan if the student fails to maintain academic success. In other words, the scholarship is cut off and replaced by a repayable loan. This puts you under a financial burden after graduation. A grade point average below 2.00 for two consecutive semesters is sufficient for this conversion.
In addition to this, situations such as non-renewal of enrollment, failure to register for courses can also result in scholarship cancellation. In addition, situations such as the termination of the right to be a student or leaving the school cause the scholarship to be canceled completely.
What Happens After Scholarship Cancellation?
Many students only think of monetary losses when a scholarship is canceled, but the real effects go far beyond that. For foreign students studying in Turkey on a scholarship, this situation can have serious consequences on many issues ranging from housing to health insurance.
When the KYK scholarship turns into a loan, the repayment process begins. For detailed information on the amounts, payment methods and flexibility of these loans, be sure to read our guide titled “Turkey’s Student Loan Opportunities and Repayment Terms“.
Cut-off of Financial Support (Housing, Food, Fees)
When a scholarship is canceled, students usually lose their dormitory support first. Students staying in KYK dormitories lose the right to discounted or free accommodation along with the scholarship and have to pay monthly fees. These fees are about 79 USD.
Since some scholarships also provide food, transportation and book support, these supports are also immediately cut off. Tuition fee exemptions and social support for students who remain within the scope of Turkey Scholarships will also end.
Scholarships with Repayment Obligation
When KYK scholarships are canceled, the scholarship automatically turns into a repayable loan. This means that you will owe the government money on a set schedule after graduation. Every year, thousands of students face debts of up to 10,000 USD after graduation.
Turkey Scholarships or foundation grants do not require a refund, but may make it difficult to reapply. Some scholarship providers do not reinstate a scholarship once it has been canceled.
How to Avoid Scholarship Cancellation
The question to ask at this point is: “How do I prevent scholarship cancellation?” Fortunately, prevention is much easier than trying to fix the problem afterwards.
Success Tracking and Advisor Communication
Check your transcript at the end of each semester. If your GPA is at a critical level, contact your advisors and ask for academic support. This communication is especially valuable in the Turkey Scholarships system because the counselor’s opinion can also be taken into consideration during scholarship renewal periods.
Volunteer Participation and Academic Support
Taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the university, such as free language support, volunteer clubs and summer schools, not only improves your grades, but also makes you an “active and engaged” student in the eyes of scholarship providers.
Following Documents and Rules on Time
Most scholarships require new documents every year. Transcript, student certificate, attendance report… You need to submit these in full and on time. Especially in foundation scholarships, scholarship cancellation is usually due to lack of documentation. A systematic approach to such issues makes a big difference.
Can Scholarship Cancellation be Reversed?
You had a bad semester, your grades dropped or you missed a deadline. Is it all over? No! Sometimes scholarship cancellation is not permanent and there is a chance of a reversal.
If you want to voluntarily cancel your scholarship application or appeal the cancellation of the scholarship, the process is done through e-Government. Some universities have published detailed guides on this subject; for example, you can take a look at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University’s frequently asked questions.
For Detailed Information About the University: Hatay Mustafa Kemal University
Re-evaluation and Appeal Rights
In some scholarship programs, especially publicly funded models such as the Turkey Scholarships, you have the right to appeal. This is usually done through a formal petition and may require academic advisor approval.
If the failure is due to a single course or you have a valid health/family reason, you can submit these documents to request a reconsideration of your scholarship.
Re-application on Grounds of Registration Freeze
Although freezing your enrollment can sometimes result in scholarship cancellation, most institutions can reinstate you for the next semester if they find your reason for freezing your enrollment reasonable. For example, if you have suspended your enrollment due to illness, family obligations or natural disasters, you can exercise these rights.
But remember, your request for a return must be official and documented. Individual appeals by e-mail are often ignored.