All public higher education institutions provide subsidized lunch meals for students. The source of this subsidy is the tuition fees collected from the students.

Description of Target Group(s)

In higher education a student enrolled in a public university, regardless of the program and type of study, can benefit from the support mechanisms described below. However, there are also groups enrolled in a university outside the country at the undergraduate, graduate or doctoral level who benefit from such support mechanisms. Non-Turkish citizens cannot benefit from private education support services provided by private institutions. Foreign nationals who are eligible for undergraduate education at a university in Türkiye can apply for education support through Scholarships in Türkiye, except for private initiatives, if they meet the specified conditions.

Special Support Conditions

Students are provided with various forms of financial support by public and private institutions. These are in the form of scholarships, student loans, tuition loans, tuition fee loans (contribution loans), financial support for housing and nutrition, or subsidized and cheapened services. Apart from these general supports, students have to cover other school and living expenses themselves. There is no tax exemption for students or their families.

Learning Development Support

The legal framework for these services is defined by the Law on Higher Education Credit and Dormitory Services and the Law on Scholarships for Higher Education Students. There is a General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories Agency (KYGM) established to carry out and coordinate these services. In addition, other public institutions and organizations can also provide scholarships to higher education students through this institution.

Scholarships

Scholarships are given free of charge to successful and needy students of Turkish citizens studying higher education in Türkiye and abroad in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Granting Scholarships/ Loans to Higher Education Students. The student is granted a scholarship for the duration of the normal education period of the educational institution where he/she is studying, provided that he/she continues to be a student, continues his/her education successfully and does not have any obstacles to receive a scholarship. Scholarship/loan amounts are determined in January of the relevant fiscal year. The scholarship is paid twice the standard fee determined for students studying at the undergraduate and associate degree level, three times the standard fee for students studying in master’s programs, and three times the standard fee for students studying in doctoral programs.

Pursuant to the Law on Free Boarding Education and Scholarship in Higher Education Institutions Training Teachers and Education Specialists and the Social Assistance to be Provided to them, MoNE provides scholarships to students who rank in the top 5 of their preference lists for higher education institutions that trains teachers in the relevant academic year.

Tuition Loan

It is a loan that is given during the standard education period of higher education institutions in order to give financial support to Turkish citizen students studying at home and abroad and to facilitate their social and cultural development. . starting from the second month after the end of the normal education period, students are supposed to repay the loan in monthly installments for the same period as they have received it. The remaining debts of those who die during or after their education or those who are determined by the medical board of a full-fledged hospital to have a disability of ninety percent or more are canceled. The Law on Students to be Sent to Foreign Countries covers students who are sent to universities abroad with state scholarships for postgraduate education. Secretariat procedures are carried out by the MoNE General Directorate of Higher Education and Education Abroad.

According to the law, when the education period is completed, it is mandatory to perform a certain period of compulsory service in return for the time spent abroad for postgraduate education. This can be a period of service to be spent as an academic staff at the host university or with a duty to be taken in the host institution.

Scholars to be sent abroad must first meet the requirements of a base score to be obtained from the written exam (ALES) and a certain undergraduate graduation average. At most three times the number of announced quotas, 40% of the ALES exam score, and 20% of the undergraduate graduation grade point average are taken into consideration, and candidates are invited to the oral exam according to their preferences and score superiority. As a result of the weighted average of the oral exam score and other score requirements, a ranking emerges and candidates are entitled to be sent abroad according to this ranking. The amounts paid to scholarship recipients may vary according to the local conditions of the country of study. The Communiqué on the Payments to be made to Undergraduate and Graduate Students Studying Abroad in Accordance with Law No. 1416 and the Regulation Pursuant to the Law No. 1416 and the Regulation Pursuant to this Law was updated and entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated 21.09.2023 and numbered 32316.

Financial Support (Housing and Nutrition Support)

For higher education students whose family residence is different from the location of the school where they are studying, accommodation and nutrition support are provided within quotas in dormitories affiliated with the General Directorate of Higher Education Credit and Dormitories (KYGM) and in some own dormitories of universities. 

Some private universities cover the cost of nutrition, accommodation, tuition fees and living expenses for a certain number of successful students who choose them.

Breakfast and dinner subsidies are provided to students residing in KYGM dormitories in amounts that is updated every year. In addition, the price of the meals is discounted by at least 35% of the average market price, and the quality and hygiene of the kitchen, warehouse, equipment and materials used are inspected by dieticians or dormitory managers.

Other Supports

Students who are not covered by any social security or insurance are offered free health and psychological counseling services at the Student Health Centers.

Special ID cards issued to all students provide them with discounts on public transportation, theaters, cinemas, museums and some other artistic activities.