Sabancı University Distinguished Science & Technology Scholarship

Benefits & funding

• Full exemption from annual tuition in both phases of the PhD. For 2026–2027 the university lists annual tuition as 1,595,000 TL for Turkish citizens and 36,500 USD for international students.
• Stipend of 115,000 TL a month for 12 months before the PhD qualifying exam.
• Stipend of 135,000 TL a month for 12 months after the PhD qualifying exam.
• A free single dormitory room in both phases.
• Transportation support of 10,000 TL a month for 12 months; the faculty lists this support for students who do not live in a dormitory.
• Private health insurance and a laptop computer in both phases.
• An annual research fund of 3,000 USD once the qualifying exam is passed.
• Conference support once per year.
• Selected holders are offered co-supervision by senior scientists at prominent universities and institutions worldwide, and a joint PhD degree where possible.

Eligibility

• Open to candidates for doctorate programs in Sabancı University’s Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, which covers computer science and engineering, cyber security, data science, electronics engineering, energy technologies and management, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials science and nano engineering, mathematics, mechatronics engineering, molecular biology, genetics and bioengineering, and physics.
• The scholarship is decided by a separate evaluation from the university scholarship committee and goes to PhD candidates with exceptional credentials; the official page points to applicants to those doctorate programs and to students who have passed the qualification stage.
• Doctorate entry accepts either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. Applicants entering with a bachelor’s degree need a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.
• Graduate entrance exam minimums for bachelor’s-degree entrants: ALES numerical 80, GRE quantitative 160, or GAT 80. For master’s-degree entrants: ALES numerical 65, GRE quantitative 153, or GAT 65.
• Proficiency must be documented in a language other than the applicant’s native language. English minimums are TOEFL iBT 80, PTE 69, CAE grade B, CPE grade C, YDS / e-YDS / YÖKDİL / e-YÖKDİL 67, or e-TEP 54. Candidates without a valid score sit the university’s own ELAE exam; those who do not pass it take the English preparatory course, where scholarships do not apply.
• Applicants who studied abroad need their previous institution and course of study to be recognised by the Turkish Higher Education Council.
• No nationality, residency, age, gender or work-experience requirement is published. The university states that international graduate students have several scholarship opportunities.

Application process

1. 1
   Choose a doctorate program in the Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences and read its published requirements.
2. 2
   Create an account in the graduate admission portal at https://admission.sabanciuniv.edu/?ts=new.
3. 3
   Complete the online application and upload the official transcript, statement of purpose, CV, two letters of recommendation from faculty members, graduate entrance exam result, language proficiency result and degree documents.
4. 4
   Submit before the deadline for the intake. Applications are screened, and shortlisted candidates may be invited to a written exam, an interview, or both.
5. 5
   The admission committee decides the offer, and the scholarship committee runs its separate evaluation to select Distinguished Science & Technology scholars.

Program timeline

1. Early application deadline for thesis master’s and doctorate programs in Engineering and Natural Sciences

   Apr 6, 2026

2. Final application deadline for Engineering and Natural Sciences doctorate entry in the Fall 2026–2027 term

   Jun 15, 2026

3. 2026-09

   The published 2026–2027 scholarship terms take effect