The Full Scholarship is the standard funding package Sabancı University attaches to admission into its academic graduate programs in Istanbul, Türkiye. The university states that almost all students admitted to academic graduate programs receive full exemption from the annual tuition fee, and that the majority also receive a monthly stipend and a free dormitory room. Professional graduate programs are excluded from that statement.
There is no separate scholarship form. Admission and funding are decided together on academic merit: the admission jury recommends the scholarship, and the board of the relevant graduate school makes the final decision.
The award covers academic programs across the Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences and the Sabancı Graduate Business School. Doctoral holders move to a higher stipend rate once they pass the PhD qualifying exam.
Benefits & funding
- Master’s level: 100% exemption from the annual tuition fee, a stipend of 43,500 TL a month for 10 months, and a free two-person dormitory room.
- Doctorate before the qualifying exam: 100% tuition exemption, a stipend of 67,500 TL a month for 12 months, and a free single dormitory room.
- Doctorate after the qualifying exam: 100% tuition exemption, a stipend of 75,000 TL a month for 12 months, and the same accommodation.
- Transportation support of 10,000 TL for students who do not live in a dormitory — 10 months at master’s level, 12 months at doctorate level.
- Private health insurance, a laptop computer, and conference support once a year at every level.
- For scale, the university lists 2026–2027 annual tuition as 1,595,000 TL for Turkish citizens and 36,500 USD for international students.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants admitted to academic master’s and doctorate programs at the three graduate schools. Professional graduate programs are outside the university’s general full-exemption statement.
- Master’s entry requires an undergraduate degree, with no restriction on the undergraduate field.
- Doctorate entry accepts either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, except the History doctorate, which requires a master’s. Applicants entering a doctorate with a bachelor’s degree need a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.
- Final-year students may apply before graduating, provided the previous degree is completed by the enrollment date for the fall term.
- A graduate entrance exam score is required. Master’s minimums are ALES equal weight 55, GRE quantitative 149, or GAT 55; doctorate minimums are higher, and the Business School doctorate uses the GMAT with a minimum of 600 on the 10th Edition or 555 on the Focus Edition.
- English proficiency must be documented. Accepted exams include TOEFL iBT, PTE, YDS / e-YDS / YÖKDİL, CAE, CPE and e-TEP, with minimum scores set by program level. Sabancı University graduates applying within two years of graduation are exempt.
- Doctorate applicants must also document proficiency in a language other than their native language.
- No nationality or residency requirement is published. The university states that every international candidate who meets the application requirements is evaluated for a scholarship automatically.
- No age, gender or work-experience requirement is published.
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Application process
- 1Choose an academic master’s or doctorate program at the Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences or the Sabancı Graduate Business School, and read the requirements it publishes.
- 2Create an account in the graduate admission portal at https://admission.sabanciuniv.edu/?ts=new.
- 3Complete the online application and upload the official transcript, statement of purpose, CV, passport-size photo, graduate entrance exam result and English proficiency result.
- 4Ask two recommenders to email their letters directly; letters uploaded by the candidate are treated as invalid. Applications sent by email are not evaluated.
- 5Submit before the deadline published for that program. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a written exam or an interview.
- 6The admission jury recommends the scholarship on academic merit and the graduate school board confirms it, so the funding decision arrives with the admission result.
Program timeline
Early application deadline for Economics master’s and doctorate programs and the Management doctorate
Mar 27, 2026
Early application deadline for thesis master’s and doctorate programs in Engineering and Natural Sciences
Apr 6, 2026
Final application deadline for master’s and doctorate programs in Arts and Social Sciences
Jun 8, 2026
Final application deadline for the Management doctorate
Jun 12, 2026
Final application deadline for thesis master’s and doctorate programs in Engineering and Natural Sciences
Jun 15, 2026
2026-09
The published 2026–2027 scholarship rates take effect; dates for the 2027–2028 intake are not yet published