PURE (Program for Undergraduate Research) is a summer research program run by Sabancı University in Istanbul, Turkey. Undergraduates from any discipline join faculty-led projects to develop critical-thinking and research skills — framing questions, investigating problems, and turning knowledge into hands-on work. It is interdisciplinary and open to both domestic and international students, who live on the Tuzla campus for the full program and work alongside peers drawn from hundreds of universities.
Benefits & funding
- No participation fee — the program is free to attend.
- Free accommodation in the campus dormitories for all accepted students.
- Through a partnership with Türkiye Scholarships (YTB), 30 international students receive a round-trip flight ticket and a monthly stipend; eligible recipients are notified separately after acceptance.
- All other expenses (meals, local transport, personal costs) are the student’s responsibility.
- International participants must hold travel and health insurance covering their stay in Turkey.
Eligibility
- Open to currently enrolled undergraduate students of any level (including seniors) and any department; graduate students are not eligible.
- Open to both domestic and international applicants — no nationality restriction.
- Must be an active student able to provide a valid student certificate, and in good academic standing.
- Adequate English to carry out the project; no English proficiency test is required.
- Participants must reside on campus for the full 7-week duration and may not concurrently hold a summer internship or attend summer school elsewhere.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
Sign in and add your profile to check this against your nationality, residency, and studies.
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled
Not in your profile yet
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Review the requirements and project options on the official PURE site.
- 2Submit the online application during the announced window (the 2026 summer window ran 15–29 April 2026).
- 3Optionally add one reference by entering the referee’s email at the start of the application; the referee then receives a link to submit it. A reference is not mandatory.
- 4Await the selection decision; accepted students confirm participation and, if applicable, are separately notified about the Türkiye Scholarships award.
Program timeline
Applications open (summer cycle)
15 April 2026
Application deadline
29 April 2026
Program starts
6 July 2026
Program ends
20 August 2026