FOR ENTRY IN THE 2015-16

ACADEMIC YEAR

FRESHERS
GUIDE

REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

FOR ENTRY IN THE 2015-16

ACADEMIC YEAR

FRESHERS
GUIDE

We are delighted
that you accepted
studying in Turkey with
Trkiye Scholarships.
This guide gives you
information about
what you need to
do before and
after you arrive
in Turkey as a Trkiye
Scholarships holder.

page 6

I. BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Signing Scholarship Agreement

Visa Procedures
Travel Planning
Travel Rules to Observe

page 10

II. AFTER YOU ARRIVE

Transfer from Airport

Communicating with Your Country
Settling into Dormitories and Registration
Enrolment to University
Documents Required for Enrolment
Enrolment to Turkish Preparation Course
Residence Permit
YU Number
Health Insurance
Bank Account
Cultural Adaptation
Orientation Programme
Important Notes

.1

Steps

.2

.3

.4

.5

1.1
Signing Scholarship Agreement
When you receive the acceptance letter for
Trkiye Scholarship, first thing to do is to visit
the nearest Embassy/Consulate of the Republic
of Turkey between the dates specified in the
acceptance letter together with the acceptance
letter sent to your electronic mail address and
with the originals of your documents (diploma,
transcript, passport, health report, language
certificate and international examination
certificates required by the university and
program you are placed to) and to sign the
scholarship agreement issued to your name.
Scholarship
agreement
includes
your
individual liabilities and requirements for
scholarship. Before signing the agreement,
you can access to the English version at the
following link and review the text. The text is
written in Turkish and English languages. It will
be signed in two copies and you will keep one
copy.

If you are in Turkey :

you can sign the commitment letter by
visiting the government office in
Mevlana Bulvar No: 145 Balgat / ANKARA

You can get a sample of the scholarship agreement at:

http://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/index.php/tr/agreement
Before signing the scholarship agreement, the officials of Embassy/
Consulate will check the originals of your documents which are:

Passport or identity

Diploma or interim certificate of

graduation
Transcript

Health report
Language certificate, if required by the
university and program you are placed to
[TOEFL, IELTS, DELF etc.]
International examination, if certificates
required by the university and program you
are placed to [SAT, GRE, GMAT etc.]

You can call the Embassy/Consulate of the Turkish Republic to find

out from which health organizations in your country you can obtain
a health report. Your health report needs to be issued by an official
health organization within the last 3 months and indicate that you are
not infected by a contagious disease or by a disease that requires
continued treatment.

consulates, photograph and visa fee if needed.

Consulates may request other documents as well.
You can consult to the nearest Embassy/Consulate
of the Republic of Turkey for the list of all required
documents. After obtaining these documents,
you can report to the Consulate department for
visa application. Student visa procedures may
take some time, therefore you are recommended
to apply for visa immediately after you receive
your acceptance letter and sign the scholarship
agreement.

1.3.
Travel Planning

1.2.
Visa Procedures

International students who wish to study in Turkey need to obtain

student visa before arriving in Turkey. Student visa can be obtained
from the nearest Consulates of the Embassies of the Republic of
Turkey. For student visa applications, required documents are a valid
passport, acceptance letter, visa application form to be obtained from
8

After obtaining your visa, prepare your documents

and pack to come to Turkey on the date that will
be notified to you. Check the communication
addresses of the university you are placed to, the
city, the dormitory and the Turkish preparation
centre as listed in the mail sent to you and keep
this information with you.
Your flight ticket for your first departure from your
country to Turkey will be provided by the Turkey
Scholarships Office from the Turkish Airlines. You
will be contacted via e-mail for the flight date that
suits you.

1.4.
Travel Rules to Observe
You are recommended to arrive at the airport
2 hours before the departure time of your
flight together with the documents required for
university registration, passport with student
visa and other documents on the date notified
to you.
You are recommended to pack a cabin luggage
taking into consideration the possibility of delay
during transit. Please find out the free of charge
luggage right granted by the concerned airline
company. Keep your fragile goods and official
documents in your hand luggage or with you
against the possibility of losing important
documents.
Online check-in will speed up the procedures
you may face at the airport. Please write your
address in Turkey clearly on your luggage. In
addition, having in each of your luggage an A4
size paper with your address written may be
useful in the event of external damage to your
luggage.

After obtaining these documents, you

can report to the Consulate department
for visa application.

You are recommended not to wear clothes with metal and not to use metal
accessories to avoid X-ray problems. You may be required to turn on your
laptop computer, if any, at control points; therefore make sure that it has
sufficient battery.

It is recommended to keep at least

100 $ with you when you come to
Turkey just for precaution. Change
some of your money in USD or Euro
to Turkish lira when you arrive at
the airport. You can change money
you will need later in the foreign
exchange offices in the province
you will stay.
Dont forget to bring clothes like
jacket, coat etc since your arrival
dates would be a season when rain
and cold start in Turkey.
See the passport control desk when you land in Turkey. After passport
control, follow the directions to find the counter where your luggage is and
get your luggage from the counter. In the event that your luggage is lost,
report to the Airport Lost and Found Office.
9

2.1.
Transfer from Airport

If you will land in Istanbul Atatrk Airport;

If you will take another flight after landing in Istanbul:

Find the Turkey Scholarship International

Students Welcome Desk after getting your
luggage. The desk is located in the customs
free area (at the exit of the passport control
point).

Make your flight using the facilities offered to transit passengers.

Provide the officers at the desk with your

personal and contact information.
You can get information from the officers
about the province you will stay and other
procedures.
If you will take a bus after landing in Istanbul:
Go to the coach station from the airport by
the vehicles provided by the meeting crew
or by yourself.
Buy the ticket of the coach company of your
province in the station.
When buying the coach ticket, please try to
arrange your arrival time before 4.30 pm.

At the airports to contact your family

after arriving in Turkey. The phone cards
are sold at the airports.

2.2.
Communicating with Your Country
You can use the payphones at the airports
to contact your family after arriving in
Turkey. The phone cards are sold at the
airports. Dont hesitate to ask the airport
personnel for more information. Please
be advised that using the sim cards of
the mobile phones you bring from your
country in Turkey would be very expensive.
When you arrive in Turkey, you can use the
phone cards sold in the PTT branches at
the airport like YURTKART, Alo PLUS CARD,
IPC, TTM and VIP CARD

2.3.
Settling into Dormitories and Registration
When you arrive in the province of your study, go to the
dormitory address as given in the Turkey Scholarship
result page. You can use city buses or taxi to go to the
dormitory. When you go to the dormitory, introduce
yourself to the officials and settle in your room as
specified in the Turkey Scholarships result document.

11

Enrol to the directorate of the dormitory which is run by

the Credits and Dormitories Agency. If you have a problem
with the dormitory or if you want to change it, please see
the dormitory directorate. You will be provided with free
accommodation within the scope of Trkiye Scholarships.
Students wishing to stay in the dormitories under the scope of
Turkey Scholarship will have a right for a leave period of 60
days subject to the permission of the dormitory administration
in any case.
Observe the entrance hour limits to the dormitories. No
accommodation assistance is provided to students who
do not want to stay in the dormitories. Please notify Trkiye
Scholarships Office about your alternative residence
addresses and related changes.

2.4.
Enrolment to University
Officials from Turkish Language Center or Trkiye Scholarships
Office will meet you at your final destination and accompany
you during the registration process. Following your registration
at your residence, Turkish Language Center and university, an
orientation programme will be held.
Go to the international student office and submit your contact
details. After completing your enrolment, obtain 4 student
certificates from the University.

12

2.4.1. Documents Required for University Enrolment

a. Original of high school diploma or interim certificate of
graduation and its Turkish translation certified by notary
public or Turkish foreign missions.
b. Original of the high school diploma equivalence certificate
obtained from the Provincial Directorates of the Ministry
of National Education of the Republic of Turkey or Turkish
foreign missions (for undergraduate students)
c. Approved transcript of the student indicating the courses,
grades and general point average and its Turkish translation
certified by notary public or Turkish foreign missions.
d. Copy of the pages of the passport with student visa showing
the identity information and expiry date and Turkish
translation, where both the copy and translation are certified
by notary public or Turkish foreign missions.
e. If any, internationally recognized foreign language certificate
and Turkish proficiency certificate certified by notary public
or Turkish foreign missions.
f. Certificate of residence (to be submitted to the relevant
registrars office to the within one month after the enrolment
date.
g. 8 photos of 4,5 x 6,0 cm (taken in the last six months from
front and allowing easy identification of the candidate)

High School Certificate of Equivalence

Undergraduate students need to obtain high school
certificate of equivalence. If there is an Education
Consultancy in your country, you can obtain the high
school certificate of equivalence before departing
to Turkey. If not, you can get it by applying to the
Provincial National Education Directorates in the
province that you will stay in Turkey. Please ask to the
officials of the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of
Turkey whether there is an Education Consultancy in
your country.
Required documents for equivalence:
Transcript or certificate education for the
last education year obtained from the
educational institution abroad
Diploma or certificate indicating that you
are entitled to obtain diploma
Passport

If you have not obtained equivalence certificate of

your high school diploma in your country, please visit
the Provincial Directorate of National Education in
Turkey. Your high school equivalence certificate will
be issued in 2 days depending on the workload.

2.5.
Enrolment to Turkish Preparatory Course
Trkiye Scholarship holders have to document command of Turkish language
(including those who will study at departments where the medium of instruction
is English). If you have a Turkish proficiency certificate in C1 degree, you can
directly start your university education.
If you dont have Turkish proficiency certificate although you speak Turkish, you
can take the Turkish preparation course exemption test and if you pass, you
can directly start university education. You can take the exemption test in the
Turkish language centre you are placed. Please follow the e-mails sent to you
with respect to Turkish exemption test.
If you dont speak Turkish, you need to register at the Turkish preparatory class
notified to you in your online page of Trkiye Scholarships.
13

We particularly recommend you to refrain

from speaking your native language in
order to ensure rapid and better learning
of Turkish. During your Turkish preparation
study, your regular attendance to the courses
and observance of the education program
offered to you would significantly increase
your success.
Before the beginning of the next academic
year after the Turkish preparation course, you
are expected to have successfully completed
your Turkish preparation education and to
start your academic education. In the end
of the academic year, you need to obtain
a certificate of achievement at C1 level and
submit it to the relevant institutions.
To accomplish Turkish education, you should
try to speak Turkish with your friends, join the
programs, and obtain information about
Turkish cultural and social life. You should start
reading books in Turkish (especially children
books would be helpful in the beginner level,
later on you can follow newspapers and
magazines) and have speaking practice by
communicating with people around you.

14

Turkish courses combine students

from various nations and offer a
unique opportunity where students
can experience different cultures. Your
adaptation process in a new country will
be shortened with your friends having
similar experiences.

2.6.
Residence Permit

Student residence permit is issued to

undergraduate, master and PhD students and
research residence permit is specifically issued to
students with research scholarship.
After completing your enrolment to the university,
please report to the foreigners branch of the
Directorate General of Migration Management
in your province with the required documents to
obtain residence permit.
Foreign students who enter Turkey with student
visa need to submit their residence permit
requests to the Directorate General of Migration
Management within 30 days after entry. Student
residence permits are issued with an expiry period
of 4 years for undergraduate students and 2 years
for master students and 4 years for PhD students.
For the students to study obligatory preparation
class, the residence permit of one year is issued
first which is extended later on in accordance with
the duration of further education.

You should try to speak Turkish

with your friends, join the programs,
and obtain information about
Turkish cultural and social life

In the event that the residence permits or passports are lost, please
immediately report to the relevant authorities to renew your documents
in 15 days. Students who change university or residence address should
notify both the new and old local security authorities about these
changes in 48 hours.
Residence permits should be extended by reporting to the local security
offices latest in 15 days after the expiry of the time period stated in the
permission document.
Required Documents for Residence Permit
Residence Permit Request Form
4 passport photos
Original of the valid passport with long term validity
Photocopy of passport (photo page, last entry page, validity
page)
Enrolment/acceptance document, student certificate from
the university or an equivalent document.
Students visa to be obtained from foreign missions
Valuable paper cost for the residence permit (50 TL for 2014).
This fee will later be deposited to your bank account together
with the scholarship amount.
Original and photocopy of the processed pages of previously
obtained residence permit, if any.
15

2.7.
Foreign ID Number /YU

2.8.
Health Insurance

Foreign ID Number is a unique number of eleven digits

issued by the General Directorate of Birth and Citizenship
Affairs to the foreigners who obtained foreigners residence
permit in Turkey for minimum three (3) months for any
purpose. With this paper you can benefit from health services
during your study, register to the examinations held by
SYM and open bank accounts. Your unique YU number
is designated after your residence permit is issued and
you can find out your YU number from the Foreign ID No
Inquiry Section at: https://tckimlik.nvi.gov.tr/yabancikimlikno/
dogumyiliveikamettezkerenosorgumodul.asx

All international students in Turkey are able to get General

Health Insurance to benefit from the equal, comprehensive and
quality health services provided by the state. Health expenses
of Trkiye Scholarship holders are covered under General
Health Insurance for the duration of scholarship. Students with
General Health Insurance can benefit from private hospitals
against contribution fees and from state hospitals free of charge
by presenting their YU number. They can get medications and
prescriptions recommended by doctors from any pharmacy
against the payment of contribution fee only. Pharmacies are
open until 19.00 in the evening and after that night pharmacies
are open.

2.9.
Bank Account
You are recommended
to request a Bankomat
card (ATM) from the
nearest Vakfbank
branch to your
residence place which
you can find out from
the cashier.

16

Your bank account that your scholarship payment will be

deposited is opened in your name by the Trkiye Scholarships
Office. Scholarships are deposited to the Vakfbank accounts in
the names of the students on the 25th of each month. When you
arrive in Turkey, please visit the nearest Vakfbank branch with
your passport and activate the account opened to your name
so that you can withdraw your money. You are recommended
to request a Bankomat card (ATM) from the nearest Vakfbank
branch to your residence place which you can find out from the
cashier. With the bank card, you can withdraw your scholarship
from all Vakfbank ATMs 7/24 and from all Vakfbank branches
during the working hours.

2.10.
Cultural Adaptation

Turkish language center or Trkiye Scholarship

Office will organize an orientation programme
for new students. We can assure you that you will
have easy communication with the Turkish people
who are famous with hospitality. Try to enjoy a new
culture and social environment during your study in
Turkey. Please remember that all students starting to
live in a different country may experience a kind of
cultural shock and dont forget that this adaptation
period will soon pass and you will feel at home in this
country.
Some level of longing is possible in the first periods
of your stay in Turkey as you are away from your
family and habitual environment and you may have
some problems to understand and express yourself
in Turkish. This short time may be exhaustive but you
can make this period enjoyable by trying to know
a new culture. Dont forget that cultural shock is
a temporary reaction to a new life which will pass
soon.The most frequent physical signs of cultural
shock are irregular sleep, head ache, stomach ache
and nervousness. Emotional signs are homesickness,

All international students in Turkey

are able to get General Health
Insurance to benefit from the equal,
comprehensive and quality health
services provided by the state

feeling of loneliness, causeless anxiety and crying, antisocial behaviour,

tendency to stay alone, loss of self-confidence, anger and hostility against
new culture. To overcome this period easily, you may do to the followings:
Try to observe and understand the behaviour, belief systems, and ways
of thinking and behaviour of the people around you.
Establish communication with people as much as possible. Dont hesitate
to share your problems with the people around you.

Try to express yourself and insist on speaking in Turkish even if people

dont understand you at first.
Dont be prejudiced against people. Avoid classifying the new ways
of thinking and living as good or bad and accept that these are only
different from your culture. Try to bring different points of views.

17

 Remain curious and open minded against the new culture. Dont hesitate
to try new things. Dont forget that you will discover many novelties in
Turkey.
Dont be afraid of making mistakes but be at peace with yourself. You will
discover a new country and inevitably have a period of inexperience. Just
accept this and make it funnier.
Establish friendship with people from different countries as many as
possible. Dont forget that friendships will be among the greatest gains of
your life in Turkey after you complete your study.
Dont shut out yourself in the dormitory. Join the events organized for you,
subscribe to student clubs and participate in sport and arts activities.
Visit the international student office in your university. Dont hesitate to
contact your advisor.
2.10.1. Orientation Programmes
Different orientation programmes are organized throughout the year to
minimize the problems that the new students will face during their study and
to facilitate their adaptation process to Turkey. The orientation programmes
organized by universities allow students to participate in various social,
cultural and sportive events, to obtain basic information about academic
programmes, to meet lecturers, campus staff and new friends. Students
participation in these events is important for them to obtain necessary
information and to establish new friendships.
18

IMPORTANT NOTES
After completing your registration at your residence, Turkish language
course and university, please open a scholarship holder account at
www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/tbbs and fill in the form.
Keep your passport or residence permit licence with you.

Inform the Turkey Scholarship Call Centre about your problems and
requests about your education and social life.
Telephone: 0850 455 0982
In addition, you can follow the current changes and announcements
by logging into the facebook (turkiyeburslari) and twitter
(@TurkiyeBurslari) accounts of Turkey Scholarships.
We would like to express that you are our guest in our country and
wish you that you will successfully complete your study benefitting
from all possibilities offered to you.

0850 455 0 982

www.turkiyescholarships.gov.tr
www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
www.trscholarships.org

facebook.com/turkiyeburslari
twitter.com/turkiyeburslari
instagram.com/turkiye_burslari