Overview: Scholarships at a glance

This guide breaks down the scholarship landscape at Istanbul Arel University and explains a practical, repeatable process for recruiters, admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals, and partner agencies. Whether you are advising prospective students, building recruitment funnels, or managing admissions workflows, this article provides a structured roadmap for identifying, qualifying for, and securing scholarships for international applicants — and explains how Study in Turkiye helps partners deliver better outcomes.

• Institutional scholarships: Many institutions, including Arel University, offer scholarships for international students based on academic merit, entrance exam results, or portfolio/audition performance.
• Faculty- or program-level awards: Departments may provide targeted waivers for competitive programs (business, engineering, arts, health sciences).
• Need-based and special-case support: Limited funding can be available for exceptional cases or strategic recruits.
• Exchange and partnership scholarships: Bilateral agreements and exchange programs can provide partial funding or tuition discounts.

Note: For medical and health programs, consider parallel options and timelines with institutions such as Medipol University and Istinye University when counselling candidates for health sciences.

Step-by-step process to secure scholarships at Arel University

Step 1 — Understand the scholarship types and eligibility

Know the categories and what Arel University typically evaluates:

• Merit-based scholarships: Awarded for high school GPA, national exam scores, or international qualifications. Arel considers academic performance and, where applicable, standardized exam results.
• Program-specific scholarships: Some faculties prioritise applicants with relevant portfolios or interviews.
• Entrance scholarship windows: Many awards are linked to early application or early offer acceptance.

Action for recruiters: Create a scholarship mapping spreadsheet listing eligible programs, scholarship types, minimum requirements, and deadlines.

Step 2 — Compile accurate applicant profiles

Collect and standardise applicant data for quick evaluation:

• Academic transcripts (certified and translated)
• Passport copy
• Language certificates (English/Turkish if required)
• Portfolio for creative programs

Use a checklist template to capture:

• Full name as on passport
• Date of birth and nationality
• Highest completed education and GPA
• Exam scores and intended program
• Evidence for special achievements (awards, publications, leadership)

Action for admissions teams: Standardise document naming and verification steps within your CRM or admissions platform to speed evaluation.

Step 3 — Apply and request scholarship consideration

Primary application should be submitted via Arel University’s international admissions channel. When applying:

• Include a separate scholarship application or a scholarship cover letter highlighting achievements and justification for support.
• Encourage early applications — many scholarships are limited and awarded on a rolling basis.

Action for recruiters: Bundle scholarship applications with early-decision messaging and automated reminders to applicants.

Step 4 — Follow up and prepare for interviews/assessments

Some awards involve interviews, portfolio reviews, or additional assessments. Prepare candidates with mock interviews and portfolio curation.

Action for HR/marketing: Create interview-prep resources and brief faculty evaluators on scoring rubrics.

Step 5 — Accepting the offer and managing scholarship documentation

• Review offer details: duration, renewal criteria, covered items (tuition, fees, dormitory contribution).
• Meet acceptance deadlines and submit any required forms or deposits.
• Store signed scholarship agreements and correspondence in the student file.

Action for admissions teams: Automate offer-to-acceptance workflows and generate renewal reminders based on GPA and attendance conditions.

Eligibility, documentation & evaluation criteria — practical checklist

Common eligibility criteria

• Minimum academic standing (varies by program)
• Language proficiency in English or Turkish (depending on the medium of instruction)
• Successful program application and formal offer
• For renewals: minimum GPA and compliance with university rules

Standard documentation list

• Certified high school or university transcripts (and translations)
• Passport copy
• Motivation letter or scholarship statement
• Reference letters (if requested)
• Portfolio/portfolio link (arts, design)
• Proof of extracurricular or professional achievements

Evaluation metrics used by admissions committees

• Academic merit (GPA, exam scores)
• Program fit and potential contribution to the cohort
• Leadership, extracurricular achievements, and special talents
• Interview/portfolio performance for creative programs

Scholarship types explained (what to expect)

Full and partial tuition waivers

Full tuition waivers: Typically cover tuition only — living costs are rarely included. Renewal is usually contingent on maintaining required GPA.

Partial waivers: Range from modest discounts to high-percentage reductions. Confirm renewal rules with the offering faculty.

Merit-based and entrance-based awards

Granted for academic excellence and sometimes linked to entrance exam results. Application strategy: prioritise high-achieving candidates early in recruitment cycles.

Departmental awards and targeted scholarships

Departments recruit outstanding candidates for strategic programs; these scholarships support program growth and cohort quality. For health sciences, review options at Medipol University and Istinye University in parallel.

Exchange and partner-funded support

Partnerships with foreign universities or consortia can create windows for scholarships or tuition rebates. Coordinate with international offices to maximise opportunities.

Practical tips for international recruiters and admissions teams

Build a scholarship-first recruitment funnel

• Feature scholarship opportunities prominently in lead capture materials.
• Segment leads by eligibility to tailor communication (high merit vs general applicants).
• Use automated sequences to trigger scholarship-specific emails and document reminders.

Strengthen conversion with structured support

• Offer scholarship application clinics and document review sessions.
• Provide deadline-oriented checklists and one-click upload portals.
• Train counselors to craft compelling scholarship motivation letters with applicants.

Use data to prioritise students

• Score applicants on a scholarship likelihood index (GPA, awards, program demand, interview outcome).
• Allocate recruiting resources to high-probability candidates and regions.

Integrating Study in Turkiye services

Why integration with Study in Turkiye matters

Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and partners. Working with Study in Turkiye helps universities and agencies by:

• Promoting programs and scholarships across global channels
• Providing streamlined admissions and partner management tools
• Delivering recruitment services tailored to regional markets and agent networks

How Study in Turkiye supports placements

Example: when placing candidates for Arel University or assisting with medical placements at Medipol University, Study in Turkiye offers localised counselling, admissions follow-through, and compliance tracking to improve offer acceptance and scholarship uptake.

Faculty-specific considerations and university examples

When advising students, align scholarship recommendations with the target faculty. Below are priority institutions on Study in Turkiye’s platform that frequently host competitive scholarships or strong program pipelines:

• Arel University
  Comprehensive university with multidisciplinary programs; strong for business, arts and applied sciences.
  • Business & Management — departmental awards for strong applicants
  • Creative Arts — portfolio-based scholarship consideration
• Medipol University
  Health sciences and medicine; consider its scholarship structures when advising medical candidates.
• Istinye University
  Medical and health-related programs with dedicated admissions routes.
• Beykent University
  Business, engineering and applied sciences with competitive departmental awards.
• Ozyegin University
  Strong for engineering and applied sciences; use as a benchmark for scholarship competitiveness.
• Halic University
  Applied programs with targeted faculty scholarships.
• Bilgi University
  Creative and communications programs; portfolio and interview factors are important.
• Galata University
  Creative and arts-focused programs with portfolio-based evaluation.
• Uskudar University
  Behavioural sciences and neurology-focused programs; targeted scholarships for research potential.
• Antalya Bilim University
  Regional recruitment pipelines and specialised program scholarships.
• Aydin University
  Regional and multidisciplinary programs used for benchmarking admission criteria.

Use these institutions as benchmarks when mapping scholarship competitiveness, faculty admission criteria, and recruitment materials.

Renewals, reporting and compliance — what admissions & HR need to track

Renewal conditions to monitor

• Minimum GPA for scholarship continuation
• Credit load and course completion rate
• Conduct and compliance with visa or residency requirements

Reporting obligations

• Maintain scholarship registers with start/end dates, amounts, and renewal triggers
• Provide periodic reports to finance and international offices
• Track outcomes to refine recruiting strategies and budget forecasting

Compliance with visa and residency

Ensure scholarship awards do not conflict with visa regulations or employment rules for international students. Coordinate with international student offices to support permit applications and reporting.

Sample communications — templates and timing

Examples of concise, effective messages to use in recruitment sequences:

• Initial outreach: Scholarship highlights + eligibility snapshot + clear CTA to apply.
• Document reminder: Friendly deadline reminder and checklist.
• Interview preparation: What to expect, sample questions, portfolio tips.
• Offer acceptance: Clear instructions for accepting scholarship terms and next steps.

Checklist: Quick operational checklist for recruiter and admissions teams

• Map all available scholarships for each program (include eligibility and deadlines).
• Set up an automated application and document collection process.
• Score and prioritise applicants by scholarship likelihood.
• Conduct scholarship interviews/portfolio assessments with a standard rubric.
• Issue formal scholarship offers with clear renewal criteria and deadlines.
• Track renewals and compliance in a centralised CRM.

Frequently asked questions

Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye

Study in Turkiye supports institutions, agencies and recruiters to accelerate international student recruitment, improve conversion rates, and manage scholarship workflows end-to-end. If you are recruiting for Arel University or any of the partner institutions listed above, contact Study in Turkiye to explore tailored recruitment, admissions support, and partnership opportunities.