Istanbul Bilgi University scholarships for international students requirements explained

Who should read this guide

• International student recruitment officers seeking clear eligibility rules to advise applicants.
• University admissions teams and scholarship committees designing transparent processes.
• HR and marketing teams in higher education promoting scholarship opportunities.
• Placement agencies and edtech providers integrating scholarship criteria into application systems.

Overview: Types of scholarships at Bilgi University

Istanbul Bilgi University offers two primary categories of support for international undergraduate/associate students:

• Need-based scholarships — aimed at students who demonstrate financial hardship.
• Merit-based (academic achievement) scholarships — awarded for high academic performance among tuition-paying students.

Both streams have specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements and renewal conditions. Below we unpack both types in actionable detail.

Need-based scholarships — eligibility, documentation and process

Eligibility (concise)

• Open to international students enrolled in undergraduate or associate degree programs.
• Minimum cumulative GPA requirement: 2.0 (after the first year) to apply for institutional need-based aid.
• Scholarships are typically awarded for one academic year and can be renewed if conditions are met.

Required documents (ensure completeness to avoid rejection)

When advising applicants, ensure every required document is collected and uploaded. Missing items are a common cause of delayed or rejected applications.

• Certificate of identity register copy (national ID equivalent)
• Medical report (if applicable)
• Family members’ pension/retirement documents or payrolls
• Loan documents, bankruptcy papers, or death certificates (if relevant)
• A signed petition/letter explaining the reason for applying

Notes for recruiters and admissions teams:

• All form fields must be completed on the online application.
• The petition should be specific and supported by evidence (e.g., lost income, medical bills).
• Additional supporting documents may be requested by the scholarship office.

Application timing and submission

• Need-based applications are submitted online during official application windows (for example: June 03 – August 04, 2025 for the 2025–2026 academic year).
• No in-person interviews are typically required; the process is document-driven.
• Incomplete applications will be rejected until corrected — track submissions and confirmations carefully.

Renewal & monitoring

• Renewal requires the student to maintain academic success and to reapply with updated documentation each year.
• Admissions teams should set internal reminders to notify eligible students about renewal deadlines and documentation updates.

Merit-based (Academic Achievement) scholarships — criteria and benefits

Eligibility and award

• Target group: tuition-paying international students who achieve outstanding grades.
• GPA threshold: both year GPA and cumulative GPA must be over 3.75.
• Typical award: 50% reduction in tuition fee for the following academic year.
• Recipients must continue to meet academic expectations and criteria set by the Scholarship Committee to retain the award.

Implementation notes for admissions and finance teams

• Clearly publish the academic threshold and calculation method (year GPA vs cumulative GPA).
• Define appeals or re-evaluation procedures if students dispute calculations.
• Communicate tax/fee implications of partial tuition waivers to international students when relevant.

Application requirements for all international students (admissions checklist)

Standard documentation international applicants must provide

• Original high school diploma and full transcript (English or Turkish). Diplomas must be apostilled or legalized as required.
• Valid passport copy and visa/residency permit (if already in Turkiye).
• Bank receipt of tuition fee payment (where applicable).
• Certified English proficiency evidence (TOEFL, BİLGİ-BİLET, or equivalent) if available.
• Equivalency Certificate for high school diploma (where required by national regulations).
• Program-specific requirements: portfolio or interview for certain degrees (e.g., Textile and Fashion Design, Music).

Practical checklist for recruiting teams

• Verify apostille/legalization requirements for each source country in your pipeline.
• Pre-screen portfolios and advise applicants on accepted file formats and submission standards.
• Maintain a central document tracker to prevent missing uploads.

General scholarship conditions and common exceptions

What scholarships typically do not cover

• Summer school fees are generally not included in scholarship awards.
• Other incidental costs (accommodation, travel, insurance) are usually outside the scope of university scholarships unless explicitly stated.

Application assessment and committee process

Scholarship awards are governed by the Scholarship Committee; ensure you have a clear governance and documentation trail for award decisions. For merit-based awards, maintain transparent grading verification to support auditability.

Practical workflow & timelines for international recruiters and admissions teams

A recommended timeline (example for a typical academic year)

• 6–4 months before term start: Start outreach and document pre-checks for prospective applicants.
• 3 months before term start: Confirm students’ intent and collect apostilled diplomas and passports.
• Application window (example: June–August): Submit scholarship applications online; ensure completeness.
• Post-deadline (1–6 weeks): Collate responses, assist students with any document corrections, and notify scholarship recipients.
• Pre-term: Support scholarship recipients with visa/registration and tuition payment processes.

Opportunities to improve efficiency

• Use document-collection portals to eliminate manual email attachments and reduce missing documents.
• Automate deadline reminders to students and case managers to minimize incomplete submissions.
• Integrate scholarship eligibility rules into CRM lead scoring so recruiters can prioritize high-fit applicants quickly.

Tips for HR, marketing and agency partners — converting applicants into admitted scholarship recipients

Messaging and positioning

• Highlight both need-based and merit-based opportunities in marketing materials — clearly state GPA thresholds and documentation requirements to reduce inquiries.
• Use short case studies (anonymized) to show typical scholarship outcomes and renewal examples.

Process improvements

• Offer institutional workshops/webinars for applicants on preparing a scholarship petition and compiling financial documentation.
• Provide clear translation/apostille guides for the most common origin countries you recruit from.
• Maintain a pre-assessment form to qualify students before they begin the formal online application.

Why Study in Turkiye is your partner in scholarship recruitment and admissions automation

Our value proposition

As the trusted international recruitment and admissions platform in Turkiye, Study in Turkiye helps universities like Bilgi University and others to:

• Streamline international applications with document validation and automated reminders.
• Improve conversion by clarifying scholarship rules and supporting applicants through petition and documentation steps.
• Offer training and resources for placement agents, admissions officers and international student services.

How we work with institutions and agencies

We integrate scholarship eligibility checks into recruitment CRM flows so you can prioritize applicants who meet Bilgi University’s 3.75 GPA merit threshold or the 2.0 GPA need-based requirement.

We coordinate with partner universities such as Bilgi University to ensure accurate, up-to-date policy representation for agents and applicants. For clinical or medicine-focused recruitment, we coordinate alongside institutions such as Medipol University. For programs that require psychological or health evaluations, we advise partners to follow the same rigor used by universities such as Uskudar University and Ozyegin University when preparing portfolios and medical documentation.

We can also direct applicants to a complete list of partner institutions across Turkiye to explore alternatives or backup offers: All Universities in Turkiye.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Pitfall 1 — incomplete or non-apostilled diplomas

Solution: Provide a country-by-country apostille/legalization checklist and offer document legalization services or local partner recommendations.

Pitfall 2 — late submission of need-based documentation

Solution: Use deadline-triggered workflows and an escalation mechanism for high-need applicants.

Pitfall 3 — confusion between year GPA and cumulative GPA

Solution: Publish clear grade calculation examples in admissions materials and train counselors to explain difference.

Sample process checklist for agent/admissions teams (ready to adapt)

1. Pre-assess candidate’s GPA and financial need.
2. Advise on apostille/legalization and translate documents (if required).
3. Collect required documents: passport, diploma, transcript, bank receipts, petition, family income documents, medical reports (if applicable).
4. Complete online scholarship application during the official window.
5. Monitor application status, respond promptly to document requests, and confirm award notifications.
6. Assist with registration, visa documentation and tuition payment arrangement.

Read More

• Yos Test
• Why to study in Turkiye
• Admission process

Universities & programs (examples)

Frequently asked questions

Final thoughts

Understanding Bilgi University’s scholarship policies is essential for converting qualified international candidates into successful, supported students in Turkiye.

Study in Turkiye combines deep institutional knowledge, recruitment expertise and admissions workflow design to reduce administrative friction, improve compliance and increase scholarship conversion rates.

Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye

If you represent an admissions office, recruitment agency, HR or marketing team and want to:

• Automate scholarship eligibility workflows,
• Train your staff on Bilgi University’s application requirements,
• Partner to place students into Bilgi University and other partner institutions,

Contact Study in Turkiye today to discuss partnership options, integration and agent onboarding. Let’s make scholarship offers predictable, transparent and scalable for international students.