Overview: what recruiters and admissions teams need to know

Istanbul Gelişim University scholarships for international students in English present a major opportunity for international recruitment teams, university admissions staff, HR and marketing professionals, and placement agencies. These awards — from partial (50%–75%) waivers to full tuition coverage — are structured to attract high-achieving international candidates to English-medium programs and to support a diverse intake across disciplines.

Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and institutional partners. We help convert scholarship opportunities into measurable recruitment outcomes through data-driven campaigns, streamlined admissions workflows and targeted support for agents and admissions teams.

• Scholarship coverage: Mostly tuition-fee support ranging from partial to full tuition depending on award type and student performance.
• Primary basis for awards: Academic achievement, performance on foreign student exams (IGÜYÖS / YÖS), diploma type (e.g., International Baccalaureate), and national ranking.
• Program language: Many undergraduate and graduate programs are offered entirely in English; accepted English certificates apply.
• Validity and conditions: Typically valid for the standard program duration and may be revoked for academic failure, prolonged absenteeism, disciplinary issues, or program extensions beyond the standard length.

Learn more about the university: Istanbul Gelişim University

Key scholarship types and eligibility

Merit and YÖS (IGÜYÖS) Scholarships

Coverage: 50%–75% tuition fee waivers for top-performing candidates.
Eligibility: Performance-based — candidates ranking highly in IGÜYÖS standings typically qualify. High-achieving high‑school graduates and holders of international diplomas may be eligible for full support if they maintain required GPA thresholds (for example, general score average ≥ 2.72 after the first year).
Recruiter action: Promote IGÜYÖS preparation resources and highlight the financial benefits of high YÖS performance in marketing assets.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Support Scholarship

Coverage: Tuition scholarships vary by IB score.
Eligibility: IB diploma holders with competitive scores (typically 35–45) are eligible for tuition support.
Recruiter action: Target IB school networks and counsellors, and include clear IB-to-scholarship thresholds in program materials.

Preference Scholarship

Coverage: Potential non-refundable scholarship up to full tuition; level depends on program.
Eligibility: Applicants who list Istanbul Gelişim University among their top five choices during the national placement process (ÖSYM) and who are placed at IGU.
Recruiter action: Educate applicants on the strategic importance of ranking IGU in their top five and provide step-by-step guidance for the placement process.

Achievement (Board of Trustees) Scholarship

Coverage: Monthly achievement stipends (paid for 9 months annually); validity up to 4 years for undergraduate students.
Eligibility: Determined by national ranking thresholds (top 10, top 100, top 500, top 1,000).
Recruiter action: Use national-exam ranking data as a recruitment hook in markets where centralized exams determine placement.

Programs in English and language requirements

Many degree programs at Istanbul Gelişim University are offered in English — from humanities and social sciences to business and selected technical fields. Example programs include English Language and Literature and a range of business and social science degrees that may be available with scholarship opportunities in certain intake cycles.

Language requirements: Applicants to English-medium programs must typically provide one of the accepted certificates (TOEFL, YDS, PTE Academic, or equivalent). Admissions teams should maintain an up-to-date list of accepted tests, minimum scores and exemptions (for example, prior education in English) and make that information visible on all international-facing pages.

Recruiter tip: Cross-promote English-medium scholarship offers with EU and English-speaking country applicant pools and align messaging with partner institutions to broaden reach.

Application process — step-by-step checklist for applicants and teams

1. Start the online application

   Applicants submit through the university’s online portal. Recruiters should supply direct application links and pre-filled guidance where possible.

2. Required documents (standard set)
   • High school diploma and certified Turkish translation
   • IGÜYÖS / YÖS exam results or other accepted entrance exam scores
   • English proficiency certificate for English-medium programs
   • Notarized passport copy and student visa (if already issued)
   • Residence permit (if already in Turkiye), a recent photo, and proof of tuition payment (if applicable)
3. Scholarship-specific documents
   • IB diploma (for IB Support Scholarship)
   • National exam ranking documentation (for Achievement Scholarships)
   • ÖSYM placement confirmation (for Preference Scholarship)
4. Internal review and interview

   Admissions team reviews documents; some scholarships may require additional assessments or interviews.

5. Award notification and acceptance

   Issue clear, dated award letters that specify percentage coverage, duration and conditions.

Operational checklist for admissions teams

• Standardise document checklists and scholarship eligibility forms.
• Use automated reminders for missing documents and deadlines (general automation processes).
• Maintain an easily accessible FAQ for applicants on scholarship conditions, renewal requirements and appeals.

Selection criteria, conditions and maintenance requirements

Scholarships are awarded primarily on objective academic metrics and exam performance. Administrative conditions commonly include:

• Minimum semester GPA requirements to retain the scholarship.
• Attendance and course completion expectations.
• No disciplinary sanctions or infractions.
• Most scholarships cover tuition fees only — accommodation, living costs, books and transportation are usually not included.

Recruiter note: Communicate maintenance requirements early. Students often lose awards due to misunderstandings about continuation conditions. Consider including a one‑page “Scholarship Maintenance Agreement” with the award letter.

Practical recruitment strategies for international teams and agencies

1. Target high-value markets with segmented messaging

Use IB cohorts, national exam achievers and YÖS-prep groups as primary targets. Tailor messaging to each segment (for example, highlight IB scholarships to IB schools and counsellors).

2. Create scholarship-focused landing pages and lead magnets

Use testimonial stories of past recipients and clear step-by-step application guides. Ensure landing pages are indexed and optimised for keywords such as “scholarships in Turkiye” and “Istanbul Gelişim University scholarships for international students in English”.

3. Integrate admissions automation

Implement CRM sequences triggered by application milestones (document upload, exam score submission, interview scheduling). Use chat support to handle common scholarship queries outside office hours and automate conditional offer letters that dynamically include scholarship percentage, expiry dates and renewal terms.

4. Build partnerships with local agents and high schools

Train agents on eligibility criteria and application timelines. Offer co-branded webinars or virtual open days highlighting English programs and scholarship pathways.

5. Measure and optimise

Track KPIs: application-to-offer conversion, scholarship acceptance rate, yield rate for scholarship recipients and time-to-enrolment. Run A/B tests on scholarship messaging to determine what converts best in each market.

Operational playbook: sample email template for qualified applicants

Collaborations and benchmarking across Study in Turkiye partners

Study in Turkiye supports institutional partners in scaling scholarship-driven recruitment. When evaluating scholarship strategies, consider benchmarking with partner universities that have robust international offers and English programmes. Examples include:

• Medipol University — connect scholarship messaging to clinical and health sciences recruitment.
• Uskudar University — align scholarships with psychology and neuroscience-related English programs.
• Istinye University — broad undergraduate recruitment strategies.
• Ozyegin University and Bilgi University — for business, technology and design audiences.
• Beykent University — for broad-based undergraduate recruitment approaches.

List pages and program details for partner institutions are available for comparative analysis via Study in Turkiye university pages linked above.

Important considerations and FAQs

Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye

Ready to convert scholarship opportunities into reliable international enrolments? Study in Turkiye can help you build scholarship landing pages, set up CRM automations, train agents and admissions teams, and run targeted campaigns to IB, YÖS and national‑exam achievers.