POSTGRADUATE
Funding a master’s or doctorate
Separate the academic offer from its funding. Ask what is confirmed, what remains competitive and which costs are not covered before accepting a place.
In this guide
Funding routes to compare
The categories below are a planning checklist. Their availability and eligibility differ by institution and scheme.
- University scholarships and tuition waivers, awarded on merit by the institution
- Research or teaching assistantships, which are positions with duties attached
- Project funding attached to a supervisor’s funded research
- Government and external scholarship programmes, applied for separately with their own deadlines
- Your own or your family’s funds, which is the default if none of the above lands
Clarify the legal form of an assistantship
The label “assistantship” can describe different arrangements. Ask whether the offer is employment, a scholarship with academic duties or project support, and request the written terms. Check eligibility for foreign nationals, work authorisation where required, hours, supervision, insurance, payment dates and renewal. Do not infer an employment contract or permit exemption from the title alone.
Ask the supervisor about project funds
Ask prospective supervisors or graduate coordinators whether funded projects have an announced student-support opportunity. Confirm the project’s remaining duration, selection process and covered costs. An interested supervisor does not necessarily have funding available; use a written award when finalising your budget.
Build the budget around the whole duration
Budget for the expected duration and a realistic contingency, checking the published maximum separately. Record tuition, living costs, insurance, residence procedures and travel by currency and date. Ask what happens if study or funding is extended, interrupted or ends early. Compare confirmed support with costs before relying on future employment.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
Can I work part time during a master’s?
Working as a foreign national involves authorisation separate from your student residence permit, and the rules and limits are set by the relevant authority rather than by your university. Ask the university’s international office what applies to your permit type, and do not build a budget on undocumented work.
Are postgraduate scholarships available to international students?
Some are and some are restricted, and it varies by scheme and by university. Ask each programme what its own scholarships require and whether international applicants are eligible, and check external scholarship programmes separately since they have their own deadlines, often earlier than the admission ones.
Sources & references
Use the linked source for current requirements. The dates below record when each source was checked.
- Türkiye Scholarships — full-time and graduate scholarship scope (opens in a new tab)turkiyeburslari.gov.tr ·
- Özyeğin — graduate scholarship arrangements (institutional example) (opens in a new tab)engineering.ozyegin.edu.tr ·
Plan your next step.
Bring your questions about programs, documents or settling in to a MEC Education advisor.