Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Requirements, fees and dates change and can differ by university, embassy or consulate. Always confirm the current rules with the official source before you apply — we do this for every student we work with.
If your Türkiye Scholarships application is shortlisted, you will face two more steps before the final decision: a written test (for undergraduate candidates) and a 15–30 minute interview with a committee of academics and experts. In Afghanistan, where the number of applicants is high, the official website says the test may have 80 to 100 questions. This guide explains each stage of the selection process using the programme's own description, and shows how Afghan applicants can prepare for the test and the interview.
The five stages of selection
Türkiye Scholarships describes its evaluation in five stages. Applicants are judged on academic success, social activities and motivation related to the chosen field.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Preliminary assessment | Applications are checked for minimum grades, age limits and required documents. |
| 2. Expert evaluation | An expert committee reviews academic record, qualifications, career goals and social activities, and decides who is invited to interview. |
| 3. Test | Shortlisted undergraduate candidates take a written quantitative test before the interview. |
| 4. Interview | A committee of academics and experts interviews each candidate for about 15–30 minutes. |
| 5. Final assessment and placement | A selection committee reviews the interview results and creates the list of scholarship recipients. |
Stages 1 and 2 are decided by what you submitted online, which is why a careful application matters as much as the interview. Our Türkiye Scholarships application guide covers that part.
Minimum requirements before you prepare
The official criteria set these minimums. If you do not meet them, your application stops at stage 1.
| Level | Maximum age | Minimum academic average |
|---|---|---|
| Associate and bachelor's | Under 21 | 70% |
| Master's | Under 30 | 75% |
| PhD | Under 35 | 75% |
| Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy | (level age limit applies) | 90% |
The written test
According to the official website:
- Undergraduate candidates take a 30-question quantitative test in 60 minutes before the interview.
- Questions cover mathematics, geometry and logic. Some are given in Turkish and English, and science-based applicants are expected to read English well enough to understand them.
- Applicants in health sciences, science and engineering take the test, and social sciences applicants are also tested and compared within their own field.
- In countries with many applicants, such as Afghanistan and Sudan, the exam may have 80 to 100 questions.
How to prepare
- Revise grade 10–12 mathematics and geometry: equations, functions, ratios and percentages, triangles, circles and areas.
- Practise logic questions: number sequences, patterns and simple reasoning puzzles. The preparation for TR-YÖS overlaps heavily with this test.
- Train for speed: in the standard format you have two minutes per question; in a longer exam you will have less.
- Learn mathematical terms in English (and ideally Turkish), so translation does not cost you time.
The interview
The official description gives the structure of the interview, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes:
- Welcome
- Document check
- The purpose of your application
- Your academic knowledge and career goals
- Closing, with time for your questions
You must bring all documents and certificates of the latest education you completed. Bring the originals, a set of copies and your identity document.
Questions to practise
The programme does not publish an interview question list. Based on the official structure, these are the kinds of questions Afghan applicants should be ready to answer clearly, in their own words:
- Why do you want to study in Türkiye, and why this field?
- Why did you choose these universities and programmes?
- Explain a subject from your last year of study that you found interesting. (Expect follow-up questions on it.)
- What do you want to do after graduating? How will this degree help?
- What have you done outside class: volunteering, teaching, competitions, sport, community work?
- How will you manage the Turkish language year and living far from your family?
- How will you use what you learn to help your community or Afghanistan?
- Do you have any questions for us?
How to answer well
- Be specific. "I want to be a civil engineer because my district needs safe schools and bridges" is stronger than "I like engineering".
- Connect your story. Your grades, activities, chosen field and career goal should fit together, as they do in your application.
- Know your own application. Interviewers may ask about anything you wrote in the online form or motivation letter. Re-read it the night before.
- Show academic depth. If you chose medicine, be ready to discuss biology and chemistry; for engineering, mathematics and physics.
- Be honest. If you do not know an answer, say so calmly and explain how you would find out. Never exaggerate achievements you cannot document.
- Ask a real question at the end, for example about research opportunities or the Turkish language programme.
Day-of checklist
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Passport or identity document | Identification |
| Original diploma and transcripts of your latest education | Required by the official guidance |
| Copies of every document | Committees may keep or check copies |
| Certificates for activities, awards and languages | Evidence for what you claimed online |
| Invitation details, pen, calculator only if permitted | Practical needs |
Arrive early, dress neatly, and keep in mind that the test and interview are often on the same day.
Mistakes that cost scholarships
- Memorised speeches that do not answer the question asked.
- Contradicting your application, for example naming a different career goal from the one in your motivation letter.
- Forgetting documents that the committee asked you to bring.
- Ignoring the test, assuming the interview is all that matters.
- Paying anyone who promises a guaranteed scholarship. Applying is free, and selection is made only by the programme's committees.
What if you are not selected?
Selection is competitive, and many strong Afghan applicants are not chosen in a given year. Do not let the scholarship be your only plan. Apply directly to universities in the same year, consider programmes with lower fees or merit discounts, and reapply next cycle if you are still within the age limit. See our Türkiye scholarships page and tuition fees guide for other options.
How we help
We review your application before you submit it, help you build a motivation letter that matches your record, run practice interviews and practice tests, and prepare a parallel university application plan so that you are not left without options. If you are also preparing for a visa appointment, our guide to student visa interview questions uses the same preparation method. Contact us in Jalalabad to book a practice interview.
Questions students ask
How long is the Türkiye Scholarships interview?
The official Türkiye Scholarships website says interviews usually last 15 to 30 minutes and are held by committees of academics and experts, on the same day as the written test, in morning or afternoon sessions.
Is there a written test for Türkiye Scholarships in Afghanistan?
Yes, for shortlisted undergraduate candidates. The standard test is 30 quantitative questions in 60 minutes covering mathematics, geometry and logic, but the official website notes that in countries with many applicants, such as Afghanistan and Sudan, exams may have 80 to 100 questions.
What should I bring to the Türkiye Scholarships interview?
The official guidance asks candidates to bring all the documents and certificates of the latest education they have completed. Bring originals, copies and your passport or identity document.
What do the interviewers assess?
According to the official process, the interview covers a document check, the purpose of your application, your academic knowledge and your career goals, and ends with your own questions. Overall, applicants are judged on academic success, social activities and motivation for their chosen field.
Can a consultancy guarantee a Türkiye Scholarships place?
No. Türkiye Scholarships is free to apply for and selection is made by the programme's own committees. Anyone who promises a scholarship in exchange for money is not telling the truth.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the team at Noory Educational Consultancy Services, an education consultancy in Jalalabad established in 2018 and led by Fatihullah Noory (Founder & CEO). We check time-sensitive facts against official sources and update our guides when the rules change.