The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) grants fellowships for international highly qualified PhD students and young post-doctoral researchers to pursue their research in Türkiye.
IMPORTANT NOTE!
The programme is closed for application.
The scope of the program includes monthly stipend, travel expenses and private health insurance cost.
The Amount and Duration of the Support
A monthly stipend of 24.000 Turkish Liras for doctoral students and 32.000 Turkish Liras for youngpost-doctoral researchers
Travel costs (Tickets to reach Türkiye at the beginning of the fellowship and the return journey on completion of the fellowship)
Health insurance premiums (up to 370 TL per month).*
Maximum duration of the support is 36 months.
*In case of the decision of GYK, travel costs and health insurance for the fellow may be partially covered.
You can fill out the application form only in Turkish or English.
Documents without signature are not accepted.
- The invitation letter must be taken from the top official of a university or research institute in Türkiye. In the case of universities, the rector or the authorized vice-chancellor, the director of the public research centers in Türkiye.
Please make sure that you upload all required documents in the online application system. The application system will be open during the application period. You can make changes in your information and upload new documents before confirming your application.
Research proposal and CV must be prepared according to the template of TUBITAK. Research proposals and CVs prepared in different formats will not be accepted. For the templates, please see the “application forms”.
Please do not send us your original diplomas. TÜBİTAK will not send them back. Please send their certified copies when you start your research.
Please make sure whether you need research ethics committee approval or necessary legal permission. If your research topic required such documents, you must also send them to TÜBİTAK.
In cases where it is not mentioned in the related legislation and in the announcement of this call, the decisions of the GYK shall apply.
Being a foreign citizen,
As from the deadline of the application, having registered to a doctoral program abroad and being successful in the PhD qualifying exam or having completed his PhD,
Having an invitation letter from the universities or research institutes in Türkiye*
Certifying that they have sufficient command of language, which will be used in the proposed research,
Being 35 years old or younger as from the application deadline.
*Those receiving their doctorates from a university in Türkiye are required to receive an invitation letter from a different university than his/her university that they received their doctorates, and carry out their research with an academic advisor(s) other than their doctoral thesis advisor.
The programme is closed for application.
Application Method
All applicants must register in the Researcher Information System (ARBIS), designed and developed by TÜBİTAK. After this stage, the applications are made online via e-Bideb. within the announced dates in the call announcement. Applicants must approve their applications until 17.30 p.m. (local time) on the deadline. After closing of system it is not possible to submit any documents or change any information.
Documents uploaded to the application system must be in Turkish or English. Docuaments prepared in other languages must be accompanied by their certified Turkish or English translations.
If there are additional documents, they should be uploaded to the system from the "Additional Documents" module on the application page. There is no need to submit the paper form of the online application documents or any other documents uploaded to the system to BİDEB during the application period.
After the announcement of the support decision of those who are entitled to receive the fellowship, the originals or certified copies of the required documents stated above must be delivered to BİDEB.
Application withdrawal can be done at any stage by an original signed petition stating the year and application period for withdrawal to be sent to BİDEB.
Application Documents
It is obligatory to upload the following documents to the application system at the time of application;
The curriculum vitae, prepared in the format determined by TUBITAK,
A detailed research proposal, prepared in the format determined by TUBITAK, and signed by both applicant and his/her academic advisor(s) in Türkiye,
An invitation letter taken from the top official of a university or research institute in Türkiye,
A signed letter from the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye including his/her views about the research proposal,
Curriculum vitae and list of publications of the his/her academic advisor(s) in Türkiye,
Language certificate, *
An official student certificate taken from in the last three months before the application date indicating that the applicant is registered as a doctoral student abroad,
Doctorate diploma for young post-doctoral researchers,
Copy of the identity part of the passport,
Two reference letters taken from those other than the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye,
If necessary, the relevant Ethics Committee Certificate. **
* This certificate should indicate the language which will be used in the research proposal. It could be an international language certificate, an official document from the home university, in which the medium of instruction is the language using in the proposed research or a signed letter from the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye about the language proficiency of the applicant. It is enough the submission of a signed document state of expression for whose native language is the same as the language, which will be used in the proposed research.
**If it is not ready during the application period, it can be submitted later.
The scientific/research competence of the applicant,
Scientific and technological value of the research proposal,
The contribution of the application to the career development of the applicant, the host institution and Türkiye,
The feasibility of the proposed research.
Applications are evaluated in two stages.
Preliminary Examination
Application documents are checked during preliminary examination. Applications which do not fulfill the requirements of the application, lack of any requested documents, do not upload any document in the requested format, are not made during the application period, and are made by fax or e-mail are returned without being subjected to scientific evaluation.
Scientific Evaluation
A scientific evaluation is carried out by expert panelists/consultants based on the evaluation criteria.
Evaluation is based solely on documents uploaded to the system. For this reason, the documentation for each requirement must be uploaded to the system in clear and determined context. (Documents which only contains links of web pages will not be considered.)
The results of the evaluation are determined by GYK and submitted to the Presidency. The applications which will be supported and the amount of the support are finalized by the approval of the Presidency.
Applicants must start their research within 12 months from the date they are entitled to support. Fellowship will not be started for those who have not started their work during the determined period without a valid excuse (health, family issues, force majeure, etc.) which is acceptable by the GYK and they will lose their rights to fellowship for the relevant year and term.
Failure to start research during the determined period because of a valid excuse, the starting date of the research might be extended by the GYK decision in response to the reasoned request of the applicant.
After the arrival to Türkiye and starting the proposed research in the university or research institute, the applicant must send the following documents to BIDEB to start his/her fellowship;
1. The originals or certified copies of the documents stated in the in subparagraphs (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (k) from the documents uploaded to the system during the application,
2. Letter of commitment, arranged by TUBITAK, and signed by the applicant and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye,
3. A letter from the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye, indicating the exact starting date of the research of the applicant,
4. Bank account information of the applicant,
5. If necessary, the relevant Ethics Committee Document.
After the completion of the process, the fellowship is started.
In the case of a wish of those supported less than 12 months to extend the fellowship duration up to 12 months, it needed to apply to BİDEB with the following documents;
Reasoned request for the extension of the fellowship signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye and
Detailed research report signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye.
In case the GYK approves the request, extension is finalized with the approval of the Presidency.
Fellows are obligated to submit one progress and one final report within the specified dates based on the starting date and the duration of their fellowship. These reports must be signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye.
Liability of Reporting
The fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye must comply with universal scientific research and scientific publishing rules during the conduct of the research. In the case of a necessity, it is obligatory to obtain the Ethics Committee Approval document and the legal permission from the relevant institutions for the research to be done. In case of a violation of the above-mentioned rules, legal actions shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of AYEK and ENDEK regulations.
Fellows are obligated to submit one progress and one final report within the specified dates based on the starting date and the duration of their fellowship. These reports must be signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye. Progress reports should be sent in the 6th month following the start date of the research and final reports should be sent within 1 month following the ending date of the research. These reports are evaluated by experts in the research field.
Reports disapproved as a result of the evaluation are required to be revised within the given period. Fellowship payments will be stopped if the progress reports are delayed. Fellowship of those who do not submit progress reports within 2 months from the date of suspension or their requested reports after revision are not found sufficient, may be deducted with the GYK decision.
TUBITAK support should be indicated in publications made within the scope of the program (if any) and they must be sent to BİDEB together with progress and final reports.
In the case of a wish the change of the university or research institute in Türkiye, it is requires to apply to BİDEB with a reasoned request for the change, signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye. In case the GYK approves the request for the change, replacement is finalized. Thereupon, it needed to take an acceptance letter from the new university or research institute in which the research will be carried out.
In the case of wishing the change of the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye, it is required to apply to BİDEB with a reasoned request for the change, signed by the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye. In case the GYK approves the request for the change, reassignment is finalized. Thereupon, it is necessary to take an acceptance letter from the new academic advisor(s) in Türkiye to work together
Liability of Repayment
The fellow is obliged to report all kinds of fellowship or financial support received from another institution in Türkiye during the fellowship period to BIDEB within 15 days from the starting date of the support. If the fellow has some financial support received from another institution in Türkiye, the amount of the support within the scope of this program is separately determined by the GYK. If the fellow wishes to finish his/her research before the end of the fellowship period, the fellow and the academic advisor(s) in Türkiye must inform TUBITAK at least 15 days prior to the departure. No payment is made after the termination of the research.
The fellow has to pursue his/her research studies full-time in the university or research institute in Türkiye during the fellowship period. The fellow is obliged to inform TUBITAK about any short or long-term departures and the duration at least 10 days prior to the departure date. If the fellow leaves Türkiye for more than 15 days during the fellowship period, he/she has to obtain TÜBİTAK’s approval before the departure. Otherwise, the payment is suspended during the period of absence. The fellow has the right to use annual leave not more than 15 days. Departures shorter than 15 days shall not interrupt the payment. Departures longer than 15 days are discussed in GYK and the fellowship might be temporarily suspended or cut if it is deemed necessary. If extra payment is made, the fellow is obliged to repay this amount to TUBITAK.
If requested, suspension of the fellowship or interruption of the research is possible with the GYK’s approval. The fellowship might be canceled if the research is left or interrupted the research without informing TUBITAK.
Those receiving fellowship under this program cannot receive additional fellowship or support from other programs of TÜBİTAK. In case of violation of this rule, fellowship is canceled.
All applicants must register in the Researcher Information System (ARBIS), designed and developed by TÜBİTAK. Before submitting their application electronically via TÜBİTAK fellowship application portal, which can be reached at e-Bideb within the dates announced in the call announcement.
No, they cannot apply.
No, they cannot apply.
You should send an e-mail to arbis@tubitak.gov.trad by adding the screenshot of the page you are having trouble with.
The program application is made only online during the determined application process. Documents sent by post during the application are not accepted.
The invitation letter must be obtained from the highest authority of a university or research institution in Türkiye. For universities and research centers/institutes affiliated with universities, the highest authorized rector or vice-rector is accepted as the institute director or deputy director for research institutes.
Moreover, Since the following centers have gained a public legal personality, the institute director or deputy director is accepted as the highest authority of the said centers.
- İzmir Biyotıp ve Genom Merkezi-İBG
- ODTÜ MEMS Merkezi
- Sabancı Üniversitesi Nanoteknoloji Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi-SUNUM
- Bilkent Üniversitesi Ulusal Nanoteknoloji Araştırma Merkezi-UNAM
- Ankara Üniversitesi Deniz Hukuku Ulusal Araştırma Merkezi-DEHUKAM
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Güneş Enerjisi Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi-ODTÜ-GÜNAM
- Türk Hızlandırıcı ve Işınım Laboratuvarı-TARLA
- Türkiye Ulusal Gözlemevleri
- Ulusal Raylı Sistemler Test ve Araştırma Merkezi-URAYSİM
- Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Nanofotonik Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi-CÜNAM
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Hedefli Tedavi Teknolojileri Merkezi-HTTM
You must start your research within 12 months from the date of the acceptance letter sent to you by TÜBİTAK.
Results are announced within the date specified in the call calendar. To find out your results, you need to log in to e-bideb.tubitak.gov.tr.
The amount of support to be given to young researchers supported under the program is available on the program's website.
Travel payments and private health insurance costs to Türkiye are covered by the fellow. After the fellowship support is started, the relevant payment documents must be delivered to BİDEB. Travel and private health insurance costs are paid to the fellow within the upper limits set by TÜBITAK.
There is no retroactive payment to the fellow who had come to Türkiye by their means before the date of the award letters.
Fellowship payments are deposited to the TL account opened in the name of the fellows on the last day of each month.
TUBITAK The Department of Science Fellowships and Grant Programs
The Coordinatorship of Research and Fellowship Programs
2216 Research Fellowship Program for International Researchers
T: 0312 444 66 90
e-Mail: bideb2216@tubitak.gov.tr