Do I need TOEFL or IELTS to apply for English-taught programs via YTB?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
Source age note. This fact draws on founder videos dating back to December 2020. YTB updates its rules each application cycle. Cross-check the live announcement on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr before acting on specific numbers (dates, stipends, cut-offs).
Yes. To apply for a program taught 100% in English (or another foreign language like French or Arabic), you have to hold an internationally recognised language certificate — TOEFL iBT, IELTS, DELF/DALF — at the time of application.
Top English-medium institutions like METU, Boğaziçi, or Abdullah Gül University usually require a minimum TOEFL iBT score in the 75–87+ range.
If you're applying to Turkish-medium programs, you don't need an English certificate, and you don't need prior knowledge of Turkish — the scholarship includes a mandatory 1-year TÖMER prep course. See ytb-15.
Watch-outs
- Some universities only accept TOEFL iBT, not IELTS. Check the program's "Special Conditions" tab in TBBS before listing it as a choice.
- "I will take the TOEFL next month" doesn't work. The valid certificate has to be uploaded before the application window closes — not promised, uploaded.
Next step
If you don't have a valid TOEFL or IELTS score right now, restrict your 12 choices to Turkish-taught programs. Adding English-taught programs without the score is automatic rejection at those slots — wasted choices.
All sources (4)
- Zikr Founder (Baozar Zakariyyah) — YouTube: "Documents Required To Apply for Türkiye Bursları" ↗
- Zikr Founder (Baozar Zakariyyah) — YouTube: "Turkiye Burslari Application Mistakes you MUST Avoid" ↗
- Zikr Founder (Baozar Zakariyyah) — YouTube: "How to Prepare for Turkiye Burslari Fully Funded Scholarship" ↗
- YTB (Türkiye Bursları) — Scholarship Search Tool Requirements ↗
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