Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Scholarships and Support

SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Article 1- The purpose of these regulations is to establish the procedures and principles to be observed in educational scholarships awarded by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture to successful students and/or students with insufficient financial means pursuing undergraduate, master's, and doctoral studies.

Definitions used in these regulations:

Foundation: Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Board of Trustees :Board of Trustees of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Scholarship: Regular annual non-repayable in-kind and/or monetary assistance provided by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture to needy and/or successful high school, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students.

Scholarship Budget: The total scholarship amount determined each year by the Foundation's Board of Trustees

Scholarship Commission: The commission that evaluates and concludes scholarship applications submitted to the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Scholarship Recipient: A student awarded a scholarship by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

LEGAL BASIS:

Article 2- These regulations have been prepared on the basis of subparagraph (e) of Article 3 of the Charter of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMISSION:

Article 3- The Scholarship Commission consists of three persons selected by the Board of Trustees of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture, at least two of whom are members of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may appoint an external member to the Scholarship Commission. The Commission is responsible for accepting and conducting the preliminary evaluation of scholarship applications, and establishes the necessary system for this purpose.

  • The Scholarship Commission meets at the beginning of October each year. The Commission reviews scholarship applications and, in accordance with the budget determined by the Board of Trustees for the academic year, selects the students to receive scholarships from among suitable candidates. In awarding scholarships, students' grades and financial circumstances are taken into consideration, with priority given to candidates with higher academic achievement. At this meeting, the Scholarship Commission also reviews the circumstances of students whose scholarships are ongoing.
  • The Scholarship Commission prepares its recommendations and evaluations in a report and submits it for approval by the Foundation's Board of Trustees no later than October 20.
  • The Scholarship Commission meets again in February to review the academic performance of scholarship recipients and take measures if necessary.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Article 4- Scholarship candidates shall complete the scholarship application form on the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture website and apply online at www.iikv.org between September 15 and 25 (Depending on circumstances, scholarship applications may not be limited to these dates). Applications submitted by fax or email will not be accepted. Applications from students who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be processed by the Scholarship Commission.

  • The Scholarship Commission concludes its review of applications by October 15 and submits them for approval by the Board of Trustees. Once the Board of Trustees has approved the Scholarship Commission's recommendations, it informs applicants who have qualified to receive a scholarship. The Board of Trustees determines the students to receive scholarships by the end of October.
  • If it so wishes and deems appropriate, the Board of Trustees may decide to award scholarships to high school, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students who meet the scholarship requirements at any time during the academic year.
  • In addition, the Foundation may award scholarships for specific subjects to support master's and doctoral research focusing on our country's national and spiritual values.

Article 5– Minimum requirements for scholarship candidates:

  • Be a student enrolled in an undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program at a state or foundation university in Türkiye or abroad,
  • Be a high school student at a state or private educational institution in Türkiye or abroad,
  • For candidates pursuing undergraduate or master's studies, have a grade point average of at least 2.0 out of 4.0 or 50 out of 100,
  • Not have received a suspension of one semester or a more severe disciplinary penalty,
  • Have no impediment to continuing their education,
  • Not be under investigation by judicial authorities for any offense,
  •  Have no criminal record,

Article 6- For each academic year, the number of scholarship recipients and the amount of scholarships to be awarded are determined by the Foundation's Board of Trustees before the start of that academic year. Monthly scholarship payments are deposited into the student's bank account for 9 months (October–June), beginning in October.

Unless the Foundation's resources undergo an extraordinary reduction, and provided that the scholarship recipient continues in the academic program in which they are enrolled and none of the termination conditions set out in Article 9 arise, the scholarship continues until the student's graduation without requiring a new application each year. Throughout this period, the student must submit their term grade report to the Foundation administration by post or in person at the end of each academic term. If the grade report is not received by the Foundation within 15 days of the announcement of the term's final examination results, the scholarship will be suspended. However, the student's circumstances are reviewed each year by the Foundation's Board of Trustees, which determines whether the scholarship and assistance will continue. In addition, in special circumstances, a scholarship may be paid as a single lump sum, in an amount determined in accordance with the Board of Trustees' decision.

SCHOLARSHIP AND ASSISTANCE AMOUNTS AND METHOD OF PAYMENT

Article 7- The scholarship amount and method of payment are set out below.

  • The Foundation transfers the monthly scholarships of selected students to bank accounts opened in their names, beginning in October.
  • The Board of Trustees determines anew each year the number and amount of scholarships and, if necessary, their duration and the amount of assistance, in accordance with the budget and prevailing conditions.
  • The number and amount of scholarships and assistance, their commencement date and duration, and payment dates are determined in line with the recommendations, if any, of the contributing person or institution.
  • The amount and number of scholarships and assistance to be provided from the Foundation's resources are determined by the Foundation's Board of Trustees.

TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS:

Article 8- The scholarship ends on the last day of the month in which the student graduates from their high school, undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program. In addition, if any of the following conditions are found to have arisen, the Foundation administration may decide to terminate the scholarship immediately:

  • Without a justification acceptable to the Foundation administration, the student's term grade point average falls below 2 out of 4.0 or 50 out of 100 for two consecutive terms or a total of three times during the programme,
  • The scholarship recipient is found to have engaged in illegal activities or to be affiliated or associated with terrorist organisations, and a lawsuit has been filed against them for committing a crime involving moral turpitude,
  • The student receives a suspension of one semester or a more severe disciplinary penalty,
  • It is determined that the student made a false statement when applying, or it is discovered that they provided false information to the Foundation administration during the scholarship period,
  • Without a justification acceptable to the Foundation administration, the student is unable to complete the programme within the normal period of study,
  • The student changes the programme in which they are enrolled without informing the Foundation administration,
  • For any reason, the student's association with the programme in which they are enrolled ends or is terminated,
  • A significant change occurs in the student's financial circumstances that were taken into consideration when awarding the scholarship
  • Those entitled to receive a scholarship are expected to participate in our Foundation's activities. Otherwise, the Foundation administration reserves the right to terminate the scholarships of recipients who do not participate in seminars and events.

SCHOLARSHIP AND AID RECORDS

Article 9- The following information and documents shall be kept on record:

  • Scholarship and aid applications.
  • Lists of scholarship candidates.
  • Board of Trustees decisions.
  • Payment receipts.

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID MAY NOT BE TERMINATED

Article 10- Scholarships and aid may not be terminated in the following circumstances:

  • The scholarships of children from the families of martyrs and veterans shall not be terminated, even if they receive scholarships or loans from elsewhere.
  • If the student freezes their enrolment for compelling reasons, the scholarship shall be suspended temporarily and may be resumed once the continuation of their student status has been documented.

REINSTATEMENT OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID

Article 11- Reinstatement of scholarships and aid is subject to the following conditions:

  • If the scholarship or aid was terminated due to academic failure, a new application may be submitted once the academic failure has been remedied.
  • If the scholarship or aid was terminated for disciplinary reasons, a new application may be submitted one year after the reason for termination has ceased to exist.
  • Those whose scholarships are terminated again on similar grounds may not apply again.
  • Where the Foundation's Board of Trustees deems it appropriate, it may decide on special-condition scholarships after reassessing the case on the basis of the file once they have been terminated.

OTHER PROVISIONS:

Article 12- Other provisions relating to scholarships and aid are as follows:

  • The Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture is free to amend this regulation in its entirety or any of its articles without prior notice, and to redetermine the type, duration and amount of scholarships, as well as the requirements for scholarship candidates.
  • The Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture has no debt or obligation towards the students to whom it awards scholarships and has made no undertaking to them.
  • When scholarship recipients and candidates apply to the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture for a scholarship, they acknowledge and declare that they accept all the conditions set forth in this regulation.
  • If it is determined that scholarship recipients qualified for a scholarship by providing false information or documents, their scholarships shall be terminated and they shall be asked to repay the amount of scholarship they have received from the Foundation up to that date.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID

Article 13- This regulation shall be implemented by the Board of Trustees of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture. The Board of Trustees of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture is authorised to decide on matters not specified in this regulation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

Article 14- This regulation shall enter into force on the date it is adopted by the Foundation's Board of Trustees.

ENFORCEMENT

Article 15- The provisions of this Regulation shall be enforced by the Foundation's Board of Trustees.