Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Scholarships and Support

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SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Article 1- The purpose of these regulations is to set out the procedures and principles to be followed in the educational scholarships to be granted by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture to successful students and/or students with insufficient financial means who are studying at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral level.

Definitions used in the regulations:

Foundation: Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

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

Scholarship: Non-repayable in-kind and/or cash assistance to be provided regularly every year by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture to high school, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students who are in need and/or successful.

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

Scholarship Committee: The committee that will evaluate and decide on the scholarship applications made to the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

Scholarship Holder: A student granted a scholarship by the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture

LEGAL BASIS:

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

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE:

Article 3- The Scholarship Committee consists of three persons elected 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 Committee. The Committee undertakes the receipt and preliminary evaluation of scholarship applications and establishes the necessary system within itself for this purpose.

  • The Scholarship Committee meets at the beginning of October every year. The Committee examines the scholarship applications and, in line with the budget determined by the Board of Trustees for the academic year, identifies the students to be granted scholarships from among the eligible candidates. In granting scholarships, the student’s academic grade and financial situation are taken into account, and priority is given to candidates with a high level of achievement. At this meeting the Scholarship Committee also reviews the situation of students whose scholarships are continuing.
  • The Scholarship Committee compiles its recommendations and evaluations into a report and submits it for the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation by 20 October at the latest.
  • The Scholarship Committee meets again in February in order to review the academic performance of the scholarship students and to take measures if necessary.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS AND CONDITIONS:

Article 4- Scholarship candidates will apply online through the Foundation’s website at www.iikv.org by completing the scholarship application form on the website of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture between 15 and 25 September (Depending on the circumstances, scholarship applications may not be limited to these dates). Applications made by fax or e-mail are not accepted. The application of a student who does not meet the valid eligibility conditions is not processed by the Scholarship Committee.

  • The Scholarship Committee finalises the applications by 15 October and submits them for the approval of the Board of Trustees. After approving the recommendations of the Scholarship Committee, the Board of Trustees informs the applicants who have qualified for a scholarship. The Board of Trustees determines the students who will receive scholarships by the end of October.
  • If the Board of Trustees wishes and deems it appropriate, it may decide to grant scholarships to high school, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students who meet the scholarship conditions at any point in the academic season.
  • In addition, the Foundation may grant special-topic scholarships at master’s and doctoral level in order to support studies that take our country’s national and spiritual values as their subject of research

Article 5– Minimum conditions required of scholarship candidates:

  • To be a student in an undergraduate, master’s or doctoral programme at a state or foundation university in Türkiye or abroad,
  • To be a high school student at a state or private educational institution in Türkiye or abroad,
  • For candidates continuing undergraduate or master’s education, to have a grade point average of at least 2 out of 4.0 or at least 50 out of 100,
  • Not to have received a one-semester suspension or a heavier disciplinary penalty,
  • To have no impediment to their education,
  • Not to be subject to an investigation by the judicial authorities for any offence,
  • To have no criminal record,

Article 6- For any academic year, the number of scholarship holders for that year and the scholarship amount to be paid to them are determined by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation before the start of the academic year. The monthly scholarship amount is deposited into the student’s bank account every month for a period of 9 months (October–June), starting in October.

Provided that there is no extraordinary contraction in the Foundation’s resources, that the scholarship holder continues the educational programme in which they are enrolled, and that the termination conditions set out in Article 9 do not arise, the scholarship continues until the student’s graduation without any requirement to reapply each year. Throughout this period, at the end of each academic term, the student is obliged to submit their term transcript to the Foundation’s management by post or in person. If the transcript is not delivered to the Foundation within 15 days of the announcement of the term’s final examination results, the scholarship is suspended. However, the student’s situation is reviewed every year by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which determines whether the scholarship and assistance will continue. In addition, in special cases, a scholarship in the amount determined by a decision of the Board of Trustees and in line with that decision is paid in a single instalment.

SCHOLARSHIP AND ASSISTANCE AMOUNT AND METHOD OF PAYMENT

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

  • The Foundation transfers the monthly scholarships of the selected students to the bank account opened in the student’s name, starting from October.
  • The Board of Trustees redetermines every year the number and amount of scholarships to be granted and, if necessary, the duration of the scholarship and the amount of assistance, according to the budget situation and the conditions of the day.
  • The number and amounts of scholarships and assistance, their start date, duration and payment times are determined in line with the recommendations of the contributing person or institution, if any.
  • The amount and number of scholarships and assistance to be provided from the Foundation’s resources are determined by the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.

TERMINATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP:

Article 8- The scholarship ends on the last day of the month in which the student graduates from the high school, undergraduate, master’s or doctoral programme they are attending. In addition, if it is established that any of the following conditions has arisen, the Foundation’s management may decide to terminate the scholarship immediately:

  • The student’s term grade point average falling below 2 out of 4.0 or 50 out of 100 in two consecutive terms or three times in total during the programme, without a justification acceptable to the Foundation’s management,
  • It being established that the scholarship holder has engaged in illegal activities or has links or affiliations with terrorist organisations, or a lawsuit having been filed against them for committing an infamous crime,
  • The student receiving a one-semester suspension or a heavier disciplinary penalty,
  • It being established that the student made a false declaration during the application, or it becoming apparent that they gave false information to the Foundation’s management during the scholarship period,
  • Failure to complete the programme within the normal period of study, without a justification acceptable to the Foundation’s management,
  • Changing the programme in which they are enrolled without informing the Foundation’s management,
  • Their relationship with the programme in which they are enrolled ending or being severed for any reason,
  • A significant change in the financial situation of the student that was taken into account when the scholarship was granted
  • Those who qualify for a scholarship are expected to take part in the activities of our foundation. Otherwise, the Foundation’s management reserves the right to terminate the scholarships of scholarship holders who do not attend seminars and events.

SCHOLARSHIP AND ASSISTANCE RECORDS

Article 9- The following information and documents are kept on record,

  • Scholarship and assistance applications.
  • Lists of scholarship candidates.
  • Decisions of the Board of Trustees.
  • Payment receipts.

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANCE CANNOT BE TERMINATED

Article 10- Scholarships and assistance cannot be terminated in the following cases,

  • The scholarships of the children of martyrs’ and veterans’ families are not terminated even if they receive a scholarship or loan from elsewhere.
  • If the student suspends their registration for compulsory reasons, the scholarship is temporarily suspended, and it may be restarted when the continuation of their student status is documented.

REINSTATEMENT OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANCE

Article 11- The reinstatement of scholarships and assistance is subject to the following conditions,

  • If the scholarship and assistance were terminated due to academic failure, a new application may be made once the academic failure has been remedied.
  • If the scholarship and assistance were terminated for disciplinary reasons, a new application may be made one year after the reason for termination has ceased to exist.
  • Those whose scholarships are terminated again for similar reasons may not apply again.
  • Where the Foundation’s Board of Trustees deems it appropriate, when special-condition scholarships are terminated it may re-evaluate the file and decide accordingly.

OTHER PROVISIONS:

Article 12- Other provisions relating to scholarships and assistance are as follows,

  • The Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture is free to amend all or any article of these regulations without prior notice, and to redetermine the type, duration and amount of scholarships and the conditions required of scholarship candidates.
  • The Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture is under no debt or obligation towards the students to whom it grants scholarships and has made no commitment.
  • Scholarship holders and scholarship candidates accept and declare that, upon applying to the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture for a scholarship, they have adopted all the conditions set out in these regulations.
  • If it is established that scholarship holders qualified for the scholarship with false information and documents, their scholarships will be terminated and they will be asked to repay the scholarship amount they have received from the Foundation up to that date.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANCE

Article 13- These regulations are 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 the regulations.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

Article 14- These regulations enter into force on the date of their adoption by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

EXECUTION

Article 15- The provisions of these Regulations are executed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

4–6 October 2026 · Istanbul

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