Türkiye Bursları 2027 Letter of Intent: Structure, Recommendation Letters and Checklist
In Türkiye Bursları, the "content and comprehensibility" of the letter of intent is one of the official expert-stage criteria, alongside academic standing, academic interests, career goals, consistency of preferences and social activities. Official sources state no word limit or required language for the letter, and recommendation letters are not in the "5 steps" document list, although an article on the same site mentions two; so check the 2027 form when it opens. Write the letter yourself and make it specific: why this field, why Türkiye and your plan after graduation.
In this guide
- Applications only on the official TBBS system
- Free
- Languages of the application system, including Persian and Arabic
- 8 languages
- Approximate time to fill in the form, per the TBBS login page
- 30–60 minutes
- Usual length of the interview
- 15–30 minutes
Checked on 2026-11-03 against the official Türkiye Bursları and YTB pages. The 2027 form has not opened yet and its details may change.
What is the letter of intent in the Türkiye Scholarships, and how much does it matter?
Türkiye Bursları calls this text the Letter of Intent (Niyet Mektubu in Turkish); most people call it a motivation letter or statement of purpose. According to YTB's International Students page, applications that pass the preliminary review are assessed at the expert stage on these criteria:
- Academic standing and previous qualifications
- Academic interests
- Career goals
- Consistency of preferences (the programmes and universities you choose in the form)
- Content and comprehensibility of the letter of intent
- Participation in social activities
The official evaluation process page also says applications are assessed overall on academic success, social activities and motivation for the chosen field. So the letter is one criterion among several, not the whole file; but it is the only part where you explain in your own words why you chose this field and this path.
What exactly does the Türkiye Bursları form ask for?
You apply online and free of charge on the TBBS system. According to the Application in 5 Steps page, these documents are uploaded to the system:
- A valid ID card or passport
- A photo taken within the last year
- National exam results (if any)
- Diploma or temporary graduation certificate
- Transcript
- International exam results such as GRE, GMAT or SAT, if the university or programme requires them
- An international language certificate such as TOEFL or DELF, if the university or programme requires it
- PhD only: a research proposal and a sample of previous research
The official pages say little about the letter itself. Here is what we found:
| Topic | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Role of the letter | One of the expert-stage criteria: "content/comprehensibility" |
| Word or character count | Not stated on the public pages; check the limit in the form itself |
| Language of the letter | The system works in 8 languages (Turkish, English, Arabic, Persian, French, Russian, Spanish, Bosnian); no separate language is stated for the letter |
| Recommendation letters | Not in the "5 steps" document list; mentioned in several explanatory articles on the same site (one says 2 letters) |
| Time to fill in the form | About 30–60 minutes, per the TBBS login page |
The exact questions and limits of the form are visible only after you register on TBBS. Our suggestion is to write the text outside the system first and then fit it to the form's limits.
Do you need recommendation letters for Türkiye Bursları?
The official sources are not consistent on this. The document list on the Application in 5 Steps page does not include recommendation letters, but an explanatory article on the same official site lists "Recommendation letters (2)" among the documents and advises choosing referees who know your academic ability and potential, and giving them enough time. So:
- When the 2027 form opens, check whether it has a section for recommendation letters or referees.
- If it does, ask a professor, teacher or employer who actually knows you, not someone who only has a well-known title.
- Give them several weeks and a short summary of your work and goals, so the letter is not generic.
- Do not write the letter yourself and submit it under someone else's name. According to an official article on how to apply, misrepresentation can lead to disqualification.
A suggested structure for the motivation letter
What follows is general writing advice, not an official YTB criterion. Where a part relates to one of the official criteria, we note it in brackets.
- A short, specific opening: who you are, what you have studied, and which level and field you are applying for. One or two sentences are enough.
- Academic background with evidence: a course, project, thesis or experience that shows your interest in the field. (Official criterion: academic standing and academic interests)
- Why this field and these programmes: explain how the choices in your form connect. If you chose unrelated programmes, the letter cannot hide it. (Official criterion: consistency of preferences)
- Why Türkiye: a real, specific reason, for example a particular programme or research area, or how the field connects to your country's needs. General sentences about "rich history and culture" say nothing about you.
- Plans after graduation: what you want to do and how this degree helps. (Official criterion: career goals)
- Social activities: volunteering, teamwork, sport or associations; only what you really did and can explain in the interview. (Official criterion: social activities)
- Conclusion: one or two sentences, without repeating the whole letter.
For master's and PhD applications, give parts 2 and 3 more research detail. PhD applicants also upload a separate research proposal, and it helps if the letter and the proposal are consistent.
Checklist before you submit
| Item | Done? |
|---|---|
| I explained why I chose the field with a real example | ☐ |
| The choices in the form match the goals in the letter | ☐ |
| My reason for choosing Türkiye is specific, not general | ☐ |
| My plan after graduation is clear | ☐ |
| Every activity I listed can be explained in the interview | ☐ |
| The text fits the form's word or character limit | ☐ |
| Someone else has proofread it for spelling and grammar | ☐ |
| Dates, grades and names match the uploaded documents | ☐ |
| If the form asks for recommendation letters, my referees had enough time | ☐ |
Common mistakes in the motivation letter
- Generic text that could be sent to any country: explanatory articles on the official site also stress being authentic and specific and tailoring the text to each programme.
- Copying online templates: the official sources say nothing about plagiarism checks, but a letter that is not yours shows quickly in the interview, which asks about the purpose of your application and your career goals.
- Listing achievements without explanation: one explained experience says more than ten unexplained titles.
- Inconsistency with the form: the goal in your letter does not match the programmes you chose.
- Exaggeration or false information: according to the official article on how to apply, it can lead to disqualification.
- Writing in the last days: you lose the chance to edit and reread.
What do they ask about the letter in the interview?
According to the evaluation process page, interviews are conducted by academic and expert committees and usually last 15 to 30 minutes. The general order is: welcome, document check, purpose of the application, academic knowledge and career goals, and finally the candidate's questions. Candidates who have not yet graduated bring their transcripts and certificates from previous years. Keep a copy of your letter and reread it before the interview; the "purpose of application" and "career goals" questions are exactly the topics of the letter.
What Taktik can and cannot do
- Taktik has no role in Türkiye Bursları, is not affiliated with YTB or any government body, and cannot raise anyone's chances. Applying is free and done directly on the official system. Winning this scholarship is not guaranteed for anyone.
- For dates, age and grade requirements and the stipend, see our main Türkiye Scholarships 2027 guide.
- If you are not selected, private universities in Türkiye and Northern Cyprus have their own tuition discounts; see the list on the scholarships and discounts page. Applying to these universities through Taktik is free, and the admission decision is the university's.
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Erfan Farzaneh
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Co-Founder and CEO of Taktik, based in Istanbul. At Taktik since 2019.
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