TWAS-TÜBİTAK Postgraduate Fellowship Programme

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and TWAS have established a sandwich fellowship programme for foreign scholars from developing countries in the South who wish to pursue part of their research toward a PhD in a field of the natural and related applied sciences, in departments and laboratories of public and private universities of Türkiye  (Turkey) and TÜBİTAK Research Centers and Institutes.

Opening date of this fellowship call   : 1 October 2024

Closing date of this fellowship call     : 16 December 2024

Programme Details

• Information on the application, evaluation and implementation of the Fellowship is detailed in the “2216B TUBITAK TWAS_2024 Call for Applications” document that can be downloaded below or at the link https://tubitak.gov.tr/en/scholarships/postgraduate/international-scholarships/2216b-tubitak-twas-postgraduate-and-postdoctoral-fellowship-programmes
• Applications to the Fellowship must be submitted online only via the TÜBİTAK online application system through TYBS that is accessible HERE. However, before accessing the online application form via TYBS, candidates must first create a profile on the platform of the TÜBİTAK Researcher Information System (ARBİS) that is available at https://arbis.tubitak.gov.tr
• The Fellowships are tenable at the departments and laboratories of public and private universities in Türkiye for a minimum period of 6 months to a maximum period of 12 months.
• Eligible fields under the programme are the following:

a. Agricultural Sciences
b. Structural, Cell. & Molecular Biology
c. Biological Systems & Organisms
d. Medical & Health Sciences, including Neurosciences
e. Chemical Sciences
f. Engineering Sciences
g. Astronomy, Space & Earth Science
h. Mathematical Sciences
i. Physics
j. Computing and Information Technology.

• To help candidates in their choice of a suitable host institution, a list of public and private universities in Türkiye is available at https://www.yok.gov.tr/universiteler/universitelerimiz (in English: https://www.yok.gov.tr/en )
• In addition, TÜBİTAK Research Centers and Institutes’ names and links are available from the following links:
• TÜBİTAK MAM, https://mam.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, https://bilgem.tubitak.gov.tr/en/frontpage
• TÜBİTAK UZAY, https://uzay.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK SAGE, https://www.sage.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK RUTE, https://rute.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK UME, https://www.ume.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE, https://tusside.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK TBAE, https://tbae.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM, https://ulakbim.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK National Observatory, https://tug.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• TÜBİTAK BUTAL, https://butal.tubitak.gov.tr/en
• The Fellowship is offered for a sandwich research visit to PhD students from developing countries who are registered for a PhD in their home country or another developing country (other than Türkiye). Candidates must have passed the PhD qualifying exam or be in an advanced stage of their PhD. In this regard, they will have to submit a letter from their PhD thesis advisor which confirms that s/he is fully engaged in the research laboratory work for their Ph.D. thesis.
• TWAS will be responsible for providing travel support to Türkiye and from Türkiye to researchers’ home / living country and will also cover visa related expenses.
• TÜBİTAK will be responsible for a monthly allowance to cover accommodation and living expenses and medical facilities for minor ailments as available in Türkiye at amounts to be specified by TÜBİTAK.
• The study fees, including tuitions, registration and research costs, should be waived or covered by the host institutes.
• The language of instruction is English.

Eligibility

Applicants for these Fellowships must meet the following criteria:

• Be permanent residents and nationals of a developing country in the South (https://twas.org/developing-countries-south).
• Candidates from Science and Technology Lagging countries (STLC) and women are especially encouraged to apply. For the list of STLC, please see https://twas.org/66-countries.
  NB. Developing countries that are not in the list are also eligible to apply.
• Must not hold any visa for temporary or permanent residency in Türkiye or any developed country;
• Applicants already onsite in the host country (Türkiye) are not eligible to apply for this fellowship;
• Hold a master’s or equivalent degree in natural and related applied sciences (in one of the  fields specified above);
• Be a maximum age of 35 years on 31 December of the application year;
• By the deadline date of the application, having registered to a doctoral in natural and related applied sciences (in the fields specified in the call text), in a higher education institution in the home country or another developing country. S/he must have successfully passed the PhD qualifying exam or be in an advanced stage of their PhD research in natural and related applied sciences (in the fields specified in the call text). Applicants must certify this criterion with an official Registration & No Objection Certificate (see sample that can be downloaded below or from TÜBİTAK’s website link above). This document must be issued within three months before the application date, and it should also mention briefly the timeline and research work planned;
• Provide an official Acceptance Letter (see sample that can be downloaded below or from TÜBİTAK’s website) from an eligible department, institution or laboratory of a public or private university in Türkiye or TÜBİTAK Research Centers and Institutes.
• NB. Requests for acceptance must be directed to the chosen host institution(s) in Türkiye, and NOT to TÜBİTAK. Without preliminary acceptance, the application will not be considered for selection. The acceptance letter must be signed by the highest authority of the chosen host institute. The highest authority of the host institution is in the case of universities, the rector or the authorized vice-chancellor, and the director in the case of the public research centers in Türkiye.
  The maximum number of academic advisors in Türkiye can be 2 (two).
• Provide the Research proposal form  prepared in the format determined by TÜBİTAK (see sample that can be downloaded below or from TÜBİTAK’s website);
• Provide evidence of proficiency in English. If medium of education was not English: provide evidence of English knowledge, i.e. test results of national or international exams,  or a University-issued letter certifying the knowledge of the language. If medium of education was English, please write a brief statement indicating what type of education was in English, e.g. high school, BSc or MSc degrees, this statement must be signed and dated by the applicant. Please note that reference letters are not accepted as way of proving English competence.
• Not take up other assignments during the period of her/his fellowship;
• Be financially responsible for any accompanying family members;
• Not have previously received or been awarded a fellowship under this programme;
• Must return to her/his home country on completion of the fellowship.

Submitting the application

• The call for applications is open until 16 December 2024.
• For full details on the application process, evaluation and implementation of the Fellowship, please refer to the “2216B TUBITAK TWAS_2024 Call for Applications” document that can be downloaded below or at the link https://tubitak.gov.tr/en/scholarships/postgraduate/international-scholarships/2216b-tubitak-twas-postgraduate-and-postdoctoral-fellowship-programmes
• ALL applications to the Fellowship must be submitted online only via the TÜBİTAK online application system that is available through TYBS HERE.
• IMPORTANT: To be able to submit the online application form to TÜBİTAK via TYBS, candidates must first create a profile on the platform of the TÜBİTAK Researcher Information System (ARBİS) that is available at https://arbis.tubitak.gov.tr
• The information of the researchers and the academic advisors in Türkiye must be up-to-date in the Researcher Information System (ARBIS) before applying online via TYBS.
• Applicants must be aware that TÜBİTAK and TWAS will not accept applications submitted by any other means except via the online application form.
• No applications will be accepted after the deadline. Therefore, it is recommended to submit your electronic application as early as possible.
• Queries concerning the submission of applications via the online portal of TÜBİTAK should be directed to bidebtwas@tubitak.gov.tr
• Candidates may apply for only one programme per calendar year in the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution in that year under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes. One exception: The head of an institution who invites an external scholar to share his/her expertise under the TWAS Visiting Professor programmes may still apply for another programme.

CONTACT DETAILS

TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP campus, Strada Costiera 11
34151 Trieste, Italy
Tel:      +39 040 2240 687
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

TÜBİTAK - BİDEB (The Department of Science Fellowships and Grant Programmes) 
The Coordinatorship of Research and Fellowship Programmes
2216-B TUBITAK-TWAS Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programmes
Tel: +90 0312 444 66 90
E-mail: bidebtwas@tubitak.gov.tr