Sabancı University Opens PURE Summer Research Program 2026 with YTB-Backed Scholarships for International Students
ISTANBUL — Applications for the PURE Summer Research Program 2026 at Sabancı University opened on 14 April, with thirty international participants set to receive a scholarship package co-funded by Türkiye Scholarships (YTB) that covers airfare, accommodation, and a monthly stipend. The window closes on 28 April 2026, leaving prospective applicants a narrow two-week runway.
A Research Gateway into Türkiye
The PURE program — short for Projects for Undergraduate Research Experience — is Sabancı University’s structured summer research initiative. International students apply directly to faculty-led research projects listed on the PURE website and, by doing so, are automatically entered into consideration for the Türkiye Scholarships (YTB) award.
No separate scholarship application is required. The dual-track design is deliberate: it allows the university to recruit the strongest research candidates while giving YTB the discretion to identify who among those accepted will receive financial backing.
What the YTB Scholarship Covers?
Among all internationally accepted PURE participants, YTB selects 30 students for an enhanced package that includes a monthly stipend of 13,000 Turkish lira, a round-trip international flight ticket, and access to curated social and cultural activities across Türkiye. All accepted international students — regardless of YTB selection — receive free on-campus accommodation in shared dormitories at Sabancı University’s Tuzla campus on the Asian side of Istanbul. There is no application fee at any stage of the process.
Students not selected for the Türkiye Scholarships (YTB) award may still attend the PURE summer research program at their own expense. In that scenario, Sabancı provides an official acceptance letter and dormitory access but does not cover visa or travel costs. Given the current exchange rate environment, the 13,000 TL stipend carries meaningful practical value inside Türkiye, even if its international purchasing power remains modest.
Program Reputation and University Standing
Sabancı University consistently ranks among Türkiye’s top three research universities and has built an internationally recognized profile across engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences. The PURE program has attracted applicants from across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America in previous cycles, functioning as an entry point not only into Turkish academic culture but also into a university that places notable emphasis on interdisciplinary research.
For undergraduate researchers seeking their first formal research experience outside their home country, the combination of a supervised project, funded accommodation, and — for the YTB awardees — a stipend and flight, represents a structured, low-risk pathway.
Who Should Apply?
The PURE Summer Research Program 2026 is designed primarily for undergraduate students, though the program’s structure can also accommodate early-stage postgraduate researchers depending on the specific project. There are no published nationality restrictions — the YTB scholarship framework is open to international students broadly, consistent with Türkiye Scholarships’ global mandate.
Applicants should review the available research projects on the PURE website before applying, as acceptance is project-specific. Alignment between a candidate’s academic background and the supervising faculty member’s work will be the decisive factor in selection.
Deadline and Key Dates
Applications opened on 14 April 2026 at 16:00 local time and will close on 28 April 2026. Candidates must create an account on the PURE platform to submit. Sabancı University has noted that dates are subject to change and advises applicants to monitor official announcements. Given the compressed timeline, students with an interest in summer research in Türkiye — particularly those targeting the YTB scholarship — should prioritise project selection immediately.
The PURE Summer Research Program sits within a broader ecosystem of Türkiye Scholarships initiatives that have, over the past decade, positioned Türkiye as a serious competitor in the international student recruitment market. For applicants from the Global South in particular, the combination of funded accommodation, a living stipend, and airfare through the YTB award makes the PURE program one of the more accessible summer research opportunities of its kind in the region