Students from 110 countries seek education in Turkey

By Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA

Students from more than a hundred countries come to Turkey for studies, Diyanet Foundation, the charity arm of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate said on Thursday.

The foundation said it brings together students from 110 countries through the various programs it offers, including the religious Imam Hatip high schools, the International Theology Program and the International Student Program.

The foundation added it had given 56 million Turkish liras ($16 million) in scholarship to more than 240,000 students until now, and is currently supporting 2,140 international students.

This year, 700 out of 5,336 students who wanted to pursue education in Turkey were selected after a rigorous round of interviews. These students are enrolled in the Imam Hatip high schools and theology faculties in Istanbul, Bursa, Kayseri, Konya and Ankara provinces.

For the first time three students from Latin America arrived in Turkey. Most foreign students belong to France, Belgium, Austria, Azerbaijan, Albania and Germany.

Students enrolled in the program are given a monthly stipend. In addition, their living and medical expenses are borne by the foundation.

High school students receive a stipend of 150 Turkish liras ($43), undergrad students are given 400 Turkish liras ($114), post grad students get 800 Turkish liras ($228) and doctorate students get 1,400 Turkish liras ($398).

Students who graduate from the theology faculty work as teachers and clerics once they go back to their countries. Some stay back in Turkey to pursue further studies.

The foundation also manages ongoing educational activities in 21 schools in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Bulgaria, Somalia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Haiti and Pakistan.

It supports 8,143 students in 23 educational institutions in 13 different countries.

Reporting by Merve Yildizalp; Writing by Sena Guler