TCA Study Abroad Scholarships for American Students of Minority and Heritage Communities

The Turkish Coalition of America provides up to 100 scholarships per year for students of the following backgrounds:

• African American
• Armenian American
• Bosnian American
• Filipino American
• Hispanic American
• Macedonian American
• Native American

These scholarships are awarded to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in good standing who have been accepted to a language program or university study abroad program in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), or Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Applicants should also be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.

Eligible students will receive between $500 and $2,000 to use toward the cost of studying abroad. Scholarships will be awarded for programs lasting for the summer, one semester, or an academic year, as well as for university/college sponsored study tours and programs spent studying the country's language.

As American minority students are largely underrepresented in study abroad programs, these scholarships are designed to expand study abroad opportunities for such students and foster a greater understanding about diversity in America as well as the perspectives, challenges, and opportunities of different American minorities. Additionally, the Armenian American, Bosnian American, and Macedonian American Communities have strong historical and cultural ties with Turkey, and TCA offers scholarships to students from these heritage communities in order to explore these links and facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding between these communities and Turkey. This is in line with TCA's mission to establish cross-cultural bridges between Turks and young Americans of various backgrounds.

As of February 2016, 469 students from minority and heritage communities have received scholarships from TCA to study abroad in Turkey.

For more information about TCA's scholarship program, contact scholarships@tc-america.org. 

Brochures to help publicize the scholarship program are available upon request.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please send your completed application to the Turkish Coalition of America office in Washington, DC. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications MUST include:

• COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM WITH PICTURE
  [Please click here for the application form.]
• DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING ACCEPTANCE into a study abroad program in Turkey, the TRNC, or Bosnia and Herzegovina. A copy of your acceptance letter from the school or organization with whom you will study with in Turkey is preferred.
• RESUME Must be submitted on one single-sided 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.
• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT Must be original. Transcripts may NOT be sent separately.

Please MAIL complete applications to:

Attn: Scholarships
The Turkish Coalition of America
1510 H St, NW Ste 900
Washington, DC 20005

This scholarship program is administered by the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA). Scholarship recipients are selected by TCA and will receive their scholarships prior to departure to Turkey, TRNC, or Bosnia and Herzegovina for the program to which they have applied.

TCA is not responsible for placing students at universities in Turkey, TRNC, or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Please note that TCA is not responsible for finding housing, internships, or other forms of financing for any student who is awarded a scholarship under this program.

Undergraduates or graduate students who fulfill the following criteria may apply:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Of African, Armenian, Bosnian, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, Macedonian, or Native American descent
• Enrolled full-time and in good standing at an accredited U.S. college or university
• Accepted into a language program or study abroad program at a university in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Willing to share your experiences in Turkey with your peers and the TCA community – especially via TCA's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TurkishCoalitionofAmerica

1. What is TCA?

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) is an educational, charitable organization established in Washington, DC to educate the general public about Turkey and Turkish Americans; to engage and cultivate a new generation of young Turkish American leaders; to promote and advance the interests of the Turkish American community and Turks; and to foster friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Turkey.

2. Can graduate students apply?

TCA scholarships are offered to full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents of African American, Bosnian American, Filipino American, Hispanic American, Macedonian American, or Native American heritage.

3. Are students eligible for a scholarship prior to acceptance into a Turkish university?

Students MUST be accepted to an accredited university or language program in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) through an American educational institution or study abroad provider BEFORE they can apply to TCA's Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarships.

4. What are the deadlines?

There is no deadline to TCA scholarships. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.

5. Will TCA make living and travel arrangements for scholarship recipients?

No. Students must make their own arrangements through their study abroad offices or with Turkish institutions.

6. Where and when will the scholarship checks be sent?

Once applications are received, TCA will work as quickly as possible to ensure that scholarship recipients receive grants prior to their departure to Turkey. Checks will be sent directly to the address provided on the student's application.

7. What is expected of scholarship recipients?

Scholarship recipients agree to share their experiences in Turkey with the TCA community, staff, and social media. They also agree to follow TCA on Facebook and Twitter. Students who study or visit Istanbul are also expected to visit TCA's Istanbul office and stay engaged with TCA.

8. Is there an age limit for the scholarships?

There is no age requirement for students applying TCA's Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarship.

9. What is the scholarship amount?

Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 depending on the duration of the program.