The application process for the 2026 YÖK Outstanding Achievement Awards, organized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to encourage scientific research, projects, theses, and community service activities at universities, has officially begun.

🔎 Award Categories and Scope

YÖK Outstanding Achievement Awards are presented in 20 categories under three main headings: Doctoral Thesis of the Year, Institutional Awards, and Special Awards:

• Doctoral Thesis of the Year (Individual): Awarded in the fields of Educational Sciences, Law and Theology, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, Architecture and Design, Administrative Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, Health and Sports Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy), and Agriculture, Forestry and Aquaculture.
• Institutional Awards: Awarded in the categories of Digital Transformation and Data-Driven Management, Entrepreneurial and Innovative University, Quality Orientation, Social Responsibility, Internationalization, University-Business Cooperation, and Contribution to Local Development.
• Special Awards: National Innovation, Science Diplomacy and Award for Service to Science and Students.

📅 Award Calendar

• Application Opening Date: 27 April 2026
• Application Deadline: 18 May 2026 (Time: 23.59)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Doctoral Thesis of the Year: Applications must be made jointly by the thesis author and the thesis advisor for doctoral theses completed in the previous year. This award aims to highlight the joint success of the student and the supervisor.
• Institutional Awards: Applications will be made by higher education institutions for innovative works and good practice examples completed in the previous year.

📌 Important Links

• Further details and application requirements are available here.

📌 Points to Consider

• No applications will be accepted for the Special Awards, which are granted in the categories of "National Innovation", "Science Diplomacy", and "Service to Science and Students".
• For individual awards, neither the student nor the advisor can apply alone; the application must be submitted together.

✉️ Boğaziçi University Project Office provides guidance and support to strengthen your award nomination processes. For assistance, please contact us at: projectoffice@bogazici.edu.tr