AKAP

Aim of the Programme: The Academic Accumulation Programme (AKAP) aims to support faculty members in conducting research abroad within the scope of international academic leave, or sabbatical, as paid academic leave under Additional Article 33 of Law No. 2547.The programme supports academic research activities in the priority areas defined in the 12th Development Plan.

Eligible Applicants: The programme is open to Turkish citizens who are currently employed as faculty members at public higher education institutions in Türkiye.

Duration of Support: The maximum duration of support is 9 months.

Quota: For the 2026 application year, up to 200 faculty members may be supported.

✅Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a Turkish citizen and currently employed as a faculty member at a public higher education institution.
Be on paid academic leave under Additional Article 33 of Law No. 2547.
Document a minimum score of 80, obtained within the last three years, from YÖKDİL, YDS, e-YDS, or an international foreign language examination recognized as equivalent by ÖSYM, in the language in which the research will be conducted.
Hold an invitation letter as a “Visiting Researcher” or in an equivalent status from a university ranked within the top 700 in global university rankings within the last three years by University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), Times Higher Education (THE), Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai), or World University Rankings / Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), to conduct academic research for up to nine months in the priority areas defined in the relevant Development Plan.

Priority Areas Defined in the 12th Development Plan

Chemistry
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Electronics
Machinery
Electrical Equipment
Automotive
Rail Systems

Priority Development Areas Defined in the 12th Development Plan

Agriculture and Food
Energy
Defence Industry
Tourism

🎯Application Process

Researchers submit their applications through the YÖKSİS system within the application calendar announced by YÖK and communicated to universities.
Universities review the applications and approve eligible applications through YÖKSİS.
For applications approved through YÖKSİS, the relevant Senate or Administrative Board decision is submitted to YÖK as an attachment to the official cover letter.
Applications approved by universities are evaluated by YÖK, and the results are communicated to the relevant universities.
For researchers who are entitled to benefit from the programme, the relevant funding is transferred by YÖK to the respective universities.

📅2026 Application Calendar

📑Application System
Applications must be submitted through the YÖKSİS system.