GEP

Aim of the Programme: The Young Brains Programme (GEP) aims to support PhD students who are employed as research assistants at public higher education institutions in Türkiye in conducting research abroad on their dissertation topics, without field restriction.

Eligible Applicants: The programme is open to Turkish citizens who are currently employed as research assistants at public higher education institutions in Türkiye and who are pursuing their PhD studies.

Duration of Support: The duration of support is at least 1 month and at most 3 months.

Quota: For the 2026 application year, up to 100 PhD students may be supported.

✅Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a Turkish citizen and currently employed as a research assistant at a public higher education institution.
Have reached the dissertation stage of their PhD studies in priority fields determined by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
Document a minimum score of 75, 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.
For male applicants, have no military service obligation. Applicants must have completed, deferred, or be eligible to defer their military service.
Have started their PhD education within the last three years as of the application date.
Hold an invitation letter 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 at least one month and at most three months.

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.