Turkey is already a firmly established tourist destination, with nearly 40 million tourists visiting from all over the world in 2015 according to Invest in Turkey, making it the sixth most popular holiday destination. The Turkish lifestyle is a colorful mosaic connecting the modern and ancient worlds of Eastern and Western cultures and traditions. It is a place where you feel you are constantly walking through history, following in the footsteps of Ottoman Sultans and historical legends such as Alexander, Constantine and Genghis Khan. In the vibrant and beautiful city of Istanbul, once known of course, as Constantinople, you are one moment at the cutting edge of modernity, glamour and fine dining, the next in the shadow of the Blue Mosque or wandering through palace gardens. There is truly nowhere like it in the world.
If you've never thought of study abroad in Turkey as a top location, think again! With tourism to this continent-straddling country increasing by nearly 20% year-over-year since 1993, student interest in studying in Turkey is rapidly growing, as well. With this increased attraction in recent years, Turkey's educational system has also been spotlighted as an optimal destination for studying history, politics, languages, sciences and more.
Aside from the number of tourist coming to Turkey, the number of international students choosing to study in Turkey has more than doubled since 2006, signaling the country’s growing importance as a higher education destination. In the 2015-16 academic year, there were around 48,000 foreign students in Turkey. Motivations for study in Turkey include the opportunity to gain a relatively inexpensive and good quality education, with opportunities for scholarships that also pay a monthly allowance, covering accommodation and tuition fees, health insurance and travel expenses.
Turkey scholarships for International Students are now underway and it is certainly a great time for students. The country has opened its doors for students from around the world and is encouraging them to study at their prestigious Turkish universities. This is certainly an amazing opportunity for students.