Under the Turkey Strategic Technology Human Resources Program launched by YÖK, 3,000 researchers will be trained over five years, starting with 550 in the first year. Applications for the program will be accepted online from September 8 to 22, 2026. Young researchers will be employed as research assistants while continuing their education in the doctoral programs to which they are admitted.

The application and student selection process for the Turkey Strategic Technology Human Resources Program, developed by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to strengthen qualified human resources in Turkey’s strategic technology fields, has been finalized. In the program’s first year, 550 doctoral students are planned to be selected in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information technology, and hardware and computer systems, while the goal over the five-year period is to integrate approximately 3,000 young researchers into Turkey’s science and technology ecosystem.

The initial phase will focus on four critical technology areas

The Turkey Strategic Technology Human Resources Program aims not only to meet long-term human resource needs in strategic technology fields but also to more effectively align the scientific capacity of research universities with Turkey’s priority technology areas. Supporting the transformation of scientific research conducted at universities into technology, products, patents, and economic value is also among the program’s core objectives. 

In accordance with the procedures and principles established by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), a total of 550 doctoral graduates will be trained in the fields of “Information Technologies,” “Hardware and Computer Systems,” “Cybersecurity,” and “Artificial Intelligence and Smart Systems” during the program’s first year.

Applications will be accepted in September

Applications for the program will be submitted electronically between September 8 and 22, 2026, through the “Application System for Doctoral Programs in Priority Fields” established by YÖK. Applicants will be allowed to make a total of five choices from no more than two different fields.

In addition to candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in the fields specified in the application system, those who have graduated from these fields and completed a thesis-based master’s degree in related fields may also apply. Computer, software, electrical-Electronics, Artificial Intelligence, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Industrial, Materials, Energy, and Aerospace Engineering, as well as Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and Information Systems and Technologies, may also be considered within the relevant quotas.

A centralized written exam will be administered

The selection of candidates will be based on a centralized written exam to be administered by ÖSYM on November 28, 2026, at the request of YÖK. Candidates scoring below 70 on the exam will be considered unsuccessful, and candidates will be permitted to take the exam only for the program they have selected and for which they have qualified to sit the exam.

Fifty percent of the exam will consist of a common core module for all candidates, while the other 50 percent will consist of a field-specific module tailored to the candidate’s chosen field. For the field-specific modules, topics will include machine learning, artificial neural networks, large language models, and transformer architecture for artificial intelligence; cryptography, authentication, and network security for cybersecurity; programming, databases, and cloud computing for information technology; and for hardware and computer systems, topics such as computer architecture, microprocessors, and high-performance computing.

The final score will be calculated based on four criteria

Candidates’ final scores will be calculated based on the central written exam, undergraduate GPA, ALES score, and foreign language exam score. Accordingly, 30 percent of the central written exam score, 25 percent of the undergraduate GPA, 25 percent of the ALES score, and 20 percent of the foreign language exam score will be reflected in the final success score.

There will be no oral exam as part of the program. This ensures that the evaluation process for candidates is conducted based on the established academic criteria and the results of the centralized written exam.

Doctoral education will be supported by research assistant positions

Young researchers who qualify for admission to the program will be employed as research assistants while continuing their education in the doctoral programs to which they have been admitted. Appointments to research assistant positions will be made by the relevant universities in accordance with current regulations.

While candidates may be admitted to a scientific preparation program depending on their degree status, an integrated doctoral program may be implemented for bachelor’s degree holders. The goal is to enable young researchers to pursue their doctoral education, engage in scientific research activities, and gain academic work experience all within the same process.

The goal is to train 3,000 researchers in 5 years

While the plan is to train 550 doctoral students in the program’s first year, the goal is to contribute approximately 3,000 young researchers to Turkey’s science and technology ecosystem by the end of the five-year program.

Expected to contribute to enhancing Turkey’s global competitiveness, particularly in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information technologies, and advanced computer systems, the program aims to train researchers today who will develop the technologies of the coming years.

Application requirements for the program, quotas, and other implementation guidelines can be found in the document titled “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Selection of Students for Doctoral Programs in Priority Fields, Their Appointment to Research Assistant Positions, and Other Matters,” published by the Higher Education Council (YÖK).