If Turkey is your preferred study destination, you have made a good decision. Next, you need to pass the Turkey study visa interview, which requires filling out a form and verbally answering questions. So, in today’s post, I will talk about Turkey student visa interview questions and answers that will help you succeed in this interview.
Don’t be scared—Turkey has a study visa success rate of 85%. That is a 15% rejection rate, which is a fair number. You still have to be prepared to beat this interview. I will over how the interview is done, when it happens, the types of questions you’ll face, and the right way to dress for it. I’ll also share my personal journey from receiving my interview email to the conclusion of the interview process. As I share my story, I’ll advise on answering questions and offer additional tips that might help you during your interview. So, expect this article to be a bit lengthy.
Turkey Study Visa Interview Schedule
First off, let’s talk about when the interview is scheduled. The Turkey Burslari website mentions that interviews are set to begin in March and will continue through June. So, starting in March, you should start to keep an eye on your emails regularly. Next, we are going to look at what the email actually says after I talk about the questions and answers. I’ll be talking about the email I received from Turkey Burslari.
Turkey Student Visa Interview Questions
The way you answer this question reveals a lot about your personality and plays a significant role in how you are evaluated. So, this interview is just to check if you have any ulterior motives. If you genuinely want to study in Turkey, you will have no problem passing this interview. You have to be natural when answering the questions. If your answers look scripted without coherence, your visa application can be rejected. That said, let’s get right into the questions.
1. Why do you want to study in Turkey?
As part of the Turkey student visa interview questions, you will be asked why you want to study in Turkey. This is a common question, and it is also asked in your letter of motivation. I bet you all had to think about why you chose Turkey or a Turkish university for your studies. Now, when the interview comes around, you get the chance to dive deeper into those reasons or even add more to what you’ve already mentioned. Actually, this question might as well be, ‘Why do you want to study your course in Turkey?’ To answer this, you definitely need to do some homework. You should look into the universities you have applied to, check out their courses, see what projects they are working on, find out if these projects grab your interest, and look into the opportunities they offer both before and after you graduate, in Turkey.
As mentioned in the interview email, they are really looking to see why you are motivated to study in Turkey with this question. So, what drives you? Is it the Turkish cuisine? The movies? Or the unique position of Turkey bridging Asia and Europe?
2. Why do you want to study this course?
One of the first Turkey student visa interview questions that sticks out in my mind is, ‘Why do you want to study your course?’ In my situation, that course was computer engineering. So the question was, ‘Why do you want to study computer engineering?’ You can probably guess, this is a significant question, and it’s one you are almost certain to encounter. A good response to this question should start asking yourself, ‘Why do I want to study my course? What draws me to this field? Is it a personal passion? Is it because a friend of mine is doing the same course? Maybe there’s a role model of mine who pursued this field? Or is there a specific goal I have in mind that this course will help me achieve? What’s the real reason behind my interest?’ Just ponder these questions and find your answers. If you are still searching for those answers, I suggest looking up the course online to see if it genuinely interests you. If you find that it does, the reasons that attract you to it are what you’ll need to convey to the Turkey Burslari Committee during your interview. You’ll need to explain that your interest in the course stems from various reasons and that you have future aspirations or specific goals to achieve by studying this field.
3. Are there other things you are more interested in that probably motivate you to want to study in Turkey?
These are Turkey student visa interview questions you need to think about, and your answers are what you’ll talk about on interview day. Don’t misunderstand me, guys. I’m not saying your reasons aren’t good enough, but they might not be strong enough to make you stand out from other candidates who might give the same reasons. These reasons are pretty common, and almost everyone uses them. So, what else could you mention to make yourself stand out? As you all are aware, the goal of an interview is to select genuine applicants and to identify those unique candidates among a group of similar ones. So, you’d probably want to offer different reasons to distinguish yourself.
4. What Have You Been Doing Since Graduation?
I remember another question that came up. Maybe you’re in the same boat, where you didn’t apply for things like scholarships right after finishing high school. Say you waited two or three years after graduation to apply.
You might get asked what you have been up to since then. Sounds like that’s part of the application, right? For this question, some folks might think, “Okay, for instance, someone’s interested in studying international relations but hasn’t gotten into any university they applied to since graduating. This person has been diving into fashion design, maybe learning to tailor clothes for men or women.” Now, when you’re hit with the question, “What have you been doing since after graduation?” I believe you shouldn’t just dismiss your experiences because they’re not academic or directly linked to your field of study, thinking you have nothing to share. That’s not the right angle. The key thing is that you weren’t just lounging around binge-watching Netflix. You chose to do something productive, like picking up a new skill that might benefit you later. You’ve actually been doing something valuable for yourself. They want to see that you haven’t been idle and that you have something meaningful to talk about. That’s what you need to convey.
In my situation, I was upfront about what I’ve been doing since I finished school. I recommend you do the same. Don’t worry if what you’ve been doing doesn’t seem related to your academic interests or doesn’t appear significant. Just share whatever you have been up to, as long as it shows you have been making good use of your time. Make sure to explain this clearly, so they understand where you are coming from.
5. How will you fund your study in Turkey?
Turkey may be doing well but that doesn’t mean they are willing to add to their rate of unemployment. A lot of students fumble on this question, which is why they get their visa rejected. You have to be clear about how you get your funding. If you are being sponsored, talk about what the person does to make money. Mention their name and your relationship with the person. If you are self-sponsored, talk about what you do and even how your studies may or may not impact your funds.
6. What do your relatives and friends do?
They asked me things like, ‘What does your father do?’ and ‘What is your mother’s maiden name?’ I believe these questions could be really useful for those of you who are finding the process difficult. They will also ask about what your friends do. This is just one of the Turkey student visa interview questions to know if you can really afford the study and living expenses in Turkey.
7. What are your plans after graduation?
When the consular officer asks, “What are your plans after graduation?” I believe they’re really asking about what you aim to do with the life and knowledge you’ve built up until graduation. They’re curious about your future goals, how you plan to make a difference, and the ways you want to apply what you’ve learned. For example, I have a buddy who’s deep into Microbiology, and passionate about finding a malaria cure. This friend doesn’t necessarily see themselves staying in Turkey post-graduation. On the flip side, someone leaning towards Civil Engineering might see a future in Turkey, maybe for further studies or to gain some hands-on experience. So, just have a clear plan, know your aim with your degree, and be able to share that vision.
8. Will you return home after your education in Turkey?
This question often gets a lot of students rejected. Your answer should be that you will return home. What’s your next move after throwing that graduation cap in the air? Will you be packing your bags for another country to broaden your horizons? Maybe you are planning to stick around in Turkey, gathering experience from different companies. Or perhaps you are eyeing a return to your homeland to kickstart your own venture. Don’t say that you plan to stay back and work because you are on a study visa and not a work visa.
8. Do you know how to speak Turkish language?
They will also ask you about your knowledge of the Turkish language. They will be curious if you have picked up any words or perhaps watched some Turkish films. Just share with them that you knew phrases like ‘Yama Kia Rim’ and ‘Suit Sharing,’ which you had learned from Duolingo. You can start using Duolingo to improve your vocabulary. It might really help in making a good impression on the interviewers and possibly make them like you.
9. Other General Questions
- How many siblings do you have?
- Why do you like Turkey?
They will also ask questions about what you have filled out in your application form. So, you should double-check everything you entered in the application portal. If there’s a section you are not sure about, try logging into your portal, downloading your application PDF, and reviewing everything once more before your interview dates.
Turkey Interview Email
Now, I’ll share what the interview email contains and the instructions it provides.
Dear [Your Name], we are pleased to let you know that the Turkey Scholarships Evaluation Committee has found your application suitable for an interview. You are invited to participate in the interview on the specified dates and location, bringing along the original documents you uploaded with your application.’
This means you’ll need to bring all the original documents you submitted with your application to the interview venue. If your interview is tomorrow or the day after, make sure to check my description today to ensure you have all the necessary documents with you.
The email tells you where your interview will be held, including the date and time, and where it’s going to be. They also give you a contact email. So, if you need to travel to a different city for the interview, be there a day or two early. If you can stay with a family friend or in a hotel, I’d really suggest doing that. You don’t want to be traveling on the day of the interview. You’ll likely be nervous and feeling all sorts of things, and you don’t need the extra stress of traveling. This interview will be in the official language of your country, like English.
They are going to have a math test for those coming to the interview if you are applying for an undergraduate spot. You need to bring your own pencil and eraser. This test does not happen every year. Anyway, if you get your interview email and it says you’ll have this math test, you should practice with SAT math stuff. So, if you have to take a test like math, it will have like 12 questions and you are given 15 minutes to complete it. After that, you’ll wait in a lobby before being called into the interview. Inside the interview room, there may be three visa officers.
They might even begin by asking ‘How was the test?’ You can just say, ‘I think I tried my best.’ They may follow up with, ‘Do you think you did well?’ If you aren’t really sure, just smile and say, ‘I think I tried my best again.’
Tips for Turkey Student Visa Interview
Apart from these Turkey student visa interview questions, you also need these tips to help you succeed. I believe you already know that you have to dress corporately and arrive early to give a good impression. Let’s look at other really important tips you should adhere to.
Prepare for this interview
They will quiz you on why you’re interested in studying in Turkey, your chosen course, and your plans post-graduation. They’ll base their questions on your application, so download your application PDF and review everything thoroughly.
Research and Knowledge
To answer any question well, you need to be well-informed. Spend time on the university’s website, dive deep into information about your department, and understand why you’re drawn to your course and studying in Turkey.
Practice Makes Perfect
Get friends, parents, or siblings to help you rehearse these Turkey student visa interview questions. Without practice, you won’t fully grasp what the interview feels like. Recording yourself can help you evaluate your performance. Remember, your grades, letters of intent, and recommendations are important, but your character, speech, humility, and knowledge are important. So, don’t skip on practice.
Conclusion
So, we have been able to look at the common Turkey student visa interview questions. To wrap everything up, you’ll be getting an interview email. Make sure to check your emails regularly, maybe once or twice a week. When answering questions, don’t sound scripted. Just be natural and be genuine so that they know you deserve that study visa.
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