Turkey offers scholarships to Palestinian students

Young Palestinians will have a chance to study at a Turkish university thanks to a new scholarship programme announced by Turkey. Nine different scholarship programmes will be offered to Palestinian students in the 2012-2013 academic year, for a range of academic programmes at the undergraduate and post-graduate level.

“Turkey is thus responding to the Ten Youth Commitments which UNRWA unveiled earlier this year,” said Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of UNRWA.

“Through this initiative, they lead the way in responding to the fifth commitment, which is to connect Palestine refugee youth with scholarship opportunities for a post-secondary education, which is increasingly necessary in today’s job market.”

Young Palestine refugees enjoy access to primary education provided by UNRWA in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank. As higher education becomes a basic requirement for an increasing number of jobs, the Agency has made it a priority to connect students with the funding to pursue post-secondary education.

“These scholarships will create opportunities for young Palestinians to achieve their full potential at one of our universities”, said Ambassador Şakir Özkan Torunlar, Consul General of Turkey in Jerusalem. “We encourage all Palestinians including young refugees to avail themselves of this opportunity.”

All Palestinian students are encouraged to apply for the scholarships online in English or Turkish, through the following web sites:

The deadline for applications is 1 June 2012.

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Background information:

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
[email protected]

Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
[email protected]