Project No. 2026-1-TR01-KA131-HED-000413022
Within the scope of Erasmus+ Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals (KA131), students will be selected to undertake traineeships abroad under the 2026 Project Term.
Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships is a mobility activity that enables students enrolled at Istanbul Okan University to gain practical professional experience abroad in an enterprise, research institute, laboratory, or other eligible institution/organisation related to their field of study.
The traineeship does not have to be compulsory within the student’s degree programme. However, it must be related to the student’s field of study and provide practical work experience. Academic research, thesis work, research assignments, or activities aimed at conducting the student’s own scientific research are not considered eligible under Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships.
CALL AND APPLICATION TIMELINE
| Action | Date |
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Call publication date
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19 October 2026
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Application start date
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16 November 2026
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Application deadline
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7 December 2026 at 23:59
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Erasmus+ English written exam
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14 December 2026 Monday
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Announcement of written exam results and candidates eligible for the second stage
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16 December 2026 Wednesday
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Erasmus+ English Speaking exam
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17 December 2026 Thursday
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Announcement of foreign language exam results
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23 December 2026 Wednesday
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Appeal period for foreign language exam results
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23–28 December 2026
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Announcement of finalised foreign language exam results
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4 January 2027 Monday
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Expected date for announcement of Erasmus+ selection results
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11 January 2027 Monday
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Appeal period for Erasmus+ selection results
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11–14 January 2027
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Expected date for announcement of final selection results
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18 January 2027 Monday
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Deadline for withdrawal notification
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25 January 2027 Monday
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Deadline for funded students to submit acceptance letters
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26 March 2027 Friday
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QUOTAS AND GRANT ALLOCATION
Under project no. 2026-1-TR01-KA131-HED-000413022, a total of 10 students are planned to be selected as main candidates for Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships across the University, including the faculties, the Graduate Education Institute, and the Vocational School.
To ensure a balanced distribution among academic units, the eligible candidate with the highest Erasmus+ selection score in each faculty, the Graduate Education Institute, and the Vocational School will first be identified. These candidates will then be ranked according to their selection scores and selected within the quota of 10 students.
If the quota of 10 students is not filled at this stage, the remaining places will be allocated to other eligible candidates, regardless of academic unit, according to their Erasmus+ selection scores.
Reserve candidates may also be determined depending on the number of applications, evaluation results, and available budget.
Students selected under this call are planned to receive an Erasmus+ grant for a two-month activity period.
For traineeship mobility, the minimum activity duration is 2 full months and the maximum duration is 12 months for each cycle of study. The activity must be carried out without interruption.
The fact that the grant is limited to 2 months does not prevent the student from undertaking a longer traineeship, subject to the required approvals. Any eligible period beyond the funded duration may be carried out as zero-grant mobility.
The Erasmus+ grant is a contribution towards the costs incurred during the period abroad and is not intended to cover all expenses.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Full-time students enrolled in associate degree, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes may apply for Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships.
Under this call, associate degree students may apply for traineeship mobility; bachelor’s and graduate students may apply for both study and traineeship mobility. The relevant point deductions apply to simultaneous applications.
Students who have already graduated may not apply.
However, final-year students who apply and are selected before graduation may undertake a recent-graduate traineeship within 12 months of their graduation date. The total duration of the recent-graduate traineeship and any other Erasmus+ mobility undertaken in the same cycle of study may not exceed 12 months.
MINIMUM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. Be a full-time student enrolled in a formal education programme at Istanbul Okan University.
2. For associate degree and bachelor’s students:
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.20/4.00.
3. For master’s and doctoral students:
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50/4.00.
4. For students who do not yet have a university transcript at the application stage:
Students transferring from an associate degree programme must have an associate degree graduation GPA of at least 2.20/4.00,
Preparatory class and first-year students must have a high school graduation grade of at least 90/100.
5. The total duration of higher education mobility activities undertaken in the current cycle of study during the 2014–2020 and/or 2021–2027 Erasmus+ programme periods, together with the new mobility, must not exceed 12 months.
6. Obtain at least 60/100 in the Erasmus+ foreign language assessment.
ERASMUS+ FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXAM
Students applying for Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships who do not have a valid foreign language test result may take the Erasmus+ English Proficiency Exam administered by the Istanbul Okan University Foreign Languages Coordination Office.
Written Exam: Monday, 14 December 2026
Speaking Exam: Thursday, 17 December 2026
The written and Speaking exams will be held in the classrooms of the Foreign Languages Coordination Office at the Tuzla Campus. Written exam results and the students eligible for the second stage will be announced on 16 December 2026. Foreign language exam results will be announced on 23 December 2026; appeals must be submitted in writing to the Foreign Languages Coordination Office between 23 and 28 December 2026. Finalised foreign language results will be announced on 4 January 2027.
The exam times and classroom information will be announced separately on the Erasmus website.
Only students who meet the required success criterion in the written exam will be eligible to take the Speaking exam.
English exams taken as part of a preparatory class or preparatory education programme cannot be used in place of the Erasmus+ foreign language exam.
Students who do not have a foreign language certificate at the time of application must select the “I want to take the University foreign language exam” option on the TURNA Portal.
In addition to the Erasmus+ foreign language exam administered by the University, YDS, e-YDS, YÖKDİL, e-YÖKDİL, and international foreign language exams recognised as equivalent by ÖSYM will be accepted.
Certificates for these exams must have been obtained within the five years preceding the application start date, and the exam result must be at least 60/100 or equivalent.
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
The following documents must be uploaded to the relevant fields on the TURNA Portal during the application:
Current Student Certificate
May be obtained with an e-Government barcode or as an electronically signed document via OBS.
Current Transcript
Must be e-Government barcoded or electronically signed via OBS. Transcript documents marked “Sample” will not be accepted.
Turkish Republic Identity Card
The front and back sides of the identity card must be uploaded as a single PDF file.
Foreign Language Exam Result Certificate
Must be uploaded by students who will use a valid central/equivalent foreign language test result. Students who will take the Erasmus+ foreign language exam organised by the University do not need to upload an exam result certificate at the application stage.
Traineeship Acceptance/Invitation Letter – if available
Students who submit an acceptance letter from an eligible traineeship organisation at the time of application will receive +10 points.
Supporting Documents for Special Circumstances – if applicable
Students claiming additional points due to disability, martyr/veteran status, coverage under Laws No. 2828/5395, AFAD disaster-victim assistance, or other relevant criteria must upload supporting documents.
Compulsory Traineeship Certificate – if applicable
Students who will carry out their mobility as a compulsory traineeship and wish to receive +5 points must upload a document proving this status within the application period.
Submitting a traineeship acceptance letter at the application stage is not mandatory. Students who submit an eligible acceptance letter at the time of application will receive +10 points.
No new applications or additional documents will be accepted after the application period has ended.
FINDING A TRAINEESHIP PLACEMENT
It is the student’s responsibility to find the organisation where the traineeship will be carried out.
The traineeship activity must be related to the content of the student’s degree programme. The eligibility of the traineeship placement and programme will be assessed by the relevant faculty/department authorities.
The traineeship acceptance letter must clearly include:
- The student’s full name,
- The name of the host organisation,
- The start and end dates of the activity,
- The duties/activities to be carried out during the traineeship,
- Details of the authorised representative of the organisation,
- A statement that the activity will be carried out as an Erasmus+ traineeship,
as clearly stated information.
SCOPE OF TRAINEESHIP MOBILITY
The traineeship activity aims to provide the student with practical work experience in the professional field in which they are studying.
The traineeship does not have to be compulsory within the student’s degree programme. However, the sector and activity must be related to the student’s current field of study.
Academic studies, scientific research, thesis work, and research projects carried out by students to complete or support their own scientific work are not considered traineeship activities.
Even where the traineeship is undertaken at a higher education institution, the activity must constitute practical professional experience rather than an academic study/research activity.
ELIGIBLE TRAINEESHIP PLACEMENTS
Public or private organisations established in an eligible mobility country and active in the labour market or in the fields of education, training, youth, research, and development may serve as traineeship placements.
Without limitation, examples of eligible traineeship placements include:
- Small, medium-sized, or large public or private enterprises,
- Local, regional, or national public bodies,
- Embassies or consulates of the sending country abroad,
- Chambers of commerce,
- Trade and professional associations,
- Exchanges and trade unions,
- Research institutes,
- Foundations,
- Schools, institutes, and education centres,
- Non-profit organisations, associations, and NGOs,
- Organisations providing career planning, professional counselling, and information services,
- Eligible higher education institutions.
If the traineeship is carried out at a higher education institution in a country associated with the Programme, the host higher education institution must hold an ECHE.
For traineeship mobility in countries associated with the Programme, an Erasmus+ Inter-Institutional Agreement between Istanbul Okan University and the host higher education institution is not required.
If a traineeship is carried out at a higher education institution in a country not associated with the Programme, the institution must be recognised under its national legislation and an inter-institutional agreement must be signed between the sending and receiving institutions before the activity.
INELIGIBLE TRAINEESHIP PLACEMENTS
The following organisations are not eligible traineeship placements under Erasmus+:
European Union institutions and EU agencies,
National Agencies and similar organisations managing EU programmes.
In addition, academic research, thesis work, research assignments, or activities aimed at conducting the student’s own scientific research are not considered eligible under Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships.
TRAINEESHIP DURATION
For Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships:
Minimum activity duration: 2 full months
Maximum activity duration: 12 months
The activity period must be carried out without interruption.
Under this call, the Erasmus+ grant provided by Istanbul Okan University is limited to a period of 2 months.
If the host organisation is closed for holiday periods, the student must ensure that the planned traineeship dates still meet the minimum activity duration. Weekends are not deducted from the activity period.
Except in cases of force majeure, if the student ends the activity before completing the minimum period of 2 full months, the mobility will be deemed invalid and no grant will be paid. If a payment has already been made, repayment of the relevant grant will be requested.
RECENT-GRADUATE TRAINEESHIP MOBILITY
Final-year students may undertake Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships after graduation, provided that they apply and are selected before graduating.
Recent-graduate traineeship mobility must:
Be completed within 12 months of the graduation date,
Have been applied for while the student was still enrolled and before graduation,
Not cause the combined duration of the recent-graduate traineeship and other Erasmus+ mobility activities undertaken in the same cycle of study to exceed 12 months
The above conditions must be met.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The Erasmus+ selection score will be calculated as the sum of 50% of the academic achievement score and 50% of the foreign language score.
The following additional points and point deductions will be applied to the calculated Erasmus+ selection score:
| Evaluation Criterion | Weight / Points |
|
Academic achievement level
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%50
|
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Foreign language level
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%50
|
|
Children of martyrs and veterans
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+15
|
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Students with disabilities (subject to documentation)
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+10
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Students who currently have or previously had a protection, care, or accommodation decision under Social Services Law No. 2828 or Child Protection Law No. 5395
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+10
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Submitting a traineeship acceptance letter at the time of application
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+10
|
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Students who themselves or whose first-degree relative (biological/step) receive disaster-victim assistance from AFAD
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+10
|
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Traineeships in Digital Opportunity (DOTs)
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+5
|
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Applying for a compulsory traineeship
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+5
|
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Previous participation (funded or zero-grant) under the same project type and in the same cycle of study
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-10 for each activity
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Participating in mobility in the country of citizenship
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-10
|
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Failure to participate after selection without submitting a timely withdrawal notification
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-10
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Applying simultaneously for Study and Traineeship Mobility (the deduction is applied to the mobility type chosen by the student)
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-10
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Failure of a selected student to attend mobility-related meetings/trainings organised by the University without a valid excuse (applied to the student’s next Erasmus+ application)
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-5
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Declaring participation in the University foreign language exam but failing to attend without a valid excuse (applied to the student’s next Erasmus+ application)
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-5
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TRAINEESHIPS IN DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY (DOTs)
Traineeships involving one or more of the following activities are considered traineeships aimed at developing digital skills:
- Digital marketing and social media management,
- Web analytics,
- Digital graphic design,
- Mechanical and architectural design,
- Application, software, and code development,
- Website development,
- Installation, maintenance, and management of IT systems and networks,
- Cybersecurity,
- Data analytics,
- Data mining and visualisation,
- Programming,
- Robotics,
- Artificial intelligence.
General customer service, lead generation, data entry, or routine office tasks are not considered within this scope.
Students selected with the +5 points awarded under DOTs are not permitted to change their traineeship placement to an activity outside the scope of DOTs.
COMPULSORY TRAINEESHIP
Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships does not have to be carried out as the compulsory traineeship component of the student’s degree programme.
However, students who document that they will undertake the mobility as a compulsory traineeship within their degree programme will receive +5 points.
Students selected with additional points under this criterion may not subsequently convert their activity into a voluntary traineeship.
PREVIOUS PARTICIPATION IN ERASMUS+ MOBILITY
If the student has previously participated in Erasmus+ long-term Study or Traineeship Mobility within the same cycle of study, 10 points will be deducted from the Erasmus+ selection score for each previous mobility activity.
Mobility activities undertaken in a previous cycle of study are not subject to this point deduction.
Participation in BIPs, short-term doctoral mobility, and short-term blended mobility is not considered within this scope.
If a student who has not previously participated in Erasmus+ mobility applies simultaneously for Study and Traineeship Mobility, the student may choose to which mobility type the -10 point deduction will be applied.
For students who have previously participated in mobility, the additional point deductions specified in the 2026 Erasmus+ Implementation Handbook apply.
ACCEPTANCE LETTER
Submitting a traineeship acceptance letter at the application stage is not mandatory.
A student who uploads an acceptance letter from an eligible traineeship organisation to the TURNA Portal within the application period will receive +10 points.
If a student who received +10 points by submitting a traineeship acceptance letter at the application stage wishes, after selection, to undertake the traineeship at an organisation other than the one specified in that acceptance letter, the +10 points awarded for the acceptance letter will be withdrawn and the student’s Erasmus+ selection score will be recalculated. If the recalculated score changes the student’s ranking, the student’s selection status will be reassessed.
The acceptance letter must cover a traineeship activity related to the student’s degree programme.
The eligibility of the traineeship placement and activity will be assessed by the relevant academic unit.
Students who did not submit an acceptance letter at the application stage and who are selected for funded mobility must submit an eligible traineeship acceptance letter to the Erasmus Office no later than 26 March 2027. If the acceptance letter is not submitted within the specified period, the student’s grant entitlement will be transferred to the next reserve candidate according to the ranking.
GRANT AMOUNTS
Students selected for Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships receive an Erasmus+ grant as a contribution towards the additional costs arising from their stay abroad.
Traineeship Mobility to Countries Associated with the Programme
| Country Group | Host Countries | Monthly Traineeship Grant |
|
Group 1 and 2 Countries
|
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece
|
750 €
|
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Group 3 Countries
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Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia
|
600 €
|
Under this call, a two-month activity period will be funded.
Accordingly, the individual support grant is calculated as follows:
For Group 1 and Group 2 countries: €750 × 2 months = €1,500
For Group 3 countries: €600 × 2 months = €1,200
Travel support is provided separately.
TRAVEL SUPPORT
To contribute to students’ travel costs, the distance between the starting point of the mobility and the activity location is determined using the European Commission Distance Calculator.
The amount indicated for each distance band is the total round-trip travel support and is not multiplied by two.
| Travel Distance | Standard Travel Support | Green Travel Support |
|
10–99 km
|
28 €
|
56 €
|
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100–499 km
|
211 €
|
285 €
|
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500–1.999 km
|
309 €
|
417 €
|
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2.000–2.999 km
|
395 €
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535 €
|
|
3.000–3.999 km
|
580 €
|
785 €
|
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4.000–7.999 km
|
€1,188
|
€1,188
|
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8,000 km or more
|
€1,735
|
€1,735
|
GREEN TRAVEL
As a general rule, low-emission means of transport are expected to be used for distances below 500 km.
Modes of transport such as bus, train, and car-sharing may be considered green travel.
To receive green travel support, the journey must be carried out in accordance with programme rules and documented where required.
Where necessary, individual support may be provided for travel days before and after the activity for up to 2 days for standard travel and up to 6 days for green travel.
TOP-UP SUPPORT
Students with fewer opportunities due to economic and social circumstances receive Top-up Support in addition to the Erasmus+ grant to which they are entitled.
Students in the following categories may benefit from this support provided that they document their circumstances:
- Students who currently have or previously had a protection, care, or accommodation decision under Law No. 2828,
- Students who currently have or previously had a protection, care, or accommodation decision under Child Protection Law No. 5395,
- Recipients of an orphan/survivor pension,
- Spouses and children of martyrs/veterans, and veterans themselves,
- Students who document that they, their family, or their guardian are receiving financial/social assistance from a public institution at the time of application,
- Students with disabilities,
- Students whose parent or guardian receives a disability or means-tested pension under Law No. 2022,
- Students who themselves or whose first-degree relative (biological/step) receive disaster-victim assistance from AFAD.
KYK scholarships, merit scholarships, similar scholarships, and one-off assistance are not considered financial assistance for this purpose.
| Mobility Type | Top-up Support |
|
Student mobility of 2–12 months
|
€250 per month
|
ZERO-GRANT MOBILITY
Students who are selected for Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships but cannot be allocated a grant due to insufficient budget may, upon request, carry out their mobility as zero-grant participants.
Zero-grant students are also subject to all selection, documentation, and activity requirements of the Erasmus+ Programme.
APPLICATION STEPS
Applications are submitted through the TURNA Portal.
Applications will open on 16 November 2026 and close on 7 December 2026 at 23:59. Applications by post or in person at the Erasmus Office will not be accepted. There is no need to print, sign, or physically submit the application form to the office.
- Check your personal and academic information.
- Upload a current student certificate.
- Upload a current transcript.
- Upload the front and back sides of the Turkish Republic Identity Card as a single PDF file.
- Upload a valid foreign language exam certificate, if available, or select the option to take the University’s Erasmus+ foreign language exam.
- Upload a traineeship acceptance letter, if available.
- Upload supporting documents for any additional points claimed.
- Complete/approve and submit the application on the TURNA Portal.
Simply creating an application in the system is not sufficient. The application must be completed/approved.
No new applications or documents will be accepted after the application period has ended.
EVALUATION PROCESS
The Erasmus+ selection score is calculated as the sum of 50% of the student’s academic achievement score and 50% of the foreign language score.
The announced additional points and point deductions are applied to this score.
Candidates will be ranked according to their final Erasmus+ selection scores. Grant quotas will be allocated on the basis of the academic-unit priority described in the Quotas and Grant Allocation section, with any remaining places filled according to the overall score ranking.
The results will be evaluated and announced by the Erasmus+ Selection Committee officially appointed by the Rectorate.
Having a disciplinary sanction or failed/retaken courses does not, by itself, prevent a student from participating in the Erasmus+ Programme.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SELECTION RESULTS
Application results are expected to be announced on the Istanbul Okan University Erasmus website on Monday, 11 January 2027.
The result lists will show candidates’ Erasmus+ selection scores together with any additional points and point deductions applied during the evaluation.
APPEALS AGAINST SELECTION RESULTS
Appeals regarding the selection results must be submitted in writing to the Erasmus Office between 11 and 14 January 2027.
Appeals submitted after the specified period will not be considered.
Following the evaluation of appeals, the final results are expected to be announced on Monday, 18 January 2027.
WITHDRAWAL
Students who are selected for mobility but decide not to participate must submit a written withdrawal notification to the Erasmus Office by Monday, 25 January 2027.
Students who submit their withdrawal notification within the specified period will not receive a point deduction for this reason.
Students who do not participate in the mobility without submitting a withdrawal notification within the withdrawal period will receive a -10 point deduction in their next Erasmus+ application under the same project type.
Force majeure cases will be assessed separately.
IMPORTANT NOTES
It is the student’s responsibility to find the organisation where the traineeship will be carried out.
The traineeship activity must be related to the student’s degree programme.
Submitting a traineeship acceptance letter at the application stage is not mandatory; +10 points are awarded if an eligible acceptance letter is submitted.
Erasmus+ Student Mobility for Traineeships is not a foreign language learning programme. Students are expected to have sufficient foreign language proficiency to carry out their traineeship activities.
Students selected under this call are planned to receive an Erasmus+ grant for two months.
The mobility activity must be completed within the contractual period of project no. 2026-1-TR01-KA131-HED-000413022 and no later than 31 July 2028.
The student is responsible for uploading complete, accurate, and legible application documents to the system.
Applications submitted after the application period and documents provided subsequently will not be considered.
For questions:
Istanbul Okan University Erasmus Office
erasmus@okan.edu.tr
Application:
TURNA Portal – https://turnaportal.ua.gov.tr/
Click for 2026 KA131 Erasmus Application Handbook.
