About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The Zero Waste Foundation is inviting applications for its 2026–2027 Graduate and Doctoral Scholarship Programme, which supports outstanding postgraduate students whose research contributes to the advancement of zero waste practices, sustainability, and environmental innovation.
The scholarship programme is designed to encourage high-quality academic research addressing pressing challenges in waste management, resource efficiency, and sustainability through interdisciplinary approaches.
Successful applicants will receive monthly financial support while also contributing to the Foundation’s research, education, and knowledge-sharing activities.
About the Zero Waste Foundation Scholarship
The Zero Waste Foundation Scholarship Programme is intended for students enrolled in thesis-based master’s and doctoral programmes whose research aligns with the principles and objectives of the zero waste movement.
Zero waste is a multidisciplinary field, and the Foundation welcomes applications from students across a broad range of academic disciplines.
These include:
Engineering
Health sciences
Architecture
Urban planning
Environmental sciences
Social sciences
Economics
Public policy
The scholarships are awarded for the 2026–2027 academic year, covering the period from October 2026 to June 2027.
Funding is provided for a maximum of nine months per academic year.
Zero Waste Scholarship Categories
Applications are evaluated according to four thematic categories based on the relevance of the applicant’s thesis or research topic.
Category A – Engineering, Health and Technology
This category covers research focused on technological innovation, engineering solutions, environmental health, waste management technologies, and related areas.
Category B – Architecture, Design and Urban Planning
This category includes projects examining sustainable urban development, circular design, green infrastructure, resource-efficient buildings, and waste-conscious planning approaches.
Category C – Behavioral, Educational and Natural Sciences
Research under this category may explore environmental behavior, education, ecology, environmental awareness, natural systems, and other scientific studies related to sustainability.
Category D – Economics, Communication and Governance
This category covers research examining policy development, public administration, communication strategies, economic systems, governance frameworks, and stakeholder engagement related to zero waste.
Applicants must clearly explain how their research contributes to at least one of these four categories during the application process.
Zero Waste Foundation Scholarship Amount
The Foundation provides monthly financial support throughout the scholarship period.
Successful master’s students will receive:
28,000 Turkish Lira per month
Successful doctoral students will receive:
38,000 Turkish Lira per month
The scholarship amounts are reviewed annually and may be adjusted by the Foundation for future academic years.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in a thesis-based master’s or doctoral programme and demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.
To qualify, applicants must:
Maintain a minimum GPA equivalent to 3.00 out of 4.00, 75 out of 100, or BB/AA.
Be officially registered in a postgraduate programme.
Have an approved thesis topic related to zero waste.
Be in the thesis stage of their academic programme.
Not be employed in a full-time position.
Not be receiving a scholarship from another institution or organization.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements will not be considered for the scholarship programme.
Thesis Requirements
An important requirement is that applicants must already have a thesis topic related to zero waste that has been formally approved by their academic institution.
The proposed thesis must clearly align with at least one of the scholarship categories and demonstrate the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of zero waste knowledge, policy, or practice.
Candidates must provide official documentation confirming that their thesis proposal has been approved or formally submitted to their institute or faculty.
Required Application Documents
Applicants are expected to submit a complete application package containing the required supporting documents.
These include:
Student enrollment certificate
Academic transcript
Copy of national identity document
Passport-style photograph
Criminal record certificate
Social security registration and service record
Academic curriculum vitae (CV)
Recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor or academic staff member
Thesis proposal approval document or advisor confirmation
Thesis Detail Form
Scholarship Application Form
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are provided, as incomplete applications may not proceed to the evaluation stage.
Zero Waste Scholarship Selection Process
The scholarship selection process is conducted by the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee and consists of three main stages.
1. Preliminary Review
Applications are initially screened to verify applicants’ eligibility and determine whether all required documents have been submitted.
2. Academic and Thematic Evaluation
Eligible applications are assessed based on several factors, including:
Academic performance
Financial need
Research quality
Innovation
Relevance to the selected category
Potential contribution to the zero waste field
3. Interview Stage
Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview.
The interview assesses the applicant’s:
Academic competence
Motivation
Alignment with the Foundation’s vision and objectives
Responsibilities of Scholarship Recipients
Students selected for the programme become volunteer researchers within the Foundation and are expected to actively participate in its activities.
Scholarship recipients are expected to:
Support research, educational initiatives, and literature reviews.
Contribute to data analysis and knowledge-generation activities.
Produce at least one popular science article, research summary, or policy report for Foundation publications.
Submit monthly progress reports approved by their thesis supervisor.
Participate in meetings, seminars, workshops, and events organized by the Foundation.
Acknowledge the Foundation’s support in academic publications produced during the scholarship period.
These responsibilities form part of the recipients’ contribution to the Foundation’s research, education, and knowledge-sharing activities.
Scholarship Renewal and Termination
The scholarships may be renewed annually following a new application and evaluation process.
Master’s scholarships may be awarded for a maximum of two academic years, while doctoral scholarships may continue for up to four academic years.
However, funding may be terminated if a scholarship recipient:
Fails to maintain the required academic performance standards.
Abandons their zero waste research focus.
Fails to meet reporting requirements.
Receives another scholarship.
Obtains full-time employment.
Provides misleading or inaccurate information.
Loses student status.
Recipients are therefore expected to maintain their academic standing and comply with the requirements of the Foundation throughout the scholarship period.
How to apply