- Applications for the awards to be granted in 20 categories under three main titles—Individual, Institutional, and Special—will continue until May 18

April 27, 2026

The application period has officially begun for YÖK’s Excellence Awards, which have been presented by the Council of Higher Education since 2017. Applications will be accepted until May 18, 2026.

Under the Individual Awards category, the Doctoral Dissertation of the Year Award will be granted in ten fields: Educational Sciences, Law and Theology, Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, Architecture and Design, Administrative Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, Health and Sports Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy), and Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Applications for these awards must be submitted jointly by the doctoral candidate and their thesis advisor for dissertations completed within the previous year. These awards aim to highlight the importance of collaborative achievement between advisors and students.

Under the Institutional Awards category, there are seven different awards: Digital Transformation and Data-Driven Management Award, Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Award, Quality-Oriented Approach Award, Social Responsibility Award, Internationalization Award, University–Industry Collaboration Award, and Contribution to Local Development Award. Applications for these awards will be submitted by higher education institutions. The aim is to encourage and disseminate innovative work and best practices completed by institutions in the previous year.

The Special Awards will be granted in three categories: Science Diplomacy Award, National Innovation Award, and Service to Knowledge and Students Award. These awards will be presented to scholars who have made significant contributions to education and science through their work. No applications will be accepted for these awards.

Further information about the application requirements can be found at https://proje.yok.gov.tr/tr/page/621.