Supporting Students from Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries
Atatürk University | SDG 1 – No Poverty | Indicator 1.3.5 | Reporting Year: 2025
1. Institutional Commitment to International Educational Equity
Atatürk University is committed to widening access to higher education for students from economically disadvantaged countries and supporting their academic and social integration.
The University’s internationalisation framework combines international student admission procedures, scholarship information, student welfare services, accommodation opportunities, academic orientation and intercultural engagement.
These arrangements are particularly relevant to students from low- and lower-middle-income countries who may face additional financial, linguistic, social and administrative barriers when pursuing higher education abroad.
The University recognises that admitting international students is only one part of educational inclusion. Helping students navigate university procedures, access appropriate support and adapt to a new academic environment is also essential to educational continuity.
Its approach contributes to SDG 1 – No Poverty by expanding educational opportunities and providing support mechanisms that can help reduce the financial and social barriers faced by students from disadvantaged countries.
2. International Student Participation: Verified 2025 Institutional Results
Atatürk University maintains a substantial international student community, reflecting its role as a regional centre for international higher education.
According to the University’s 2025 Annual Activity Report, the following results were recorded:
| Internationalisation Indicator | 2025 Result |
|---|---|
| Total enrolled international students | 11,995 |
| Countries represented | 93 |
| International applicants submitting applications or preferences | 2,262 |
| Newly registered international students | 966 |
| Countries covered by institutional university partnerships | 34 |
| Partner universities under bilateral agreements | 165 |
These figures demonstrate the University’s capacity to attract, admit and educate students from a geographically diverse range of countries.
The reported international student population provides an institutional foundation for supporting students from low- and lower-middle-income economies.
However, the overall figure of 11,995 international students is not presented as the number originating specifically from these income groups. A separate country-of-origin breakdown is necessary to determine that total.
Official evidence:
Atatürk University – 2025 Annual Activity Report, p. 115
3. Identifying Students from Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries
Atatürk University’s international student population includes students from countries experiencing substantial economic and development challenges.
For reporting purposes, the University can identify the relevant countries using the World Bank’s income classification system, which categorises economies according to gross national income per capita.
Under the World Bank classification for fiscal year 2026, covering July 2025 to June 2026, examples of relevant countries include:
| World Bank Income Category | Countries Relevant to the University’s Previously Reported International Student Profile |
|---|---|
| Low-income economies | Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia |
| Lower-middle-income economies | Bangladesh, Nigeria |
The University’s previous sustainability submission also reported enrolments from these countries, including:
| Country | Previously Reported Student Count |
|---|---|
| Syria | 1,591 |
| Afghanistan | 142 |
| Yemen | 60 |
| Somalia | 20 |
| Sudan | 8 |
| Total for these five countries | 1,821 |
These figures originate from the University’s previous submission and are included as historical evidence only. They must not be treated as verified 2025 country-level enrolment data.
The historical figures nevertheless illustrate the presence of student communities originating from countries affected by poverty, economic instability and humanitarian challenges.
Classification evidence:
World Bank – Country and Lending Groups
World Bank – Income Classifications for FY2026
4. Institutional Strategy for International Student Inclusion
Atatürk University’s Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2028 establishes an institutional framework for improving international student access, adaptation and participation.
The strategy identifies specific actions to improve the experience of students arriving from abroad.
These include:
- Organising orientation programmes at the beginning of each academic year.
- Providing bilingual Turkish–English information and announcements.
- Improving the accessibility of institutional websites and student-facing systems.
- Developing campus employment opportunities for international students.
- Organising intercultural activities and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion.
The strategy assigns responsibilities to relevant institutional units, including the Office of International Affairs, the Rectorate and administrative services.
These provisions demonstrate that international student integration is addressed through an institutional action plan rather than being limited to individual or occasional activities.
The action plan is applicable to the wider international student population, including students from low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Official evidence:
Atatürk University – Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan 2024–2028
5. Orientation and Academic Integration
Atatürk University recognises that students arriving from other countries may encounter difficulties related to language, academic expectations, university procedures and cultural adjustment.
Its internationalisation strategy therefore identifies annual orientation programmes as an institutional responsibility.
These programmes are intended to introduce students to the campus, educational environment and surrounding community.
Evidence of implementation is also available for 2025. The University’s academic activity records document an orientation programme for international students during October 2025, associated with the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Such activities provide opportunities for newly enrolled international students to become familiar with institutional procedures and develop connections with the university community.
Orientation is particularly valuable for students with limited financial resources, who may have fewer opportunities to obtain private relocation, language or administrative assistance.
Official evidence:
6. Scholarships and Financial Assistance Opportunities
Atatürk University provides information about institutional and external scholarship opportunities that may help eligible students meet the financial costs of higher education.
The University’s financial support framework includes scholarships associated with the Atatürk University Development Foundation, national funding bodies and external organisations.
The Development Foundation’s 2025–2026 scholarship announcement explicitly expanded scholarship opportunities to students requiring financial assistance.
International students may seek support under the relevant programme rules where their nationality, enrolment status and other eligibility conditions permit.
The University also provides access to information concerning student employment and scholarship opportunities through its student service units.
These mechanisms can reduce financial pressures for eligible international students.
However, eligibility for a particular scholarship or financial assistance programme is not assumed solely on the basis of a student’s country of origin. Specific evidence is required to establish whether a programme is reserved for, or has been awarded to, students from low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Official evidence:
Atatürk University – Scholarship and Employment Opportunities
Atatürk University Development Foundation
2025–2026 Development Foundation Scholarship Announcement
7. Accommodation and Essential Living Support
Affordable accommodation is an important consideration for international students, especially those relocating from countries with limited household financial resources.
Atatürk University’s previously reported international student support framework identifies university accommodation arrangements and access to student dormitories administered by the national Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK).
The previous submission reported approximately 26,000 KYK accommodation places across Erzurum, including around 16,000 places for female students and 10,000 for male students.
These historical figures describe regional accommodation capacity and do not establish the number of places allocated to international students or the number reserved for students from low-income countries.
The University’s wider student support services also include meal scholarship arrangements for eligible students experiencing financial hardship.
Under the University Meal Scholarship programme, qualifying students can receive one free meal each weekday during the academic year.
The programme’s published criteria emphasise financial need and academic achievement.
Together, accommodation information and student welfare programmes provide relevant mechanisms for reducing essential living costs, subject to each programme’s eligibility requirements.
Official evidence:
Credit and Dormitories Institution
Atatürk University – Social Services Branch Directorate
8. Support for Students Affected by Conflict and Displacement
Atatürk University has previously identified students from conflict-affected countries, including Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen, among the international communities it serves.
Students affected by armed conflict, displacement or economic disruption may face additional barriers to higher education, including interrupted educational records, financial instability and difficulties accessing administrative documentation.
The University’s previous sustainability submission identified transfer arrangements, guest-student opportunities and financial support mechanisms as relevant forms of assistance for affected students.
An earlier faculty announcement concerning scholarships for Syrian students also provides evidence that assistance opportunities for this student group have been communicated through institutional channels.
These measures should be distinguished from automatic entitlements. Transfer admission, tuition exemptions and scholarship eligibility depend on the applicable legislation, institutional decisions and programme-specific conditions.
The University’s commitment is to facilitate access to available educational pathways and support information for eligible students whose studies may have been affected by humanitarian crises.
Institutional evidence:
Atatürk University – Scholarship Announcement for Syrian Students
Turkish Council of Higher Education
9. Student Wellbeing and Psychological Counselling
International students may experience difficulties associated with relocation, cultural adaptation, financial insecurity and separation from family support networks.
Atatürk University provides free psychological counselling through its Psychological Counselling and Guidance Application and Research Centre.
The service supports students experiencing personal, emotional and academic difficulties and provides confidential individual counselling.
Although the service is available to the broader student population, it represents an important accessible support mechanism for international students, including those from economically disadvantaged countries.
Providing free counselling can help students seek professional assistance without incurring additional counselling costs.
Official evidence:
Psychological Counselling and Guidance Centre
10. International Partnerships and Opportunities
International institutional cooperation is another component of Atatürk University’s internationalisation framework.
The University’s 2025 Annual Activity Report records:
- 17 new bilateral cooperation protocols concluded during the year.
- A cumulative network of 165 partner universities in 34 countries.
- 92 student and staff mobility activities undertaken through bilateral agreements and summer school programmes.
These partnerships strengthen the University’s international educational environment and create opportunities for academic cooperation and intercultural exchange.
Although these figures do not independently demonstrate targeted financial assistance for students from low-income countries, they document the institutional infrastructure through which international educational participation is developed.
Official evidence:
Atatürk University – 2025 Annual Activity Report, p. 115
11. Institutional Approach to Continuous Improvement
Atatürk University’s international student support framework combines institutional strategy, admission processes, student welfare services, academic orientation and international cooperation.
The University maintains student enrolment records through its administrative information systems, enabling international student participation to be examined by country of origin.
These records provide a basis for identifying students from countries classified by the World Bank as low- or lower-middle-income economies.
The University’s internationalisation strategy also establishes objectives for improving student adaptation, communication and access to campus opportunities.
Together, these arrangements provide a foundation for monitoring international student inclusion and identifying opportunities to strengthen support for students from economically disadvantaged countries.
Future monitoring can further distinguish between the overall international student population and students from low- and lower-middle-income economies, including their participation in scholarships, accommodation assistance and student support programmes.
Conclusion
Atatürk University demonstrates a substantial institutional commitment to international educational inclusion.
In 2025, the University enrolled 11,995 international students from 93 countries, while 966 international students newly registered during the year.
Its 2024–2028 Internationalisation Strategy and Action Plan establishes specific objectives concerning orientation, bilingual information, campus employment opportunities and intercultural participation.
These measures are complemented by scholarship information, student welfare services, accommodation opportunities and free psychological counselling.
The University’s international student community includes students from countries classified as low- and lower-middle-income economies, as demonstrated by its previously reported country-of-origin information.
Through this combination of educational access, institutional planning and student support mechanisms, Atatürk University contributes to SDG 1 – No Poverty, particularly Indicator 1.3.5, by supporting international educational opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged countries.
