# Student support initiatives in Istanbul > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/student-support-initiatives-in-istanbul > Updated: 2026-10-08T09:00:00.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 4. BELBİM, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has launched the ‘Istanbulkart Plus’ program to assist students with transportation and daily living expenses. Valid until October 31, 2026, the program includes waived card fees and shipping, a ‘10 pass, pay 9’ transportation benefit, cashback incentives of up to 150 TL at participating cafes and restaurants, and 50% discounts on digital platforms like Netflix and Spotify. Üsküdar Municipality has extended the application period for its monthly Istanbulkart subscription support for associate and undergraduate students until September 30, 2026. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the municipality will provide a monthly reimbursement of 653 TL—totaling 5,224 TL over eight months—to eligible students residing in Üsküdar who attend state universities in Istanbul or private universities with at least a 50% scholarship. Expanding its broader social assistance, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) has announced plans for the 2026-2027 academic year to provide significant financial aid across several programs. Under the ‘Young University Student Social Support’ initiative, the İBB aims to allocate 2.5 billion TL to 125,000 students, with individual allocations of 20,000 TL. The ‘So You Can Read’ education support program is slated to provide 350 million TL to 100,000 students at 3,500 TL each, while a clothing support program is expected to provide 100 million TL to 20,000 students. As of October 2026, the İBB has opened applications for the ‘Genç Üniversiteli’ (Young University Student) program for the 2026-2027 term. The application window, which opened on September 29, 2026, is set to close on October 23, 2026. To qualify for the 20,000 TL non-refundable support, applicants must be Turkish citizens enrolled in associate, undergraduate, master's, or doctoral programs at state universities or foundation universities with 100% scholarships, provided they or their families reside in Istanbul. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-08: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality opens 2026 university scholarship applications Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is offering 20,000 TL in education support to 125,000 university students. Applications for the 2026-2027 period close on October 23, 2026. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-metropolitan-municipality-opens-2026-university-scholarship-applications ### 2026-10-03: Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality expands student support programs The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality plans to expand student aid for the 2026-2027 academic year, targeting social support, education, and clothing assistance for thousands of students. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-metropolitan-municipality-expands-student-support-programs ### 2026-09-19: Istanbul introduces new transportation and living supports for students Istanbul students are receiving new financial supports, including BELBİM's Istanbulkart Plus benefits and Üsküdar Municipality's monthly transportation subsidies through 2026. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-introduces-new-transportation-and-living-supports-for-students ### 2026-09-17: Istanbulkart introduces new student support and subscription discounts Istanbul's BELBİM has introduced new Istanbulkart Plus benefits for students, including a one-time 1 TL subscription offer and various transportation and retail cashback incentives. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbulkart-introduces-new-student-support-and-subscription-discounts --- Cite as: Student support initiatives in Istanbul. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/student-support-initiatives-in-istanbul