Russia has extended its scholarship program to another cohort of Turkish students as part of its ongoing commitment to train personnel for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Turkey’s first nuclear power facility.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, 70 fully funded positions have been allocated to Turkish graduates pursuing master’s degrees in nuclear engineering and related disciplines at leading Russian universities.

The candidates were selected based on online assessments conducted by instructors from participating Russian institutions.

The program covers advanced technical fields essential to nuclear power plant operations, including Nuclear Physics and Technology, Heat Power Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cryogenic Engineering, Life Support Systems, and more.

With the growing scope of the program, the number of Russian universities involved in the training has also expanded in 2025 to include new institutions aligned with emerging nuclear sector demands.

The initiative previously centered on the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and the National Research University MPEI.

Launched in 2011, the targeted training initiative is funded by the Russian government. Students receive a comprehensive support package from Akkuyu Nuclear—a subsidiary of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the owner of Akkuyu NPP—including a monthly stipend, visa support, medical insurance, annual round-trip airfare to Turkey, and ground transport from airports to student accommodations.

Upon completing their studies, graduates are offered open-ended contracts with Akkuyu Nuclear and are expected to play critical roles in the operation and management of the NPP.

A similar cooperation model has been successfully implemented between Russia and Bangladesh.

Hundreds of Bangladeshi students and professionals have received advanced education and training in nuclear sciences in Russia and now serve in key technical roles at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

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