Our University implements direct food-support mechanisms to reduce the risk that students may be unable to access adequate and regular nutrition due to financial difficulties. In this context, the University’s Department of Health, Culture and Sports (SKS) provides a Meal Scholarship to students identified as being in financial need. The Meal Scholarship is funded directly from the budget of the Department of Health, Culture and Sports and provides eligible students with one free lunch per day in the University dining halls for one academic year. Therefore, this programme represents not merely financial assistance or access to subsidised meals, but an institutional intervention that provides students with direct and free access to food.
Evidence: https://hplab.ktu.edu.tr/sks/bursveyardimhizmetleri
This intervention was actively implemented in 2025. The University accepted applications for the 2025–2026 Academic Year Meal Scholarship between 9 and 15 October 2025, announced that the results would be published on 17 October 2025, and specified that the scholarship would be valid from 27 October 2025 to 30 June 2026. In this way, students in financial need are able to benefit from regular free meal support throughout the academic year.
Evidence: www.ktu.edu.tr/sks/duyuru/yemek-bursu-basvuru-duyurusu
The results published on 17 October 2025 further demonstrate that the programme was effectively allocated to eligible beneficiaries. Students who met the required score following a socioeconomic assessment qualified for the Meal Scholarship. Specific academic progression requirements were applied to undergraduate and postgraduate students, while preparatory-year and first-year students were exempt from these requirements. This demonstrates that the University operates a structured food-support mechanism that considers both financial need and students’ continued participation in education.
Evidence: https://www.ktu.edu.tr/sks/duyuru/yerli-ogrenci-yemek-bursu-basvuru-sonuclari
The 2025 Unit Activity Report of the KTÜ Department of Health, Culture and Sports also demonstrates that student nutrition is recognised as one of the University’s institutional social-support responsibilities. The report identifies the provision of scholarships and nutritional support to students, as well as meeting basic needs such as accommodation, nutrition, scholarships and loans, among the responsibilities of the Department. It further states that a total of 227,395 meals were served to students in 2025, with the student meal price set at TRY 40. The same report also states that “meal scholarships were provided to 31,249 students in need studying at our University in 2025.”
Evidence: https://www.ktu.edu.tr/dosyalar/sks_RTqne.pdf
Food support is not limited to the University’s main campus. In addition to the student dining halls on the Kanuni Campus, student meal services are also available at different locations, including Of, Araklı, Arsin, Sürmene, Trabzon Vocational School, Maçka, and the Coastal Campus. This helps ensure that students can access institutional meal services regardless of the academic unit or campus at which they are based.
Evidence: www.ktu.edu.tr/sks/beslenmehizmetleri
The University’s approach to reducing student hunger is further strengthened by broader social-support mechanisms alongside the free Meal Scholarship. Students in financial need can also benefit from additional financial-support schemes, including the KTÜ Scholarship and Assistance System and scholarships provided by the Karadeniz University Development Foundation (KÜVAK). However, the University’s most direct institutional intervention addressing student hunger is the Meal Scholarship Programme, which provides students in financial need with regular and free meals in University dining facilities
Evidence: https://www.kuvakfi.org.tr/
In conclusion, in 2025, Karadeniz Technical University implemented a direct, needs-based and sustainable intervention system to prevent or alleviate hunger and food insecurity among students. Through the Meal Scholarship Programme, affordable campus dining services, and complementary financial-support mechanisms, the University works to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent students from accessing adequate and regular nutrition.
