Advanced students
Advanced undergraduates and graduate students in computer science, AI, data science, engineering, economics, or related fields.
Applications are open! · July 2026 cohort
AI Safety TürkiyeFast Track Fellowship
AI will transform the world, for better or worse. Spend four weeks finding out how your career can tip it toward better.
Free · cohort capped at 10 · selection-based
DatesJuly 7 – July 28, 2026
FormatFully virtual · Zoom
Weekly load~3 hours/week
CohortCapped at 10
§ 01 / What is this?
The AI Safety Türkiye Fast Track Fellowship is a condensed version of AISTR's AI governance fellowship for people who want a serious AI safety foundation in a compact format.
Over 3 weeks you will examine capability gains in frontier AI models, their risks, and what can be done — through carefully selected pre-readings and critical discussions with other selected participants. In the fourth week, a 1:1 conversation will help you shape your next career steps in this direction.
This program aims to prepare you for international careers in AI safety and governance. Graduates can pursue BlueDot Impact, ARENA, MATS, SPAR, and other programs or independent projects.
§ 02 / Who this is for
Our program is suitable for every background.
We prioritize applicants from quantitative fields because the field desperately needs technical talent, but we welcome strong analytical thinkers from philosophy to economics and every discipline in between.
Early-career professionals
People in software, ML, cybersecurity, or data work who are thinking about pivoting toward AI safety.
Researchers
Researchers in interpretability, adversarial robustness, cybersecurity, or nearby domains who want to see how their skills transfer.
Analytical thinkers
Strong analytical thinkers from any field with demonstrated interest in AI's near-term and long-term trajectory.
§ 03 / Program at a glance
Four weeks, two core sessions.
The program opens with an introductory session, deepens through two discussion-based sessions, and closes with an individual follow-up.
Week1
Introductions · 1 hr
Introductions & program walkthrough
Introductions, program walkthrough, expectations, and scheduling.
Week2
2 hr · discussion
AI Capabilities & Transformative Potential
AI's progress trajectory, transformative AI timelines, and why governance struggles to keep up.
Week3
2 hr · discussion
AI Risks & Safety Challenges
Misalignment, misuse, systemic risks, and technical safety approaches.
Week4
30 min · individual
1:1 follow-up
A personalized conversation about your next-step plan, application timelines, and useful introductions.
Format All sessions are on Zoom. Exact weekday and time are chosen by participant poll once the cohort is finalized.
§ 04 / What you gain
What you leave with after four weeks.
A small cohort capped at 10Motivated peers across Turkey and structured discussions facilitated by AISTR cofounders.
A curated curriculumAdapted from BlueDot Impact's globally recognized AI governance materials.
A 1-month Claude Pro subscriptionTo test a frontier AI model hands-on during the fellowship, all participants will receive a 1-month Claude Pro subscription.
A 1:1 next-steps conversationAdvice on global programs, research opportunities, and career paths depending on your interests.
An ongoing peer communityPeople who share your professional interests and can keep learning alongside you.
AI Safety Türkiye is not sponsored by Anthropic.
§ 04 / Track record
Past cohorts in numbers.
18
participants · 2 programs
93%
recommendation rateParticipants who recommend our programs to people interested in AI safety.
Alumni of our previous AI governance programs were accepted into BlueDot Impact's programs, presented at international conferences like ICML, and launched independent AI safety projects.
Sources: AISTR program records and end-of-cohort participant survey.
§ 05 / Who runs it?
Bengüsu Özcan
AISTR Co-Founder · Frontier AI Governance Researcher
Bengüsu is an AI Safety Türkiye co-founder and a frontier AI governance researcher based in Brussels. She has also led programs at BlueDot Impact.
§ 06 / Application
July 2026 cohort.
Applications are open and close June 22, 2026.
01Applications are open
02Deadline: June 22, 2026
03Results by email within a week of the deadline
04Program begins July 7
Apply now
Free · takes about 10 minutes
July doesn't work? We'll announce the October cohort by newsletter — subscribe.
§ 07 / Frequently asked
The first questions.
For anything else, write to [email protected] or reach us through LinkedIn.
01Is the program in Turkish or English?+
Discussions are in Turkish. Pre-readings are in English. If your English is good enough to read articles, you will be fine.
02Do I need a technical background?+
No. We are especially excited about technical applicants because the global AI safety field needs technical talent, but we have had strong fellows from philosophy, economics, international relations, and other fields.
03How is this different from the longer 5-week fellowship?+
The AI Safety Türkiye Fast Track Fellowship is shorter and more focused: two core sessions plus a welcome and a 1:1 week. The pre-reading load is lower, and the 1:1 follow-up is more central.
04Will there be another cohort?+
Yes. The next cohort is planned for October 2026. If you cannot attend the July cohort, you can apply for October instead.
05What does it cost?+
The program is free for accepted participants.
06Who runs the program?+
Bengüsu Özcan, AI Safety Türkiye co-founder and frontier AI governance researcher based in Brussels.
Questions before applying?
Write to us or follow public updates on LinkedIn.