Middle East Technical University (METU) provides a needs-based student support programme that offers direct food assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties and facing barriers to accessing adequate meals.

Through its student scholarship and support system, METU provides meal scholarships to eligible students based on their financial circumstances. The assistance is provided through the University's dining facilities and may cover lunch, dinner, or both meals, helping students maintain regular access to meals throughout their studies.

The programme was actively implemented in 2025. According to the METU 2025 Student Affairs Directorate Activity Report, 2,739 students applied for scholarships, of whom 1,689 applicants passed the preliminary eligibility assessment and submitted the required documentation. In 2025, 247 students were newly awarded food scholarships, while 1,397 students were receiving meal assistance during the reporting period. These figures demonstrate the scale of the University's direct response to students facing financial barriers to food access.

METU also provides complementary food support through initiatives of the METU Alumni Association (ODTÜ Mezunları Derneği). These initiatives extend food assistance beyond the University's formal meal scholarship programme and provide additional opportunities for students experiencing financial difficulties to access meals.

One such initiative is the Student-Friendly Business (ODİ) suspended-meal programme. Under this system, participating restaurants offer discounted menus for university students. Supporters can purchase these meals through the ODİ platform and place them on a suspended-meal system (askıda yemek). Students can view the available meals, make a reservation, and receive the meal free of charge.

As part of this collaboration, the METU Alumni Association has included its Vişnelik Facilities in the ODİ platform and introduced a discounted menu specifically for METU students. Meals purchased by supporters can be placed on the suspended menu for students to use free of charge. Under the collaboration, ODİ does not charge commissions or make deductions from meals placed on the suspended system, allowing the full value of the donated meal to benefit students.

The Alumni Association also provides targeted food assistance during examination periods. Through the “Final Exam Period Sandwiches from Me to METU Students” initiative, implemented with alumni donations since 2018, students studying overnight at the METU Main Library during final examination periods receive free sandwiches and food packages. The initiative provides direct food assistance during particularly intensive periods of the academic year, helping students maintain access to food while studying for final examinations.

Together, these initiatives form a multi-layered approach to addressing student food insecurity and hunger, combining regular needs-based institutional meal assistance with community-supported meals and targeted food assistance during examination periods.

Programme / Intervention

METU's approach to addressing student food insecurity and hunger includes:

• Needs-based meal scholarships: Direct meal assistance for financially vulnerable students through university dining facilities.
• ODİ suspended-meal programme: Donor-funded meals made available to university students through the suspended-meal system.
• Vişnelik–ODİ collaboration: A dedicated discounted menu for METU students, with donated meals made available to students free of charge and without commission deductions.
• Examination-period food assistance: Free sandwiches and food packages for students studying overnight at the METU Main Library during final examination periods, supported by alumni donations since 2018.

METU Student Affairs Directorate, 2025 Activity Report https://oidb.metu.edu.tr/sites/oidb.metu.edu.tr/files/2025_yili_faaliyet_raporu.pdf

METU Alumni Association / ODİ information: https://odtumd.org.tr/odtu-ogrencilerine-askida-yemek-uygulamasi-2/

METU Alumni Association information on the “Final Exam Period Sandwiches from Me to METU Students” initiative: https://adimodtu.org.tr/projeler/final-donemi-odtu-lunun-sandvici-ve-kahvesi-benden