Turkey enacts student amnesty and higher education law

student amnesty higher education law university return academic misconduct Turkey education

A new law amending the Higher Education Law has been published in the Official Gazette, introducing a student amnesty that allows hundreds of thousands of individuals to return to university. This amnesty applies to students at all levels—including associate, undergraduate, and graduate—who were disconnected for any reason or who qualified for a program but failed to enroll.

Eligible students must apply to their respective institutions within four months of the law's enactment to begin studies in the 2026-2027 academic year. Those currently serving in the military may apply within two months following their discharge. The regulation also provides rights for horizontal transfers and access to open education programs at major universities.

However, the amnesty excludes individuals convicted of serious crimes, including terrorism, intentional murder, torture, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and crimes related to intellectual property. It also excludes those whose enrollment was canceled due to fraudulent documentation or students from specific military and security academies.

Additionally, the law introduces strict sanctions for academic misconduct. Individuals who obtain degrees or titles by having others write their theses, articles, or projects may have their degrees revoked and face expulsion from the teaching profession. Facilitating such misconduct can lead to significant judicial fines. The law also imposes prison sentences for operating unauthorized educational institutions in Turkey on behalf of foreign entities.

Entities

Adıyaman University · Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University · Anadolu University · Ankara University · Aydın Adnan Menderes University · Council of Higher Education · Higher Education Council · Higher Education Law · Istanbul University · Malatya Turgut Özal University · Official Gazette · Prof. Dr. Recep Bentli

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 23 SOURCES] The amnesty excludes individuals convicted of terrorism, intentional murder, torture, sexual assault, and drug trafficking. www.takvim.com.tr · www.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · +15 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Final-year students who have completed their maximum study period will be granted two additional exams or course repeat rights. www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · www.haber7.com · www.borsaningundemi.com
[● 23 SOURCES] Students who successfully complete the application process will be able to begin their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year. www.takvim.com.tr · www.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · +15 more
[● 23 SOURCES] The law amending the Higher Education Law and certain other laws has been published in the Official Gazette and has entered into force. www.takvim.com.tr · www.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · +15 more
[● 10 SOURCES] New sanctions have been introduced for academic misconduct, including fines for those who have others write their theses or articles. www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.turkgun.com · www.mersinhaber.com · haber.doviz.com · +5 more
[● 23 SOURCES] Students who were disconnected from universities for any reason, including those who left voluntarily, may return to education. www.takvim.com.tr · www.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · +15 more
[● 23 SOURCES] Eligible students must apply to their respective higher education institutions within 4 months of the law entering into force. www.takvim.com.tr · www.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com · www.kamuajans.com · +15 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Foundation universities face graduated sanctions ranging from warnings to the suspension or permanent removal of operating permits. www.akishaber.com.tr · www.ekoturk.com