Turkish Parliament approves student amnesty and higher‑education reforms
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly approved an amendment to the Higher Education Law that introduces a broad student amnesty and several reforms to the university system. The amendment allows students whose university registration was cancelled or who were unable to enrol to re‑enter higher education for the 2026‑2027 academic year. Applicants must submit their requests within four months of the law’s entry into force; those serving in the military have a two‑month window after discharge. The amnesty does not cover persons convicted of terrorism, intentional homicide, serious felonies or of using forged documents.
The law also grants final‑year students two additional exam attempts for missed or failed courses, permits academic staff to be employed on two‑year contracts until the age of 75, and sets heavy penalties for ghost‑writing of theses, articles or projects (imprisonment of 5,000‑10,000 days). Scholars from Turkish republics and related communities may receive up to three years of leave, extendable to five years under bilateral agreements. Additional provisions cover contract employment of senior faculty, creation of technology‑transfer offices and the establishment of foreign university units.
Entities: 2026‑2027 academic year · Celal Adan · Council of Higher Education (YÖK) · Grand National Assembly of Turkey · Higher Education Council (YÖK) · Higher Education Law amendment · Republic of Turkey · Student Amnesty · Turkey · Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) · Turkish Republics and related communities · Turkish universities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 16 SOURCES] The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly approved the student amnesty and higher‑education law amendment. (belongs)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The amnesty excludes persons convicted of terrorism, intentional homicide, serious felonies, or using forged documents. (belongs)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The law grants final‑year students two extra exam attempts for missed or failed courses. (belongs)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Academic staff may be employed on contract until age 75, in two‑year terms. (belongs)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Applicants must submit requests within four months of the law’s entry into force; military personnel have two months after discharge. (belongs)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The amendment allows students whose university registration was cancelled or who left their studies to re‑enter for the 2026‑2027 academic year. (belongs)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Scholars from Turkish republics and related communities may receive up to three years of leave, extendable to five years under bilateral agreements. (belongs)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Heavy penalties are introduced for ghost‑writing of theses, articles or projects, including fines of 5,000‑10,000 days of imprisonment. (belongs)