09.08.2026 07:50
The higher education regulation, which also includes the student amnesty, has been published in the Official Gazette and entered into force. Students within the scope can apply within 4 months and return to their universities in the 2026-2027 academic year. The regulation provides opportunities for horizontal transfer and transition to open education, while also granting final-year students the right to additional exams and allowing faculty members to work until the age of 75.
The regulation on student amnesty, titled the "Law on Amendments to the Higher Education Law and Certain Laws," has been published in the Official Gazette and entered into force.
With the law adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on July 30, students who did not benefit from amnesties issued before 2022 have been granted a new right. Students within the scope may apply to the higher education institution from which they were disenrolled or where they earned the right to register within 4 months from the effective date of the regulation.
4-MONTH PERIOD FOR RETURNING TO UNIVERSITY
The regulation covers students in all classes, including preparatory classes, in higher education institutions, in adjustment, associate degree, bachelor's completion, undergraduate, and graduate programs.
Those who were disenrolled for any reason, including those who voluntarily left university, and those who qualified for registration by being admitted to a program but did not register, may begin their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year if they apply within 4 months from the date the law enters into force.
THOSE CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES ARE EXCLUDED
The law also specifies individuals who cannot benefit from the student amnesty. Those convicted of terrorism, intentional homicide, torture, ill-treatment, sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, and drug or stimulant manufacturing and trafficking crimes will not qualify for the amnesty.
Those whose registration was canceled due to fraudulent documents or who submitted fraudulent documents during registration will also be excluded from the regulation.
Those whose ties with the university were severed due to membership, affiliation, or connection with terrorist organizations or structures, formations, or groups deemed by the National Security Council to be acting against the state's national security will also not benefit from the amnesty.
ADDITIONAL 2-MONTH PERIOD FOR THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE
The law also provides a special application period for students serving in the military.
Students in the military may apply to benefit from the student amnesty within 2 months following the end of their service period.
RIGHT TO HORIZONTAL TRANSFER ALSO GRANTED
Students who re-register at the higher education institution they left by benefiting from the regulation, whose ÖSYS or YKS score, as of their university admission year, meets the base score of the same type of a same or different diploma program, may apply for horizontal transfer to one of these programs.
When determining the number of students to be accepted for horizontal transfer to a different diploma program, the number of students enrolled in the relevant program and the university's physical conditions will be taken into account.
OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO OPEN EDUCATION
Students who regain student status by benefiting from the student amnesty are also granted the right to horizontal transfer to open education. Students who apply may transfer to equivalent associate or bachelor's degree programs in open education at Anadolu University, Ankara University, Atatürk University, and Istanbul University.
The procedures and principles for the implementation of the regulation will be determined by the Council of Higher Education.
POLICE ACADEMY, MSNU, AND JANDARMA ACADEMY ARE OUT OF SCOPE
In accordance with Article 132 of the Constitution, certain higher education institutions subject to special laws are excluded from the student amnesty.
The Police Academy and affiliated educational institutions, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy and affiliated educational institutions, the Military Academies, Non-Commissioned Officer Vocational Schools, and institutes affiliated with the National Defense University will not benefit from the regulation.
The amnesty provisions will not apply to students whose ties have been severed voluntarily or for other reasons while studying at other higher education institutions on behalf of the Ministry of National Defense, the Police Academy, the Gendarmerie General Command, and the Coast Guard Command.
REGULATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SUPERVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
With another amendment to the Higher Education Law, the periods spent by Higher Education Supervisory Board members on the Board will be considered as time actually spent in their profession according to the special law provisions they are subject to.
These periods will be taken into account in the calculation of promotion, separation to first grade, and becoming first grade periods. For members' age limits, the age limit of the position they held before being elected as a member will be taken as the basis.
FACULTY MEMBERS CAN WORK UNTIL AGE 75
The law also introduces new provisions regarding faculty members who reach the retirement age limit continuing their duties. Academicians who apply before the date they will reach the age limit and who hold a faculty member position as of the contract date, where it is deemed beneficial for them to continue their duties in departments and programs determined by higher education institutions, may work on a contractual basis.
In line with the opinion of the higher education institution and the decision of the Council of Higher Education, these faculty members may serve for two-year periods, not exceeding age 75 from the date they reach the retirement age limit until retirement or old-age pension is granted.
The Council of Higher Education may limit the number of contracted faculty members that can be employed under this scope by department, program, or higher education institutions, and may make regulations regarding service requirements and academic criteria.
PERSONAL RIGHTS OF CONTRACTED FACULTY MEMBERS WILL BE PROTECTED
With the law, it is stipulated that academicians working as contracted faculty members after the age limit will continue to have the personal rights they previously had as tenured faculty members during their contracted period.
The regulation also includes ensuring uniformity of practice between tenured and contracted faculty members regarding payments based on actual work.
OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT PERIOD CAN EXTEND UP TO 5 YEARS
Faculty members who receive official invitations from higher education institutions in the Turkish Republics and Related Communities may be granted paid leave, not exceeding 3 years, with all personal rights reserved.
This leave will be granted by the decision of the university administrative board and the approval of the Ministry of National Education.
For universities established by international agreements and programs opened at higher education institutions abroad through bilateral agreements under protocols to which the Council of Higher Education is a party, the period may be extended up to 5 years.
ADDITIONAL RIGHT FOR FINAL-YEAR STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE MAXIMUM STUDY PERIOD
The regulation also introduces a significant change for students who have completed the maximum study period.
Students in their final year, excluding the internship training period, who are at the institution at the end of the maximum study period to graduate will be granted the right to two additional exams or repetitions for all theoretical and practical courses they failed or did not take.
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE PRACTICAL TRAINING AND INTERNSHIP
Students who successfully completed their theoretical or practical courses but did not start practical training or internship training, did not complete these trainings, or were unsuccessful, will also be provided with the opportunity to complete their practical or internship training.
However, intermediate grade students who have completed the maximum duration of study will not be granted an additional exam right. The authority to determine the procedures and principles regarding applied training and internship training will rest with the Council of Higher Education.
EXPULSION FROM THE PROFESSION AS A PENALTY FOR ACADEMIC WORK PREPARED BY OTHERS
A notable regulation regarding academic ethics was also made with the law.
Those who use publications and works that do not rely on their own personal effort and knowledge, and that are produced by others for a fee or free of charge, in order to obtain appointment, promotion, title, or degree will face the penalty of expulsion from the profession.
The penalty of expulsion from the profession will also be applied to those who prepare such publications and works on behalf of others or who mediate the aforementioned acts.
NEW ERA IN DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS
With the amendment made in the law, the procedures and principles regarding the conduct of disciplinary investigations and the exercise of the rights to statement and defense will be reorganized, taking into account the annulment decision of the Constitutional Court.
The regulation aims to ensure the right to a fair hearing, as well as the principles of legal security and certainty.
AT LEAST 7 DAYS WILL BE GIVEN TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT
In line with the provision titled “Disciplinary investigation, taking a statement, and the right to defense,” the investigator will clearly state the allegations in the invitation letter for a statement sent to the person under disciplinary investigation.
The person will be granted a period of no less than 7 days to provide their statement. It will be notified that if no oral or written statement is given within this period, action will be taken based on the existing evidence in the file.
The investigator will prepare their proposal based on the evidence collected.
AT LEAST 7 DAYS ALSO FOR THE RIGHT TO DEFENSE
In the invitation letter for defense to be sent by the authority authorized to impose disciplinary penalties, the act that forms the basis of the proposal and the disciplinary penalty corresponding to this act will be clearly stated.
The person under investigation will be given a period of no less than 7 days to provide their defense.
The invitation letter will also state that if the defense is not submitted within the given period, the person will be considered to have waived their right to defense and a decision will be made based on the existing evidence.
Additionally, the person may review the investigation file before exercising their right to defense.
REGULATION ON ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL SUBSPECIALISTS
According to the medical specialty legislation, the additional payment ceiling rate for faculty members and research assistants with subspecialty qualifications will be aligned with the payment rate received by their counterparts working at the Ministry of Health.
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT FOR ACADEMICIANS ASSIGNED TO JOINT RESEARCH CENTERS
Within the scope of the relevant provisions of the law, teaching staff assigned to joint research centers will continue to benefit from additional payments under the relevant legislation, taking into account their contributions to the revolving fund activities carried out at their own universities.
Durable movable goods purchased with project revenues will be recorded in the inventory of the coordinator university and may be allocated to the universities of the joint application and research center within the scope of the project.
After the completion of the project, the joint application and research center executive board will decide which higher education institution the durable movable goods will be transferred to through an inter-institutional free transfer.
In case the coordinator university changes, the debts, receivables, and cash balances of the joint application and research center will be transferred to the new coordinator university.
BUDGET SUPPORT FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS
Within the scope of the Basic Law on Health Services, taking into account 2.5% of the gross revenue of the previous year of jointly used health facilities, the necessary appropriation will be allocated in the central government budget to support the scientific research projects of universities.
The said appropriation will be allocated to the budget of the relevant university.
If the jointly used health facility signs a protocol with more than one university, the 2.5% rate will be calculated by dividing it in proportion to the number of teaching staff assigned by the universities to the facility.
The procedures and principles of the transactions within this scope will be determined by a regulation to be issued by the Council of Higher Education, upon obtaining the consent of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Ministry of Health.