Transformation in the Turkish High School System: Dual Diploma Rights for Foreigners

In a new and extensive move, the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) has changed the Secondary Education Institutions Regulation. These amendments, published in the Official Gazette on July 3, 2026, are designed to raise educational standards and facilitate conditions for international students [1]. These changes not only affect how elite schools are selected but also strengthen the educational standing of foreign students within the Turkish system.

Dual Diploma Rights for Foreign Students One of the most prominent changes in the new regulation is granting the right to receive a "dual diploma" to foreign students graduating from official Turkish high schools. According to this decree, foreign nationals can, if they wish, receive a second "Anatolian High School" diploma prepared in both Turkish and a foreign language, in addition to their standard diploma [2][4]. This measure is expected to facilitate the process of academic credential evaluation for these students internationally and provide them with better educational and career opportunities outside of Turkey.

New Criteria for Admission to Elite Schools (LGS) The Turkish Ministry of National Education has revised the criteria for a school to become a "school admitting students through a central exam" (elite). From now on, academic success will not be the only criterion. According to the new regulation, schools wishing to admit students through the LGS exam will be evaluated based on several indicators, including: - Academic success and projects implemented in the school. - Extracurricular activities and participation in national and international competitions. - Certificates, patents, and valid documents obtained by the school. - Strategic collaborations with stakeholder institutions [3][6].

This new approach forces schools to improve quality in all educational and social dimensions to maintain their place on the list of top schools.

New Administrative Calendar and School Supervision The process for approving and supervising elite schools now has a precise and strict timeline. School applications to admit students through exams must be submitted to provincial directorates in January. Provincial evaluation commissions will complete their reviews by the end of February and send reports to the Ministry by the end of March [1][5]. Finally, after final reviews in April, the Ministry will notify the governorates of the list of approved schools by the end of May at the latest. It should be noted that Science High Schools (Fen Liseleri) and Social Sciences High Schools are exempt from some of these bureaucratic steps and are selected through the direct proposal of General Directors and the approval of the Minister [6].