Turkey 2026 Academic Amnesty; Approval of Student Return Plan in Parliament

In a significant development for the Turkish educational system, the Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey approved the proposal regarding the "Higher Education Law Amendment and Student Amnesty" on July 15, 2026, following lengthy sessions [1]. This proposal, presented by representatives of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), will now move to the general assembly for a final vote.

Who is Eligible for the 2026 Academic Amnesty? According to the provisions of this decree, all students whose relationship with their university was severed at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate (Master's and PhD) levels for any reason—including failure to register, absence, or personal withdrawal—can apply to return to their studies [3]. This law also includes individuals who were accepted through the entrance exam but failed to complete their final registration. The main condition for benefiting from this amnesty is not having utilized similar amnesty plans in previous years [2].

Students whose applications are accepted can continue their education starting from the first semester of the 2026-2027 academic year at their former university or, if eligible, through transfer to the Open Education System (AÖF) [4].

Exceptions and Exclusions The Turkish Parliament has set strict limitations to maintain security and ethics in educational environments. According to published reports, individuals convicted of terrorist offenses, intentional homicide, sexual abuse, drug trafficking, or forgery of documents will not be included in this amnesty under any circumstances [1]. Additionally, students expelled from military and police academies (such as the National Defense University and the Gendarmerie Academy) are excluded from the scope of this law [3].

Structural Reforms and Combating Academic Misconduct This legislative package goes beyond a simple amnesty and includes 28 articles to reform the structure of universities. One of the most important sections is the tightening of penalties for academic misconduct. Professors or students involved in the illegal preparation of theses and articles (buying and selling of theses) will face expulsion from the profession and the revocation of their academic degrees [2]. Furthermore, eligible retired professors are provided the opportunity to continue their activities on a contract basis until the age of 75 to utilize their experience in research projects [1].

Registration Deadline and Implementation Steps Following final approval in the general assembly and publication in the Official Gazette, applicants will have only 4 months to submit their written request to the relevant university [4]. For individuals currently in military service, this deadline has been extended to 2 months after the end of their service period [3]. It is expected that with the implementation of this law, a large wave of returns to education will begin in the fall of 2026 in Turkish universities.