With the presentation of the new Justice and Development Party bill to the Turkish Parliament, a second chance has been provided for more than one million students who dropped out to return to university in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Details of the Student Amnesty Bill in the Turkish Parliament
According to the latest reports published on June 30, 2026, representatives of the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), led by Abdullah Güler, have completed the final stages of drafting a new bill to amend the Higher Education Law. This bill, which includes 32 articles, is scheduled to be presented to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) this week [1]. The main goal of this plan is to provide the possibility of returning to study for thousands of students who have left the higher education cycle for various reasons. This resolution is expected to receive final approval before the parliamentary summer recess to be implemented from the first semester of the new academic year [2].
Who is Eligible for the 2026 Academic Amnesty?
The scope of this amnesty is very broad and covers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. According to the text of the bill, individuals who have disconnected from the university since July 1, 2022, or who failed to register despite passing the entrance exam, will be subject to this law [3]. Reports also indicate that final-year students in high-cost fields such as medicine and dentistry, who were unable to graduate within the legal deadline due to family or health problems, are prioritized in this plan [4]. Additionally, those who missed the 2022 amnesty may also find an opportunity to return under specific conditions.
Legal Conditions and Exceptions for Returning to University
The Turkish government has included strict exceptions in this bill to maintain security and order in educational environments. Individuals convicted of serious crimes, including terrorism, intentional homicide, torture, sexual abuse of children, and drug trafficking, will not be eligible for this amnesty under any circumstances [1]. Furthermore, those who registered with forged documents or were associated with organizations disrupting national security do not have the right to use these facilities [3]. For other applicants, the main condition is to submit a formal request to the relevant university within the specified timeframe.
Registration Deadline and Implementation Time of the New Law
After the approval and publication of this law in the Official Gazette, applicants will have only 4 months to submit their request to the university from which they were expelled or where they were accepted [4]. Students whose applications are accepted can start their classes from the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. This action not only helps reduce the burden of pending cases in the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) but is also a golden opportunity for young people who had given up on their educational dreams due to economic or personal circumstances [2].
The new Turkish student amnesty bill paves the way back to university for more than one million people.
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