2026 Student Amnesty in Turkey; Thousands of Students Set to Return to Universities as Approval Nears

Today, July 14, 2026, the Turkish Parliament is witnessing one of its most important sessions in the field of higher education. The proposed student amnesty plan, drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is being discussed in the Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) [1]. This bill, which is part of a 28-article reform package for the Higher Education Law, aims to restore the right to education for thousands of people who had fallen out of the educational cycle.

Details of the 2026 Student Amnesty Bill According to published reports, the plan includes students at the associate, bachelor's, and graduate (master's and doctoral) levels whose relationship with the university was severed due to reasons such as failure to register, unauthorized absence, or failure to complete the program within the allotted time [3]. The key point of this bill is the date set for eligibility; individuals who were dismissed or withdrew from the university from July 1, 2022, onwards can benefit from these facilities [4].

Who is Eligible for This Amnesty? In addition to dismissed students, those who were accepted in entrance exams but failed to complete final registration for any reason will also be covered by this law [3]. Furthermore, students who have completed their theoretical courses but failed to receive a degree due to not completing internships or practical courses will have a second chance to finish their education [4]. Universities such as Anadolu University have announced that they have prepared their digital infrastructure to accommodate this volume of students in the Fall 2026 semester.

Legal Exceptions and Restrictions Like previous amnesty periods, this bill does not include everyone. Those dismissed from the university for terrorism crimes, intentional homicide, sexual abuse, drug trafficking, or forgery of documents are strictly excluded from this plan [1][4]. Additionally, the new bill considers strict penalties for academic fraud, including the dismissal of faculty members involved in preparing paid theses [4].

Implementation Timeline and Registration Process Following approval in the commission, the plan is expected to be quickly put to a vote on the general assembly floor. After final approval and publication in the Official Gazette, applicants will have 4 months to submit their requests to the relevant university [3]. For individuals currently performing military service, this deadline will be extended until 2 months after the end of their service to ensure that no eligible student is deprived of this opportunity [4].