With the submission of the new Higher Education Law (YÖK) amendment bill to the Turkish Parliament on July 4, 2026, the era of paid theses is coming to an end; violators now face unprecedented fines of up to 10 million lira and the permanent revocation of academic titles.
The Turkish government has taken decisive steps to end the phenomenon of "thesis buying and selling" and academic fraud. According to the new bill submitted today to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), extensive reforms are planned for the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) law, aimed at preserving the academic integrity of the country's universities [1].
Million-Lira Fines for Thesis Offices According to the published details, individuals who write theses, articles, or scientific projects for others in exchange for money will face heavy fines ranging from 500,000 to 5 million lira. However, the primary punishment is directed at institutions and individuals who have turned this activity into a commercial business; for this category of violators, administrative fines start at one million lira and increase up to a maximum of 10 million lira [2][3].
Revocation of Degrees and Dismissal of Professors This law is not limited to financial penalties. According to the bill, any individual found to have obtained a degree (Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate) or academic titles such as Associate Professor or Professor using purchased theses or articles will have all their documents and titles immediately revoked [1]. Additionally, university faculty members who participate in such illegal activities will be permanently dismissed from their profession and banned from academic activities [2].
Prison Sentences for Illegal Educational Activities Another part of this bill addresses the activities of unauthorized foreign educational institutions on Turkish soil. Individuals who conduct associate, undergraduate, or graduate courses in Turkey without legal permission and in the name of institutions abroad will be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison [1]. Furthermore, those who advertise for these illegal centers face a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years [3].
These reforms, which will soon be reviewed by parliamentary commissions, demonstrate Turkey's serious determination to confront the "thesis mafia" and elevate academic standards in 2026.
The new bill to combat academic fraud was submitted to the Turkish Parliament on July 4, 2026.
linkSources
- Parayla tez yazana 10 milyon lira ceza: İşte TBMM’ye sunulan YÖK Kanunu’nun detayları! — Sabah (2026-07-04)
- Parayla tez yazanda yazdıran da yandı! YÖK Kanunu çok büyük cezalarla geliyor — TGRT Haber (2026-07-04)
- Parayla tez yazdıranlar yandı: TBMM'ye sunuldu... Ceza 10 milyon liraya kadar çıkacak — GZT (2026-07-04)
