New YÖK Decision on ALES Exemption; Program List Updated

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) recently announced significant changes to the graduate education regulations, directly impacting the admission process at universities across the country. According to reports published in reputable educational media such as Memurlar.Net, a new decision has been made regarding exemption from the Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam (ALES) [1].

Details of New ALES Exemptions The ALES exam, known as the primary prerequisite for entering Master's and PhD programs in Turkey, has always been a major challenge for candidates. According to the new YÖK decree, new educational programs have been added to the exemption list. This means that candidates intending to continue their studies in these specific fields will no longer need to provide an ALES score [1]. This decision is considered a golden opportunity, especially for those with professional backgrounds or equivalent degrees at higher levels.

Who is Exempt from Providing an ALES Score? Previously, exemptions mainly included graduates of PhD, Medical Specialization (TUS), and Dental Specialization (DUS) programs who intended to enter a program at the same or lower level. However, in the new circular, the scope of these exemptions has been broadened. Based on the changes made to the regulations, graduates of "Non-thesis Master's" (Tezsiz Yüksek Lisans) programs in certain professional branches, as well as applicants for arts and conservatory fields under specific conditions, are now exempt from this exam [2].

Impact of This Decision on University Admissions YÖK's goal with these changes is to reduce educational bureaucracy and encourage professionals to return to academic environments. By removing the ALES barrier for certain specific programs, universities can now recruit students based on other criteria such as Grade Point Average (GPA), specialized interviews, and professional resumes [1]. This is particularly important for international students planning to study in Turkey, as it simplifies the application process for them.

Implementation Date of the New Decree This decree became effective immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette (Resmi Gazete) and will be applied for the upcoming academic terms in 2026 [2]. Candidates should note that each university may set different thresholds to replace the ALES score (such as a higher interview score); therefore, checking each university's guidebook before registration is mandatory.