New YÖK and KDK Decision on Issuing Diplomas with New Surnames

A Major Transformation in the Turkish Education System for Graduates In a historic decision widely reflected in the Turkish media today, June 30, 2026, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Ombudsman Institution (KDK) agreed to facilitate the re-issuance of academic diplomas with new surnames [1]. This move follows numerous legal challenges faced by graduates, particularly women, after surname changes resulting from divorce or court orders. Previously, many universities refused to issue new diplomas, only providing a name change certificate, which created difficulties for individuals during administrative and employment processes [2].

The Role of the Ombudsman Institution (KDK) in Protecting Private Rights This decision was made after a citizen in Istanbul applied to Marmara University to update her master's degree diploma following a divorce and surname change, but was met with a refusal from the university. The Turkish Ombudsman Institution (KDK), headed by Mehmet Akarca, reviewed the case and declared that the refusal to update the academic diploma constitutes a violation of the "right to respect for private life" [3]. The ruling issued by KDK emphasized that public institutions and universities are obliged to align official documents with current identity information in the interest of the public and to facilitate the professional and social lives of citizens [4].

The New YÖK Circular and Legal Framework In response to the Ombudsman's recommendations and citing Article 8 of the Population Services Law (No. 7039), the Council of Higher Education of Turkey (YÖK) announced that in the event of a legal name or surname change, universities are authorized to issue a second version of the diploma (Duplikata) with the new name [1]. The circular specifies that to maintain the document's authenticity, the new diploma must state that this version was issued based on legal changes. This new approach ends identity inconsistencies in electronic systems such as E-Devlet and accelerates the diploma verification process for graduates [2].

Impact of This Decision on Women's Rights and the Labor Market Many legal experts believe this decision is a significant step toward gender equality and the protection of women's rights in Turkey. Previously, women who returned to their paternal surnames after divorce faced personal questions and administrative hurdles when presenting their academic diplomas to employers [3]. Now, with coordination between YÖK and KDK, all Turkish universities are mandated to correct academic documents upon the presentation of new identification documents, without requiring a separate court order for each case. This change not only reduces the bureaucratic burden but also protects individual privacy in professional environments [1].