New YÖK Bill: Recruitment in 48 Universities and Structural Changes in Higher Education

Details of Recruitment in 48 Turkish Universities

According to the new bill submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on July 2, 2026, the government intends to create new recruitment slots for 48 public and private universities across the country. This move aims to address the severe shortage of academic staff, particularly in research assistant positions for medical specialties and other strategic fields [1]. Under this plan, new positions including Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Research Assistant will be allocated to these universities to enhance the quality of education and research [2].

This bill, proposed under the title "Higher Education Law Amendment," allows developing universities to align their academic standards with global criteria by attracting specialized personnel. The primary focus of this distribution is on universities that have faced increased student capacity in recent years but have been limited by the number of faculty members.

Structural Review and Merger of University Units

Another part of this bill addresses structural changes within the university framework. One of the most significant items is the restructuring of "İstiklal Science and Technology University." According to this proposal, several faculties, including the Faculties of Islamic Sciences, Health Sciences, and Humanities, will be transferred to "Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University" [1].

The goal of these mergers and transfers is to increase administrative efficiency and concentrate resources on specialized areas. It has also been decided that some vocational schools in specific regions will be closed, and their students will be transferred to larger units to benefit from better laboratory and workshop facilities [2]. This transfer process is scheduled to be finalized by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, and all employment rights of the transferred personnel will be preserved [1].

Student Amnesty and Facilities for Retired Professors

The new YÖK bill also includes good news for students and veteran professors. Based on the "Student Amnesty" clause, all students who were unable to continue their education for various reasons (excluding terrorism and specific criminal offenses) can apply to return to university in the 2026-2027 academic year [2]. This amnesty covers associate, undergraduate, and graduate levels.

Furthermore, to benefit from the experience of veteran academics, the contract duration for retired professors who wish to continue working has been increased from one year to two years [3]. These professors will also receive new financial benefits, including additional teaching fees and academic encouragement bonuses, marking an important step in retaining scientific capital in Anatolian universities [3]. With the final approval of this bill in Parliament, a serious transformation in human resource management and the educational structure of Turkey is expected.