Court of Accounts report reveals: University budgets are going to salaries

At the opening of the 2025-2026 academic year, AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that AKP governments are the ones that have invested the most in education. He emphasized that the education budget has been increased from 2.5 billion liras to 488 billion liras over 23 years. However, despite the increase in the number of universities, qualitative development has not been achieved.

According to a report by Sözcü, Court of Accounts reports reveal that 98 percent of university budgets go toward personnel salaries and social security premiums. This situation prevents universities from allocating sufficient resources to scientific research. As a solution, universities have sought grants from the European Union, receiving grants ranging from 67 million TL to 600 million TL. Across Turkey, a significant portion of academic staff positions in 126 state universities remain vacant. Universities in Ankara, in particular, are experiencing problems similar to those in universities in the East.

INCREASE IN EDUCATION BUDGET

The education budget, which was set at 2.1 trillion liras for the 2024-2025 academic year, was increased by 727 billion liras to 2 trillion 826 billion liras for the 2025-2026 year. A large portion of this budget will be distributed to the Ministry of National Education, while the remainder will be divided among the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK), and universities.

STATUS OF UNIVERSITIES

Marmara University filled 100 percent of its 3,064 total academic staff quota and 894 professor quota. 4.6 billion liras of its 6.4 billion lira budget went to salary and social security premium payments.

Hacı Bayram Veli University: 483 of the 1,638 academic staff positions at this university in Ankara are vacant. 104 of the 459 professor positions and 104 of the 202 research positions remain vacant. 1.7 billion liras, which is 98 percent of the 2.1 billion lira budget, went to personnel salaries, and 201 million liras went to social security premiums.

Akdeniz University: 887 of the 3,474 academic staff positions and 161 of the 745 professor positions remained vacant. 4 trillion liras, which is 98.2 percent of its 5.6 trillion budget, was spent on salaries, and 499 million liras was spent on social security premiums. 181 million liras in grants were received from the EU. Philanthropists donated 5.6 billion liras.

Balıkesir University: 553 of the 1,811 academic staff positions remained vacant. 1.9 billion liras of the 2.6 billion lira budget went to salaries, and 243 million liras went to social security premiums. 443 million liras in "inflation adjustments" were sent during the year.

Erzurum Atatürk: 941 of the 3,600 academic staff positions are vacant. 4.9 billion liras, which is 99.4 percent of the 6.8 billion lira budget, went to salaries, and 572 million liras went to social security premiums. 467 million liras in "inflation adjustments" were deposited.

PROFESSORS ARE HARD TO FIND

Boğaziçi: 442 of the 1,326 academic staff positions and 52 of the 191 professor positions are vacant.

METU (ODTÜ): 1,077 of the 2,879 academic staff positions and 122 of the 489 professor positions remained vacant.

RTE: 546 of the 1,250 academic staff positions and 78 of the 219 professor positions are vacant.

Ardahan: 277 of the 646 academic staff positions and 43 of the 64 professor positions are vacant.

Binali Yıldırım: 400 of the 1,468 academic staff positions and 78 of the 209 professor positions are vacant.

Harran: 744 of the 1,890 academic staff positions and 73 of the 275 professor positions are vacant.

News Source: 12punto