YÖK issues tuition warning to foundation universities: Increase rate cannot exceed 25 percent

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has sent a new warning letter to institutions regarding tuition fee increases at foundation universities for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The letter reiterated that the increase rate for levels other than preparatory and 1st-year classes must be determined so as not to exceed 25 percent.

Before the new academic year, it had come to light that some foundation universities had implemented tuition hikes ranging from 40 percent to 159 percent. Following these increases, it was noted that the highest medical education tuition in Turkey had reached the level of 3 million 740 thousand TL annually.

In the letter sent to all foundation higher education institutions signed by YÖK President Erol Özvar, it was stated that numerous CİMER applications received by the Council contained complaints that the established procedures and principles were not being followed, that fee increases were being made above the limit, and that tuition fees were not being published on official websites.

The letter requested that action be taken immediately within the framework of the relevant General Assembly decision and procedural principles, and that no student grievances be caused.

In a statement on his social media account, Özvar also noted that for the 2026-2027 academic year, the tuition fee increase rate in foundation higher education institutions has been limited to 25 percent for levels other than preparatory and 1st-year classes.

YÖK President Erol Özvar stated the following:

“For this reason, we have sent a letter to all foundation higher education institutions again, requesting that the procedures and principles we have determined be fully complied with, that fee increases do not exceed 25 percent, and that the necessary actions be taken immediately so that our students do not experience any grievances. We will continue to monitor the process closely.”