Amendment to the Higher Education Law in the Official Gazette: Prison sentences for those opening institutions contrary to regulations

According to the temporary regulation introduced by the law that entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette, students who left universities for various reasons, including those who voluntarily withdrew, or those who did not enroll despite being placed in a program, will be able to return to their studies in the 2026-2027 academic year if they apply within 4 months from the date the law enters into force.

Those convicted of certain crimes such as terrorist offenses, intentional homicide, torture, torment, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and the production and trafficking of drugs or stimulants, as well as those whose enrollment was canceled due to forged documents, have been excluded from the regulation.

Those who were dismissed from the Police Academy, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy, and certain educational institutions affiliated with the National Defense University will also not be able to benefit from this right.

Penalty for those who write theses for others

With the amendment, the academic degrees or titles of those who obtain them through theses, articles, books, or projects that were partially or entirely written by someone else, rather than through their own personal effort and academic background, will be revoked, and they may be dismissed from the university teaching profession.

If these works are prepared on behalf of others or if such activities are mediated, a judicial fine ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 days will be imposed.

If the act is committed as a profession, the fine shall not be less than 10,000 days and not more than 20,000 days.

Prison sentence for those opening educational institutions contrary to regulations

With the amendment, those who open and operate educational institutions in Turkey on behalf of a foreign educational institution in violation of regulations will be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison.

In this context, those who promote prohibited institutions and acts will be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison and a judicial fine ranging from 50 to 500 days.

Those who forge or have forged diplomas, graduation certificates, or certificates belonging to Turkish or foreign higher education institutions will be punished according to the 'Forgery of official documents' provision of the Turkish Penal Code.

News Source: 12punto