Student amnesty bill passes key parliamentary committee
A sweeping higher education reform bill that includes a long-awaited student amnesty has cleared the Turkish Parliament’s Education Commission, paving the way for a parliamentary vote.
The proposal introduces broad changes affecting university admissions, academic integrity, faculty employment and institutional governance.
Under the bill, students whose enrollment was previously terminated — including those who never completed registration despite securing admission — would be allowed to return to their universities, provided they have not benefited from an earlier amnesty. Applications must be submitted within four months of the law’s entry into force, enabling eligible students to resume their studies in the 2026-27 academic year.
Individuals convicted of terrorism, murder, sexual offences, major drug crimes or document fraud, as well as those expelled over links to organizations deemed threats to national security, would remain excluded.
