The functions of the Council of Higher Education are as follows:

1. To prepare short and long-term plans for the establishment, development, and realization of educational activities of the higher educational institutions; to see to the training of the teaching staff, in-country and abroad, according to the aims, goals and principles set forth in this law; to supervise efficiently the resources allocated to universities within the framework of these plans and programs.
2. To promote continual and harmonious cooperation and coordination among the institutions of higher education, aiming at unification and integration, in accordance with the aims, principles and targets specified in this law.
3. To determine the extent of growth compatible with the running of the universities at maximum efficiency and the taking of such measures as summer courses, night courses and two-shift education.
4. In accordance with the principles and targets of the national development plans and in the context of higher education planning:

1. To present to the Ministry of National Education proposals or views on the establishment, and, if necessary, unification of newly established universities,
2. To make decisions directly or on the basis of proposals made by universities concerning the opening, unification, or closing down of faculties, graduate schools and schools of higher education within a university and to convey the above decisions to the Ministry of National Education for appropriate action in due course,

To make decisions and to have them implemented directly or on the basis of proposals made by universities, regarding the opening, unification, or closing down of departments, sections, research and applied studies centers, as well as the opening of conservatories, higher vocational schools, preparatory schools or units,

In the event of circumstances causing a breakdown in education, to make decisions directly or on the basis of proposals made by universities regarding a temporary close-down or a recommencement of education and to put them into effect,

3. To study the aims and rationale of higher educational institutions to be established by ministries and to present opinions to the competent authorities.
5. To specify, taking into consideration the views of the Inter-university Board, the principles related to minimum number of contact hours and minimum period of study in educational curricula, conditions for passing to the subsequent year of study, intra- and inter-mural transfer of students in the institutions of higher education and the principles whereby graduates of schools of higher education continue their studies at a higher level.
6. To fix, in a balanced ratio, the positions of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors in universities on the basis of needs, education programs, characteristics of the branches of learning, research activities, fields of application, buildings, materials and equipment and similar facilities and the number of students of the universities and other related matters.
7. To examine and evaluate the annual activity reports submitted by the universities; to pinpoint the highly successful and those considered to be inadequate and to take necessary measures.
8. To decide on the maximum yearly student intake into each academic program after examining the proposals of the universities on this question and further to determine the principles whereby the selection and admission of students be carried out with a view to manpower planning, the capacity of the institutions and the students’ interests and skills, taking into account on the orientation principles of secondary education.
9. To take measures to realize equality of opportunity and possibility in the institutions of higher education and during admission.
10. To arrive at a decision concerning the proposals of higher education institutions concerning the fees to be charged to the students in each academic year.
11. To submit to the Ministry of National Education the budgets prepared by the governing bodies and universities after examining and approving them.
12. To conduct and decide upon disciplinary proceedings concerning rectors, to initiate the regular proceedings for the dismissal or transfer on a probationary status to another institution of higher education of those faculty members who fail to carry out in a satisfactory manner their duties as specified in this law or who act in a manner incompatible with the aims, fundamental principles and prescribed order as indicated in this law, upon the proposal of the rector or directly.
13. To establish national scholarly committees and working groups in various fields of the arts and sciences.
14. To devise the principles related to the contribution to be made by developed universities to newly-established or developing universities with regard to education and staff development and, when necessary, to assign developed universities to provide such services.
15. To present to the Ministry of National Education opinions and proposals concerning the institutions of higher education to be established by foundations within the provisions of this law, to take the necessary measures concerning such institutions and to supervise them.
16. To determine the equivalency of pre-baccalaureate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees received at institutions of higher education abroad.
17. To fulfill other obligations assigned by this law.