​ CoHE Warns Students Considering Enrolling in Universities Abroad about Fake Universities and Misleading Advertisements

"Some intermediary organizations provide misleading information on their websites and social media by using the logos of the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) and the reputable public universities in Türkiye"

“It is observed that some higher education institutions recognized by the Council of Higher Education make advertisements and announcements such as 'university entrance without exam' and 'unconditional equivalence after graduation'."

"Students must be careful about misleading advertisements and announcements stating that all universities abroad are recognized by CoHE and that their graduates will be granted equivalency in any case."

"Necessary legal proceedings have been initiated regarding misleading content. In order for the students not to experience any negative consequences, it has to be acknowledged that such misleading information on social media should not be taken into consideration and that the diplomas received after graduation are subject to the equivalency process."

August 16, 2023

CoHE President Özvar:

"The promise of a diploma without exams or through distance education, especially for majors such as medicine, law, pharmacy, and engineering, does not reflect the​ reality. Such fake content may result in not being able to receive any education at all, not receiving the claimed quality of education, or universities not offering an equivalent program. Our students and their families need to be extra careful about these institutions that will cause a waste of both money and time."

"Please do not rely on intermediary organizations that claim to be the representative of a foreign university in Türkiye and promise a diploma in medicine, dentistry, architecture and law in a short time through distance education. Do not fall for the tricks of these intermediaries who enroll you in unknown universities by providing a company address."

"I advise our students to first consider the quotas of the universities in our country. We have many universities that provide better education and are more affordable than their counterparts abroad."

"I also would like to say this to the students: In developed countries, as in Türkiye, programs such as medicine, dentistry and law are subject to intense competition among candidates and require remarkable academic achievement before university education, especially in secondary education. For these reasons, the number of students enrolled in these programs is limited anywhere in the world. If you have tried several times and have not been able to get into the programs you want, you should consider other programs where you can be successful. Be cautious of those who advertise that they can open this path abroad for you at a financial cost. Reconsider the programs that you can be placed and succeed in Türkiye with the help of your family and guidance counselors."

"Students who want to study abroad can view the higher education institutions 'recognized' by the Council on e-Government Gateway. They need to confirm the higher education institutions that they cannot find on e-Government Gateway by consulting the Council. It must be noted that the recognition of a higher education institution abroad does not necessarily mean that a diploma of that institution has equivalence."

"Students who will choose other countries for their studies need to take into account the living and economic conditions of the destination country in addition to the educational opportunities."

The Council of Higher Education warned students considering enrolling in universities abroad that some intermediary organizations and universities abroad are giving misleading information and making advertisements on behalf of CoHE and the reputable state universities in Türkiye by using their logos.

In a statement made by CoHE, it was noted that some intermediary education-consultancy institutions had made announcements that graduates of universities that they claimed to be recognized by CoHE would be granted equivalence in any case, and that some universities recognized by CoHE used expressions such as 'university entrance without exam' and 'unconditional equivalence after graduation' in their advertisements.

It was also stated that CoHE had recently received many complaints and questions about the so-called universities that did not even offer university education and even used the name and logo of CoHE or the institutions that claimed to be cooperating with reputable Turkish universities and offering dual diplomas.

In the statement, it was pointed out that necessary legal proceedings were initiated regarding misleading and false content. Students were asked to be careful about misleading advertisements and announcements that all universities abroad are recognized by CoHE and that their graduates will be granted equivalence in any case. It was also noted that the diplomas received after graduation are subject to the equivalence process.

"The promise of a diploma without exams does not reflect the reality"

CoHE President Erol Özvar noted that the promise of a diploma without exams or through distance education for majors such as medicine, law, pharmacy, and engineering did not reflect the reality and said, "Such fake content may result in students not being able to receive any education at all, not being able to receive education of the claimed quality, or not studying in an equivalent program. Our students need to be extremely careful about these institutions, which will cause a waste of both money and time."

"Please do not rely on intermediary organizations that claim to be the representative of a foreign university in Türkiye and promise a diploma in medicine, dentistry, architecture and law in a short time through distance education. Do not fall for the tricks of these intermediaries who enroll you in unknown universities by providing a company address," he said.

Özvar advised students to first consider the quotas of Turkish universities and said, "We have universities that provide better education and are more affordable than their counterparts abroad."

"I also would like to say this to the students: In developed countries, as in Türkiye, programs such as medicine, dentistry and law are subject to intense competition among candidates and require remarkable academic achievement before university education, especially in secondary education. For these reasons, the number of students enrolled in these programs is limited anywhere in the world. If you have tried several times and have not been able to get into the programs of your preference, you should consider other programs where you can be successful. Be cautious of those who advertise that they can open this path abroad for you at a financial cost.Consider the programs that you can be placed and succeed in Türkiye with the help of your family and guidance counselors."

Özvar reminded that students, who would receive university education abroad and return to Türkiye after graduation, needed to apply for equivalence to CoHE in order for their diplomas to be accepted in Türkiye, and emphasized that the first condition for equivalence was that the higher education institution must be a university recognized by CoHE. Therefore, Özvar called on students to check whether the higher education institution they plan to study at is recognized by the Council of Higher Education and said, "Students who want to study abroad can view the higher education institutions recognized by CoHE on e-Government Gateway. They can check the information at https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/yok-okul-tanima-belgesi-sorgulama and obtain the certifying documents. They need to confirm the higher education institutions that they cannot find on E-Government Gateway by consulting CoHE."

On the other hand, students can find answers to their questions on the subject by contacting the Call Center of CoHE at 0850 470 09 65.

"Recognition alone is not enough for equivalence"

Özvar emphasized that being a university recognized by CoHE was not sufficient for students to receive diploma equivalence and said, "Recognition is only a prerequisite for equivalence procedures. It must be noted that the recognition of a foreign higher education institution does not mean that the diploma of that institution is automatically granted equivalence. It should be acknowledged that every diploma received from a recognized higher education institution will also be subject to the equivalence process. It is of importance that the quality of education of the university to be studied at should be at a certain level and, if possible, be included in some world university rankings. Students must also continue their education in the country of study in order to obtain equivalence and meet the minimum day requirement."

Özvar added that it would be beneficial for students who would prefer other countries for education to consider the living and economic conditions of the destination country in addition to educational opportunities.

Özvar stated that students who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye naturally had the right to receive education abroad, and said:

"The issue here is the quality of the education of students, who are taken as groups from Türkiye through advertisements, enrolled in the programs that do not require attendance at the universities established in some countries within the framework of the legislations of those countries and will practice professions in fields such as health, justice and education in our country after graduation. The Council is obliged to observe and protect not only the rights of students who wish to receive higher education in Türkiye, but also the rights of the students wishing to study abroad to receive an education of the required quality. For this reason, the Council occasionally takes decisions regarding this issue. These decisions may be related to the de-recognition of the relevant higher education institution or to the equivalence requirements.

As a result, the Turkish citizens, who go abroad for higher education, need to obtain the university recognition information from the Council. They should not rely on unfounded advertisements and news on social media and should only take into account the provisions of the 'Regulation on Recognition and Equivalence of Foreign Higher Education Diplomas' and the announcements made on the official website of the Council to avoid any negative consequences."

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