February 11, 2026

The proportion of female students studying at universities, as well as the number of female academics working in academia, has steadily increased over the past five years, reaching historic levels.

February 11 is celebrated by the United Nations as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The concrete outcomes of the Council of Higher Education’s vision of “accessibility and inclusiveness” have become increasingly evident through data presented in higher education in recent years.

Across Türkiye, the proportion of female students was recorded at 49.1 percent in the 2020 academic year. By 2025, the total number of students reached 6,837,313, of which 3,634,091 were women. As a result, the share of female students rose to a historic level of 53.2 percent.

In associate degree programs, the proportion of female students increased from 51.6 percent in 2020 to a historic high of 54.4 percent in the 2025 academic year. At the undergraduate level, the proportion of female students rose from 47.5 percent to 52.4 percent during the same period, surpassing male students.

In master’s programs, the share of female students rose from 48.2 percent in 2020 to 50.6 percent in 2025. In doctoral programs, the proportion increased from 47.7 percent to 51.3 percent, marking the first time that female doctoral students outnumbered their male counterparts.

Following a decision by the Council of Higher Education, a positive discrimination policy was introduced in 2023 within the scope of the YKS (Higher Education Institutions Exam), granting additional quotas for women over the age of 34. Thanks to this regulation, women over 34 who had to interrupt their education for various reasons have gained the opportunity to start university and reshape their educational paths.

The Proportion of Women in Academia Continues to Rise

The growing presence of female students in higher education is also reflected in academic staff.

According to academic personnel data, the proportion of female academics increased from 45.3 percent in the 2020 academic year to 46.8 percent in 2025. During the same period, the total number of academics at universities in Türkiye rose from 179,495 to 185,188.

Among research assistants, the proportion of women increased from 51.2 percent in 2020 to 55 percent in 2025. The percentage of women serving as lecturers also rose from 50.6 percent to 52.1 percent.

Over the last five years, the proportion of female assistant professors increased from 44.9 percent to 47.8 percent; the percentage of female associate professors rose from 40.1 percent to 43.3 percent; and the share of female full professors increased from 32.4 percent to 34.9 percent.

Academic Studies on Equality and Rights Are Increasing

Academic studies focusing on women, human rights, and equal opportunity conducted at higher education institutions have also drawn attention.

According to current data, 416 academic studies were conducted in the field of equal opportunity, 6,439 in human rights, 1,654 in women’s rights, and 5,384 in the field of violence against women over the past year.

The increasing proportion of female students in higher education and women in academia demonstrates Türkiye’s commitment to equal opportunity in science and education.