Distance education during wartime

This page is for Turkish citizens who plan to attend classes remotely (online) while enrolled or considering enrollment at a university in Ukraine. Ukraine's rules allow extensive use of distance education. In Turkey, however, YÖK's rules for diploma equivalence are much stricter. Below, you will find the rules of both countries, YÖK's requirements for distance education and the "presence in the country" condition, and the special transitional decision from 2022.

• Foreign students may study full-time, part-time, or remotely.
• Distance education is possible in all fields except medicine (MBBS).
• Every university that continues face-to-face education must have an equipped shelter and emergency infrastructure.
• Students are informed what to do during an air-raid alert and where the shelter is located.
• Many universities in the eastern and southern regions have relocated to safer areas in the west.
• The portal advises students arriving on a state scholarship to agree with the university on their arrival date or starting online.

• YÖK does not grant equivalence to associate, bachelor's, or master's degrees of Turkish citizens who newly enrolled in higher education institutions in Ukraine after 12 February 2022 (see U4.1).
• This rule does not depend on whether the education is provided face-to-face or remotely.
• The distance education rules below are important for students who started before 12 February 2022 and for those studying in other countries.

• YÖK evaluates equivalence only for diplomas obtained through:
  • formal education
  • distance instruction diplomas that meet the requirements of Article 10 of the Regulation
• Applications for diplomas obtained through other types are rejected.
• YÖK's definitions:
  • Formal education: education in which students are required to attend classes and practical training
  • Distance instruction: education in which courses are conducted using information and communication technologies, through mutual interaction with the instructor, and synchronously
  • Open education: education that is not based on mutual interaction between the student and the instructor
  • External education: education with no attendance requirement, in which the student only takes examinations
• Diplomas from programs without an attendance requirement, such as open education and external education, are rejected (Article 7/6-b of the Regulation).

• No equivalence is granted to diplomas obtained through distance instruction in the following programs (Article 10/3):
  • medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and law
  • teaching, engineering, and architecture
  • clinical healthcare programs designated by YÖK
• For other programs, equivalence is granted without applying the Level and Competency Assessment System (SYBS) procedures to a distance diploma from a university ranked in the top 400 in at least three of the ranking organizations accepted by YÖK in the year you began your studies.
• The rankings accepted by YÖK are Shanghai (ARWU), CWTS Leiden, QS, and Times Higher Education (THE).
• In addition, distance instruction diplomas must meet the following requirements (Article 10/1):
  • the program must not be in Turkish (except for countries whose official language is Turkish and institutions established by international agreement)
  • the learning outcomes of the program must be compatible with those of the formal program in the same field
  • the credits required for graduation must be equal to or greater than the credits of the equivalent formal program in that country
  • a score determined by an examination accepted by YÖK must have been obtained in the language of instruction
• If there is doubt about the adequacy of the learning outcomes, the applicant is subject to SYBS procedures, such as a level assessment examination (Article 10/2).

• If you are enrolled in a formal program, you must physically be present in the country where you are studying.
• YÖK examines your passports and the entry-exit records obtained from the police.
• Your period of presence in the country may not be less than 70% for each academic term. Periods outside the academic term are not counted (Article 7/6-d).
• If a shortfall is found in the period of presence, the application is rejected.
• For this reason, the following are requested in an equivalence application:
  • the originals of the passports used during the study period, or notarized or consular-certified copies of the entry-exit pages
  • an entry-exit record obtained from e-Devlet or the provincial police department
• Graduates of health-related fields in the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 academic years (the pandemic period) must provide a school document showing what percentage of the education was completed face-to-face and what percentage online.

• On 28 March 2022, the YÖK General Assembly allowed students in Ukraine to continue at universities in Turkey through transfer and as special students.
• Scope: students enrolled in the formal program of a Ukrainian institution recognized by YÖK in the 2021–2022 fall term or earlier.
• Applications were accepted in April 2022: 11–15 April for transfer and 26–29 April 2022 for special-student status. This period has ended.
• Special-student status does not grant the right to a diploma, title, or status. At the end of the term, an approved document showing the ECTS credits and examination results for the courses taken is issued.
• Today, transfer from abroad to Turkey is conducted under the conditions announced each year in the ÖSYS/YKS guide.

• YÖK recommends that students who will begin studying abroad open a Special Student File at the Turkish education counselling office in the country where they will study. Notify the counselling office if your university, program, or contact details change.
• Documents requested by the Kyiv Education Counselling Office:
  • signed application petition and special-student information form
  • copy of identity document
  • entry-exit document from e-Devlet or a document showing your entry into the country
  • high school diploma (e-Devlet printout or notarized copy)
  • apostilled student certificate and its Turkish translation
  • apostilled transcript and its Turkish translation
  • YÖK school recognition certificate
  • 2 passport photographs (write your name on the back)
  • military status certificate
  • copies of the original passport and residence permit and all pages bearing transaction records
• The apostille is affixed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science. The translation is prepared by a sworn translator registered with the consulate and approved by the consulate.
• Since documents may vary by university, write to the counselling office before opening a file: kiev@meb.gov.tr

• Turkish Republic Kyiv Education Counselling Office — special-student file
  • Address: Panasa Myrnoho Sok. No: 22, 01901 Kyiv
  • Telephone: +380 44 281 07 50
  • Email: kiev@meb.gov.tr
• YÖK Recognition and Equivalence Services Department
  • Address: Üniversiteler Mah. 1600. Cad. No: 10, 06800 Bilkent, Ankara
  • Telephone: +90 850 470 09 65
  • Email: denklik@yok.gov.tr
• Study in Ukraine — questions about education format and enrollment
  • Telephone: +380 44 359 05 39
  • Email: info@studyinukraine.gov.ua
• Turkish Embassy in Kyiv emergency line: +380 63 211 47 65 · Consular Call Center (24/7): +90 312 292 29 29

• Thinking, "Ukraine allows distance education, so it will also be valid in Turkey." YÖK's rules are separate and stricter.
• Obtaining a distance diploma in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, engineering, or teaching. YÖK does not grant equivalence to distance diplomas in these fields.
• Following classes from Turkey while enrolled in a formal program and failing to take the 70% presence requirement into account.
• Failing to keep passport entry-exit pages and old passports.
• Mistaking an open-education or examination-only program for "distance education."
• Thinking that the 2022 transfer opportunity is still open.

• My university is entirely online. Will my diploma be valid if I study from Turkey? If you enrolled after 12 February 2022, YÖK does not grant equivalence. If you started earlier, it will be determined whether the program is distance instruction or formal education and whether it meets YÖK's requirements above.
• I am in a formal program, but classes are online because of air-raid alerts. Can I stay in Turkey? YÖK requires you to be present in the country for at least 70% of each term. The time you spend in Turkey may violate this requirement.
• Is distance education possible in medicine? Ukraine does not offer distance education in medicine (MBBS). YÖK also does not grant equivalence to distance diplomas in medicine.
• I returned to Turkey in 2022. Can I transfer? The special application period in 2022 has ended. Today, transfers are conducted under the conditions in the ÖSYS/YKS guide for the relevant year.
• Does a school recognition certificate mean that I will receive equivalence? No. School recognition only shows that the institution is recognized. Equivalence is assessed separately after graduation.

• Regulation on the Recognition and Equivalence of Overseas Higher Education Diplomas (full text)
• YÖK – 4 April 2023 Ukraine announcement
• YÖK – Questions and answers for those planning to study abroad (27 July 2026)
• YÖK – Frequently asked questions
• Kyiv Education Counselling Office – Special-student application petition (Word)
• Kyiv Education Counselling Office – Special-student information form (PDF)
• e-Devlet – Military status certificate
• e-Devlet – YÖK school recognition certificate inquiry
• YÖK – Transfer decision from Ukraine (2022, PDF)