Turkiye Revokes Istanbul Bilgi University Licence Following State Investigation
May 2026 | By Azad News
Turkiye has officially revoked the operational licence of Istanbul Bilgi University, effectively forcing the institution to shut down following a state-led criminal investigation linked to its ownership.
The decision was published in the country’s Official Gazette on Friday and approved through a decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Authorities cited a legal provision allowing the closure of private educational institutions if the required standards of education and training are considered insufficient.
Istanbul Bilgi University, founded in 1996, is one of Turkiye’s well-known private universities and hosts more than 20,000 students, including many international students participating through European exchange programmes.
The university came under state control last year after companies linked to Can Holding, which acquired the institution in 2019, were seized during an investigation involving allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and organised crime.
Following the seizure, a government-appointed trustee had been managing the university’s affairs.
Turkiye’s Council of Higher Education stated that measures would be taken to ensure students do not face disruption in their academic activities, particularly with final examinations approaching.
Local media reports indicated that students may continue their education at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, which serves as the institution’s guarantor university under Turkish law.
The closure has sparked criticism from academics and rights advocates, particularly because Bilgi University has long been regarded as a liberal academic institution with strong international ties.
Professor of law Yaman Akdeniz criticised the move publicly, arguing that universities should only be closed through parliamentary legislation and warning that the decision raised concerns about legal protections and academic freedom.
Conclusion
The closure of Istanbul Bilgi University marks a major development in Turkiye’s higher education landscape and has intensified debate over academic independence, legal process, and the future of private universities in the country.
This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available information. It has been fully paraphrased for informational purposes only and does not reproduce any original copyrighted text.
