The Internationalization of Higher Education and The International Student Phenomenon in Türkiye: An Assessment in The Context of Legal Regulations Introduced Since 2000

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of the legal and regulatory framework governing the internationalization of higher education and international students in Türkiye, with particular emphasis on the period after 2000. It situates recent reforms within a broader historical trajectory extending from the growing presence of international students in the 1960s to the initial institutional and legislative measures adopted during the 1980s and 1990s. Drawing on relevant legislation, implementing regulations, Official Gazette records, and the related literature, the study reviews the principal legal arrangements introduced during the 2010s. These include legislation concerning the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, foreigners and international protection, international labour, Türkiye Scholarships, joint degree programmes, residence permits, and international students’ access to employment. The findings indicate that Türkiye has gradually moved from a limited and fragmented regulatory approach towards a broader framework addressing institutional coordination, scholarships, residence, family unity, labour-market participation, and post-graduation employment. These reforms have contributed to strengthening the internationalization of Turkish higher education and enhancing Türkiye’s attractiveness as a study destination. Nevertheless, the existing framework remains insufficient in certain respects when compared with leading international student-hosting countries. The study therefore emphasizes the need for a more coherent, comprehensive, and rights-sensitive international student policy.