Atatürk University, as one of the leading higher education institutions in Eastern Anatolia, has established clear and ambitious targets to ensure the participation and success of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those in the lowest 20% of household income nationally. Our primary objective is to increase access to higher education for this group while also guaranteeing that once admitted, these students receive the necessary academic and social support to successfully complete their studies.
To this end, Atatürk University has introduced specific monitoring mechanisms. Each academic year, the proportion of students from the lowest income quintile is tracked in admissions statistics, and their progress is evaluated through retention and graduation rates. These indicators allow the University Senate and administrative units to design new measures whenever needed, such as additional tutoring, counseling, or living support services.
Currently, students from the lowest 20% income bracket represent approximately 17.2 % of the total student population at Atatürk University. This significant percentage demonstrates the university’s role as a driver of social mobility, reducing intergenerational poverty by offering educational opportunities to the most vulnerable groups. Special support structures—such as meal subsidies, housing assistance, and dedicated advisory services—have been institutionalized to ensure that students from disadvantaged families can remain engaged in academic life without interruption.
It is important to note that in Turkey, student selection and placement into higher education is conducted through a centralized examination system administered by the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) under the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and in accordance with the Higher Education Law No. 2547. While universities do not have discretion to directly select students based on socioeconomic background, Atatürk University actively works within this framework to provide targeted support to admitted students from low-income families.
Furthermore, as part of the national higher education policy, students admitted to Atatürk University are fully exempted from tuition fees. This long-standing practice reflects the principles of the Republic of Turkey to guarantee equitable access to education for all citizens. By covering tuition costs centrally, and by reinforcing this support with its own scholarships and welfare programs, Atatürk University removes major financial barriers that students from disadvantaged households face in accessing quality education.
Through these policies and continuous improvement efforts, Atatürk University demonstrates a strong and measurable commitment to supporting the lowest-income students—ensuring not only their access to higher education but also their success in completing it. These initiatives align directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty), positioning Atatürk University as a key national actor in breaking the cycle of poverty through education.
