“I earned a PhD in Türkiye, but today, in the eyes of the Turkish government, I am just a high school graduate.” These are the words of an Iranian-Turkish citizen who entered a master’s program in Türkiye more than a decade ago using a bachelor’s degree from Payame Noor University (PNU). He went on to complete his PhD at a Turkish university and worked as a university lecturer for years. Now, following a decision by Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), not only has the equivalence of his bachelor’s degree been revoked, but his higher academic degrees and professional career have also been thrown into jeopardy.
According to a directive issued by YÖK in September 2025, certain degrees from Payame Noor University are no longer eligible for Denklik (academic equivalence) due to what the council terms “distance learning.” This decision has sparked widespread protests among Iranian graduates, pushing the case into Türkiye’s administrative courts.
“We Pursued Higher Education with YÖK’s Explicit Approval”
“Ali” (a pseudonym), one of the individuals affected by this decision, says that Payame Noor University was officially recognized by YÖK back in 2010 and 2011, which is exactly why he chose to enroll in a Turkish university. “I entered a master’s program with that very bachelor’s degree, and then continued on to do my PhD in Türkiye,” Ali says. “A few years ago, my Denklik was officially issued. But in early January 2026, we suddenly found out that our equivalence had been revoked.”
According to him, the fallout of this decision is not limited to undergraduate degrees: “For some individuals, even their master’s and PhD degrees have been declared invalid, and a number of university professors have already lost their jobs.”
What Sparked YÖK’s Decision to Revoke Payame Noor Degrees?
“Abbas” (a pseudonym), another protester, notes that the text of YÖK’s directive uses terms like “hidden deception” and “distance learning,” justifications he finds entirely unacceptable.
In the same vein, “Araz” (a pseudonym) states: “YÖK itself had approved Payame Noor University. We studied at a university that they recognized, and we used those credentials to enter higher degrees. How can they now claim that the students committed deception?”
He emphasizes that during his time at PNU, classes and exams were held in person, making a blanket categorization of “distance learning” for all students fundamentally inaccurate.
“I Taught for Years, Now They Tell Me My Degree Is Invalid”
“Mohammad” (a pseudonym) also notes that his entire academic path was fully supervised and approved by official Turkish institutions. “In 2011, I entered a master’s program in Türkiye with a PNU bachelor’s degree, and subsequently completed my PhD. Later, I even obtained Turkish citizenship,” he says. His equivalence had been formally issued, and he taught at Turkish universities for several years.
Mohammad asks: “If my bachelor’s degree wasn’t valid, how was I allowed to continue my education? How did I complete a PhD and teach for years? If I wasn’t qualified to teach, what happens to the status of the students I taught?”
“Today, the Turkish Government Sees Me as a High School Graduate”
“Reza” (a pseudonym), who received his PhD from a Turkish university in 2022, says all his academic steps were taken with the official stamp of Turkish authorities.
“Payame Noor University was on YÖK’s approved list when I was admitted,” Reza explains. “Relying on that approval, I entered university, got my PhD, and graduated. But a few months ago, my Denklik was revoked, and subsequently, they invalidated my PhD as well. I had received my equivalence three years before this directive was issued, but today, the Turkish government views me as someone who only holds a high school diploma.”
Niloufar is another academic whose PhD has been invalidated. She shares: “In early 2026, YÖK sent a list of individuals who had received their bachelor’s degrees from Payame Noor University to various universities. Following that, my Denklik was revoked, and the university annulled my PhD. As a result, I am legally and administratively in the position of a high school graduate in Türkiye today.”
She notes that she applied for Denklik in 2020 and received it two years later, going on to teach at both private and public universities in Türkiye.
“The court of first instance has ruled in our favor,” the lecturer adds, “but the proceedings are still ongoing in the regional appeals court and higher authorities.”
According to those affected, at least 300 to 400 Iranians are currently facing this crisis. Many maintain that their education at PNU was conducted entirely in person, arguing that applying a blanket decision to everyone without reviewing individual cases is profoundly unjust.
Universities Lack a Unified Response
“Sahar,” another individual affected by the ruling, told IranWire that Turkish universities have not responded to the issue in a uniform manner. According to her, while some universities immediately annulled students’ master’s and doctoral degrees upon receiving the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) directive, others have refused to take such action.
Sahar explains that during her PhD admission process, the university specifically required her to obtain a “Recognition Certificate” for Payame Noor University directly from YÖK.
“I received that confirmation directly from the Council of Higher Education and entered my doctoral program based on it,” she says. She adds: “After YÖK issued its new decision, my university contacted me and stated they would not invalidate my PhD. University officials told me that, in their view, my degree remains valid because I met all the necessary requirements at the time of admission, and the council had officially recognized and certified Payame Noor University back then.”
Legal Expert: Administrative Decisions Must Not Be Retroactive
Musa Barzin, a lawyer and legal advisor to IranWire, comments on the case: “Based on information from the lawyers pursuing this matter, the court of first instance has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in several cases. The core argument is that even if the Turkish Council of Higher Education has the authority to change its policies, it cannot apply new decisions retroactively to strip individuals of their acquired rights.”
He further explains: “These individuals entered universities years ago based on official Turkish government approval. They invested money, pursued their studies, in some cases obtained citizenship, were hired by universities, and even earned higher degrees. Therefore, the legal principle of ‘non-retroactivity of administrative decisions’ is of paramount importance in this case.”
Barzin adds: “In Turkish law, as in many legal systems worldwide, the principle is that administrative decisions apply to the future, not the past. Only in cases where blatant fraud, forgery, or deception by the individual is proven can acquired rights be invalidated. In the case of the Payame Noor graduates, the plaintiffs argue that no fraud occurred on their part, and every stage of their education and equivalence process was conducted with the official seal of government institutions.”
According to the legal expert, a key pillar of the lawsuit is the reliance on the right to legitimate expectation, the trust individuals place in official government decisions. “If the court accepts this argument, the ruling cannot apply to those who received their Denklik, or equivalence, or built their educational and professional paths based on official approvals prior to the directive’s issuance.”
He further notes that the council’s decision appears to lack a solid foundation: “The decision made by the Council of Higher Education was not based on comprehensive official investigations or formal correspondence from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Payame Noor’s credentials. Therefore, the opinion was formed based on insufficient research, a point the council itself inadvertently highlighted in its decision.”
What Lies Ahead for the Case?
This case extends beyond the mere equivalence of Payame Noor University degrees; it touches upon a fundamental principle of administrative law: the legitimate trust of citizens in government decisions. The protesters maintain that every step of their academic and professional lives in Türkiye was vetted and approved by state institutions, and the government is now backtracking on decisions it made years ago.
Conversely, the Council of Higher Education contends that certain degrees do not align with its current standards. The final outcome of this case could impact far more than the fate of several hundred Iranian graduates; it may redefine the interpretation of “acquired rights” and the limits of administrative power to revise past decisions within the Turkish legal system.
Turkish administrative courts must now strike a balance between the state’s authority to reform educational policy and the rights of individuals who built their lives and professional futures upon the official promises of that very state.
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