Military Service Procedures

Students' military service is deferred within the framework of the principles set out in Article 35/C of Military Service Law No. 1111. (http://www.asal.msb.gov.tr )

ARTICLE 35 C – The military service of those studying at high schools or equivalent schools, faculties and vocational/higher schools is deferred until they graduate or their enrollment is terminated, provided that they do not exceed the age of 29.

For military service deferral procedures, the maximum period of study is taken into account from the date the student enrolls in the associate / bachelor's degree program. An EK-C2 form is issued and sent by the Department of Student Affairs to the relevant military recruitment offices within two months following the students' enrollment dates. This procedure is carried out only once during the student's studies.

ARTICLE 36 – During the inspection of those born in the same year;

• *The military service of those who document that they have graduated from a high school or equivalent school is deferred for three years,
• *The military service of those whose enrollment at a faculty or higher school has been terminated, and of graduates of higher schools, is deferred for two years, based on the end of the year in which they turn 29.
• *For obligated persons enrolled in a Double Major program, if they graduate from one program, military service deferral procedures are carried out based on their student status in the other major program. (Article 35 Amended 22/05/2012-6318/8)
• *Students' military service deferral can under no circumstances extend beyond the age of 29. No military service deferral is granted to students aged 30 or over.
• *The military service of those studying at a school equivalent to or lower in level than the educational institution they have already completed is not deferred on the grounds of their student status.
• *Students may have their deferral cancelled during their studies and perform their military service. (Article 36) Students wishing to do so must notify the Department of Student Affairs by petition. The Department of Student Affairs then notifies the Department of Military Recruitment.

• *The enlistment of obligated persons who have completed their bachelor's degree is deferred by military recruitment offices for (TWO) years from the date of graduation. Graduates wishing to benefit from this right should apply to military recruitment offices with their graduation documents.

   

Periods of Study

• *For programs with a normal duration of four years/eight semesters (bachelor's programs), the maximum period of study is seven years/fourteen semesters.
• *For programs with a normal duration of two years/four semesters (associate programs), the maximum period of study is four years/eight semesters.
• *At the end of the maximum period of study, students' military service is not deferred to the following year, and the student must personally go to the Military Recruitment Office to obtain a military service decision.
• *Periods not counted toward the maximum period of study: 

    Semesters spent in the English Preparatory class. Those who are unsuccessful in the preparatory class in one year may continue their preparatory education in subsequent years. However, time spent in the preparatory class beyond one year is counted toward the maximum period of study.

   * Leave (registration freeze) periods,

   *Periods during which those who returned to their studies by benefiting from an Amnesty Law were not enrolled.

Military Service Call-Up Periods

Students with a military service obligation who wish to enlist during their applicable call-up period must apply to the relevant Military Recruitment Office between the dates set by ASAL.

Pursuant to Military Service Law No. 1111, enlistment deferral procedures for graduate students (English Preparatory, Scientific Preparatory, Master's (with/without thesis), PhD, and Integrated PhD) are carried out upon the students' application. (http://www.asal.msb.gov.tr)

No enlistment deferral is processed for students who have not applied. Students requesting enlistment deferral must submit to the Department of Student Affairs a recently dated military status document obtained from any military recruitment office.

Enlistment deferral is not processed for special students, pursuant to the Graduate Education Regulation (Article 4).

There is no legal basis for the enlistment deferral of a student who is a draft evader. Therefore, the student must submit to the Department of Student Affairs a military status document showing that their draft evader status has been removed.

Students starting the English preparatory or scientific preparatory class are granted a one-year deferral; for students who have moved on to or are starting at the course stage, deferral is requested once only from the relevant Regional Military Recruitment Directorate, provided that it does not extend beyond the end of the year in which they turn 35, as follows:

• 3 years for Non-Thesis Master's students,
• 3 years and 4 months for Thesis Master's students,
• 6 years for PhD students.

No enlistment deferral is granted to students who exceed the maximum duration of their program (excluding additional periods granted for thesis work).

Enlistment deferrals of graduate students are extended up to the end of the year in which they turn 35 at the latest.

The military service of those studying at a school equivalent to or lower in level than the educational institution they have already completed is not deferred on the grounds of their student status.

For those studying simultaneously at two higher education institutions of the same level, if they graduate from one of them, their military service is not deferred on the grounds of their student status at the other.

The enlistment of obligated persons who have completed their master's degree is deferred by military recruitment offices for (ONE) year from the date of graduation. Graduates wishing to benefit from this right should apply to military recruitment offices with their graduation documents.

There is no legal basis for those who have completed their PhD to obtain an enlistment deferral on the grounds of graduation.

Students may have their deferral cancelled during their studies and perform their military service. (Article 36) Students wishing to do so must notify the Department of Student Affairs by petition. The Department of Student Affairs then notifies the Department of Military Recruitment.

Master's and PhD students who do not renew their registration within the maximum period (who do not pay fees and/or do not register for courses) are reported to Military Recruitment Offices. During these periods, they cannot benefit from student rights. In addition, the semesters in which these students do not renew their registration are counted toward their maximum period.

Providing complete and accurate military service information is important and is the responsibility of the students.

• Military service procedures for dual-citizenship students are carried out by the Department of Student Affairs in accordance with Article 35/C of Military Service Law No. 1111.
• If international students have a military service obligation, their military service procedures are followed up by the students themselves in accordance with the legislation of their country of citizenship.