No. The Regulation speaks to this in a single sentence, and the level it asks for is not university.
The Statutory and Regulatory Text
Subparagraph (b) of the first paragraph of Art. 8 of the Press Card Regulation requires that the applicant has graduated from at least a high school or an equivalent educational institution.
The same rule appears in the Law. Subparagraph (b) of the first paragraph of Additional Article 3 of Press Law No. 5187 likewise requires graduation from at least a high school or an equivalent educational institution.
Do Not Confuse This with Responsible Editorship
A close but different condition applies to responsible editors. Art. 5/1-c of Law No. 5187 requires graduation from at least a secondary education institution or its equivalent.
| Subject | Education level required | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Press card | At least high school or equivalent | Reg. Art. 8/1-b; Law No. 5187 Add. Art. 3/1-b |
| Responsible editorship | At least secondary education or equivalent | Law No. 5187 Art. 5/1-c |
So Is Education Never Weighed?
It is - not as a condition, but as an element within the Commission's discretion. Art. 35/2 reads: the Commission decides whether the applicant may receive a press card by assessing their qualifications, professional work, published output, awards and the qualities of the media outlet they belong to.
An Extra Measure for Internet News Site Staff
Art. 35/3 adds one more measure: where the applicant works for an internet news site, the site's unique visitor count and page-view count are also taken into account.
The Other General Conditions
Art. 8/1 lists the general conditions. Education is only one of them:
- Having completed 18 years of age (a)
- Graduating from at least a high school or equivalent institution (b)
- Not being under legal incapacity or barred from public service (c)
- Not having been convicted of the offences listed in the article (ç)
- Not having been convicted of terrorism offences (d)
- Not having been convicted of the offences in Art. 25/2 of Law No. 5187 (e)
- Having concluded a contract conforming to Law No. 5953 and working without a break of more than one month from the date of leaving a job, save for force majeure (f)
- Not engaging in commercial activity outside media activity (g)
Subparagraphs (f) and (g) are not sought from everyone. Under Art. 8/2 they are not applied to owners of periodicals, representatives of legal persons, board chairs of radio and television outlets, employees of public institutions who may hold a press card, and Turkish citizens working for foreign press and broadcasting organisations.
Summary
- A university degree is not required for a Turkish press card.
- Reg. Art. 8/1-b and Law No. 5187 Add. Art. 3/1-b ask for at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Responsible editorship asks for at least secondary education (Law No. 5187 Art. 5/1-c).
- Education clears the threshold; the card is decided by the Commission's assessment of professional work, output and awards.