Student perspectives on financing higher education in Turkey: An empirical example

ABSTRACT In Turkey, higher education financing reveals the increases in demand for higher education and the costs and benefits provided by the education offered at universities. Accordingly, various financing methods are utilized from both the public and private sectors to finance these emerging costs. The aim of this study is to analyze the current state of higher education financing in Turkey, evaluate the efficiency of financial models and resources by examining them. Furthermore, the effects of changes in financing structures on university performance have been discussed. To this end, a survey was conducted via Google Forms with 546 students from 100 different universities in Turkey. Participants were asked questions regarding the current status of KYK education loans, housing issues, financing approaches, and the role of banks. These statements were evaluated using variance analysis based on age groups and socioeconomic status. As a result of the findings, it is generally suggested that scholarships are insufficient and that non-repayable scholarships should be relaxed. It is also proposed that repayments should commence at a certain income level, repayable loans should be converted to non-repayable ones when necessary, assessment should not be based on grade averages, and housing facilities should be improved. It is concluded that higher education financing cannot be managed solely through public support and that the private sector also has a role to play, necessitating diversification of financing sources. Keywords: Higher Education Financing, Credit and Dormitories Agency (KYK), Financing Sources, Housing Issues, Income Status