Organization

The higher education system in Turkey includes universities and non-university institutions (police and military academies and colleges)
There are 71 Turkish universities (53 state and 18 private) engaged in both teaching and research. They offer undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of fields : archaeology, medicine, business administration, humanities, natural sciences, law, agriculture, engineering, architecture, social sciences, and more.
Each university is made up of faculties offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Four-year schools offer bachelor’s level programs, and two-year vocational schools offer pre-bachelor’s (associate) level programs.
One distance-teaching university, The Anadolu University, offers two and four year programs (www.anadolu.edu.tr).
The higher education system is administered by the Council for Higher Education (YÖK), a 22 member corporate body responsible for the planning, coordination and supervision of higher education within the provisions set forth in the Higher Education Law. 7 of its members are academics elected by the Inter-University Council, while another 7 are appointed directly by the President of the Republic of Turkey, giving priority to former rectors. The Government appoints the final 8 members, who are mostly senior civil servants. The president of the Council is appointed directly by the President of the Republic.
The Minister of National Educational represents higher education in Parliament, and can chair the meetings of the Council for Higher Education (YÖK), but has no vote.
The YÖK funds all institutions of higher education, except for certain private institutions financed entirely from non-public funds.
Source : The Turkish Educational System, 1999

Accreditations
The Council for Higher Education (YÖK), an autonomous national board of trustees, has the sole power to accredit institutions of higher education and to authorize them to award academic degrees.
Nevertheless, each institution is autonomous in the conduct of their academic and administrative affairs within the framework of their approved budgets and their terms of accreditation.
The universities, faculties, institutions and four-year schools are all established by law, while the two-year vocational schools and departments are established by the YÖK. The opening of a degree program at any level is subject to ratification by the YÖK.

Academic Year 
The universities in Turkey have their academic year spread over 2 sessions : Fall (September to February) and Spring (February to June). An optional summer session (July to August) is provided.