University Holidays in Turkey 2023 - 2024

Undoubtedly, most students are interested in knowing university holiday dates in Turkey, as they are set in the annual academic calendar.

There is no doubt that most students are interested in knowing the dates of university holidays in Turkey in general, as these dates are important to them and are set in advance in the university’s annual academic calendar. In this article, we will discuss all the school holidays in Turkey, including religious holidays, review the official public holidays in Turkey, and highlight some frequently asked questions regarding official holidays at Turkish universities.

Why We Discuss University Holidays in Turkey

We discuss university holidays in Turkey in general because it is an important topic for all university students in Turkey. Students are keen to know all about the dates of the official holidays specified in the annual academic calendar, as these days serve as a break from academic and school activities, and many students use them to relax or make up for lost study time.

It is worth mentioning that the list of official holidays in the Turkish Republic, followed by its educational institutions, was established under Law No. 2429, issued on March 19, 1981, replacing Law No. 2739 which was issued on May 27, 1935. This law organizes all national and religious occasions and designates them as official holidays throughout Turkey.

School Holidays in Turkey

There are many school holidays in Turkey throughout the year. In the following points, we will list each occasion and its official date:

New Year’s Day: This is a school holiday in Turkey, falling on January 1st of every year.
Children’s Day: This day is observed on April 23rd of every year.
Turkish National Sovereignty Day: A national occasion and official school holiday observed on April 23rd each year.
Labor Day: In Turkey, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st every year.
Youth and Sports Day & Atatürk Remembrance Day: This occasion is celebrated on May 19th each year.
Pre-Eid of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr Prep): This occasion is determined by the Islamic calendar and falls on the last day of Ramadan each year.
Eid al-Fitr: An Islamic occasion, observed during the first three days of Shawwal each Islamic year.
Democracy Day: This occasion is observed on July 15th of every Gregorian year.
Pre-Eid of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha Prep): The occasion is observed on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah each Islamic year.
Eid al-Adha: Celebrated on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah each Islamic year.
Victory Day: A national occasion celebrated on August 30th each year.
Republic Day: A national occasion celebrated on October 28th and 29th each year.
Teacher’s Day: This occasion is observed on November 24th each year in Turkey.

All these holidays are considered university holidays in Turkey. In the following paragraphs, we will detail them according to the nature of the occasion and the duration of the break.

Religious Holidays in Turkey

Religious holidays in Turkey are directly linked to Islam. The religious holidays stipulated by Turkish law are the following:

Eid al-Fitr Holiday: This holiday extends from the last day of Ramadan until the end of the third day of Shawwal each Islamic year.
Eid al-Adha Holiday: This holiday begins on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and ends on the 14th day of Dhu al-Hijjah each Islamic year.

Official Public Holidays in Turkey

The officially recognized public holidays in Turkey as per Turkish law are the following:

New Year’s Day.
Children’s Day and Turkish National Sovereignty Day.
Labor Day.
Atatürk Remembrance Day and Youth and Sports Day.
Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday.
Eid al-Adha, a religious holiday.
Victory Day.
Teacher’s Day.
Republic Day.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Holidays at Turkish Universities

Below is a selection of frequently asked questions directly related to the annual holidays at Turkish universities:

How many holidays do Turkish universities have each year?

The official holidays at Turkish universities total 8 holidays each year, namely: New Year’s Day; Children’s Day and Turkish National Sovereignty Day, which are observed on the same day; Labor Day; Atatürk Remembrance Day and Youth and Sports Day, which are observed on the same day; Eid al-Fitr; Eid al-Adha; Victory Day; Teacher’s Day; and the anniversary of the founding of the current Turkish Republic.

How many religious holidays do Turkish universities have each year?

There are two religious holidays in Turkey each year, namely:

The Eid al-Fitr Holiday, which lasts from the last day of Ramadan until the third day of Shawwal according to the Islamic calendar.

The second is the Eid al-Adha Holiday, which lasts from the 9th day to the 14th day of Dhu al-Hijjah according to the Islamic calendar.

These religious holidays are considered university holidays in Turkey during which classes, examinations, and any academic activities are suspended.

What are the national holidays in Turkish universities?

There are four national holidays in Turkish universities. These holidays are:

Turkish National Sovereignty Day: Observed on April 23rd of every Gregorian year.
Atatürk Remembrance Day: Celebrated on May 19th of every Gregorian year.
Democracy Day: Observed on July 15th of every Gregorian year.
Victory Day: Celebrated on August 30th of every Gregorian year.

When were the current holidays in Turkish universities established?

The current holidays in Turkish universities were established under Law No. 2429, which was officially issued on March 19, 1981, replacing the previous Law No. 2739 issued on May 27, 1935.

How many days of holidays do Turkish universities have each year?

The total number of holiday days in Turkish universities each year is 14.5 days. Below are the names of these holidays and the duration of each:

New Year’s Day: 1 day.
Children’s Day and Turkish National Sovereignty Day: 1 day.
Labor Day: 1 day.
Atatürk Remembrance Day and Youth and Sports Day: 1 day.
Eid al-Fitr: 3 days.
Eid al-Adha: 4 days.
Victory Day: 1 day.
Teacher’s Day: 1 day.
Republic Day Anniversary: 1.5 days.