Sakarya University (SAU) is committed to promoting equal opportunities and inclusivity in higher education by supporting economically disadvantaged students in accessing educational opportunities and continuing their studies. The University implements various financial and social support mechanisms to reduce the impact of economic hardship on students' access to food, accommodation, and other essential needs, thereby contributing to their academic participation and educational continuity.
In Türkiye, admission to higher education institutions is regulated under Article 45 of Higher Education Law No. 2547. Student placement in Sakarya University's associate and undergraduate degree programmes is conducted by the Measurement, Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM), in accordance with the 2025 Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) Guide to Higher Education Programmes and Quotas. Accordingly, the University implements the nationally established admission and placement framework, ensuring that its admission procedures are aligned with the principles and regulations governing access to higher education in Türkiye.
Sakarya University's 2023–2027 Strategic Plan provides an institutional framework for supporting disadvantaged students, strengthening inclusivity in education, and improving student welfare and social support opportunities. In line with this approach, the University implements financial assistance and student support programmes designed to help economically disadvantaged students overcome financial barriers and continue their higher education.
A key component of these efforts is the SAU Meal Scholarship Programme, administered by the Department of Health, Culture and Sports. Under the relevant directive, students' financial and family circumstances are assessed to identify those in need of assistance. Eligible students receive free meal support throughout the academic year. This ongoing programme helps meet students' basic nutritional needs and reduces the financial pressures that may negatively affect their educational experience.
The University's financial support framework is further strengthened through faculty-affiliated scholarship and assistance mechanisms. The Sakarya University Faculty of Theology Foundation provides scholarships and non-repayable assistance to students in need, including support for accommodation, healthcare, and clothing expenses. Its scholarship and social assistance activities are documented through information and announcements published on the Foundation's official website, demonstrating its contribution to addressing students' financial needs.
Similarly, the Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine Scholarship Commission evaluates scholarship applications from students requiring financial assistance and coordinates the distribution of donor-funded support through the Sakarya University Foundation. These scholarship activities and financial assistance mechanisms are documented through the Faculty of Medicine Scholarship Reports published on the Faculty's official website.
These support mechanisms operate within established institutional procedures, including relevant directives, application and evaluation processes, and documented scholarship activities. Through these initiatives, the University seeks to facilitate access to essential support services, alleviate financial difficulties, and promote the academic participation, retention, and educational continuity of economically disadvantaged students.
Within Türkiye's national higher education admission framework, Sakarya University demonstrates its commitment to equal opportunities in education through strategic planning, needs-based scholarship programmes, assistance with essential living expenses, and faculty-level institutional support mechanisms. Together, these initiatives reflect the University's continued efforts to reduce socioeconomic barriers, strengthen educational inclusivity, and support low-income students in pursuing and completing their higher education.
