In Türkiye, all higher education institutions at the associate, undergraduate and graduate levels are organized under the umbrella of universities, except for higher education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior and the law enforcement and some vocational colleges established by foundations. Therefore, both vocational schools of higher education and academic higher education institutions are largely under the same roof. In general, with the exception of four foundation vocational schools of higher education, there are no independent higher education institutions other than universities or institutes of higher technology. The Law on Higher Education defines a university as an institution of higher education consisting of faculties, institutes, colleges and similar institutions and units that provide higher level education, scientific research, publication and consultancy with scientific autonomy and public legal personality. In terms of their status and financing, higher education institutions are divided into public and foundation universities. State universities are largely financed by public sources. According to the Law on the Amendment of the Law on Higher Education and Certain Laws, foundation universities are feebased. Foundation universities, on the other hand, are financed by the fees they receive from their students on a non-profit basis.

Since there are no higher education institutions in Türkiye that receive more than 50% of their income from the state, there are no private higher education institutions dependent on the state. Foundation Universities are subject to the same legal regulations as public universities except for some administrative and financial issues.