Examining the problems experienced by individuals benefiting from student loans during the repayment process (Uluslararası Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi)

Summary

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 university graduates who had received student loans and experienced repayment problems.p.1
• Student loans have been granted in Türkiye since 1962 under Law No. 351, contribution loans since 1985 under Law No. 2547, and scholarships since 2004 under Law No. 5102.p.4
• Under 2025 stipend rates, undergraduate students receive 3,000 TL, master's students receive 6,000 TL, and doctoral students receive 9,000 TL for two months.p.5
• Ethics committee approval for the study was issued by Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University on April 27, 2022 under Decision No. 07.42.p.8
• Official data show that 3,234,318 candidates registered for the 2022 Higher Education Institutions Exam, with 226,031 candidates not attending.p.14
• Turkish Statistical Institute data for January 2023 indicated a youth unemployment rate of 20.2 percent among individuals aged 15–24.p.15

Key insights

1. Unemployment is the single most critical obstacle preventing university graduates from repaying their student loan debts.p.1
2. Contribution loans were officially abolished following a Council of Ministers decision published on August 29, 2012.p.4
3. Student loan repayments commence two years following graduation and are adjusted by the Domestic Producer Price Index up to a maximum of three times the original principal.p.4
4. Nearly half of the interviewed graduates felt that student loan stipends adequately met their general basic needs during university.p.10
5. Borrowers generally experienced minimal repayment anxiety while in school, but developed significant stress during their final year and post-graduation job searches.p.11
6. Graduates advocate for interest-free repayment structures that activate only after obtaining stable, insured employment yielding adequate income.p.12
7. To manage debt obligations and avert garnishment, borrowers frequently rely on family or spousal financial support, sell personal assets, or incur new loans.p.14
8. In January 2023, overall unemployment for individuals aged 15 and over stood at 9.7 percent, with male unemployment at 7.7 percent and female unemployment at 13.7 percent.p.15