METU's lifelong learning activities are open to everyone. METU's own equality principle and the national equality law that binds METU as a public university guarantee that access does not depend on ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or other personal characteristics.

METU's equality and non-discrimination principle

METU states, as a university-wide principle published by its Office for Promoting Gender Equality and Preventing Sexual Harassment: 'Middle East Technical University (METU), together with its units, staff, and students, adopts and upholds universal values such as equality, inclusivity, respect for human dignity, and fairness for all individuals. Within this framework, METU respects differences and opposes all forms of discrimination.'

https://citob.metu.edu.tr/en/node/7

National equality law that binds METU

As a public university, METU is bound by Law No. 6701 on the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye. The law prohibits discrimination on grounds including sex, race, colour, language, religion, belief, ethnic origin, disability and age, and applies to public institutions in the provision of education and training and other public services – including METU's courses, events and open resources.

Commitment to inclusive lifelong learning

METU's Academic Freedom, Integrity, Inclusiveness and Equality Policy commit METU to 'an access to inclusive and equitable quality education for all including individuals with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations' and to providing 'lifelong learning opportunities to educate all for a sustainable future'. METU's 2023–2027 Strategic Plan includes a Lifelong Learning sub-programme whose objective is 'providing training to all segments of society in the fields they need'.

https://sustainablecampus.metu.edu.tr/en/policies

In practice: no conditions of affiliation or background

METU's lifelong learning offer is open without any condition related to a person's background:

• Bilge-İş online courses and certificates: free registration for anyone.
• METU OpenCourseWare and the OpenMETU open-access repository: free and open to everyone online, without registration.
• Public events such as the Learn & Connect lecture series, exhibitions and Museum Week: free, with no registration.
• The METU Science and Technology Museum, the Archaeology Museum and the Library: free entry for visitors from outside METU.
• Continuing Education Centre certificate programmes: open to individual applicants.
• Support for people with disabilities: the METU Disability Support Office provides accessibility support across the university.