Graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law in 1994. Began master’s studies at the Institute of Social Sciences of Ankara University in 1995 and completed a master’s programme (LL.M.) at Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany) between 1996 and 1998. Worked as a candidate judge and prosecutor between 1998 and 2001 and as a public prosecutor between 2001 and 2013. Received the title of doctor in December 2012 with the thesis “Determination of the Penalty” (Cezanın Belirlenmesi). During doctoral studies held special student status at the Faculty of Law of Martin Luther University (Halle, Germany). Received the title of associate professor in 2016 with the thesis “Reasoning of the Judgment in Criminal Procedure” (Ceza Muhakemesinde Hükmün Gerekçesi), during the writing of which a short period was again spent as a visiting researcher at the Faculty of Law of Martin Luther University (Halle, Germany). Served as General Coordinator of the training programmes on reconciliation in criminal procedure and trained reconciliation prosecutors. Author of four chapters of the Reconciliation Training Book and originator of the name of the Regulation on Reconciliation in Criminal Procedure, which is still in force. Served as Vice Dean of the ASBU Faculty of Law from 8 April 2018 to 8 July 2021 and received the title of professor on 2 July 2021 with the thesis “Sanctions of Turkish Criminal Law and Their Execution” (Türk Ceza Hukuku Yaptırımları ve İnfazı). In 2022 Erdal YERDELEN served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of Dokuz Eylül University. Currently serves as Head of the Department of Public Law at the ASBU Faculty of Law. Works on criminal law and criminal procedure law, alternative dispute resolution, the law of sanctions and execution, medical law and information technology law.

Erdal YERDELEN, who founded the Turkish Music Choir at Social Sciences University of Ankara in 2018, plays the bağlama, cura, oud and piano and practises calligraphy as an amateur.

Speaks German at an advanced level and English at an intermediate level.