Directives

This is an annex to the decision of our University Senate dated 18.09.2025 and numbered 2025/22.
Revision-Amendment-Approval: Board of Trustees Decision dated 24.09.2025 and numbered 2025/06.

 

From Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University:

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY
INTER-INSTITUTIONAL LATERAL TRANSFER DIRECTIVE

PART ONE
Introductory Provisions

Purpose
ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this Directive is to determine the procedures and principles to be applied to inter-institutional lateral transfers made to the diploma programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University by undergraduate students registered at other higher education institutions in Turkey and abroad.

Scope
ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Directive covers the inter-institutional lateral transfer applications to be made from other higher education institutions to the undergraduate programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, the application requirements, the quota determination processes, the application documents, the evaluation principles, the announcement of the results, the registration and adjustment procedures, special circumstances, and scholarship and discount opportunities.

Legal Basis
ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of subparagraph (e) of the first paragraph of Article 7 and the provisions of Articles 14 and 20 of Higher Education Law No. 2547, the Regulation on the Principles of Transfer Between Associate and Undergraduate Degree Programs, Double Major, Minor Programs and Inter-Institutional Credit Transfer in Higher Education Institutions, and the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation.

Definitions
ARTICLE 4 – (1) In this Directive;
a) CGPA: refers to the Cumulative Grade Point Average, that is, the weighted grade point average of all courses taken by the student in the program in which they are registered,
b) ECTS: refers to the European Credit Transfer System, the credit unit expressing the estimated workload that a student must devote in order to achieve the learning outcomes of a course,
c) Achievement Score: refers to the total score calculated with specified weightings from more than one criterion, such as the CGPA, the YKS placement score and, where applicable, the special aptitude examination score, to be used in the evaluation of lateral transfer applications,
ç) Scholarship Program: refers to a diploma program offering the partial or full scholarship opportunities provided by Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
d) DGS: refers to the Vertical Transfer Examination,
e) Diploma Program: refers to higher education programs in which an undergraduate diploma is issued to students of faculties or departments who fulfil certain qualifications,
f) Equivalent Diploma Program: refers to diploma programs that have the same name or whose contents have been determined by the boards of management of the relevant academic units to be at least eighty percent identical, (Ekonomi-İktisat, İslami İlimler-İlahiyat, etc.)
g) Quota: refers to the maximum number of students who may be admitted to a given diploma program through lateral transfer, as determined by the Senate or the Council of Higher Education,
ğ) Inter-institutional lateral transfer: refers to transfer from the diploma program of one higher education institution to a diploma program at the same level at the University,
h) Senate: refers to the Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
ı) University: refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
i) Foreign Language Examination Equivalences Table: refers to the table accepted by the University Senate or the Measuring, Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM) and announced on their official websites, showing the equivalence of internationally valid foreign language examination scores with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels,
j) YKS: refers to the Higher Education Institutions Examination,
k) YÖK: The Council of Higher Education,
l) Foreign Higher Education Institution: refers to a higher education institution operating outside Turkey whose equivalence is recognized by YÖK,

shall have the meanings set out above.

PART TWO
General Principles Regarding Inter-Institutional Lateral Transfer

Application requirements based on the cumulative grade point average
ARTICLE 5 – (1) The following general conditions are required for inter-institutional lateral transfer between equivalent diploma programs at the same level:

a) The student must have successfully completed those courses in the curriculum of the undergraduate program in which they are registered, up to the semester for which the application is made, that are common with the program to which they wish to transfer.
b) The student's CGPA must be at least 2.29 out of 4.00 or at least 60 out of 100. For transfers from open or distance education to formal education, this requirement is applied as at least 3.15 out of 4.00 or at least 80 out of 100.
c) The student must not have received a disciplinary penalty. At the time of application, a document showing the candidate's disciplinary status, obtained from the university at which they are registered, must be submitted.
ç) Lateral transfer based on the CGPA may not be made to the first two semesters (first year) or the last two semesters (fourth year) of undergraduate diploma programs. This rule is based on the number of semesters the student has successfully completed in the program in which they are registered. Inter-institutional lateral transfers based on the CGPA may only be made to the second and third years of undergraduate programs.
d) A student wishing to make a lateral transfer to programs subject to a success ranking requirement in the YKS Guide, such as Law, Engineering, Architecture and Teaching, must have a YKS success ranking in the relevant score type equal to or higher than the minimum success ranking required by YÖK for the relevant year. The success ranking of the placement score without additional points is taken into account.
e) The score type of the program in which the student is registered must be the same as the score type of the program to which they wish to make a lateral transfer. In the event of an application from a different score type, the program in which the student is registered and the program to which they wish to transfer must be equivalent, and the student must meet the minimum success ranking requirement, if any, required by YÖK for the relevant year.

Application requirements based on the central placement score (Additional Article-1)
ARTICLE 6 – (1) The student's central placement score for the year in which they enrolled must be higher than the base score of the diploma program at the University to which they wish to transfer. The following conditions are also required for applications within this scope:

a) Lateral transfers within the scope of Additional Article-1 are carried out in accordance with the Regulation on the Principles of Transfer Between Associate and Undergraduate Degree Programs, Double Major, Minor Programs and Inter-Institutional Credit Transfer in Higher Education Institutions and with the Fall and Spring Semester Additional Article-1 Implementation Principles determined by the Council of Higher Education.
b) The student must not have previously made a lateral transfer within the scope of Additional Article-1. The right of lateral transfer under Additional Article-1 may be exercised only once, and a student who has benefited from this right may only return to their previous higher education institution.
c) In applications within this scope, no equivalence requirement is sought between the program in which the student is registered and the program to which the lateral transfer is requested.

Applications subject to special conditions
ARTICLE 7 – (1) For transfers to diploma programs that admit students through a special aptitude examination, in addition to the general and central placement score application requirements, the student is also required to pass the special aptitude examination determined by the University. The dates and content of these examinations are also specified in the lateral transfer announcement.

(2) In inter-institutional lateral transfer applications, for lateral transfers to programs where the language of instruction is entirely or partially a foreign language, the student must meet the foreign language proficiency requirements determined by the University (national or international examinations accepted by YÖK, such as TOEFL, KPDS, ÜDS, YDS and e-YDS, whose validity period has not expired) or must pass the foreign language proficiency examination administered by the University.

(3) In lateral transfer applications within the scope of the central placement score (Additional Article-1) ;

a) For transfers to programs where instruction is provided entirely or partially in a foreign language, the student must meet the foreign language requirement sought by the University. Those who have received two years of preparatory class education in the program in which they are registered may not receive preparatory class education again.

b) Students who wish to transfer from a program where the language of instruction is Turkish (for example: Business Administration-Turkish) to a program with the same name taught in a foreign language (for example: Business Administration-English) begin the undergraduate program directly if they meet the foreign language proficiency requirement sought by the University. Those among these students who cannot meet the foreign language proficiency requirement and who have not previously received two years of preparatory class education may receive foreign language preparatory education at the University at the latest before starting their second-year studies. Those who have previously received one year of preparatory class education may receive at most one further year of preparatory education.

c) Students who wish to transfer from a program where the language of instruction is Turkish (for example: International Trade and Finance-Turkish) to a program with a different name taught in a foreign language (for example: Software Engineering-English) may transfer regardless of the year or semester they are in, provided that they meet the requirements set out in these procedures and principles. Those among these students who cannot meet the foreign language proficiency requirement sought by the University and who have not previously received two years of preparatory class education may receive foreign language preparatory education at the University. Those who have previously received one year of preparatory education may receive at most one further year of preparatory education.

(4) For transfers from evening education to daytime education, the student must have ranked in the top ten percent of their class in the program in which they are registered and have progressed to the next year. Otherwise, the lateral transfer application from evening education to formal education is not evaluated.

Conditions for lateral transfer from higher education institutions abroad
ARTICLE 8- (1) The following conditions are required for lateral transfer applications to be made from higher education institutions abroad:

a) The higher education institution and program abroad at which the student is registered must be recognized as equivalent by YÖK and must be equivalent, in terms of educational standards, to the program to which the student wishes to transfer.
b) The general application requirements regarding the CGPA also apply to applications made from abroad.

(2) The minimum scores in the central placement examinations administered by ÖSYM to be used in evaluating the transfer applications to the University of students who began their higher education abroad, together with the examinations and scores recognized as equivalent thereto, are announced by the Council of Higher Education along with the international transfer quotas determined by the University. In order to apply for a transfer, candidates must hold scores equal to or above the announced scores.

(3) In order to transfer from higher education institutions established abroad, including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to programs of the University for which a success ranking requirement applies;

a) In the year the student began higher education, the university at which the student is enrolled must be ranked within the top four hundred in at least three of the ranking organizations taken as a basis by the Council of Higher Education (Times Higher Education (THE), QS World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), CWTS Leiden Ranking), and the student must meet the semester/year and academic achievement requirements of this Directive,

b) If the student is enrolled at a university outside the top four hundred;

1) Those who completed their secondary education in Türkiye must, in all cases, have sat the central placement examination and, as of their year of enrollment, have met the success ranking requirement in the relevant score type of the program for which a success ranking requirement applies,

2) Those who completed at least the final two years of their secondary education abroad must have successfully completed at least four semesters, excluding the preparatory year, of the diploma program in which they are enrolled.

(4) The following additional condition applies to third-country national students (those who are not citizens of the Republic of Türkiye) who apply for transfer from higher education institutions in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus:

a) The student must have studied for at least two years (four semesters), excluding the preparatory year, at the university at which they are enrolled in the TRNC.
b) For citizens of the Republic of Türkiye, the general conditions set out in the first paragraph and the other relevant provisions of this Directive apply.

Application period
ARTICLE 9 – (1) Transfer applications are made on the dates announced in the University's academic calendar. Application dates are determined by the University Senate and announced on the University's official website. For each academic year, the dates for applications, foreign language examinations, evaluation, announcement of results and final registration are set out in detail in the University's academic calendar and announced on the University's official website. Separate dates may also be determined for special cases and additional quotas.

Application documents
ARTICLE 10 – (1) Applications are made through the University's online application system. The following documents must be submitted in full during the application:

a) Application form (completed online on the University website).
b) Student certificate (obtained from the university of enrollment, issued within the last month, recently dated and bearing a wet signature/e-signature).
c) Certified transcript of records (obtained from the university of enrollment, showing all courses taken, grades, CGPA and academic standing, issued within the last month, bearing a wet signature/e-signature and a seal).
ç) Course contents and the eight-semester curriculum (containing detailed course descriptions of all successfully completed courses, course hours and weekly credit/ECTS information, and showing the eight-semester curriculum of the relevant program; must be obtained from the official website of the relevant university and be verifiable).
d) YKS Result Document (an online printout showing all score types and scores for the year in which the student enrolled. The document must bear the "Result Document Verification Code").
e) YKS Placement Result Document (an online printout for the year in which the student enrolled. The document must bear the "Result Document Verification Code").
f) Disciplinary status certificate (obtained from the university of enrollment, showing that the student has not received a disciplinary penalty; no separate document is required if this is stated on the transcript).
g) If the student attended a preparatory class, a Preparatory Class Certificate of Achievement or a certificate of exemption.
ğ) Foreign Language Proficiency Certificate (if available, a national or international examination result document listed in the Foreign Language Examination Equivalences table and recognized as valid, or a transcript or certificate of achievement showing that the student successfully completed the relevant foreign language preparatory class at their previous higher education institution).
h) For applicants from abroad: a document certifying that the higher education institution and program abroad at which the student is enrolled are recognized as equivalent by YÖK, the entry-exit record obtained via the e-Government Gateway for the years of study abroad, and a photocopy of the passport page containing the photograph and identity information (applications from universities listed in the YKS Guide of the relevant year are exempt).
ı) For applications to transfer from evening education to daytime education, a document showing that the student ranks in the top ten percent of their class in the program in which they are enrolled.

(2) All documents must be uploaded to the system in PDF format. The originals of the application documents must be presented at the time of registration.

(3) Applications submitted with missing documents are not evaluated. The applications of candidates who fail to complete their applications within the application period or who are found to have applied with false statements and/or documents are rejected at the evaluation stage; the registrations of those who fail to present the originals of the documents they submitted at the time of registration are cancelled if registration has already been completed.

Quotas
ARTICLE 11 – (1) The student quotas to be admitted to each diploma program through inter-institutional transfer based on CGPA are determined by a Senate decision upon the proposal of the relevant faculty boards of management, after obtaining the opinion of the relevant department boards, in accordance with the principles and procedures set by YÖK for the relevant year and taking into account the student capacity, academic staff and physical facilities of the relevant program. The quotas become final once they are approved by YÖK.

(2) The student quotas to be admitted to each diploma program through the central placement score (Additional Article 1) are determined by a Senate decision upon the proposal of the relevant faculty boards of management, after obtaining the opinion of the relevant department boards, in accordance with the Additional Article 1 Implementation Principles set by YÖK for the relevant year and taking into account the student capacity, academic staff and physical facilities of the relevant program.

(3) Where, apart from the quotas specified in the first and second paragraphs, additional quotas may be opened for special cases or supplementary placements determined by YÖK, such quotas are announced separately on the University's official website.

PART THREE
Evaluation of Applications, Admission and Registration Procedures

Evaluation and admission process
ARTICLE 12 – (1) Applications are evaluated by the Transfer Evaluation Committees established by the relevant faculty boards of management upon the proposal of the relevant department chairs, on the basis of the criteria set out in the relevant articles of this Directive.

(2) Inter-institutional transfer applications based on CGPA are evaluated by including in the calculation the candidate's CGPA, their performance in common courses, if any, and 40% of their YKS score in the relevant score type for the year in which they enrolled at the University.

(3) The inter-institutional transfer applications of students who enrolled through the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) are evaluated on the basis of the YKS base score for the relevant year of the undergraduate program at the university in which the student enrolled through the DGS.

(4) When calculating the overall achievement score of candidates applying for inter-institutional transfer based on CGPA, the weighted grade point averages of all candidates are converted on the basis of YÖK's "Table of Equivalents of Grades in the 4-Point System in the 100-Point System".

(5) In the event of equal achievement scores, priority is given, in the following order, to the candidate with the higher CGPA, the higher YKS score for the year of enrollment, more completed ECTS credits, and the younger age.

(6) In transfers from higher education institutions abroad based on CGPA, the number of students who may transfer into each year of a program from the same higher education institution abroad may not exceed fifteen percent of the international quota for that year of the program. In calculating the fifteen percent, figures below one are rounded up to one. If the decimal part is less than five, the figure is rounded down to the lower whole number; if it is five or above, it is rounded up to the next whole number.

(7) Inter-institutional transfer applications based on the central placement score are evaluated on the basis of the YKS score in the relevant score type of the program to which the transfer is requested.

(8) For candidates applying to transfer to programs that admit students through a special talent examination, a special talent examination or portfolio assessment is conducted by the relevant academic units. The effect of these assessments on the achievement score is determined by the relevant faculty board of management.

(9) As a result of the evaluation, principal and reserve candidate lists are drawn up within the quota and in order of achievement, up to the number of available places.

Announcement of results
ARTICLE 13 – (1) The evaluation results of the applications are announced on the University's official website or in the online application system. No separate notification is sent to candidates by post or e-mail. It is the applicant's responsibility to follow the announced results.

(2) Once the registration of the candidates on the principal list has been completed, the Department of Student Affairs invites candidates from the reserve list, in order, to register for the remaining places on the dates specified in the announcement.

Appeal process
ARTICLE 14 – (1) Candidates may lodge an appeal with the relevant Dean's Office by written petition within five working days following the announcement of the application results. The petition must state the matters subject to appeal clearly and with justification.

(2) Appeals are evaluated and decided by the relevant faculty board of management within 14 days at the latest, and the outcome is communicated to the student in writing or by e-mail by the Dean's Office.

Registration procedures
ARTICLE 15 – (1) The final registration of candidates on the principal list is carried out on the announced dates, together with the registration documents announced by the University, either in person or through a proxy appointed by a notarized power of attorney.

(2) Principal candidates who fail to complete their final registration within the specified period are deemed to have waived their right to registration, and candidates from the reserve list are invited to register in their place, in order.

(3) Candidates who fail to pay the tuition fee or to arrange payment in installments on the announced dates, and those who fail to submit the documents required for registration to the Department of Student Affairs, are deemed to have waived their right to become a student of the University and may not claim any rights.

(4) Candidates are required to present the originals of the documents they have declared at the time of registration. The registrations of those who submit forged documents or documents containing false information are cancelled even if the registration process has been completed, and legal proceedings are initiated against them.

(5) Course exemption and adaptation procedures for students admitted through transfer are carried out by the relevant academic unit after registration.

(6) The originals of the documents uploaded by the candidate to the online application system (YKS Result/YKS Placement document, student certificate, transcript, disciplinary status certificate and, if applicable, foreign language proficiency certificate) must be presented for registration. In addition to these documents, the following documents are required from candidates for registration:

a) Registration petition.
b) Original and photocopy of the identity card.
c) Two passport-size photographs.
ç) Original high school diploma or e-Government printout.
d) Military service status certificate (for male candidates).
e) For students enrolling in the Physical Education and Sports Teaching and Sports Management undergraduate programs, a health report obtained from the relevant health institutions bearing the statement "There is no medical objection to their studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences".
f) For national athletes enrolling in the Physical Education and Sports Teaching and Sports Management undergraduate programs, the original or a photocopy of the National Athlete Certificate obtained from the federations and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye (signed at least by the relevant Director General or Deputy Director General).
g) An official letter from the higher education institution the student is leaving stating that "there is no impediment to their transfer".
ğ) For transfers from evening education to daytime education, a document showing that the student ranks in the top ten percent of their class in the program in which they are enrolled.
h) For applicants from abroad: a document certifying that the higher education institution and program abroad at which the student is enrolled are recognized by YÖK, the entry-exit record obtained via the e-Government Gateway for the years of study abroad, and a photocopy of the passport page containing the photograph and identity information. (Applications from universities listed in the YKS Guide of the relevant year are exempt.)
ı) Documents obtained from higher education institutions abroad (excluding TRNC universities) must bear apostille certification. For documents obtained from countries where apostille certification is not available, certification by the Embassy or Consulate of the Republic of Türkiye in the country where the document was issued, or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, is required. Applications made with documents that do not meet these conditions are not evaluated.

(7) If documents presented during or after final registration are found not to reflect the truth or to be forged, the student's affiliation with the University is terminated immediately and legal proceedings are initiated against them.

PART FOUR
Academic and Financial Provisions

Exemption and adaptation procedures
ARTICLE 16 – (1) Exemption and adaptation procedures for courses that transfer students have taken and passed at their previous higher education institutions are carried out by the relevant academic units within the framework of the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Exemption and Adaptation Directive.

Preparatory class exemption procedures
ARTICLE 17 – (1) Exemption and proficiency procedures relating to the foreign language preparatory class for transfer students are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on the Principles to Be Followed in Foreign Language Teaching and Instruction in a Foreign Language at Higher Education Institutions, published in the Official Gazette dated 23/3/2016 and numbered 29662, and the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Foreign Language Preparatory Class Education and Examination Directive.

(2) Cases in which the student has successfully completed the foreign language preparatory class at their previous higher education institution or holds a nationally or internationally valid foreign language proficiency certificate are assessed in accordance with the principles of the University's Foreign Language Preparatory Class Education and Examination Directive.

Scholarship and discount opportunities
ARTICLE 18 – (1) The duration of scholarships and discounts granted to transfer students may not exceed the maximum period of study specified in Higher Education Law No. 2547. The periods spent by a student transferring to an equivalent diploma program at their previous higher education institutions are included in the maximum period of study and in the scholarship and discount periods. The provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Scholarship Directive apply to the type, rate, continuation and termination conditions of scholarships and discounts, as well as to all other procedures and principles not specified in this Directive.

Waiver of transfer rights and fee refunds
ARTICLE 19 – (1) Students who qualify for transfer are deemed to have waived their transfer right and may not claim any rights if they fail to register within the announced registration period or fail to complete their registration documents.

(2) Students who have completed final registration at the University through transfer may waive their right to registration by applying to the Department of Student Affairs with a wet-signed petition before the start date of classes for the relevant semester. In this case, the students' affiliation with the University is terminated and the tuition fee they have paid is refunded to them. No tuition refund is made to those who waive after the start date of classes, and they may not claim any rights.

Other academic opportunities
ARTICLE 20 – (1) Students who register through transfer may apply to double major and minor programs within the framework of the University's relevant directives and the conditions it has determined.

FIFTH SECTION
Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Special cases
ARTICLE 21 – (1) In the event that persons assigned to principal and permanent public services in public institutions and organizations are permanently reassigned to another location, they, their dependent children and their spouses are transferred without any quota requirement to any year or semester of an equivalent diploma program, other than the final year or the final two semesters, within one month at the latest from the beginning of the academic year, provided that their central placement scores at the time of admission to the diploma program in which they are enrolled are higher than the base score of the diploma program at the University for the year in which they were placed.

(2) In transfers from higher education institutions abroad, if the student's mother or father returns to Türkiye because their duty has ended, in the case of a civil servant, or makes a final return, in the case of a worker, it is sufficient for a transfer application that the student has studied for at least one year, excluding the foreign language class, and has successfully passed all end-of-year examinations. Applications made in this context are evaluated by the relevant faculty boards of management outside the scope of the international transfer quota.

(3) The applications of the children of foreign diplomats serving in Türkiye are evaluated by the University board of management without any quota requirement.

Cases not covered by provisions
ARTICLE 22 – (1) In cases not covered by this Directive, Higher Education Law No. 2547, the provisions of the Regulation on the Principles Governing Transfers Between Associate and Bachelor's Degree Programs, Double Major, Minor and Inter-Institutional Credit Transfer at Higher Education Institutions, YÖK decisions, Senate decisions and the decisions of the relevant boards of management apply.

Entry into force
ARTICLE 23 – (1) This Directive enters into force in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Execution
ARTICLE 24 – (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector.