Directives

Republic of Türkiye

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY

DIRECTIVE ON THE APPLICATION, EVALUATION, ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Purpose

PART ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

Article 1- (1) The purpose of this Directive is to regulate the application, evaluation, admission and enrolment procedures for international students wishing to study in the undergraduate programmes of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Scope

Article 2- (1) This Directive covers the application, examination, evaluation, admission and enrolment procedures for international students wishing to study in the undergraduate programmes of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, as well as the composition and duties of the International Student Admission Commission.

Legal Basis

Article 3- (1) This Directive has been issued on the basis of Articles 14 and 45/f of Higher Education Law No. 2547 and the "Principles Concerning the Admission of Students from Abroad" of the Council of Higher Education.

Definitions

Article 4- (1) In this Directive

a) School of Languages: refers to the School of Languages of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,

b) İZÜTEM: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Turkish Language Teaching and Instruction Application and

Research Centre,

c) İZÜ-YÖS: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University International Student Examination,
ç) Commission: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University International Student Admission Commission,

d) Coordinatorship: refers to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Coordinatorship of International Students and Relations,

e) Board of Trustees: refers to the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,

f) Secondary education: refers to high schools in Türkiye and other educational institutions recognised as equivalent to them,

g) ÖSYS: refers to the Student Selection and Placement System,

ğ) Rectorate: refers to the Rectorate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,

h) Senate: refers to the Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
ı) Calendar: refers to the Admission and Enrolment Calendar for International Students,

i) University: Refers to Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,

j) YEE: refers to the Yunus Emre Institute,

k) YÖK: refers to the Council of Higher Education,

shall have the meanings set out above.

PART TWO

The Coordinatorship, the Commission, the Sub-Commission and their duties; the Coordinatorship and its duties

Article 5- (1) The Coordinatorship operates under the General Coordinatorship of International Relations and Exchange Programmes. (2) The duties of the Coordinatorship are as follows;

a) To receive the applications of international students wishing to study in the undergraduate programmes of the University, b) To carry out the preliminary evaluation of candidates applying to undergraduate programmes on the basis of their secondary education graduation diploma, transcript and grade point average, their İZÜ-YÖS results or the examination results or high school completion certificates specified in ANNEX-1, and any other supporting documents,

c) To identify the candidates who meet the admission requirements for Full Tuition or 25% Discount programmes according to their İZÜ-YÖS results or the examination results or high school completion certificates listed in ANNEX-1, and to submit them to the Commission,

ç) To identify the candidates who meet the scholarship/discount requirements other than those for Full Tuition or 25% Discount programmes according to their İZÜ-YÖS results or the examination results or high school completion certificates listed in ANNEX-1, and to submit them to the Sub-Commission,

d) To inform applicants about the evaluation and admission processes,

e) To cooperate with domestic and international educational institutions, consultancy firms, non-governmental organisations, promotional agencies and similar institutions and organisations, and to carry out promotional activities by participating in domestic and international education fairs, with a view to attracting international students to the University and promoting the University,

f) To ensure the preparation of the content of documents and

catalogues promoting the University for promotional activities aimed at international students,

g) To follow the correspondence and announcements of YÖK concerning international students, to make the necessary updates to this Directive and to submit them to the Rectorate.

The Commission and its duties; the Sub-Commission and its duties

Article 6- (1) The Sub-Commission consists of the Coordinator and at least 3 members elected unanimously by

the Commission from among the Commission members.

(2) The duties and responsibilities of the Sub-Commission are as follows;

a) To carry out the evaluation of candidates who meet the scholarship/discount requirements other than those for Full Tuition or 25% Discount programmes,

b) To plan, together with the department/programme representatives designated by the relevant Deaneries, face-to-face or online interviews with candidates in order to conduct the interviews of candidates who meet the full scholarship requirements,

c) To submit the evaluation results obtained pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the Commission.

Article 7- (1) The International Student Admission Commission is elected by the Senate. The Commission consists of the Vice Rector responsible for the General Coordinatorship of International Relations and Exchange Programmes as chair, one (1) faculty member from each faculty, the Head of the Directorate of Student Affairs, and the Coordinator of International Students and Relations.

(2) The duties, powers and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows;

a) To determine and recommend to the Rectorate the full-tuition, discounted and scholarship international student quotas for each undergraduate programme,

b) To determine and recommend to the Rectorate the annual tuition fees to be charged to international students and the annual guarantee amount sufficient for these students to sustain their studies in our country,

c) To update the Calendar set out in ANNEX-2 where necessary and to recommend it to the Rectorate,

ç) To forward the final evaluation results, together with the minutes of the Commission meeting, to the Coordinatorship for submission to the Rectorate.
(3) The Coordinator of International Students and Relations acts as rapporteur for these Commission meetings.

PART THREE

Principles Concerning the Admission of International Students

Determination of quotas

Article 8- (1) The international student quotas of the University's undergraduate programmes and the scholarship and discount

rates are decided by the Senate upon the recommendation of the Commission and submitted to YÖK.

(2) Quota proposals are made taking into account the quotas of the University's undergraduate programmes as set out in the

ÖSYS Higher Education Programmes and Quotas Guide of the previous year.

(3) Pursuant to YÖK's principles concerning the admission of students from abroad, for candidates holding a blue card who are eligible to apply to international student admission quotas, as well as for citizens of the Republic of Türkiye who completed their high school education abroad

(excluding the TRNC) and dual citizens one of whose nationalities is that of the Republic of Türkiye, enrolment in Teaching, Law, Medicine and Dentistry programmes may not exceed 10 per cent of the quota of the programmes in question.

(4) For undergraduate programmes admitting students for the first time in the relevant year, an international student quota may be determined together with the ÖSYS quotas. However, no international student quota may be determined for programmes admitting students for the first time during the ÖSYS Additional Placement.

(5) The quotas approved by YÖK are announced by the Coordinatorship on the "International Student Quotas" page located under the "International" menu of the University's website.

Transfer of quotas

Article 9- (1) In the event that no applications are received for the undergraduate programme quotas allocated to international students, or that the quotas are not filled, the unfilled quotas and those for which no applications were received (excluding the Law programme) may be transferred to the quotas of other undergraduate programmes upon the recommendation of the Commission and by decision of the Senate, after the opinion of the relevant programme heads has also been obtained. Transfer of quotas to the Law programme may only be made by decision of YÖK upon the recommendation of the Senate.

Determination of fees

Article 10- (1) The annual tuition fees of international students and the annual guarantee amounts sufficient for these students to sustain their studies in our country are determined each year, at the latest within the first week of January, by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the University Board of Directors.

(2) The "Tuition Fees" and "Guarantee Amounts" determined by the Board of Trustees are announced by the Coordinatorship on the "International Student Tuition Fees" page located under the "International" menu of the University's website.

Scope of scholarships and discounts

Article 11- (1) The scholarships and discounts awarded by the University cover the tuition fee only. If a student transfers to another undergraduate programme within the University, the scholarship/discount rate is reduced by one level.

1. The scholarship/discount of a student who receives any disciplinary penalty may be terminated by the Commission

2. or its rate may be reduced.

3. Application requirements

4. Article 12- (1) Provided that they have graduated from high school or are in their final year, the applications of candidates who meet the following conditions are taken into evaluation;

a) Those who are foreign nationals,

b) Those who were foreign nationals and subsequently acquired Turkish citizenship / dual citizens in this situation,

c) Those who are Turkish citizens by birth but have obtained permission from the Ministry of Interior to renounce Turkish citizenship, and their minor children registered in the certificate of renunciation of Turkish citizenship, who can document that they hold the Document Concerning the Exercise of Rights Granted under the Turkish Citizenship Law, (Article 7 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 provides that: "(1) A child born in or outside Türkiye to a Turkish mother and father within a marriage is a Turkish citizen.")

ç) Those who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye and completed the whole of their secondary education in a foreign country other than the TRNC / in Turkish schools in a foreign country,

d) Those who are citizens of the TRNC, reside in the TRNC, completed their secondary education in the TRNC and hold GCE-AL examination results, as well as those who enrolled in and attended colleges and high schools in other countries between 2005 and 2010 and hold, or are in a position to hold, GCE-AL examination results.

(3) The applications of candidates in the following situations are not accepted;

a) Those who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye and completed the whole of their secondary education in Türkiye or in the TRNC,

b) Those who are citizens of the TRNC (except those who completed the whole of their secondary education in TRNC high schools and hold GCE-AL results, and those who enrolled in and attended colleges and high schools in other countries between 2005 and 2010 and hold or will hold GCE-AL examination results),

c) Dual citizens whose first nationality by birth is that of the Republic of Türkiye (except those who completed the whole of their secondary education in a foreign country other than the TRNC / those who completed the whole of their secondary education in Turkish schools in a foreign country other than the TRNC),

ç) Dual citizens one of whose nationalities is that of the TRNC (except those who completed the whole of their secondary education in TRNC high schools and hold GCE-AL results, and those who enrolled in and attended colleges and high schools in other countries between 2005 and 2010 and hold or will hold GCE-AL examination results),

d) Citizens of the TRNC, persons who have renounced Republic of Türkiye citizenship / Blue Card holders, and foreign nationals who enrol in secondary education institutions in Türkiye as of the 2022-2023 academic year (except embassy schools, international private educational institutions included in the MOBİS system, and foreign nationals brought to our country within the framework of the project conducted by the Ministry of National Education),

e) Schools operating within embassies in Türkiye and foreign

f) Those who have been expelled from a higher education institution in Türkiye due to a disciplinary offence.

Article 13- (1) The documents required for application, any special conditions and other explanations are announced by the Coordinatorship on the University's website in the last week of December each year. Applications are made by completing the Online Application Form on the University's website within the dates specified in the Calendar set out in ANNEX-2.

(2) With regard to candidates who apply during the interim period and meet the application requirements, a pre-acceptance letter may be issued for the following academic year, provided that the number does not exceed 1/3 of the University's quota for the admission of students from abroad for the previous year. Admitted candidates may begin their studies in the fall semester following the application period.

Application documents

Article 14- (1) Candidates must upload the documents listed below to the online application form;

a) Application form (the online application form on the University website must be completed),

b) A notarised or consulate-certified English or Turkish translation of the high school diploma (the original high school diploma and the document certifying its equivalence to Turkish diplomas will be requested at the time of enrolment),

c) For candidates who have not yet received their diploma, an official document from their high school showing that they will graduate before the final enrolment date specified in the University's Calendar (in English or Turkish) (if the document cannot be submitted or if the graduation date falls after the final enrolment date, the enrolment will be cancelled).

ç) Transcript (a document showing the courses the candidate took in high school and the grades obtained, certified by the relevant school administration and, if not in Turkish or English, translated into one of these languages and certified by a notary or by the Foreign Missions of the Republic of Türkiye),

d) A photocopy of a valid identity document showing citizenship details,

e) The result document of national or international examinations having the status of a high school completion examination (Abitur, International Baccalaureate, Tawjihi, etc.) (these examinations and scores are specified in ANNEX-1),

f) The result document of national or international examinations having the status of a university entrance examination (SAT, ACT, TCS, etc.) (these examinations and scores are specified in ANNEX-1),

g) One passport photograph,

ğ) If available, a photocopy of the result document of one of the national or international examinations having high school completion status listed in ANNEX-1, or of the high school completion certificate.

Article 15- (1) There is no limitation on the period of validity of examinations having the status of a high school completion examination (General Secondary Education Certification, Abitur, International Baccalaureate, Tawjihi, etc.).

(2) The results of examinations having the status of a university entrance examination (SAT, ACT, TCS, etc.) are valid for two years.

Article 16- (1) İZÜ-YÖS is held on the University campus at least twice a year, on the dates specified in the Calendar, by the Commission, for the purpose of properly evaluating the scholarship/discount requests of international students wishing to study in the University's undergraduate programmes and determining scholarship/discount rates.

(2) İZÜ-YÖS questions are prepared in at least two booklets by teaching staff appointed by the Rectorate upon the recommendation of the Commission, at the latest by the last week of March of the relevant year.

(3) The processes for organising İZÜ-YÖS abroad (preparatory work concerning the countries where the examination will be held, its dates and

the mode of administration) are planned and carried out by the Coordinatorship.

(4) The İZÜ-YÖS entrance fee to be charged to candidates and the amounts to be paid to the teaching staff who prepare the questions are determined by the University Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Commission.

(5) Objections to the examination results are submitted to the Coordinatorship within five (5) working days following the announcement of the examination results, either from the registered e-mail address indicated on the application form or in person by petition. Objections are decided by the Commission within ten (10) working days following the announcement of the results.

(6) The period of validity of İZÜ-YÖS is two (2) years.

Evaluation of applications

Article 17- (1) The evaluation of candidates' applications and their admission to programmes are carried out by the Commission.

(2) The evaluation of applications is carried out taking into account the candidate's;

a) Secondary education graduation diploma, transcript and weighted grade point average,

b) İZÜ-YÖS result (or the results of international student admission examinations conducted by ÖSYM or other higher education institutions) or the examination results and high school completion certificates specified in ANNEX-1,

c) Other documents supporting the application, (letter of intent, letter of recommendation, etc.)

ç) and the characteristics of the programme applied for.

(3) Candidates applying to programmes that admit students through a special aptitude examination must, in addition to the conditions set out above, be successful in the Special Aptitude Examination held by the University. The evaluation of candidates applying to these programmes is carried out in accordance with the procedures and principles for special aptitude examination application, enrolment and admission announced by the relevant faculty.

(4) The applications of candidates who are found not to meet the application requirements as a result of the preliminary review are not taken into evaluation.

(5) The evaluation of candidates' applications and their admission to programmes are entirely at the discretion of the University.

(6) The University is free to decide whether or not to fill the quotas.

Acceptance Letter, Enrolment Procedures and Language Proficiency; announcement of results and the acceptance letter

Article 18- (1) The evaluation results are sent to the e-mail address declared by the candidate on the application form and are announced under the "International" menu of the İZÜ website.

(2) If candidates whose applications have been accepted are required to obtain a student visa, the "Acceptance Letter" prepared with an electronic signature by the Commission is sent to the candidate's e-mail address.

Article 19- (1) Final enrolments are carried out by the Directorate of Student Affairs within the dates specified in the Calendar. A student who has an active enrolment in an undergraduate programme at another university may only enrol at the University after cancelling their enrolment at the other university.

(2) The following documents must be submitted at the time of final enrolment;

a) Acceptance Letter,

b) The original high school diploma (the diploma must be apostilled); if the diploma is not in English, a Turkish translation certified by a notary in the candidate's own country or by the Foreign Missions of the Republic of Türkiye,

c) The "Certificate of Equivalence" or a certified copy thereof, obtained from the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye or from the Foreign Missions of the Republic of Türkiye in the candidate's country, showing that the high school diploma is equivalent to diplomas issued by Turkish high schools,

ç) An official transcript showing the courses the candidate took and passed in all years of high school together with the grades obtained (the transcript must be apostilled); if the transcript is not in English, a copy of its Turkish translation certified by a notary in the candidate's own country or by the Foreign Missions of the Republic of Türkiye,

d) A copy of the passport pages showing identity details and the period of validity, together with their Turkish translation, certified by a notary in the candidate's own country or by the Turkish Foreign Missions,

e) For dual citizens who were foreign nationals by birth and subsequently acquired Republic of Türkiye citizenship,

f) For candidates who are Turkish citizens by birth pursuant to the Turkish Citizenship Law but lost Turkish citizenship by obtaining permission from the Ministry of Interior to renounce Turkish citizenship, the Certificate of Renunciation of Citizenship; and for those who can document that they hold the Blue Card issued upon request to persons who have lost Turkish citizenship, the Blue Card document,

g) Since the evaluation of diplomas obtained by candidates who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye from high schools abroad is based on their having been present in and educated in the country in question, a document showing the dates of entry to and exit from the country, in order to certify this situation,

ğ) Residence Permit Document (if the Residence Permit has not yet been obtained, the student must submit the Residence Permit Application Document to student affairs within one month at the latest from the date of enrolment),

h) The original, internationally valid Foreign Language or Turkish Proficiency Certificate, certified by the Foreign Missions of the Republic of Türkiye

in the candidate's country,

ı) The bank receipt showing that the tuition fee has been paid,

i) Four passport photographs,

j) The signed International Student Undertaking,

k) In the event that the student is unable to submit the originals of the documents required for enrolment due to compelling circumstances, an undertaking stating that they will submit the original documents to the University/the Directorate of Student Affairs by the end of the academic year in which they enrolled, and that, failing this, their enrolment will be cancelled and they will not claim any refund of the payments made in respect of the education received.

(4) If a student withdraws from the University of their own accord, the refund of the tuition fee paid is made in accordance with the provisions set out in the "International Student Undertaking" contained in ANNEX-3.

Language proficiency

Article 20- (1) Exemption from the foreign language preparatory programme is 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 and the University's "Directive on Education, Instruction and Examinations in the Foreign Language Preparatory Class".

(2) In order to be exempt from the compulsory Turkish preparatory programme, students must hold an İZÜTEM/YEE "Turkish C1" level language proficiency certificate or must pass the Turkish proficiency examination held by İZÜTEM/YEE at a level of at least "C1".

FIFTH SECTION

Other Provisions; obligations and loss of the right to enrol

Article 21- (1) If a student fails to comply with the provisions of this Directive and the other principles announced by the University, or if such non-compliance is discovered subsequently, the student is not enrolled at the University or, if already enrolled, their enrolment is cancelled.

(2) All legislative provisions applied to University students also apply to international students.

(3) International students are obliged to notify the University's Directorate of Student Affairs of any changes to their residence and passport details within one month at the latest.

(4) Foreign-national students who come to Türkiye for the purpose of study are obliged to comply with Passport Law No. 5682, Law No. 5683 on the Residence and Travel of Foreigners in Türkiye, the legislation and principles constituting the basis of this Directive, and the provisions of other relevant legislation. The University is not responsible for any loss of rights they may suffer as a result of failing to fulfil these obligations.

Matters not covered and changes to decisions

Article 22- (1) In matters not covered by this Directive and in the case of changes to decisions, the provisions of other relevant legislation and the decisions of the Senate and YÖK shall apply.

Deposit

Article 23- (1) Candidates applying from abroad are charged a deposit amounting to 10% of the full tuition fee determined by the University for the relevant academic year and programme. No deposit is charged to candidates admitted with a full scholarship.

(2) The deposit paid by a student who completes enrolment is offset against the tuition fee.

Refunds and deductions

Article 24- (1) For students whose relationship with the University is to be terminated because their student visa application has been rejected or because they have been unable to obtain a certificate of diploma equivalence or a residence permit, the deductions from the tuition fee and the refund procedures are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Undertaking contained in ANNEX-3.

Entry into force

Article 25- (1) This Directive enters into force upon the approval of YÖK.

Execution

Article 26- (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector.