This is an annex to the decision of our University Senate dated 18.09.2025 and numbered 2025/22.
From Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University:
ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY
SPECIAL STUDENT DIRECTIVE
PART ONE
Introductory Provisions
Purpose
ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this Directive is to regulate the procedures and principles concerning students who wish to take courses with special student status in the undergraduate programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, and concerning students of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University who wish to take courses with special student status in the undergraduate programs of another higher education institution.
Scope
ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Directive covers the procedures and principles concerning students who will take courses with special student status in the undergraduate programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, and concerning students of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University who will take courses with special student status in the undergraduate programs of another higher education institution. Students are neither admitted to nor sent to preparatory classes with special student status.
Legal Basis
ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Directive has been prepared on the basis of Article 14 of Higher Education Law No. 2547, the Regulation on the Principles of Transfer between Associate and Undergraduate Degree Programs, Double Major, Minor and Interinstitutional Credit Transfer in Higher Education Institutions published in the Official Gazette dated 24/04/2010 and numbered 27561, and the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation.
Definitions
ARTICLE 4 – (1) In this Directive;
a) ECTS: European Credit Transfer System,
b) Force Majeure: Extraordinary circumstances beyond the student's control that affect his/her education, such as natural disaster, serious health problems, violence or assault, documented by the competent authorities,
c) Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
ç) Rector: The Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
d) Senate: The Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
e) University: Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
f) Special Student: A student who, on condition that his/her student status continues at the higher education institution in which he/she is enrolled, is granted permission within the framework of the relevant legislation to take a specific course or courses at another higher education institution,
shall have the meanings set out above.
PART TWO
Special Students Coming to the University
Admission requirements
ARTICLE 5 – (1) Students enrolled at another higher education institution may be permitted, with the approval of the relevant academic units, to take courses at the University with special student status, provided that they meet the following requirements and taking into account matters such as class size, the number of faculty members and physical infrastructure:
a) Not having received a disciplinary penalty.
b) If the application is made to a program taught in a foreign language, documenting the relevant foreign language proficiency in accordance with the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Foreign Language Preparatory Class Education, Instruction and Examination Directive.
c) Submitting the executive board decision on the acceptance of the special student request from the higher education institution in which he/she is enrolled.
(2) The provision of subparagraph (a) of the first paragraph is not required for applications made on the grounds of force majeure, summer school practices or a decision of the Council of Higher Education.
(3) For those coming as special students from domestic or foreign higher education institutions with which the University has an education and instruction protocol, the provisions of the relevant protocol apply.
(4) Special students are not considered students of the University. However, their student status at the higher education institution in which they are enrolled continues.
Application period and documents
ARTICLE 6 – (1) Special student applications to the University are submitted to the relevant Deanship, together with the following documents, within the periods announced in the academic calendar:
a) Application petition,
b) Executive board decision on the acceptance of the special student request from the higher education institution in which the student is enrolled,
c) Student certificate,
ç) Transcript,
d) Document certifying that no disciplinary penalty has been received,
e) Relevant foreign language proficiency certificate,
f) For applications based on force majeure, the relevant official documents.
(2) Students enrolled at higher education institutions abroad who wish to take courses at the University with special student status must attach to their application petition a document showing that the higher education institution in which they are enrolled is recognized by the Council of Higher Education.
Admission of incoming special students
ARTICLE 7 – (1) Incoming special student applications are evaluated by the relevant department/program head office. Candidates whose applications are found appropriate may be granted permission to take courses at the University with special student status by decision of the relevant faculty executive board.
Course registration, attendance requirement and examination principles
ARTICLE 8 – (1) Those admitted to the University as special students may register only for the courses deemed appropriate by the relevant academic unit.
(2) The principles of course attendance, sitting examinations and assessment of achievement are subject to the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation and the provisions of the relevant legislation.
Rights and obligations
ARTICLE 9 – (1) Special students are obliged to comply with the academic and administrative regulations of the University.
(2) No diploma or title is awarded for courses taken with special student status at the University. However, a transcript showing the student's academic performance is issued by the Department of Student Affairs and sent to the higher education institution in which the student is enrolled.
(3) Special students do not benefit from rights such as scholarships, discounts or financial support provided by the University to its full-time students.
(4) Students taking courses at our University with special student status are issued a temporary student identity card. This card is used for access to campus services and courses throughout the period of study. In the event that the special student status ends, the student is required to complete the clearance procedures and return the identity card.
PART THREE
Special Students Going from the University
Requirements for becoming a special student at other institutions
ARTICLE 10 – (1) Students enrolled in the undergraduate programs of the University may be permitted, with the approval of the relevant academic units, to take courses at another higher education institution with special student status in the following cases, provided that they meet the requirements below and taking into account special circumstances such as force majeure, the grounds for their application, or decisions of the Council of Higher Education:
a) Having a weighted grade point average of at least 2.50,
b) The central placement score of the program in which the student is enrolled being higher than the base score of the equivalent program for the same year at the other higher education institution where the student will take courses as a special student,
c) Approval by the relevant department and faculty executive board that the courses the student wishes to take at another higher education institution are equivalent, in terms of content, weekly course hours and ECTS credits, to the corresponding courses at the University.
(2) In the following cases, the provisions set out in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of the first paragraph of this article are not required:
a) Students who are unable to continue their education at the University due to force majeure,
b) Students deemed eligible to be special students by the Council of Higher Education.
(3) The following provisions apply to University students who, after going as special students due to force majeure, complete the entirety of their remaining education at another higher education institution:
a) If they successfully complete their education at the higher education institution where they studied as a special student and thereby qualify for graduation, they shall be graduated from the programme in which they are enrolled by a decision of the relevant Faculty Executive Board of the University, based on the graduation decision of that institution and without any adaptation procedure.
b) Upon request, they may return to the University from the higher education institution where they studied as a special student. In this case, the exemption and adaptation procedures for the courses successfully completed at that higher education institution shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Exemption and Adaptation Directive.
Application period and documents
ARTICLE 11 – (1) University students who wish to take courses as a special student at another higher education institution shall apply to the relevant Deanery with the following documents no later than during the course registration week of the relevant semester:
a) Application petition,
b) Transcript,
c) A document certifying that no disciplinary penalty has been received,
ç) The contents of the courses to be taken (from the official website of the relevant higher education institution)
e) The relevant official documents in applications based on force majeure.
(2) Those who wish to take courses as a special student at a higher education institution abroad must submit, together with their application, a document certifying that the institution at which they wish to take courses is recognised by the Council of Higher Education.
Evaluation of outgoing special student applications
ARTICLE 12 – (1) Outgoing special student applications are evaluated by the relevant department/programme chair. Applications whose justification is deemed appropriate are accepted by a decision of the relevant faculty executive board and the approval of the University executive board. In this case, the student is permitted to take courses as a special student at another higher education institution.
Course enrolment status of outgoing special students
ARTICLE 13 – (1) Students who will take courses as a special student at another higher education institution may take only the equivalents of the courses included in the curriculum of the undergraduate programme in which they are enrolled at the University. These courses may be selected from different semesters of the curriculum of the higher education institution they attend.
PART FOUR
Common Principles Concerning Special Student Status
Duration of special student status and its extension
ARTICLE 14 – (1) Students may benefit from special student status for a maximum of two semesters throughout the undergraduate programme in which they are enrolled.
(2) This period may be extended by a decision of the Council of Higher Education, provided that all of the following conditions are met and upon the reasoned proposal of the executive board of the university at which the student is enrolled:
a) The relevant board of the higher education institution where the studies will continue as a special student has adopted a decision stating that "the continuation of special student status is appropriate",
b) The relevant board of the university at which the student is enrolled has adopted a reasoned decision stating that "the request for an extension of special student status is appropriate",
c) The force majeure circumstances necessitating the continuation of special student status are substantiated by a health board report issued by at least seven physicians, a court decision, or similar official documents accepted by the Council of Higher Education.
Termination of special student status
ARTICLE 15 – (1) Special student status shall be terminated by a decision of the relevant faculty executive board upon the determination of any of the following circumstances:
a) The student loses their student status at the university where they are principally enrolled for any reason (graduation, withdrawal, leave of absence, etc.).
b) The student acts contrary to the University's academic and administrative regulations, such as those concerning class attendance, examinations, assessment of achievement or discipline.
c) The student exceeds the maximum two-semester special student period specified in Article 14 of this Directive without a valid justification.
d) It is determined that the information and documents submitted during the application contain false statements.
e) It is subsequently understood that the student does not meet the other conditions stated in the special student application and required for admission (CGPA requirement, foreign language proficiency, etc.).
(2) A student whose status is terminated loses the right to take courses, sit examinations and use campus facilities.
FIFTH SECTION
Educational and Financial Provisions
General principles concerning education and instruction
ARTICLE 16 – (1) Special students are subject to the University's relevant regulations, directives and other rules regarding course enrolment, class attendance, examinations, assessment of achievement, discipline and other academic procedures.
(2) The time spent as a special student is counted towards the maximum period of study for the programme in which the student is enrolled.
(3) The total ECTS credits of the courses that may be taken in one semester as a special student may not exceed the ECTS credits the student could take in that semester at the higher education institution where they are enrolled.
(4) The student rights of those taking courses as a special student at another higher education institution continue at the higher education institution where they are enrolled.
(5) Course enrolment as a special student in the summer school, as well as registration, assessment of achievement and all other procedures, are carried out in accordance with the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Summer School Directive and the provisions of the relevant legislation.
(6) The exemption and adaptation procedures for courses taken and successfully completed at another higher education institution are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Exemption and Adaptation Directive.
(7) An investigation shall be conducted by the relevant disciplinary authority of the University concerning a student who commits an offence requiring a disciplinary penalty while studying at the University, and the decision taken shall be notified without delay to the higher education institution where the student is enrolled for implementation.
Tuition fees and financial provisions
ARTICLE 17 – (1) Students taking courses at the University as a special student are obliged to pay the tuition fee or the per-course ECTS credit fee determined by the Board of Trustees for the relevant academic year.
(2) Students of our University who take courses as a special student at another higher education institution continue to pay their tuition fee to our University, regardless of whether they take courses at our University in the relevant academic year. These students also pay the fees determined by the institution where they take courses.
(3) Pursuant to subparagraph (e) of Article 46 of Higher Education Law No. 2547, 80% of the tuition fee paid by special students enrolled at foundation higher education institutions to their own universities is transferred to the institution where they take courses.
(4) Those taking courses as a special student in the summer school pay their fees to the higher education institution where they take the courses.
SECTION SIX
Miscellaneous and Final Provisions
Cases not covered by provisions
ARTICLE 18 – (1) In cases not covered by this Directive, Higher Education Law No. 2547, the Regulation on the Principles of Transfer between Associate and Bachelor's Degree Programmes, Double Major, Minor and Inter-Institutional Credit Transfer in Higher Education Institutions, the provisions of other relevant legislation, the decisions of the Council of Higher Education, the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation and Senate decisions shall apply.
Entry into force
ARTICLE 19 – (1) This Directive enters into force as of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Execution
ARTICLE 20 – (1) The provisions of this Directive are executed by the Rector.