Undergraduate Education and Teaching Regulation

ISTANBUL SABAHATTIN ZAIM UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE
EDUCATION AND TEACHING REGULATION
(Published in the Official Gazette dated 10 August 2019 and numbered 30858)

PART ONE
Purpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this Regulation is to set out the procedures and principles concerning the education and teaching, registration and examinations carried out in the undergraduate programs and foreign language preparatory programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Regulation covers the provisions concerning the admission of students to the undergraduate programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, education and teaching, examinations, assessment of achievement, leave of absence, diplomas and withdrawal procedures, as well as the foreign language preparatory programs.

Basis

ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Regulation has been prepared on the basis of Articles 14, 43 and 44 of Higher Education Law No. 2547 dated 4/11/1981.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 – (1) In this Regulation;

a) CGPA: The cumulative grade point average,
b) ECTS: The European Credit Transfer System,
c) GPA: The weighted grade point average,
ç) Dean: The dean of the relevant faculty of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
d) Relevant board: The faculty board in faculties and the school board in schools,
e) Relevant executive board: The faculty executive board in faculties and the school executive board in schools,
f) Undergraduate: Higher education following secondary education that comprises a diploma program of at least eight semesters or four years,
g) Director: The director of the relevant school of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
ğ) Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
h) Rector: The Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
ı) Senate: The Senate of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
i) University: Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,
j) University Executive Board: The Executive Board of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University,

shall mean the above.

SECTION TWO
Principles Concerning Student Admission and Registration Procedures

Undergraduate programs and quotas

ARTICLE 5 – (1) The undergraduate programs to be opened in the faculties and schools affiliated with the University and the number of students to be admitted to these programs are determined each year upon the proposal of the Senate, with the approval of the Board of Trustees and by decision of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), after obtaining the opinion of the relevant units.

Admission of students

ARTICLE 6 – (1) The following conditions apply to the admission of students to the University:

a) Not being registered in any formal undergraduate program of another higher education institution, with the exception of open and distance education programs.
b) Having been placed at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University as a result of the examination conducted by the Measuring, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM).
c) Meeting the requirement to sit the special talent examination determined by ÖSYM, having passed the special talent examination conducted by the University and having been placed in the program.
ç) Having been placed at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University as a result of the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) conducted by ÖSYM.
d) Having earned the right to register at the University in accordance with the provisions of 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, published in the Official Gazette dated 24/4/2010 and numbered 27561, and with the principles determined by the Senate.
e) Having met the admission requirements set by the University for the admission of students from abroad, or having passed the examination conducted by the University for international students.

Registration at the University

ARTICLE 7 – (1) The registration of new students who have earned the right to enroll at the University is carried out by the Department of Student Affairs, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation, on the dates announced by YÖK or the University. The registration of candidates placed at the University through the central examination conducted by ÖSYM may be carried out via the University e-Registration System of the Council of Higher Education.

(2) The registration dates for new students, the documents required for registration and the principles to be observed are determined and announced by the University.

(3) Either the originals of the documents required for registration or copies certified by the University are accepted. As regards military service status and criminal record, procedures are carried out on the basis of the candidate’s written declaration.

(4) Candidates with a valid excuse may complete their registration procedures through a proxy appointed by a notarized power of attorney, provided that the above provisions are complied with.

(5) Students who are registered in any formal undergraduate program of another higher education institution are not registered at the University; if they have been registered, their registration is cancelled and all rights acquired through this registration are annulled. In addition, when it emerges that a person has registered with false information or declarations or with forged or incomplete documents, their registration is cancelled, all rights acquired through this registration are annulled and legal proceedings are initiated against them.

(6) Persons who have been expelled from higher education institutions, whose documents contain falsification, or who fail to remedy deficiencies in their documents within the given period are not registered at the University; if they have been registered, their registration is cancelled and all rights acquired through this registration are annulled.

(7) Students who fail to register within the registration period announced by YÖK or the University are deemed to have waived their right to become a student of the University.

Tuition fees

ARTICLE 8 – (1) Education and teaching at the University is subject to a fee, which is accrued annually. Annual tuition fees and ECTS credit fees are determined each year by the Board of Trustees and announced together with the method of payment.

(2) Students who fail to graduate from the undergraduate program in which they are enrolled within the normal period of study pay the ECTS credit fee for the courses in which they enroll in subsequent semesters.

(3) The annual tuition fee does not cover summer school fees.

(4) Students taking courses in the summer school and special students pay the ECTS credit fee for the courses in which they enroll.

(5) The cost of additional services that may be provided by the University, such as accommodation, meals, transportation, books, study abroad expenses and the like, is not included in the annual tuition fee. These fees are determined separately by the Board of Trustees and announced together with the method of payment.

Admission of students by horizontal transfer

ARTICLE 9 – (1) The admission of students to the University by horizontal transfer from other higher education institutions in Turkey and abroad, and transfers within the University between faculties, schools and undergraduate programs, are carried out in accordance with the provisions of 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 principles determined by the Senate.

(2) The admission of students to the University by horizontal transfer is decided by the relevant executive board. These students are subject to adaptation programs proposed by the relevant head of department and approved by the relevant executive board.

(3) The provisions of Article 25 apply to students who register by horizontal transfer to undergraduate programs whose language of instruction is partly or wholly a foreign language.

Admission of students by vertical transfer

ARTICLE 10 – (1) The admission of vocational school graduates to the undergraduate programs of the University by vertical transfer is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on the Continuation of Graduates of Vocational Schools and Open Education Associate Degree Programs to Undergraduate Education, published in the Official Gazette dated 19/2/2002 and numbered 24676, and with the principles determined by the Senate.

(2) Students who register by vertical transfer are subject to adaptation programs proposed by the relevant head of department and approved by the relevant executive board.

(3) The provisions of Article 25 apply to students who register by vertical transfer to undergraduate programs whose language of instruction is partly or wholly a foreign language.

Student exchange

ARTICLE 11 – (1) Within the framework of agreements to be concluded with universities in Turkey or abroad whose equivalence is recognized by YÖK, the University may send students to, and admit students from, such universities for a period of one or two semesters under student exchange programs.

(2) During this period, the student who goes to another institution in Turkey or abroad remains registered at the University, and this period counts towards the student’s maximum period of study. Students going abroad under an exchange program pay the tuition fee for the relevant semesters to the University. Matters concerning the tuition fees of students coming to the University under an exchange program are handled as stipulated in the relevant agreement.

(3) The procedures required for recording the courses taken by the student at universities in Turkey or abroad and the grades obtained in those courses are carried out by the Department of Student Affairs in accordance with the adaptation decisions taken by the relevant executive board. Students coming under an exchange program are not awarded a diploma or title; however, they are given a document showing the courses they have taken and their grades.

(4) The provisions of the Regulation on the Student and Faculty Member Exchange Program Between Higher Education Institutions, published in the Official Gazette dated 18/2/2009 and numbered 27145, and the provisions of this Regulation apply to students who register at the University under student exchange programs and agreements concluded with other higher education institutions.

Double major and minor

ARTICLE 12 – (1) Matters concerning double major and minor programs at the University are determined by the Senate within the framework of the provisions of 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.

(2) Students who successfully complete a double major program are awarded an undergraduate diploma in that field, and students who successfully complete a minor program are awarded a certificate in that field.

Special student

ARTICLE 13 – (1) Special students are students who are registered at a higher education institution in Turkey or abroad and who are permitted to take certain courses offered at the University.

(2) Applications from special students are examined and decided upon by the relevant executive board after obtaining the opinion of the relevant head of department.

(3) Special students are not considered students of the University and may not benefit from student rights.

(4) Special students are not awarded a diploma or title. However, they are given a document showing the courses in which they were enrolled and the grades they obtained, if any.

(5) Special students pay the ECTS credit fee or tuition fee determined by the Board of Trustees for the relevant year.

(6) Students who have taken courses at the University as special students and who subsequently register definitively at the University by horizontal transfer or through the central examination conducted by ÖSYM may, by decision of the relevant executive board, be exempted from equivalent courses included in the curriculum of the undergraduate program that they took as special students.

PART THREE
Principles Concerning Education and Teaching

Language of instruction

ARTICLE 14 – (1) The language of instruction of the undergraduate programs at the University is Turkish in programs taught in Turkish, and partly or wholly Arabic or English in programs taught in a foreign language. Students enrolled in undergraduate programs whose language of instruction is partly a foreign language must, during their undergraduate studies, take at least 30% of the courses in the curriculum of their program in the relevant foreign language; students enrolled in undergraduate programs whose language of instruction is entirely a foreign language must take all of the courses in the curriculum of their program from among those offered in the relevant foreign language, with the exception of the courses listed in subparagraph (ı) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of Law No. 2547.

(2) Programs taught in languages other than these may be opened upon the proposal of the Senate, with the approval of the Board of Trustees and by decision of YÖK.

Period of study

ARTICLE 15 – (1) Excluding the foreign language preparatory program, students must complete undergraduate programs with a period of study of four years within a maximum of seven years, programs with a period of study of five years within a maximum of eight years, and programs with a period of study of six years within a maximum of nine years, starting from the semester in which the courses of the undergraduate program in which they are enrolled are offered, regardless of whether they renew their registration each semester.

(2) The provisions of Article 44 of Law No. 2547 apply to the maximum period of study, supplementary examinations, benefiting from student rights and other matters relating to the period of study.

(3) The normal period of study for the foreign language preparatory program is one year and the maximum period of study is two years.

(4) The time spent by students who transfer between programs within the University in their previous programs is included in the maximum period of study of the undergraduate program in which they newly enroll.

(5) Students who fail to graduate from the undergraduate program in which they are enrolled within the normal period of study are referred to as extended-term students.

Academic year

ARTICLE 16 – (1) The academic year consists of fall and spring semesters, each of which comprises at least fourteen weeks, excluding end-of-semester examinations. A summer school may be opened by decision of the Senate after obtaining the favorable opinion of YÖK.

(2) The academic year may be organized on an annual basis at the faculty/school level upon the proposal of the relevant board and by decision of the Senate.

(3) Education and teaching at the University is carried out in accordance with the academic calendar determined by the Senate. Summer instruction is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation and the principles determined by the Senate. The Senate may amend the academic calendar when it deems necessary.

(4) No teaching or examinations take place on official holidays. In addition, no make-up sessions are held for classes falling on official holidays. However, courses and examinations proposed by the units offering the course and approved by the relevant executive board may also be held after working hours on weekdays and/or on Saturdays and Sundays.

Curricula and the conduct of courses

ARTICLE 17 – (1) The common compulsory courses listed in subparagraph (ı) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of Law No. 2547, together with all education and teaching activities that comprise the minimum requirements of the undergraduate program and that, when successfully completed, entitle the student to a diploma, are set out in the curricula. Curricula are arranged so that each semester totals 30 ECTS, amounting to a total of 240 ECTS credits for four-year undergraduate programs, 300 ECTS credits for five-year undergraduate programs and 360 ECTS credits for six-year undergraduate programs. The curricula specify the theoretical, practical, laboratory and total weekly course hours of each course, together with its University and ECTS credits.

(2) Curricula are prepared for each undergraduate program on the basis of workload, in such a way as to provide the knowledge, skills and competencies to be gained by the diploma holder, and enter into force upon the proposal of the department board, the decision of the relevant board and the approval of the Senate. The resolution of adaptation and similar problems that may arise in applying the curricula to students falls within the authority and responsibility of the relevant executive boards.

(3) Education and teaching at the University consists of theoretical courses, seminars, practical sessions, projects, studio, laboratory and workshop work, practical training, internships, sketches, field applications, undergraduate final projects and/or graduation projects and similar activities.

(4) Courses are conducted on a semester or annual basis. The weekly course hours of a course consist of the total of its theoretical hours and its practical and laboratory hours.

(5) Weekly course schedules in accordance with the curriculum adopted by the Senate are announced by the relevant dean’s office/directorate at the beginning of each academic semester, on the date specified in the academic calendar.

(6) An internship is work carried out inside and/or outside the University aimed at developing the student’s ability to transfer the knowledge they have acquired into practice. The internship implementation principles of undergraduate programs in which an internship is compulsory enter into force upon the proposal of the department board, the decision of the relevant board and the approval of the Senate. Internships are credited with ECTS credits in accordance with the provisions of Article 44 of Law No. 2547.

(7) The undergraduate final project or graduation project is individual or group work carried out under the supervision of advising faculty members that demonstrates that the student has attained the required level of professional knowledge and skills. Matters concerning the conduct of the undergraduate final project or graduation project are determined upon the proposal of the department board and by decision of the relevant board.

(8) Certain courses may be delivered through distance education upon the proposal of the relevant units and with the approval of the Senate, in accordance with the relevant legislation determined by YÖK.

Academic advisor

ARTICLE 18 – (1) A full-time faculty member is appointed as an advisor for each student by the relevant head of department. The academic advisor monitors the student throughout their studies; informs and guides them about undergraduate education, the relevant legislation and their academic performance, and attends to the student’s other concerns. Where necessary, the advisor may be changed by the relevant head of department following the same procedure.

(2) Course registration, course add, drop and withdrawal procedures are carried out with the approval of the advisor on the dates specified in the academic calendar.

(3) The faculty member who will act on behalf of the academic advisor during their absence is determined by the relevant head of department.

(4) Procedures such as course registration and course add-drop approved by the academic advisor are carried out through the Student Information System, and the system records relating to these procedures are retained for their statutory periods.

Courses

ARTICLE 19 – (1) Courses consist of compulsory and elective courses. Compulsory courses are the courses that a student is required to take. Elective courses are courses that a student may take by choosing from among the courses offered.

(2) Elective courses are courses defined individually or in groups in the curriculum of each undergraduate program, in accordance with the principles determined by the relevant board.

(3) Courses that may be taken only on condition that one or more previous courses have been passed are called prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses and any other conditions are shown in the curricula of the undergraduate programs. Prerequisite courses and their prerequisites enter into force upon the proposal of the department board, the decision of the relevant board and the approval of the Senate.

(4) One ECTS credit of a course corresponds to twenty-five hours of student workload. Student workload refers to the time spent, in addition to course hours, on education and teaching activities such as laboratory, workshop and clinical work, assignments, practical sessions, projects, seminars, presentations, examination preparation, examinations, internships, workplace training and the like.

Common compulsory courses

ARTICLE 20 – (1) Among the common compulsory courses listed in subparagraph (ı) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of Law No. 2547, the Principles of Atatürk and the History of the Turkish Revolution, Turkish Language, foreign language and, in faculties/schools that train graduates who may become occupational safety specialists under the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 dated 20/6/2012, occupational health and safety, are taught as compulsory, ECTS-credited courses for at least two semesters.

Compulsory attendance

ARTICLE 21 – (1) Students at the University are required to attend 70% of theoretical courses and 80% of applied courses within a semester. Each faculty member checks compliance with the attendance requirement in accordance with these principles.

(2) The instructor teaching the course announces the list of students who have failed to meet the attendance requirement through the Student Information System on the course end date specified in the academic calendar. These students are deemed absent from the relevant course and may not sit the final examination or the resit examination for that course. Students who are deemed unsuccessful on these grounds are given a DZ grade by the instructor teaching the course. Students who fail a course by receiving a DZ grade are required to attend the course when they repeat it. Students are required to attend the courses, practical sessions and laboratory work in accordance with the principles determined by the relevant board of directors, and to take part in the other in-term examinations and assignments set by the instructor teaching the course.

(3) For athletes and students assigned by the University administration to national team competitions, intercollegiate sports events or cultural activities, the periods during which they are unable to continue their studies because they must take part in these activities and their preparatory work are not taken into account when calculating attendance; such students sit the examinations they missed during these periods on the day and at the time announced by the instructor teaching the course.

(4) In the case of course repetition, attendance is not required for theoretical courses whose attendance requirement has previously been met. However, a student repeating a course must comply with the other conditions set by the instructor teaching the course.

Registration renewal and course registration

ARTICLE 22 – (1) Students are required, at the beginning of each semester until the end of the maximum period of study, to pay their tuition fee, renew their registration and complete their course registration with the support of their academic advisor within the periods specified in the academic calendar. Students who renew their registration and complete course registration but do not attend classes are not refunded the tuition fee they have paid, nor is it offset against the tuition fee of the following semester/year.

(2) The ECTS-credited courses in the curriculum for the semester the student is to attend constitute the normal course load, and all the ECTS-credited courses in which the student is enrolled constitute the semester course load. A student's normal course load for a semester is 30 ECTS. The course load for a semester may not exceed 45 ECTS. Repeated courses count towards the normal course load. Together with double major courses, a student may take a maximum of 50 ECTS credits of courses in a single semester.

(3) Students must first register for courses from lower semesters that they have failed or have not previously taken. This rule also applies to course selection for the summer school. A student who fails a course that has been removed from the curriculum without an equivalent new course being introduced in its place, or who never took the removed course, is deemed exempt from that course provided that the required ECTS credit load is completed.

(4) A student who does not renew registration and complete course registration on the dates announced by the University may not attend classes or sit examinations in that semester and may not benefit from student rights. This period counts towards the student's maximum period of study.

(5) For students whose excuses are accepted by the relevant board of directors, registration renewal and course registration may be completed no later than within the first two weeks of the relevant semester.

(6) Students who have successfully completed the compulsory and elective courses shown in the curriculum but who have not completed their internship, undergraduate graduation project or thesis must register for these courses in subsequent semesters by paying the ECTS credit fee.

(7) From the beginning of the third semester (the second year) onwards, students who have passed all their courses from the lower semesters and whose CGPA is at least 3.00 may, with the approval of their academic advisor, take a maximum of two courses from the year above for each semester in which they meet this condition, while students whose CGPA is 3.50 or above may take a maximum of three courses. This rule also applies to course selection for the summer school.
a) Even if they meet the conditions set out in this paragraph, students may not take courses from higher years during the summer school of the academic year in which they are studying in the first year.
b) Pursuant to this paragraph, students who were entitled to take courses from the year above in the fall and spring semesters of the relevant academic year but did not exercise this right may take that number of courses in the summer school of the same academic year.

(8) Students who are unable to complete their normal course load for reasons such as failing a prerequisite course or having participated in an inter-university exchange programme may be permitted, with the approval of their academic advisor, to take courses from the year above.
(9) In course selection, courses that clash in the weekly timetable may not be selected, except for theoretical courses whose attendance requirement has previously been met.

Course add-drop and course withdrawal

ARTICLE 23 – (1) Course add-drop procedures are carried out with the advisor's approval within the first week of each semester. During this week, students may drop some of the courses in which they are enrolled or add new ones. When adding courses, students must select courses that do not clash in the weekly timetable.

(2) Students may withdraw from a course in which they are enrolled, with the approval of their academic advisor, until the end of the tenth week. In this case, no refund or offset is made against the tuition fee. Students may withdraw from a maximum of four courses during the normal period of study of an undergraduate programme.

(3) The courses that students may not drop or withdraw from are as follows:

a) Courses belonging to the first two semesters.
b) The only course in which the student has registered.
c) A course that should have been taken in previous semesters but was not taken, or was taken and failed.
ç) A course that should have been taken within the normal period of study but was not taken.
(4) Students are given the letter grade ÇK by the Department of Student Affairs for the courses from which they have withdrawn. Requests for the cancellation of course withdrawal procedures are not accepted.

Course exemption

ARTICLE 24 – (1) A student who has previously studied at a higher education institution whose equivalence is recognised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) may request exemption for the courses taken and passed at that institution by applying to the relevant secretariat with a petition together with the original transcript and course descriptions. The student must submit the exemption request within five working days at the latest from the date of registration at the University. Exemption requests submitted after this date, or requests for the cancellation of exemption/adaptation procedures already carried out, are not accepted. The student's exemption request is evaluated by an adaptation committee to be established by the relevant deanship/directorate and is decided upon by the relevant board of directors, which carries out the adaptation.

(2) Students granted course exemption may, with the approval of their academic advisor and in accordance with the course registration rules, take courses from the year above so as to make up a course load equivalent to the ECTS credits for which they are exempt. This rule also applies to course selection for the summer school.

(3) A student who has previously studied at a higher education institution whose equivalence is recognised by YÖK is granted exemption, in accordance with the principles determined by the Senate, for the courses taken and passed in the previous diploma programme, and this is recorded in the transcript.

(4) For students who have previously studied at a higher education institution whose equivalence is recognised by YÖK, the cumulative grade point average and academic standing are calculated on the basis of the courses for which exemption is granted together with the courses taken at the University.

Foreign language exemption and instruction

ARTICLE 25 – (1) Compulsory or optional foreign language preparatory education, the attendance requirements for foreign language preparatory programme courses, examinations, foreign language proficiency requirements and foreign language exemption procedures 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 principles determined by the Senate.

PART FOUR
Assessment of Achievement, Examinations and Diplomas

Course achievement and assessment

ARTICLE 26 – (1) In assessing students' achievement in courses, attendance, in-term work, quizzes, midterm examinations, final examinations and resit examinations are all taken into account. The weight of each of these factors in the student's passing of the course and raw achievement grade, together with the measurement and assessment method, is specified in the course information form for the relevant course and is announced each semester by the instructor teaching the course before the course registration week stated in the academic calendar.

(2) Course achievement grades are submitted by the instructors teaching the courses on the dates specified in the academic calendar and are announced to students through the Student Information System.

Examinations and in-term work

ARTICLE 27 – (1) Examinations consist of quizzes, midterm examinations, final examinations, resit examinations, make-up examinations, graduation examinations and supplementary examinations. Of these;

a) Quizzes are short examinations held during the semester. There is no obligation to announce quizzes to students in advance.
b) Midterm examinations are examinations held at least once during the semester within the period specified in the academic calendar.
c) The final examination is the examination held at the end of the semester/year within the period specified in the academic calendar.
ç) The resit examination is the examination held at the end of the semester/year in which the course is taught, for students who, despite having met the requirements set out in this Regulation for sitting the final examination, did not sit the final examination for any reason, and for students who were unsuccessful in the final examination. The method of calculating the achievement grade applied in the final examination also applies to the resit examination, and the resit examination grade replaces the final examination grade. No make-up examination is held for the resit examination or for courses taken in the summer school.
d) The make-up examination is the examination held for students who were unable to sit midterm examinations for a valid reason. Students who miss midterm examinations for a valid reason must submit the document stating their excuse, attached to a petition, to the relevant secretariat within five working days at the latest from the examination date. For students whose excuses are accepted by the relevant board of directors, a make-up examination is held by the instructor teaching the course within fifteen working days following the end of the midterm examinations, on the day and at the time announced by the relevant deanship/directorate. Students whose examinations clash on the same day and at the same time are also granted the right to a make-up examination for the midterm examinations they missed, provided that they apply to the relevant unit with a petition. The principles concerning make-up examinations are determined by the Senate.
e) The graduation examination is held, by decision of the relevant board of directors and within fifteen working days following the end-of-semester examinations, for students who have at most two failed courses remaining for graduation at the end of the normal period of study or who are in a position to graduate by sitting at most two course examinations, provided that they apply to the relevant secretariat with a petition. The student must have previously taken the courses for which the graduation examination will be sat and must have met the attendance requirement. In graduation examinations, midterm examinations and similar in-term assessment criteria are not taken into account. No graduation examination is held for projects and similar courses whose assessment depends on a specific process. The grade obtained in the graduation examination is converted directly into a letter grade by the instructor according to the grade ranges in the 100-point system.
f) In-term work comprises the classes, laboratory and workshop practice, fieldwork, assignments, projects, seminars, internships and similar work carried out during the semester.
g) Supplementary examinations: at the end of the maximum period of study, final-year students are granted two supplementary examination rights, in order to graduate from the undergraduate programme in which they are enrolled, for all the courses they have failed and for which they meet the requirements to sit the examination. Students who reduce the number of failed courses to five as a result of these examinations are granted three semesters for these five courses; students who have up to five failed courses without taking the supplementary examinations are granted four semesters; and students who have failed a single course are granted an unlimited examination right without benefiting from student rights. Final-semester students who have obtained passing grades in all the courses required for graduation from the programme they are following but who face dismissal because they cannot achieve the grade point average required to be considered successful are granted an unlimited examination right in the courses of their choice in order to raise their grade point average. Attendance is not required for such courses, except for applied courses, courses with a practical component and courses not previously taken. A student who does not sit any of the examinations held for a total of three academic years, whether consecutive or intermittent, is deemed to have waived the unlimited examination right and may not benefit from it. Such students may not benefit from student rights other than the right to sit examinations. The grade obtained in these examinations is converted directly into a letter grade by the instructor according to the grade ranges in the 100-point system.

Examination schedules and venues

ARTICLE 28 – (1) The venue, day and time of examinations whose dates are set in the academic calendar are announced by the relevant deanship/directorate at least two weeks before the examinations.

(2) Examinations are held in University buildings. However, examinations for courses and practical work carried out in the field may also be held in the field and outside University buildings.

Examination period

ARTICLE 29 – (1) There is an examination period at the end of the courses of each semester. During examination periods, a maximum of three examinations may be held on the same day for the courses belonging to the relevant semester of the undergraduate programme in which the student is enrolled.

(2) The examination for the undergraduate graduation project or thesis is held on the date determined by the relevant department chair, at the latest by the announcement of the resit examination grades. Examinations for courses that must be carried out in laboratories, in practice or in the field, and for courses in which the right to sit the examination depends on the outcome of such work, may be held at the end of that work.

Form of examinations

ARTICLE 30 – (1) Examinations are held in written form. However, upon the request of the instructor teaching the course and by decision of the relevant board of directors, an examination may be held in oral form or as a project or assignment, provided that this is also stated in the course information form by the instructor.

(2) Examinations are organised and conducted by the instructors teaching the courses. If the instructor teaching the course cannot be present at the University on the examination day, the relevant department chair decides who will administer the examination upon the proposal of the instructor teaching the course.

Objection to examination grades and grade correction

ARTICLE 31 – (1) Objections to examination grades are made with a petition to the relevant deanship/directorate within five working days following the announcement of the examination grades. The objection is examined by the relevant instructor in terms of material error and content; if it is established that an error has been made, the correction request is concluded by the relevant board of directors upon the instructor's application and is notified to the Department of Student Affairs.

(2) An instructor may request a grade correction by applying to the relevant secretariat with a petition stating reasons such as erroneous grade entry, incomplete and/or incorrect calculation, within five working days from the date on which the examination result for the course was announced. Grade correction requests are finalised by decision of the relevant board of directors, and the decision is notified to the Department of Student Affairs by an official letter.

Calculation of the achievement grade

ARTICLE 32 – (1) For each course taken, students are awarded one of the following letter grades by the instructor as the end-of-semester/year letter grade. The scores included in the grade point average calculations, together with their letter grade equivalents, coefficients and achievement status, are shown below:

(2) The grades not included in the averages are as follows:

a) The EK (incomplete) grade is awarded by the instructor to students who, although successful during the semester, are unable to complete the requirements of the course due to illness or another valid reason. If a student receives an EK grade in any course, they must complete the outstanding requirements and obtain a grade within fifteen days from the date the grade is announced. Otherwise, the EK grade automatically becomes FF. However, in cases such as prolonged illness, the period of the EK grade may be extended until the next registration renewal and course registration week upon the proposal of the department chair and the approval of the relevant board of directors.
b) The YT (satisfactory) grade is awarded to students who are successful in courses included in the curriculum that have no weekly theoretical, practical or laboratory hours, such as internships, seminars, undergraduate graduation projects or theses.
c) The YZ (unsatisfactory) grade is awarded to students who are unsuccessful in courses included in the curriculum that have no weekly theoretical, practical or laboratory hours, such as internships, seminars, undergraduate graduation projects or theses.
ç) The DV (in progress) grade is awarded to students who have not yet completed courses included in the curriculum that have no weekly theoretical, practical or laboratory hours, such as internships, seminars, undergraduate graduation projects or theses, but who are pursuing them successfully.
d) The DZ (absent) grade is awarded to students who are unsuccessful because they have failed to fulfil their obligations regarding attendance or course practice. The DZ grade is treated as an FF grade in the calculation of the grade point average.
e) The TR (transfer) grade is awarded, for students who have previously studied at a higher education institution whose equivalence is recognised by YÖK, for courses taken and passed at that institution whose equivalence is accepted by the relevant board of directors but whose achievement grade cannot be converted directly into one of the letter grades defined in this article. The transfer grade is not included in the GPA or CGPA calculation.
f) The ÇK (withdrawn) grade is awarded for a course from which the student has been permitted to withdraw, with the advisor's approval, from the beginning of each semester until the end of the tenth week.
g) The GM (did not sit) grade is awarded for examinations the student did not sit. A student who receives a GM grade in an examination has the GM grade converted into a numerical grade if they sit the resit examination. If they do not sit the resit examination, the GM grade is converted to zero.

Achievement status

ARTICLE 33 – (1) Students who receive a grade of YT, TR, DD or above in a course are deemed successful in that course.

(2) Students who receive a grade of FF, FD, YZ or DZ in a course are deemed unsuccessful in that course.

(3) Students whose CGPA is 2.00 or above are deemed successful. Students whose CGPA is below 2.00 are deemed unsuccessful.

(4) A student whose CGPA remains below 2.00 at the end of the fourth semester of study in an undergraduate programme is placed on probationary status. In order to be removed from probationary status, such a student must first repeat the courses in which they received an FF, FD, DZ, YZ or ÇK grade. If the course load is not filled, they may optionally repeat courses in which they previously received a DD or DC grade. A student on probationary status may not take courses belonging to the fifth and subsequent semesters without the advisor's approval until they are removed from probationary status.

(5) Students' academic standing at University, faculty/school and department/programme level is determined according to their cumulative grade point averages. The ranking is made among all students, including horizontal transfer, vertical transfer and double major programme students, who have taken all the compulsory/elective courses in the curriculum up to the relevant semester and completed the ECTS credit loads. In the ranking, priority is given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average. Students with outstanding courses or ECTS credits from the semester in which the ranking is made and/or from lower semesters, as well as students with extended study periods, are not included in the ranking. Other matters concerning the academic standing ranking of students are determined by the University Board of Directors.

(6) The achievement grade for a course is determined by the instructor teaching the course, in accordance with that course's achievement assessment system, on the basis of the grades obtained from the in-term examinations, quizzes, fieldwork, practice, assignments, projects, workshops, seminars, laboratory work, internships and similar in-term work for that course, from attendance and from the end-of-semester examination. The achievement assessment system for the courses to be offered is entered in the course information form by the relevant instructor each semester, at the latest before the course registration week specified in the academic calendar, and is announced to students through the Student Information System.

(7) The instructor announces the achievement grade for the course within the period specified in the academic calendar at the end of each semester and submits it to the relevant secretariat together with the examination papers and other documents.

Principles concerning course repetition

ARTICLE 34 – (1) Students who receive an FF, FD, DZ, YZ or ÇK grade in a course must retake that course in the first semester in which it is offered.

(2) When repeating a previously taken elective course, it is not compulsory to take the same course; instead, another course from the same elective group may be taken.

(3) In order to raise their CGPA, students may retake courses in which they previously received a DD or DC letter grade, with the advisor's approval and provided that places are available in those courses. The most recent grade obtained is deemed valid on the student's transcript and affects the GPA and CGPA of the semester in which the course is repeated. Students may not retake courses in which they previously received a CC or higher letter grade.

(4) Students who need to repeat courses even though they have completed the normal period of study are obliged to renew their registration and complete course registration in accordance with the academic calendar.

Grade point average and cumulative grade point average

ARTICLE 35 – (1) The grade point average (GPA) and the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) are calculated as follows:

a) In calculating the grade point average, the weight coefficients of the achievement grades of the courses taken by the student in the relevant semester are multiplied by the ECTS credits of those courses, the resulting products are added together, and this total is divided by the sum of the ECTS credits.
b) In calculating the cumulative grade point average, the weight coefficients of the achievement grades of all courses taken by the student from the first semester onwards are multiplied by the ECTS credits of those courses, the resulting products are added together, and this total is divided by the sum of the ECTS credits.
c) The GPA, CGPA and examination grade are given to two decimal places and rounded. If the third decimal place of the GPA, CGPA or examination grade is 5 or more it is rounded up, and if it is 4 or less it is rounded down.

Associate degree diploma

ARTICLE 36 – (1) A student who has passed the common compulsory courses set out in subparagraph (ı) of the first paragraph of Article 5 of Law No. 2547, together with all the courses in the first four semesters of the curriculum of the undergraduate programme in which they are enrolled, and who has raised their CGPA to at least 2.00, is awarded an associate degree diploma upon application, by decision of the relevant board of directors and within the framework of the provisions of the Regulation on the Award of Associate Degree Diplomas to, or the Placement in Vocational Schools of, Those Who Have Not Completed or Cannot Complete Their Undergraduate Studies, published in the Official Gazette dated 18/3/1989 and numbered 20112.

Undergraduate diploma

ARTICLE 37 – (1) Within the framework of the examination and assessment principles set out in this Regulation, students who successfully complete the compulsory and elective courses in the curriculum of the undergraduate programme in which they are enrolled, whose CGPA is at least 2.00 out of 4.00 and who fulfil their other obligations are awarded the undergraduate diploma of the programme in which they are enrolled, together with a diploma supplement that assists in the international recognition of academic and professional qualifications. In order to receive an undergraduate diploma, students admitted through inter-institutional horizontal transfer must take and pass at least 60 ECTS credits of courses at the University.

(2) Students' graduation is decided by the relevant board of directors. The date of graduation is the date on which the relevant board of directors decides on graduation. The approval date of the relevant board of directors is written on the diploma as the date of graduation.

(3) The diploma date is the date on which the diploma and its supplements are issued.

(4) Diplomas are signed by the relevant dean/director and the Rector.

(5) The diploma supplement is prepared and issued to every student receiving a diploma in accordance with the principles determined by YÖK.

(6) Until the diploma is prepared, a provisional graduation certificate is issued at the student's request.

PART FIVE
Leave of Absence, Withdrawal of Registration and Dismissal

Leave of absence

ARTICLE 38 – (1) A student's registration may, on justified and valid grounds and by decision of the relevant board of directors, be suspended for a total of at most two semesters in the foreign language preparatory programme and for at most four semesters in undergraduate programmes, not exceeding two semesters at a time, provided that any tuition fees for previous years and for the year of suspension are paid. These periods may be extended in compulsory cases by decision of the University Board of Directors. The tuition fee paid for the suspended year/semester is not refunded, but this amount is offset against the following year's tuition fee. The principles concerning leave of absence are as follows:

a) If a student has a justified and valid excuse such as illness, natural disaster, study abroad or cancellation of military service deferment, and documents it, their registration may be suspended by decision of the relevant board of directors upon the application of the student or their proxy.
b) A student must submit a leave of absence request with a petition directly to the relevant secretariat within the first two weeks following the start of classes at the latest. Except in compulsory cases, leave of absence applications made after these periods are not accepted. Depending on the reason for the leave of absence, the student attaches to the petition a medical report, a military service document, a disaster certificate to be obtained from the civil authority, a document showing that they will study abroad, or similar documents.
c) The student's period of leave of absence is stated in the decision of the relevant board of directors. A student on leave of absence may not take part in educational activities or sit examinations during the period of leave. This period does not count towards the student's maximum period of study.
ç) If a compelling reason requiring a leave of absence arises in the middle of a semester, the student is deemed to have suspended registration as from the beginning of that semester.

Withdrawal of registration

ARTICLE 39 – (1) The principles concerning withdrawal of registration are as follows:

a) A student who wishes to withdraw their registration from the University of their own accord applies to the Department of Student Affairs with a petition and a "Clearance Form". The student's registration is cancelled by the Department of Student Affairs and the relevant units are notified.
b) A student who has newly registered or renewed registration and who wishes to leave the University must fulfil their financial obligations up to the date on which they wish to leave.
c) Withdrawal of registration is carried out upon the student's personal and written application. However, in special cases and provided that financial obligations have been fulfilled, a proxy appointed by the student through a notary may withdraw the registration from the University. A student whose registration is cancelled is dismissed from the University and any diploma in their file is returned to them.
ç) Other matters concerning withdrawal of registration procedures are determined by the University Board of Directors.
d) The provisions of this article also apply to students whose registration is liable to cancellation for other reasons not covered by this Regulation.
e) The registration of a student who transfers to another higher education institution pursuant to the provisions of the Regulation on the Principles Governing Transfer Between Associate and Undergraduate Level Programmes, Double Major, Minor and Inter-Institutional Credit Transfer at Higher Education Institutions is cancelled by the Department of Student Affairs and the relevant units are notified.

Dismissal

ARTICLE 40 – (1) Students whose situation is described below are dismissed from the University by the relevant board of directors and the relevant units are notified:

a) Students who receive the penalty of expulsion from the University in accordance with the Regulation on Student Discipline at Higher Education Institutions, published in the Official Gazette dated 18/8/2012 and numbered 28388.
b) Students who are understood to be unable to continue their studies due to death or due to illness documented by a medical report.
c) Students who fail to pay tuition fees and/or renew their registration for four consecutive years, by decision of the University Board of Directors and with the approval of YÖK.

PART SIX
Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

High honour and honour students

ARTICLE 41 – (1) Students who receive no disciplinary penalty throughout their undergraduate studies and who complete their studies with a CGPA of at least 3.50 become high honour students, while those who complete their studies with a CGPA between 3.00 and 3.49 become honour students.

(2) High honour or honour student status is written on the reverse side of the diplomas of high honour or honour students and in the diploma supplement.

Discipline

ARTICLE 42 – (1) Disciplinary matters and procedures concerning students studying at the University are conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Student Discipline at Higher Education Institutions.

(2) Students who receive the penalty of suspension from the University due to a disciplinary offence are not refunded the tuition fee for the period of suspension, nor is it offset against the tuition fee of the following semester/year.

(3) Students who receive a penalty of suspension from the University for at least one semester due to a disciplinary offence may not attend the courses in which they are enrolled in the relevant semester/year and may not sit the examinations for these courses. Students deemed unsuccessful in these courses due to absence are given a DZ grade by the course instructors.

Scholarships

ARTICLE 43 – (1) The scholarships and discounts provided to students placed in the University's scholarship and discounted undergraduate programmes cover only the tuition fee or discounts to be applied to the tuition fee. Other expenses such as accommodation, meals, transport, books, summer school, special student status and study abroad are outside the scope of the scholarship.

(2) Scholarships and discounts are non-repayable and continue throughout the normal period of study of the undergraduate programme in which the student is enrolled, without any achievement requirement such as grade point average or course passing, and also cover one year of the foreign language preparatory class.

(3) The principles concerning other scholarships and discounts provided to students by the University are announced by means of a directive determined by the Board of Trustees.

Notification and address declaration

ARTICLE 44 – (1) Any notification is deemed to have been completed when it is sent by registered mail with return receipt to the permanent address declared by the student at the time of registration at the University. A student who provides an electronic address suitable for notification and requests that notifications be sent to that address may also be notified electronically.

(2) Notifications sent to the addresses declared by students who provided an incorrect or incomplete address when registering at the University, or who changed their place of residence but did not notify the Department of Student Affairs with a petition, are deemed to have reached them.

Identity card

ARTICLE 45 – (1) Every student newly registering at the University is issued a student identity card.

(2) Information that students who have left, been expelled from, had their registration cancelled at or graduated from the University are no longer affiliated with the University is entered into the Higher Education Information System by the Department of Student Affairs, and their student rights are terminated.

Cases not covered by the Regulation

ARTICLE 46 – (1) In cases not covered by this Regulation, the provisions of other relevant legislation and the decisions of the Council of Higher Education apply.

Repealed regulation

ARTICLE 47 – (1) The Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Undergraduate Education and Instruction Regulation, published in the Official Gazette dated 17/1/2013 and numbered 28531, has been repealed.

Entry into Force

ARTICLE 48 – (1) This Regulation enters into force on the date of its publication.

Execution

ARTICLE 49 – (1) The provisions of this Regulation are executed by the Rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.