International Trade and Finance (English) Programme Information

The International Trade and Finance Department at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University aims to cultivate professionals with a global vision, who draw strength from local values, think strategically, are entrepreneurial, competitive, and adept at teamwork. Designed with an interdisciplinary approach, the curriculum provides a solid foundation in fields such as business administration, economics, finance, international trade, and marketing. Students, growing in a multicultural environment, gain expertise in international trade and finance, equipping them to work as specialists or managers in national and international companies, financial institutions, development organizations, and research centers.

In this context, the department's vision is to become an innovative, globally influential academic program that integrates digitalization and financial technologies in international trade and e-commerce, shaping the sector. The mission is to train graduates who understand global trade dynamics, international market opportunities, and digital transformation, specializing in foreign trade, logistics, finance, and e-commerce, and making a difference in the private sector, public institutions, and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through scientific research, industry collaborations, and applied education, the department ensures that students transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills.

Educational and Program Opportunities

The department offers students the opportunity to enrich their education through double major and minor programs, while international exchange programs provide the chance to study abroad and gain a global perspective. To enhance their sectoral experience, students are encouraged to intern at reputable institutions, enabling them to reinforce their academic knowledge with practical skills.

Opportunities for Students:

• Free foreign language learning opportunity
• Minor program opportunity (Scholarship-supported during the regular study period and an additional year)
• Double major program opportunity (Scholarship-supported during the regular study period and an additional year)
• Study abroad opportunity through international exchange programs (for 1 or 2 semesters)
• Opportunity to pursue postgraduate programs after graduation

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the International Trade and Finance Department have broad employment prospects in both the public and private sectors. They can pursue careers in:

• Government agencies and financial institutions, such as the Ministry of Economy, Central Bank, Undersecretariat of Treasury, Borsa Istanbul, Capital Markets Board (SPK), and Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), working as inspectors, auditors, and assistant specialists.
• Participation banks, state and private banks, industrial corporations, insurance companies, accounting and auditing firms, financial institutions, and national and international research organizations.
• International markets and financial institutions, taking on key roles in trade and finance sectors.
• Academic careers, by continuing their education in master’s and doctoral programs.

The most frequently used Instructional Methods of the educational programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University are given below.

• Expression
• Question-Answer
• Discussion
• Exercise and Practice
• Presentation
• Guided Practice
• Role Playing
• Group Study
• Simulation
• Brain Storming
• Six Hat
• Case Study
• Experiment - Test / Lab/ Workshop / Field Practice
• Self study
• Problem Solving
• Project Based Learning (Including Field Work)

The most frequently used Evaluation Methods of the educational programs of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University are given below.

• Testing (Essay / Tests: True-Falls, multiple-choice, short answer, matching)
• Oral Exam
• Homework
• Project / Design
• Portfolio
• Performance Assignment ( Lab / Workshop / Field Work / Seminar / Presentation / Completion Study / Thesis

This is a first cycle degree program in the science of International Trade and Finance (240 ECTS). 

Students will be awarded, on successful completion of the programme and gain competencies, a degree of Bachelor in International Trade and Finance.

Admission of national students to the TURKISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION program is contingent on success on the nationally centralised Student Selection Examination (ÖSS) conducted by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (OSYM). For further information please visit General Admission Requirements and Registration Procedures in the menu items of the Information on the Institution and

The Examination, Selection & Placement Centre (OSYM) .

Admission of foreign students is possible through an evaluation of students’ individual application to the university. For further and detailed information please visit General Admission Requirements and Registration Procedures in the menu items of the Information on the Institution.

The degree is awarded to students who successfully completes a minimum of 240 ECTS from the course units of the programme with a  grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 out of 4.00.

Procedures to recognise prior learning (RPL), including non-formal and informal learning, is in an early stage of development in Turkey and there is no a comprehensive and enabling legislative framework at the national level in place yet. However, within the institutional autonomy respected there are some implementations at the institutional level for allocating credits towards exemption from some programme requirements on the basis of RPL. This is particularly a wide spread exercise implemented in cases that students, having a certain level of knowledge, skills and competencies in relation to fields such as foreign languages and computer use, prior to admission to the university, are subjected to an examination and if they are found successful to a certain degree required by the programme they have been admitted to, they are exempted from the relevant course units of the course programme. RPL is also practiced for students who wish to transfer their studies to the equal or an upper levels at an another institution including those from abroad in the same or similar fields. In such cases, students, having received some course units in a previous programme they had studied and having been successful, may be  exempted from the same or similar course units of the programmes they are admitted to upon the approval the adaptation committees of the programmes.

Such procedures of recognition are also used comprehensively in practice at our university. The general arrangements for the recognition ofsuch implementations are outlined in the relevant section of our Education and Examination Regulations, Rules & Regulations for Graduate Programmes and that of Regulations for Lateral Transfer of Students.

Graduates of International Trade and Finance department have ample opportunities of work both in public and private sector. They can take exams of supervisorship, controllership and expert assistanship held by Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Central Bank, Undersecretariat of Treasury, Borsa Istanbul, Capital Market Board, various ministries or public institutions. They can also become expert of International Trade and Finance or researcher. Other institutions in which these students can be hired are; public and private banks, especially participation banks, any kind of industrial organization, insurance companies, institutions offering accounting and auditing services, financial institutions, national or international research institutions, national or international companies. Thus, our graduates can take active roles at national and international markets and institutions. Moreover, they can have an academic career by continuing master and PhD programmes in different fields.

The students graduating from this program may apply to second cycle programs.