What's an Exchange Student?
* Students (i.e. officially registered at a partner university of Sabancı University) who temporarily lives in Turkey and attend courses at Sabancı University.
* The exchange period at Sabancı University lasts a minimum of 1 semester and a maximum of 2 semesters. * The exchange students do NOT get a diploma from Sabancı University. However, their academic results are given via the European Credit Transfer System. (ECTS).
The most important advantage of studying as an exchange student is that no tuition will be asked at Sabancı University and credits and grades can be easily transferred to the home institution, which secures the time and effort abroad will not be given in vain.
Please note that individual applications, which are not in the context of any bilateral or Erasmus agreement, will be considered as “special student status”. In that case exchange rules and regulations do not apply. For “Special Student Applications” please visit: www.sabanciuniv.edu/en/special-student
Eligibility
In order to be accepted as an exchange student to Sabancı University:
* You should be a full-time student at your home university/institution. * Your home university/ institution should have an Exchange bilateral agreement with Sabanci University. * You must be nominated by your home institution. * At Sabancı University the language of instruction is English. You need to have a very good knowledge of the English language. You will be asked to prepare assignments and presentations in English as well as to write examinations in this language. We do not ask for any certificates but all exchange students are expected to have a high-level proficiency in English [i.e. TOEFL (PBT) 550, TOEFL (IBT) 80, CEFR (B2)].
Nomination and Application Procedure Application package consists of the following items:
1- Online Application: Before applying to SU, student must already have a clear idea on Sabancı University in general and specifically the programs offered at SU.
Partner institution needs to nominate the student to suincoming@sabanciuniv.edu. Please add student's name, surname, nationality, program at home institution, preferred program at SU, level, and e-mail address. After the nomination, student will be informed by SU, about the next steps.
2- Transcript of Records: Complete official transcript of records, in English. The transcript must be prepared by the related Unit of the Home University.
NOTE: International students who plan to study at Sabancı University must assume responsibility for the total cost of their educational expenses for the full duration of their academic program. In this respect they must make financial provisions before arriving to Istanbul.
Nomination Deadlines Fall Term: 15 May Spring Term: 15 October
Application Deadlines Fall Term: 31 May Spring Term: 31 October
Visa
Due to the new regulation, Exchange students may visit Turkey without a visa, but this rule changes countryto country.
Please check your visa requirements and duration of stay allowance in Turkey from the followinglinks:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfahttp://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/
Health and Insurance
We highly reccommend all incoming exchange students to have or purchase an appropriatehealth/travel insurance, making sure in both cases that it covers the contingency of contagion inthe event of a pandemic, to ensure adequate medical care during their stay in Türkiye.
We strongly recommend you to have it before your arrival in Türkiye
If Türkiye and your country has a social security agreement:
You need to visit your social security office (not your private insurance company) in your country before you leave your country. They will give you a document called "formular" You will get the Turkish Social security Office's approval to this document. You can use thisapproved formular as your insurance after you have actived in Türkiye by visiting SGK.
Here you can find the list of agreements*:
- Germany TA 11
- Netherlands N/TUR 111
- Belgium BT 8
- Austria A/TR 3
- France SE 208-06 A FT & SE 208-28 FT
- Turkish Republic of North Cyprus KKTC/TC 3
- Romania R/TR 3
- Bosnia Herzegovina BH/TR 4
- Czech Rep CZ/TR 111
- Macedonia MC/TR 4
- Luxembourg TR/L 3
- Albania AL/TR 4
*Please get in touch with your home institution international office about the above mentioned bilateral healthinsurance agreement procedure and validity.
At Sabancı University, the language of instruction is fully English.
Courses
A course description is available at our catalog. Please notice that some courses have especial requirements. Even though most courses are conducted in English, it is important to check the ‘Language’ section of the catalog for exceptions. Please click the below links to see the courses offered within each faculty.
Course Codes and Credit Values
In the course catalog, a special code is used to define each course unit. The letters in the course unit code refer to the ’subject area’. The numbers between ‘1XX’ and ‘4XX’ in the course unit code refer to the undergraduate courses whereas the numbers between‘5XX’ and ‘9XX’ refer to the graduate courses.
At Sabancı University, the credit value of an undergraduate and/or a graduate course is the sum of 1.0 times the weekly course hours plus 0.5times of weekly application hours. The credit values of undergraduate courses and non-credit courses are determined by the Faculty Administrative Board whereas the credit values of the graduate courses are determined by the Graduate School Administrative Board.
On the other hand, ECTS credit of a course is calculated based on the total work such as lectures, seminars, self studies, practicum, etc. that is necessary to complete that course in accordance with the total amount involved.
Both credit systems are used at Sabancı University.
Important Note: There may be some courses offered for graduate and bachelor level students, with the same name. Please be sure that you add the correct course with correct ECTS credit. All details are written in course lists.
Changes to Curriculum
Any changes to the curriculum and courses of the undergraduate and graduate programs are finalized at the beginning of each semester by the Faculty Executive Board and the Graduate School Administrative Board respectively. Therefore, Sabancı University reserves the right to change course offerings and the credits of the courses at the beginning of each semester. Exchange students are advised to check the status of the courses and reconsider their course selections upon their arrival to Sabancı University.
Grade System/Assessments Methods
Depending on the each course’s structure as well as the course instructor, various combinations of the following assessment methods are used: mid-term exam, final exam, project work, term paper, take-home, class presentation (individual /group), weekly assignments, discussion sessions, exhibit (of an art work), etc. In most cases regular attendance in classes is also taken into consideration. Please check out the each course’s syllabus to learn about the assessment method of that specific course and/or contact the instructor.
Sabancı University Grading System
A (4.00), A- (3.70), B+ (3.30), B (3.00), B- (2.70), C+ (2.30), C (2.00), C- (1.70), D+ (1.30), D (1.00), F (0.00)
Other Grades
P (Progressing), S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), I (Incomplete), T (Transfer), NA (Not-Attended), W (Withdrawn).
Grade Point Average
The total credit of a student for a course is calculated by multiplying the credit of the course by its coefficient. In calculating the Grade Point Average (GPA), the total credit of a student for all courses in a specific semester is divided by the total credit of the courses taken. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is calculated by using the same method however taking into account all the courses taken starting from the enrolment of the student in SU. The average figures calculated are shown with two decimals. In GPA calculations, the last grade for are repeated course is taken into account. The transcripts include all registered courses of students.
Based on a min. CGPA of 2.00: Term GPA 2.00 – 2.99 as ‘Satisfactory’; 3.00 – 3.49 as ‘Honour’; 3.50 – 4.00 as ‘High Honour’.
Online Course Registration
All degree students make their course registrations by themselves through the ‘Web For Students’ system during the registration period announced in the academic calendar. Exchange students make their registrations, before their arrival at SU via online from the link below between the announced dates. Prior to the online course registrations, exchange students' learning agreements should be approved by both institutions’ authorized staff.
All the course registrations are recommended to be completed before arrival at Sabancı University due to capacity limitations. However, students can change their registered courses till the end of the add-drop period indicated in the SU academic calendar. Additionally, any change that exchange student makes on his/her course list must necessarily be displayed in the related page of the learning agreement. The page indicating the changes together with the first page must certainly be submitted to both the sending and receiving institutions.
All students must be aware of that they can not make any changes on their course list after the add-drop period.
Important Note: There may be some courses offered for graduate and bachelor level students, with the same name. Please be sure that you add the correct course with correct ECTS credit. All details are written in course lists.
Turkish Language Courses
The language of instruction at SU is English (with only a few exceptions). Still learning some Turkish can be very useful and students can findsome opportunities during their exchange semester to learn this language. Basic Turkish I (TUR 101), Basic Turkish II (TUR 102), Pre-intermediate Turkish I (TUR 201), Advanced Readings in Turkish for Foreigners (TUR 403) are offered during each semester.
After the application is accepted by Sabancı University, the incoming exchange student may wish to prepare Online Learning Agreement (OLA) in coordination with the related Department at his/her Home University.
Online Learning Agreement is an integral part of the ECTS System. If the student is required to prepare a Online Learning Agreement she/he is advised to view the Course Catalog of each Faculty of Sabancı University.
Online Learning Agreement, which describes the program of study abroad, must be agreed and signed by the individual student and home institution and SU being as host institution before the student leaves the home country. Learning agreement ensures that:
* The student agrees to undertake the program of study at SU,
* The home institution provides the student full academic recognition for the education received abroad in respect of the course units listed on the agreement,
* The host institution confirms that the program of study is acceptable and does not conflict with the host institution’s rules.
Students may have to modify the agreed program of study upon arrival at SU for a variety of reasons: timetable clashes, unsuitability of chosen courses (in level or content), etc. The learning agreement form therefore provides for changes to the originally agreed study program/learning agreement.
You may indicate the below mentioned info on your OLA in order to get it signed by us. Please do not forget to send an email to us after you have created your OLA and signed by your side and your home institution.
Gözde Doğmuş
suincoming@sabanciuniv.edu
International Exchange and Cooperation Senior Specialist
+90 216 483 9627