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.

SU Nomination Form

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

IMPORTANT DATES FOR INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS


2023-2024 Academic Year

For 2023-2024 Fall Semester*

  • Online course registrations: 18-20 September 2023
  • Dormitory Applications: 01 August-01 September 2023
  • Dormitory Payment: 11 September - 15 October 2023
  • Earliest Dormitory Entrance Date : 23 September 2023
  • University Enrollment: 18-29 September 2023
  • Orientation week: 27-28 September 2023
  • Start of MBA Courses: 02 October 2023
  • Start of Courses: 02 October 2023
  • Add-Drop period: 16-17 October 2023
  • National Holiday: 29 October 2023(full day)
  • Last day of classes: 05 January 2024
  • End of MBA courses: 05 January 2024
  • New Year Holiday: 01 January 2024
  • Final exams: 06-19 January 2024
  • Final Exams for MBA: 06-19 January 2024
  • Grade Submission: 25 January 2024

For 2023-2024 Spring Semester*

  • Online course registrations: 5-6-7 Feb 2024
  • Earliest Dormitory Entrance Date: 6 Feb 2024
  • Dormitory Application Deadline: 02 Feb 2024
  • Dormitory Payment Deadline: 31 March 2024
  • University Enrollment:07-08-09 February 2024
  • Orientation week: 08-09 February 2024
  • Start of MBA Courses: 15 February 2024
  • Start of Courses: 15 February 2024
  • Add- Drop period:26-27 February 2024
  • Spring Break: 08-12 April 2024
  • National Holiday: 23 April 2024(Full Day)
  • National Holiday: 1 May 2024(Full Day)
  • National Holiday: 19 May 2024(Full Day)
  • Last day of classes: 29 May 2024
  • End of MBA courses: 29 May 2024
  • Final exams: 30 May-09 June 2024
  • Final Exams for MBA: 30 May-09 June 2024

*The dates are subject to change.

(Transcripts will be sent within 5 weeks after the grade submission)

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 English. Even though the majority of the courses are conducted in English, it is important to check the ‘Language’ section in the catalog for exceptions.

Please click the links below to see the courses offered in each faculty:(Please select the related term (e.g 2011-2012 Fall ) then click Course Code (e.g CS 201) to access Course Syllabus. You can click toaccess Detailed Syllabus)

 

Undergraduate Course Offerings

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences | 
Sabancı Business School |  School of Languages |  Non-Degree


Graduate Course Offerings
 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences |  Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences | Sabancı Business School |  School of Languages

Please use the link below (The Dynamic Schedule) for the course offerings

Class(Dynamic) Schedule: http://suis.sabanciuniv.edu/prod/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched 

Course Limitations for Exchange Students

(Please note that all exchange students are exempted from pre-requisites of each courses.)

Please also take the following remarks into consideration for a smooth registration:

  1. Sabancı Business School (SBS) Graduate Courses: Exchange students register without UG-GR limitations
  2. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Graduate Courses: Only open to graduate-level students
  3. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Undergraduate Courses:
  4. Only open to undergraduate-level students,
  5. EMBA (Executive MBA) Courses (SBS courses with code 9XX): Not open to exchange students
  6. MIF (Master of Finance courses with code MFIN) Courses: not open for exchange students
  7. MIM Courses are not open for exchange students
  8. PBAN (Master of Business Analytics for Professionals courses with code, BAN6XX, BAN7XX, BAN8XX) Courses: not open for exchange student
    Sabancı Business School (SBS) Courses:
  9. Courses code with BAN (only eligible ones) can register with “Special Approval”
  10. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) Professional programs are not open to exchange students. These master programs areas the following:
  11. Information Technology, Data Analytics, Energy Technologies and Management, Cyber Security (BT-ETM-NT-VA-CYTEC, DA)
  12. Please click here for specific limitations
  13. The exchanges are allowed to register at maximum 18* SU credits per semester.
  14. 10- First year university courses (1XX) are not open for exchange students.

*It slightly equals 36 ECTS.

Important Note 1: There may be some courses offered for undergraduate and graduate level students, with the same name. Please make sure that you add the correct course with correct ECTS credit. All details are stated in course lists.

Important Note 2: 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 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.

 

On Campus Accommodation for Exchange Students:

On the serene campus of Sabancı University, which is located far from the bustling city, students find facilities to meet all of their daily needs.

Sabancı is a university with the highest student-housing rate in Turkey. Advantage of living on campus is the ability to attend group-study sessions and take part in club activities without spending a lot of time commuting. Other advantages to living in housing facilities are the various amenities and the reasonable prices. All dormitory rooms have showers and baths, wardrobes, and private telephones, as well as internet connections for all students. No curfews or "lights-out" policies are enforced.

In the application form, students must indicate their accommodation preferences, especially if they want to stay on campus. In this respect the International Office will do its best to accommodate all students. However, capacity is limited. Priority will be given to students who apply on time (before the application deadline). Dorm rooms, which accommodate 2 students, are equipped with showers, closets, and personal telephones. Automatic washing machines, driers and irons are for free in the laundry rooms in the dorm buildings. A private cleaning staff ensures that the housings and all shared common spaces maintain a high level of hygiene. Due to University regulations, female and male students cannot stay in the same room.

Dormitory website: https://dorm.sabanciuniv.edu/en

Online Dorm Application Form

Your username and password to login the online dorm application form will be shared by the student resources office

by the time of application.

There is no first come first serve base on dormitory application system. You can update your application form until end of the application deadline and you can apply in last day of the application.

You will not be able to stay in the dorms if you do not apply through the form above between the announced dates.

 

Campus Dormitory Fees

Dormitory Fees (September 2023 - June 2024) / per person (incl. VAT)*

Undergraduate students 1st Semester 2nd Semester Total

Room for 4 36.000 TL 36.000 TL 72.000 TL

Room for 3 43.500 TL 43.500 TL 87.000 TL

Room for 2 51.000 TL 51.000 TL 102.000 TL

Graduate students 1st Semester 2nd Semester Total

Room for 2 51.000 TL 51.000 TL 102.000 TL

Room for 1 61.500 TL 61.500 TL 123.000 TL

Studio 66.500 TL 66.500 TL 133.000 TL

Deposit is 9.000 TL (Deposit received at the beginning of the academic year every year will be returned at the end of the Spring Semester.)

*The type of room you will be placed will depend on the availability of the rooms.

 

Here is the link: https://dorm.sabanciuniv.edu/en/dormitory-fees

It is only possible to pay by cash to the bank by showing your student ID card. Bank transfer or credit card payments are not possible. You need a TAX number for any kind of payment in Turkey. Our office will help you to get this number during the orientation.

Students pay the deposit, and get it back* after the end of the semester. The dorm fees and deposits are paid upon arrival to Sabanci University. Students are allowed to check in the dormitories one week before the beginning of the semester. (This means not earlier than 2 days before the orientation. For example, if the orientation is on 7th of Feb., exchange students can check in dormitories from 5th of Feb.)

*If there are no compelling reasons.

Important note:

Studio rooms are only available for PhD students. The checkout should take place two days after the exam period is over the latest. Please remember to notify the dormitory (yurtlar@sabanciuniv.edu)

about your check out date one week before your departure. Only by doing this properly you will be able to receive your deposit on time. Deposits are returned to students two days before they leave. To receive the money please visit the AKBANK on campus. The payment will be done in cash directly to the resident of the dormitory.

The type of room may change due to availability.

If you wish to change the type of your room, inform the dorm office and ask if there is any availability.

NOTE:

If you want to leave the dormitories before the semester ends, the repayment will be made according to the below mentioned principles:

*If you want to leave in the first 15 days after the official course start date, you can get 75% back

*If you want to leave in the first 30 days after the official course start date, you can get 50% back