ACADEMIC REGULATIONS (Undergraduate)
DEGREE PROGRAMS
All undergraduate programs at İstanbul Bilgi University are semester-based, with the
exception of the Honors programs in which courses are offered on a yearly basis.
Undergraduate programs consist of (required) core courses and electives. Electives are either
'free' (from the Full List) or 'restricted' (departmental). Students are responsible for taking
courses required by the degree program in which they are registered. Elective courses are
selected by the student and approved by the adviser, taking into consideration the areas of
interest of the student.
Students whose level of English is insufficient are required to enroll in the English Language
Preparatory Program before they begin their degree programs.
MAXIMUM PERIOD OF MATRICULATION
Undergraduate degree programs are 4 years (8 semesters) and School of Advanced
Vocational Studies programs are 2 years (4 semesters) in duration. The maximum period of
matriculation for students in undergraduate programs is 7 years (or 14 semesters). For
students in the programs of the School of Advanced Vocational Studies and the Vocational
School of Justice this period is 4 years (or 8 semesters). The time spent at the English
Preparatory Program is not included in these periods. Students are required to complete the
English Preparatory Program within a maximum of two years. Students who exceed the
maximum period of matriculation are dismissed from the University. However, students who
fail to graduate within the maximum period of matriculation are subject to article 44 of the
Higher Education Law (Code no. 2547) according to which a final year student may take
additional examinations. For transfer students, the period of matriculation at other
universities is added to the period of matriculation at BİLGİ.
COURSE CREDITS AND COURSE LOADS
The minimum credit load for a student during one semester is 12 credits. When necessary,
and with the decision of the Faculty Executive Board, the minimum credit load may be
reduced. The minimum credit rule is not applicable to students with a maximum of two
semesters remaining to graduation.
Important note: The credit load of first-year courses that cover 2 semesters is calculated by
dividing the credit of the second-semester course by two. For example: The credit load of
COMP 149 (0 credit) and COMP 150 (16 credit) is calculated as 8 for COMP 149 and 8 for
COMP 150.
EXTRA CREDIT LOAD
Students who are in good academic standing (Refer also to “PROGRESSION RULES AND
PROBATION”) may take additional credits over a particular semester's normal credit load as
an 'overload'. For students taking an overload in a particular semester the total semester
credit load may not exceed 27. Only in cases where the additional course load does not
exceed 3 or the additional credit load does not exceed 9 may the 27 credit limit be
exceeded. In the case of a scheduling conflict or exceeding the maximum allowable credit
load, students must give priority to courses repeated rather than those to be taken for the
first time.
BİLGİ CREDITS AND ECTS CREDITS
İstanbul Bilgi University utilizes a credit system similar to systems used elsewhere in Turkey
and in North America, which is based on lecture hours (1 credit point is equivalent to 1
semester lecture hour). Most courses carry 3 credits. In addition, in compliance with the
Erasmus European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), each course is also
assigned ECTS credits based on student workload. The ECTS system allows international
students, especially Erasmus exchange students, to select their courses, the credits of which
can easily be transferred to their home universities at the completion of their exchange
program at BİLGİ.
ATTENDANCE AND EXAMINATIONS
At İstanbul Bilgi University attendance at lectures, classes, other academic activities and
examinations is compulsory. The course instructor assesses the attendance of students. For
each course the instructor advises students at the beginning of each semester with regard to
the requirements for midterm examinations, papers and other assignments, conditions for
admission to final examinations, and the weighting of midterm examinations, assignments
and other studies in the calculation of the final course grade.
Other than laboratory courses, projects and the like, which by their nature do not require an
examination, a final examination is commonly given in all courses. Students are required to
take final examinations if scheduled and such examinations are given on the dates specified
in the Academic Calendar. Students who do not take the semester final examination of a
particular course receive the letter grade NP. The NP grades of students who do not present
valid extenuating circumstances for not attending the final examination are automatically
converted to an “F”. (Refer also to “GRADES” and “EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES”.)
The course instructor assigns a grade of between 0 and 100 for each course taken by a
student and this grade is known as the “raw score”. The instructor then determines the letter
value of the raw score. The overall Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated according to the
numerical equivalents of the letter grades provided below:
GRADES
A
4.00
Excellent
A-
3.70
Excellent
B+
3.30
Good
B
3.00
Good
B-
2.70
Good
C+
2.30
Average
C
2.00
Average
C-
1.70
Pass on probation
D+
1.30
Pass on probation
D
1.00
Pass on probation
F
0
Fail
Courses not included in the calculation of the GPA but included in the calculation of credits
completed are given the letter “P” for pass and “F” for fail.
Other letters used to indicate the student's course status are:
I
Incomplete
NP
Not present at the final examination
R
Repeat course
NC
No credit granted
DP
Dissertation or project course without grade
L
Registration suspended or on leave of absence
NGR
Grade not submitted
T
Transferred course
W
Withdrew from course
E
Provisional course grade
The abbreviation “I” is given by the instructor to students who were unable to finish projects,
theses, papers and other similar requirements of the course due to extenuating
circumstances. Students who have received an “I” have a maximum of two weeks after the
end of the examination period to complete their work. The “I” is automatically replaced by an
“F” for students who have not completed their work within the specified period.
The abbreviation “NP” is given to students who did not take the semester final examination.
The NP grades of students who do not present valid extenuating circumstances for not
attending the final examination are automatically converted to a grade “F”. (Refer also to
“GRADES” and “EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES”.)
The abbreviation “R” indicates that a course has, for some reason, been repeated.
The abbreviation “W” is given to students who have withdrawn from a course within the time
period provided by the academic calendar. Students are not permitted to withdraw from the
courses they are repeating because of an “F” grade or from compulsory courses that belong
to the academic semester in which they are registered. Students may not apply to withdraw
from a course within the last four weeks of the semester. Courses with a “W” are not
included in the calculation of the student's GPA.
The abbreviation “T” is employed for courses of students who have transferred from another
institution of higher learning to an undergraduate program at İstanbul Bilgi University or for
courses taken by a BİLGİ student at another institution of higher learning and which have
been recognized by an authorized body at İstanbul Bilgi University. These courses are
included in the overall credit calculation but are not included in the calculation of the
cumulative GPA. (Refer also to “CREDIT TRANSFER”.)
The abbreviation “E” is given by the instructor as a provisional course grade for students
whom the instructor decides to give another examination to be offered during the Make-Up
Examination period as specified in the Academic Calendar. The final course grade of the
student with an “E” is registered as “D” if the student passes the “E-Examination” or as “F” if
the student does not take that examination or fails it.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRADES
The grades of midterm examinations, homework and other assignments together with the
semester final examination grade are calculated by the instructor as the “raw score”. The
instructor notifies the Registrar of the letter equivalent to the numerical score within 7 days
following the end of the final examination period and this grade is announced by the Student
Affairs Office.
Only arithmetic or other such errors may constitute grounds for appealing a grade. Such
appeals must be filed with the Student Affairs Office by the student no later than 3 days after
the date that the grades were announced.
REPEATING A COURSE
All “F” grades must be repeated with the exception of non-credit elective courses.
A student who has received an “F” grade in a compulsory course must repeat the course the
first time it is offered again. A student who has received an “F” grade in an elective course
may either repeat the course when offered again or take a different one.
If good cause is demonstrated and approved by the Faculty Executive Board, and after
obtaining a favorable recommendation from the student's adviser, permission may be
granted to the student to repeat the course in the following semester or to withdraw if
already registered.
The grade for a course which has been repeated or which was taken in place of the failed
course replaces the previous “F” grade, which, nevertheless, remains on all academic records
and transcript reports.
A student who is in good academic standing or on probation may, at his/her own request
and with the approval of his/her adviser, repeat courses with “D” or “D+” or “C-” grades
during his/her course of study.
Regardless of the previous grade, the final grade of the repeated course is the official grade.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
A student's academic performance is determined at the end of each semester by computing
an average of the grades he/she has received up to that point. This average is called the
Grade Point Average (GPA).
Example: calculation of the GPA
Course Code
Letter Grade
Credits (C)
NVxC
B
Numerical
Value (NV)
3.00
SOC 211
3
9.00
HTR 101
C-
1.70
2
3.40
MUS 417
A
4.00
1
4.00
FTV 271
C
2.00
4
8.00
PSY 201
A-
3.70
3
11.10
PUB 205
F
0
2
0
MED 310
B+
3.30
0
0
The GPA for the grades and credits in the table above is calculated as follows. The total of
NVxC is divided by the total number of credits for the semester:
(9.00+3.40+4.00+8.00+11.10+0+0) ÷ (3+2+1+4+3+2+0) = 35.5 ÷ 15 = 2.37
PROGRESSION RULES AND PROBATION
Students with a GPA of 1.75 or above are considered to be in good academic standing.
Students whose GPA falls below 1.75 during any semester are placed on probation for the
following semester. Students who are on probation are not allowed to take a total credit load
greater than 18. However, if the credit load for a particular semester is greater than 18, a
student who is on probation may take a total credit load up to the semester credit load.
Students who are on probation may not take part in the administration of student clubs.
A student who is on probation and who by the end of the semester fails to increase his/her
GPA to 1.75 or above is considered to have made “unsatisfactory progress”. A student in this
situation is not permitted to take any new courses in the following semester and must repeat
any previous courses where an “F” grade was received. Similarly, where necessary, in order to
increase the GPA, a student may repeat courses in which “D”, “D+” and “C-” grades were
received. However, if, in a particular semester, a student who is considered to have made
unsatisfactory progress is not able to repeat 12 or more credits,
he/she may take new
courses in addition to the courses he/she is obliged to repeat. The total credit load of such
students may not exceed 12 credits.
The minimum credit load rule as described under “Course Credits and Course Loads” does
not apply to students who are considered to have made unsatisfactory progress.
Students who have succeeded in raising their GPA to 1.75 or above are removed from
“probation” or “unsatisfactory progress” status for the following semester.
GRADUATION
In order to graduate from the undergraduate program a student must attain a minimum GPA
of 2.00 within the maximum period of matriculation.
Of those who are unable to fulfill such conditions:
a) Students with a GPA of 2.00 or higher and who are unable to graduate solely because of
having received an “F” grade in no more than one course may take a supplemental
examination in that course. Students who take such a supplemental examination may receive
a grade no higher than “D”. If the student fails the supplemental examination, the course
must be repeated.
b) Students unable to graduate solely because of a GPA below 2.00 may take a supplemental
examination in any one of the courses they have passed in order to increase their GPA.
Students who take such a supplemental examination may receive a grade as high as “A”.
Students who, after the supplemental examination, are not successful in increasing their GPA
to 2.00 or above are entitled to do so by retaking as many courses as are necessary from the
last four semesters within the maximum period of matriculation.
c) Students unable to graduate because of a GPA below 2.00 and an “F” grade in one course
only may take a supplemental examination in that course on the condition that their GPA will
increase to at least 2.00 if they pass the examination. Students who take such a
supplemental examination may receive a grade no higher than “D”. If the student fails the
supplemental examination, the course must be repeated.
Students in undergraduate programs who have completed their total credit load with a GPA
of 3.50 or higher at the end of the seventh semester and students in the programs of the
School of Advanced Vocational Studies who have completed their total credit load with a GPA
of 3.50 or higher at the end of the third semester acquire the right to graduate. All other
students who have completed their total credit load with a minimum GPA of 2.00 within
seven semesters or less (three semesters or less for students in the programs of the School
of Advanced Vocational Studies) acquire the right to graduate at the end of the normal
period of matriculation (i.e., eight semesters for students in undergraduate programs and
four semesters for students in the programs of the School of Advanced Vocational Studies).
Students in undergraduate programs who have completed their education in a maximum
period of no more than 8 semesters (or 4 semesters for students in the programs of the
School of Advanced Vocational Studies) 1 with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are placed on the High
Honors list, and with a GPA between 3.00 and 3.49 on the Honors list. The Honors and High
Honors status is indicated on a special certificate given along with the diploma. Students
who have been subject to disciplinary action lose their rights to any honors.
All credit-based and grade-based courses are included in the calculation of the graduation
average.
DOUBLE MAJORS AND MINORS
Double majors and minors are subject to the İstanbul Bilgi University by-laws regarding
double majors, minors and honors programs which are published in detail on the University
web site. The paragraphs below give a summary of the most important rules regarding
double majors and minors. It is important to read the by-laws fully and carefully and be
aware of your rights and responsibilities.
DOUBLE MAJORS
Recently a number of important changes have been made in the by-laws regarding double
majors. The changes apply to all students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or
thereafter. However, some of the changes do not apply to students who started a double
major prior to the academic year 2010-2011.
CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE TO A DOUBLE MAJOR
General Rules:
Students may matriculate in two degree programs simultaneously. At the beginning of each
academic year the Academic Board decides between which programs students can do a
double major. Double majors are not allowed in programs where more than 50% of the
compulsory courses overlap. In order to apply for a double major a student must file a
petition with the Student Affairs Office. Applications for a double major are subject to the
approval of the Executive Board of the faculty of the second major. Applications for a double
1
For irregular students this period is 9 semesters (or 5 semesters for students in the programs of the School of
Advanced Vocational Studies). Also, the time a student spends abroad as an exchange student is not included in
this period.
major must be made no earlier than the 3rd semester and no later than the 5th. Applications
may be made until the beginning of the Add/Drop period of that semester. However,
students who, for whatever reasons, lose their double major status are not allowed to apply
for a double major a second time.
In order to be accepted in a double major, a student must have successfully completed all
requirements of the first major for the previous semesters at the time of application and
have achieved an overall GPA of at least 3.00. Acceptance also depends on the availability of
places in the second major selected and the student's overall ranking in his/her first major.
Rule that applies only to students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
Students are allowed to do a double major and a minor in different degree programs at the
same time.
Rule that applies only to students who started a double major prior to the academic year
2010-2011:
Students are not allowed to do a double major and a minor in different degree programs at
the same time.
CREDIT LOAD
General Rules:
Students carrying a double major take all compulsory courses (core courses and
departmental electives) of both programs. During a single semester double majors may take
up to a maximum of 27 credits. However, this limit may be exceeded if the total number of
compulsory course credits for the two programs combined is more than 27. Double majors,
on condition of having completed all compulsory courses in both programs, may take free
electives up to the 27 credit limit. If the total credits of the compulsory courses of both
programs are insufficient to meet the minimum required semester credits for the principal
major, the student must take such elective courses as are necessary to make up the
difference. Overloads taken beyond the required minimum for the double major during
previous semesters may be counted towards the missing required credits. In the course
schedule of a student undertaking a double major, courses of the two programs may not
conflict unless this has been approved by the adviser.
If the programs of both majors contain a senior project or thesis course as core requirement,
a student in his/her final year may register for one or both of the senior projects or theses.
In case the double major student chooses to undertake only one senior project, then he/she
must take two senior level elective courses from the other major, one in each semester.
If only one of the programs of both majors contains a senior project or thesis course as core
requirement, a student in his/her final year may, with the approval of the Faculty Executive
Board of the program in which the senior project or thesis course is a core requirement,
prepare a senior project or thesis for the other major instead.
Rule that applies only to students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
If a double major student does not take any courses from the second major for two
consecutive semesters the student loses his/her double major status.
PROGRESSION RULES
Rules that apply only to students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
If, during the course of studies, the overall GPA of a student taking a double major falls
below 2.60 twice or the GPA of the second major courses falls below 2.00 twice, the student
loses his/her double major status. In the calculation of the second major GPA, only the
courses which are a core requirement in the second major program are taken into account.
Rules that apply only to students who started a double major prior to the academic year
2010-2011:
If at the end of any semester the overall GPA or the GPA of the first or second major courses
of a student taking a double major falls below 2.00, the student loses his/her double major
status. In the calculation of the first and second major GPA, only the courses which are a
core requirement in the program are taken into account.
General Rule:
Students who lose their double major status continue to matriculate in the principal program
of study.
GRADUATION
Rules that apply only to students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
Upon the successful completion of all requirements for the double major, a student acquires
the right to receive a diploma for each major. However, in order to graduate from the second
major the student must have successfully completed all courses of the second major and
must have achieved an overall minimum GPA of 2.80 as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 for
second major courses. He/she must also have completed at least 36 credits in the second
major.
Rules that apply only to students who started a double major prior to the academic year
2010-2011:
Upon the successful completion of all requirements for the double major, a student acquires
the right to receive a diploma for each major. However, in order to graduate from the second
major the student must have successfully completed all courses of the second major and
must have achieved an overall minimum GPA of 2.00 as well as a minimum GPA of 2.00 for
second major courses. He/she must also have completed at least 36 credits in the second
major.
General Rules:
A student who has satisfied all requirements of the principal major acquires the right to
receive an undergraduate diploma in the principal major even if the requirements for the
second major have not yet been completed.
However, a student carrying a double major who has satisfactorily completed all the
compulsory courses of the second major but not of the principal one, has the right to receive
a diploma for the second major only upon completion of all the requirements of the principal
major.
MINORS
Recently a number of important changes have been made in the by-laws regarding double
majors. The changes apply to all students who will start a double major in 2010-2011 or
thereafter. However, some of the changes do not apply to students who started a double
major prior to the academic year 2010-2011.
WHAT IS A MINOR?
A “minor” entails a student's taking at least 12 of his/her electives from among the courses
of an undergraduate program other than his/her major program.
Students who will start a minor in 2010-2011 or thereafter must complete the ‘minor
program’ that has been determined by the Faculty. Such minor programs consist of at least
12 courses and 36 credits. If any of the courses of the minor program are part of the
student’s major program or if restricted courses are part of both the minor and the major
program, the Faculty Executive board will decide which courses the student should take
instead.
Students who started a minor prior to the academic year 2010-2011 will continue to take at
least 12 of their electives from among the courses of the undergraduate program in which
they do a minor according to the old regulations.
CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF MINOR
Applications for a minor must be made no earlier than the 3rd semester and no later than
the 6th. Applications may be made until the beginning of the Add/Drop period of that
semester. However, students who have been excluded from a minor are not allowed to apply
for a minor again.
In order to be accepted in a minor, a student must have successfully completed all
requirements of the first major for the previous semesters at the time of application and
have achieved an overall GPA of at least 2.60. Applications for a double major are subject to
the approval of the Executive Board of the faculty of the second major.
CREDIT LOAD
Rule that applies only to students who will start a minor in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
If a minor student does not take any courses from the minor for two consecutive semesters
the student loses his/her minor status.
PROGRESSION RULES
Rule that applies only to students who will start a minor in 2010-2011 or thereafter:
If at the end of any semester the GPA of the first major courses of a student taking a minor
falls below 2.40, the student loses his/her minor status. In the calculation of the first major
GPA, courses of the minor program that have been taken as electives of the first major
program are also taken into account.
COMPLETION OF A MINOR
In order for a student to complete his/her minor

he/she must have acquired the right to graduate from the major program;

he/she must have successfully completed the course requirements for the minor*;
his/her overall GPA and the GPA of the minor courses must be at least 2.00.
* For students who will start a minor in 2010-2011 or thereafter: They must have completed
all the courses of the ‘minor program’. For students who started a minor prior to the
academic year 2010-2011: They must have completed at least 12 courses with a minimum
total of 36 credits from the minor field of study which are not compulsory courses for the
major.
Minor status is indicated on a special certificate given along with the diploma.
LSE - BİLGİ HONORS PROGRAMS
The Department of Economics offers programs that are designed to run parallel with the
London School of Economics and Political Science BSc in Economics and Management and
BSc in Mathematics and Economics external degrees. Students who wish to transfer to the
Honors Programs and who satisfy the entrance requirements should apply after the second
semester of their studies. The duration of the Honors Programs is three years and the
structure and content are different from those of other programs. As students work towards
their BİLGİ Honors degree they also prepare for the examinations of the London School of
Economics and Political Science BSc in Economics and Management or BSc in Mathematics
and Economics external degrees which are held at the British Council in İstanbul at the end
of each academic year. Thus, apart from a BİLGİ degree, Honors Programs students have the
opportunity to obtain a London School of Economics and Political Science external degree as
well.
Every year a committee assigned by the University Executive Board selects a limited number
of students from among the applicants. Students who have shown excellent performance in
their first year of study may apply to the Honors Programs. Admission criteria are based on
the applicant's GPA, grades achieved for courses in the field of economics and management,
and the student's motivation. Application criteria are announced by Student Affairs at the
beginning of each academic year.
Honors Programs courses are offered on a yearly basis. Students who, in a particular year,
fail in more than one course are not allowed to progress to the next stage, and the following
year repeat only those courses in which they had failed. Students who fail only one course
may progress to the next stage and retake the failed course. Students in the Honors
Programs have the right to return to the programs from which they transferred.
COURSE REGISTRATION
Before the start of each semester, students in all undergraduate programs must register for
their courses. Short course descriptions for all courses can be found in the online Course
Catalog. During course registration, student advisers provide students with advice about
their choice of electives. A student's course schedule is subject to the approval of his/her
adviser. Students may change elective courses within the Add/Drop period as indicated in
the Academic Calendar and with the approval of their adviser.
It is important for a student to plan ahead in choosing courses since many of them have
prerequisites, special conditions and/or restrictions.
Prerequisite: A student can register for the course if he/she has received a passing grade for
the prerequisite(s) listed.
Special Condition: A student can register for the course if he/she has previously registered
for the course(s) indicated as special condition.
Restriction: A student can not register for the course if he/she has received a passing grade
for the course(s) indicated as restriction or if the restriction is a core course in the program.
Furthermore, a student can not register for the course and the one listed as a restriction at
the same time.
Students may withdraw from a course within the time period specified in the Academic
Calendar. Students are not permitted to withdraw from courses they are repeating because
of an “F” grade or from compulsory courses that belong to the academic semester in which
they are registered. Students may not apply to withdraw from a course within the last four
weeks of the semester.
Satisfaction of all financial responsibilities towards the University is a condition of course
registration.
Students who have not registered for courses and who have presented documentation of
extenuating circumstances, may, until the end of the Add/Drop period, file a petition with
the Student Affairs Office.
Students whose extenuating circumstances have been accepted by the Rector, may register
for courses in the week following the Add/Drop period. Students whose extenuating
circumstances were not accepted are not allowed to register. Nonetheless, their status as a
university student and all financial responsibilities towards the University continue.
The student status of those who have not registered for two consecutive semesters or whose
extenuating circumstances were not accepted, regardless of the semester and without
entailing any formal procedure, terminates automatically. Such students shall be notified in
writing in such a case.
SUMMER SCHOOL
Students have the opportunity to take courses in the BİLGİ Summer School. All students,
including ÖSYM scholarship students, pay a fee per course. For detailed information,
students should refer to the 'Summer School' link on the University web site.
Students also have the opportunity to transfer credits of courses taken in the summer
schools of other institutions of higher education. Such credit transfer is subject to the rules
set by the University and the Faculty Executive Boards. Students who plan to take summer
school courses at another institution of higher education are required to obtain permission
from their Faculty Executive Board prior to registration for those courses. For detailed
information about rules and procedures concerning credit transfer students should contact
the Student Affairs Office.
THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Students have access to the Student Information System via the Internet. Registration and
course registration are undertaken on-line and students have the opportunity to obtain
information about their weekly course schedules, grades and examination schedules from
the Student Page on the Internet.
EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Students may submit information to the Student Affairs Office concerning personal
circumstances, which they believe may have affected their performance in the final
examinations. They must fill out an extenuating circumstances form (ECF), which can be
obtained from the Student Affairs Office, and attach valid documentary evidence of the
circumstances described in the ECF. The ECF form and documentary evidence must be
submitted to the Student Affairs Office on the termination date of the extenuating
circumstance or, for extenuating circumstances based on health-related reasons, within
three days following the end-date of the medical report.
Students not present at a final examination due to an extenuating circumstance which has
been accepted by the University, have the right to take another examination during the
Make-Up Examination period as specified in the Academic Calendar.
Students not present at a Make-Up examination due to an extenuating circumstance do not
have the right to take another examination after the Make-Up Examination period.
Students are strongly advised to carefully examine the regulations concerning extenuating
circumstances and the submission of medical reports in the İstanbul Bilgi University
undergraduate and advanced vocational studies by-laws, which are published on the
University web site.
WITHDRAWAL FROM A PROGRAM
A student may withdraw from the program in which he/she is registered by filing a petition
with the Student Affairs Office. Once a student has withdrawn from a program, he/she loses
his/her student status and such status may not be reinstated later. However, a student who
has withdrawn from a program, and who has not registered with any other institution of
higher learning, may retract his/her petition for withdrawal within sixty days of the initial
application date. The University Executive Board decides whether or not to grant
reinstatement.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
If they provide documentation showing good cause, students are entitled to request a “leave
of absence” to suspend their registration for a total of four semesters during their entire
period of matriculation including the period spent in the English Preparatory Program.
Registration can be suspended for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of two
consecutive semesters at a time. The University Executive Board shall independently
determine extenuating circumstances periods due to serious and chronic illnesses.
Semesters that are suspended are not taken into consideration in calculating the maximum
period of matriculation and for the purposes of review of progression.
A student requesting the suspension of his/her registration must file a written petition
including documentation related to the extenuating circumstances with the Student Affairs
Office and pay the tuition fee for the subsequent semester in advance. The deadline for
application is the end of the 7th week of the semester for which the suspension application
is made.
INTERNAL TRANSFER
Students in undergraduate programs who wish to change their department or program must
file a request with the Student Affairs Office in accordance with the dates indicated in the
Academic Calendar in this Handbook. Applications are considered on the basis of the rules
concerning internal transfer set by the University for the year the application is made.
Acceptance also depends on the availability of places. For detailed information, students
should refer to the İstanbul Bilgi University undergraduate and advanced vocational studies
by-laws, which are published on the University web site, or get information from the Student
Affairs Office or the departments concerned.
TRANSFER
FROM
SCHOOL
OF
ADVANCED
VOCATIONAL
STUDIES
PROGRAMS
TO
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Graduates of the School of Advanced Vocational Studies programs who want to transfer to
undergraduate programs must take the DGS Central Placement Examination. Students who
are interested in continuing their studies should refer to the Student Affairs Office for
detailed information.
CREDIT TRANSFER
The abbreviation “T” is employed for courses which students who have transferred from
another institution of higher learning are transferring to an undergraduate program at
İstanbul Bilgi University or for courses taken by a BİLGİ student at another institution of
higher learning and which have been recognized by an authorized body at İstanbul Bilgi
University. These courses are included in the overall credit calculation but are not included in
the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
EXCHANGE
İstanbul Bilgi University supports two kinds of student exchange program: Erasmus and
bilateral. By far the most popular type of exchange takes place under the rubric of the EU
Erasmus system where students may spend a semester or full academic year at a European
partner university earning credits toward graduation at BİLGİ. Participation in such
exchanges is contingent upon application and acceptance by the university-wide Erasmus
Exchange Committee. Students selected for such exchanges receive a monthly stipend
toward their overseas living expenses during their period of study in Europe. They are
exempt from paying tuition to the partner university, but must pay tuition at BİLGİ if they are
not on scholarship. Bilateral exchanges take place with partner universities outside of the
Socrates-Erasmus system, such as those in North America. Students participating in such
exchanges do not pay tuition to the partner university but are fully responsible for all travel
and living expenses while abroad.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND DISCIPLINARY POLICIES
Students are expected to familiarize themselves and comply with the rules of conduct,
academic regulations, and established practices of the University. Infraction of the code of
conduct or academic integrity will result in disciplinary action against the student and may
lead to expulsion from the University.
CONDUCT IN THE CLASSROOM
Students should be in the classroom and ready for class before the instructor arrives. In the
case of a student's late arrival to class, misconduct during the lecture or departure from the
classroom prior to the conclusion of the lecture, the instructor reserves the right to take
disciplinary action. Repetition of such conduct and refusal to comply with the code may
result in suspension for one semester.
CONDUCT IN THE EXAMINATION ROOM
All students and invigilators must be present in the examination room at the scheduled time.
Students are not allowed to enter the examination rooms until the invigilators arrive and give
them permission to enter. Students enter the examination room by roll call and identification
check. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes late are not allowed to take the
examination. Students are not permitted to bring textbooks, dictionaries or notes into the
examination room unless instructed otherwise. All answers are to be written in examination
booklets distributed by the invigilators. At the end of the examination, invigilators shall
collect the booklets. Students are not allowed to take the booklets out of the examination
room.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
Cheating and plagiarism are acts that call for both failure in the relevant component of the
course and disciplinary action. Cheating, attempting to cheat, and plagiarism of any kind will
be officially recorded by the academic staff and reported to the Student Affairs Office which
will refer the case to the relevant Faculty for disciplinary action.