ACADEMIC REGULATIONS This section of the Handbook gives a summary of the undergraduate academic regulations, which are published in full detail on the University web site. It is important to read the regulations fully and carefully and be aware of your rights and responsibilities. DEGREE PROGRAMMES All of the undergraduate programmes at Ýstanbul Bilgi University are semester-based, with the exception of the Honours programmes in which courses are given on a yearly basis. Undergraduate programmes 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 programme 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 enrol in the English Preparatory Programme before they begin their degree programmes. Students who are successful in the Bilgi Institutional Exemption Test (BIET) at the end of the fall semester may begin their degree programmes at the beginning of the spring semester as ‘irregular students’. MAXIMUM PERIOD OF MATRICULATION Undergraduate degree programmes are 4 years (8 semesters) and School of Advanced Vocational Studies programmes are 2 years (4 semesters) in duration. The maximum period of matriculation for students in undergraduate programmes is 7 years (or 14 semesters). For students in the programmes of the School of Advanced Vocational Studies this period is 4 years (or 8 semesters). The time spent at the English Preparatory Programme is not included in these periods. Students are required to complete the English Preparatory Programme 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 BÝLGÝ. COURSE CREDITS AND COURSE LOADS The minimum credit load for a student during one semester is 15 credits. When necessary, and with the decision of the Faculty Executive Board, the minimum credit load may be reduced to 11. However, the minimum credit rule is not applicable to students with a maximum of two semesters remaining to graduation. Extra credit load A student may take additional credits over a particular semester’s normal credit load as an ‘overload’. For students taking overload in a particular semester the total semester credit load may not exceed 27 credits. Only in the cases where the additional course load does not exceed 3 or the additional credit load does not exceed 9 the 27 credit limit may be exceeded. Students are obliged to take all courses given during the first two semesters of their programme the first time they are offered. Students may not withdraw from compulsory courses. 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. ATTENDANCE AND EXAMINATIONS At Ýstanbul 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 Letter Grade Numerical Value Definition 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: Letter Definition 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 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 allowed 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 any 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 compulsory courses or from the courses they are repeating because of an “F” grade. 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 programme at Ýstanbul Bilgi University or for courses taken by a BÝLGÝ student at another institution of higher learning and which have been recognised by an authorised body of Ýstanbul Bilgi University. These courses are included in the overall credit calculation but are not included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRADES The grades of midterm examinations, homework and other assignments together with the semester final examination grade are averaged 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. RESIT EXAMINATIONS By the decision of the Academic Board, for the year 2003-2004, students have the right to take a resit examination for the courses they failed at the end of the semester. The highest grade that can be attained at a resit examination is “C”. 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. If good cause is demonstrated and approved by the Faculty Executive Board, and after obtaining a favourable 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. 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. 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 a maximum of six courses with “D” or “D+” grades during his/her course of study and no more than one per semester. He/she may repeat “D” or “D+” grades within, at the latest, 3 semesters following the semester the course was first taken. Courses taken during the first two semesters may not be repeated after the fourth semester. 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 Numerical Value Credits NV x C (NV) (C) SOC 101 B 3.00 3 9.00 HTR 101 C- 1.70 2 3.40 TK 101 A 4.00 1 4.00 MAP 101 C 2.00 4 8.00 PSY 101 A- 3.70 3 11.10 FYE 101 F 0 2 0 MUS 190 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 = > GPA 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 the normal credit load for that semester. Such students 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 in that order. The minimum credit load rule as described under “Course Credits and Course Loads” does not apply to students of this status. Students who succeed 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 programme a student must attain a minimum GPA of 2.00 within the maximum period of matriculation. Of those who are unable to fulfil 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 be granted the right by their Faculty Executive Board to 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 has to be repeated. b) Students unable to graduate solely because of a GPA below 2.00 are entitled to increase their GPA by retaking as many courses as necessary from the last four semesters within the maximum period of matriculation. At the end of the seventh semester, students who have completed their total credit load with a GPA of 3.50 or higher acquire the right to graduate. Students who have completed their education in a maximum period of no more than 8 semesters without having received an “F” grade and with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are placed on the High Honours list, and with a GPA between 3.00 and 3.49 on the Honours list. This status is indicated on a special certificate given along with their diploma. Students who have been subject to disciplinary action lose their rights to any honours. All credit-based and grade-based courses are included in the calculation of the graduation average. DOUBLE MAJORS Double majors are subject to the Ýstanbul Bilgi University by-laws regarding double majors, minors and honours programmes which are published in detail on the University web site. Conditions for Application and Acceptance to a Double Major Students may matriculate in two degree programmes simultaneously. Such double majors are not allowed between programmes 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 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. Credit Load Students carrying a double major take all compulsory courses (core courses and departmental electives) of both programmes. 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 programmes combined is more than 27. Double majors, on condition of having completed all compulsory courses in both programmes, may take free electives up to the 27 credit limit. If the total credits of the compulsory courses of both programmes 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 programmes may not conflict unless this has been approved by the adviser. A student in his/her final year may register in the compulsory senior project courses of both majors. A final year student in both majors may either undertake two senior projects or, in addition to the senior project for the first major, enrol in two final year elective courses from the second major on the condition that such courses are taken in two separate semesters. Such a student may also, with the approval of the head of department of the first major, enrol in the senior project for the second major and take two final year elective courses from the first major on the condition that such courses are taken in two separate semesters. Progression Rules 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. Such a student continues to matriculate in the principal programme of study. Graduation Upon the successful completion of all requirements for the double major, a student acquires the right to receive a diploma for both majors. 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.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 Minors are subject to the Ýstanbul Bilgi University by-laws regarding double majors, minors and honours programmes, which are published in detail on the University web site. A “minor” entails a student’s taking at least 12 of his/her electives from among the courses of an undergraduate programme other than his/her major programme. Conditions for Application and Acceptance in Minor Students who have completed the first two semesters of their programme of study may apply for a minor as early as the beginning of the 3rd semester. Such applications must be made by the beginning date of the Add/Drop period for each semester. In order to commence a minor, a student’s GPA at the time of application must be at least 2.60. However, students who for whatever reason lose their right to a minor, are not allowed to apply for a minor again. Progression Rules If at the end of any semester the overall GPA or the GPA of the principle major or minor courses of a student undertaking a minor falls below 2.00, he/she loses his/her minor status. For students who initiated their minor prior to the spring semester of 2002-2003, a minimum GPA of 1.85 will be applicable until the end of the 2004-2005 academic year. 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 programme; ? he/she must have successfully completed at least 12 courses with a minimum total of 36 credits from the minor field of study and which are not compulsory courses for the major; ? his/her overall GPA and the GPA of the minor courses must be at least 2.00. Students who have not applied for a minor but who have already successfully met all requirements for one and who have an overall graduation GPA of 2.60 may apply to be considered as having completed such a minor. Minor programmes are indicated on the student’s transcript of studies. INTERNATIONAL DEGREES London School of Economics and Political Science – BÝLGÝ Honours Programme The Department of Economics offers two programmes that are designed to run parallel with the London School of Economics and Political Science BSc in Economics and Management and BSc in Economics external degrees. Students who wish to transfer to the Honours Programme and who satisfy the entrance requirements should apply after the second semester of their studies. The duration of the Honours Programme is three years and the structure and content are different from those of other programmes. As students work towards their BÝLGÝ Honours degree they also prepare for the examinations of the London School of Economics and Political Science BSc in Economics and Management or BSc in Economics external degrees which are held at the British Council in Ýstanbul at the end of each academic year. Thus, apart from a BÝLGÝ degree, Honours Programme 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 Honours Programme. 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. Honours Programme 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 Honours Programmes have the right to return to the programmes from which they transferred. Students planning to apply for the Honours Programme must have successfully completed the following courses: EC 101, EC 102 and MATH 101, MATH 102 (or MATH 161, MATH 162) University of Portsmouth Programmes Students of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and the School of Advanced Vocational Studies who are already enrolled in University of Portsmouth programmes have the opportunity to earn a degree from the University of Portsmouth as they work towards their BÝLGÝ degree. Beginning with the 2001-2002 academic year no new enrolments have been accepted for UP programmes, but students who are already registered in a UP programme may continue their studies towards the dual degree. Students registered in a UP programme are subject to the previous regulations, which are published on the University web site and summarised in the 2001-2002 Undergraduate Handbook. A student who is registered in a University of Portsmouth programme may withdraw from the UP programme by filing a petition with the Student Affairs Office. Once a student has withdrawn from the UP programme he/she automatically becomes subject to the new regulations. COURSE REGISTRATION Before the start of each semester, students in all undergraduate programmes must register for their courses. Short course descriptions for all courses can be found in this Handbook. 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. Students may withdraw from a course within the time period specified in the Academic Calendar. Students are not permitted to withdraw from compulsory courses or courses in which they have received a grade of “F”. 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. 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 personal 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 programme of study or in any assessment. 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 from the end of the medical report. Students are strongly advised to carefully examine the regulations concerning extenuating circumstances and the submission of medical reports in the Ýstanbul Bilgi University undergraduate and advanced vocational studies by-laws, which are published on the University web site. WITHDRAWAL FROM A PROGRAMME A student may withdraw from the programme in which he/she is registered by filing a petition with the Student Affairs Office. Once a student has withdrawn from a programme, he/she loses his/her student status and such status may not be reinstated later. However, a student who has withdrawn from a programme, 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. OFFICIAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE If they provide documentation showing good cause, students are entitled to suspend their registration for a total of four semesters during their entire period of matriculation including the period spent in the English Preparatory Programme. 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. INTERNAL TRANSFER Students in undergraduate programmes who wish to change their department or programme 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 Ýstanbul 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 Programmes to Undergraduate Programmes Graduates of the School of Advanced Vocational Studies programmes who want to transfer to undergraduate programmes must take the DGS Central Placement Exam. Students who are interested in continuing their studies should refer to the Student Affairs Office for detailed information. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND DISCIPLINARY POLICIES Students are expected to familiarise 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 present in an examination and reported to the Student Affairs Office. The following penalties may be imposed: Failure: The student receives a failing grade for the examination or assignment in which he/she has cheated, attempted to cheat, or plagiarised. Disciplinary Action: The student is referred to the Disciplinary Committee, which operates under University disciplinary policies. The penalty decided upon by the Committee may lead to the dismissal of the student from the University.