Information on the Institution | Kocaeli University

Recognition of the Prior Learning Information on the Institution

A. TURKISH STUDENTS

A1. Associate and Bachelor's Degree Programmes (Short and First Cycles)

The prior learning of incoming students is recognized on the basis of relevant regulations of Council of Higher Education and under the coordination of the Adaptation Committee.

Turkish and international students who want to make a lateral transfer to the University of Kocaeli are subject to "The Transfer Regulations for Associate and Undergraduate Degrees, Double Majors, Sub-specialties and Credit Transfer Regulations among Institutions"

The transfer among the degree programmes of different higher education institutions or within the same degree programmes of a higher education institution is only possible within the quota specified and the transfer conditions announced in advance. The criteria which will be used in the evaluation of applications of lateral transfer and necessary minimum conditions for lateral transfer are determined by the Senate of University of Kocaeli. The committees set by the related board of chairs pre-evaluate the applications in the framework of the principles determined by the senate. The applications are assessed by the criteria determined by the Kocaeli University Senate, taking the applicants GPA, the placement grade for transferring to the programmes in different fields and the success in the common subjects if there is any into consideation, and transfer is enabled within the quotas allocated. Transfer is not allowed in the first and last semesters of associate programmes; and in the first two and last two semesters of bachelor's programmes.

Lateral transfer is possible to equaling degree programmes either to different faculties, vocational schools and schools in the same university or, to the programmes in the same faculty, school and vocational school within the quota specified by the related committee.

Related commissions, taking the student's prior learning and the courses a student has taken into consideration, determine which semester or which class a student should be adopted referring to the regulations made by the Senate and specify the exemption of courses and an orientation programme with the additional courses to be taken if there are any. In the application process, it is obligatory to certify the language proficiency level with required scores from the exam held by the related higher education institution or; internationally or nationally recognized language proficiency examinations in order to transfer to higher education institutions where medium of instruction is partially or fully a foreign language.

A quota is allocated in the undergraduate programmes for vocational school graduates to enable them for vertical transfer to continue their education as a follow-up of the programmes they have graduated. The programmes to be admitted, the graduates of which departments of vocational schools can apply, what the quota for these bachelor's degree programmes are, and the score types to be used in the placement of graduates of vocational schools for the students who meet the requirements for application to the bachelor's degree programmes are determined and announced by the Council of Higher Education in accordance with the opinions and suggestions of the higher education institution that external transfer will be made to.

Every year, a guideline is prepared by the Student Selection and Placement Center (OSYM) specifying the possible bachelor's programmes for vertical transfer, the quota allocations and the requirements for these programmes for the graduates of associate programme, for the graduates of distance learning programmes (AÖ) and for the students in their last year of education who meet the requirements for graduation except for practice. Applicants are given a test of two parts as; verbal and science reasoning. For the placement, the exam scores and the cumulative GPAs are taken into consideration. The score of Vertical Transfer Exam is calculated by adding the GPA of the student by OSYM (Student Selection and Placement Center) and it is announced in the guideline of Vertical Transfer Exam. Students admitted to a bachelor's degree programme are offered a "Scientific Adaptation Programme" before they start their further studies.

A2. Master's Degree Programmes (Second Cycle)

1. A proficient student who completes at least one semester in another main science/art branches of the same institute at the same university; or a bachelor's degree programme in an equaling institute of another higher education institution can be accepted to master's programmes via lateral transfer. In order for a student's lateral transfer to be accepted, the following requirements must be met;
   1. A minimum GPA of 3.00 for masters and a minimum GPA of 3.50 for doctorate programmes in the date of application
   2. It's necessary that the programme the students enroll and the programme to be transferred hold the same name, have at least 70% equivalence in terms of course syllabus and objectives, and is available for admission.
   3. The applications for lateral transfer should be suggested by the committee of main science/ main art branches and should be approved by the board of directors of the institute.
2. The quota suggested by the academic committee of main science/art branches is announced after the approval of the directors’ board of the institute.
3. A student who wants to make a lateral transfer to a master's degree programme of a university applies to the institute directorship by submitting an application letter attaching a document/ transcript showing the academic standing in the courses s/he has enrolled and an introductory document about the programme s/he has enrolled
4. The suggestions and the opinions of committee of main science/art branches are analyzed by the board of directors of the institute and the acceptability of the lateral transfer request is confirmed before the educational period starts. According to the provisions of this bylaw, the name of the courses a student has to take for concordance to the programme are asked of the related committee of main science/ main art branches
5. The lateral transfer of students during the thesis writing process is not allowed
6. Transfer is not allowed in between master's programs with thesis and non-thesis

B. ERASMUS STUDENTS

Outgoing/Incoming Students

Depending on the Learning Agreement of a student leaving for his/her Erasmus study period at host institution we guarantee in advance that all credits gained and courses received at the host institution will be fully recognized and transferred into Kocaeli University system and upon his/her arrival, “Erasmus Credit Transfer and Grade Equivalency Table for Erasmus Students” is duly prepared and approved by the authorities and the student (Erasmus Departmental Coordinator, Head of the Recognition Commission, Head of the Department, Dean of the Faculty and Erasmus Institutional Coordinator) so as to transfer all ECTS credits gained abroad in the approved programme of study and the courses with their original titles and course codes (if available) as in the Transcript of Records issued by the host institution. If there is no course codes then the courses are indicated with ERSXXX [X refers to any number]. “Erasmus Credit Transfer and Grade Equivalency Table for Erasmus Students” is a document which ensures full academic recognition which means that the study period abroad (all of the courses achieved with their ECTS credits and ECTS grades and learning activities) replaces a comparable period of study at Kocaeli University (the courses and learning activities which the student is exempted from in exchange for the courses he/she received abroad). The failed courses are not indicated with their original titles, ECTS credits and ECTS grade but rather with their equivalents at Kocaeli University so that the student can compensate them in the next terms without having any gain or loss in terms of ECTS credits. While preparing the" Erasmus Credit Transfer and Grade Equivalency Table" the ECTS grades are transmitted to Kocaeli University grading system according to the list below. For Erasmus students Conditional Grades (DC, DD for Bachelor’s Degree, CB, CC for Master’s Degree and CB for Doctorate Degree) are automatically transferred into FX ECTS grade.

Incoming and outgoing students at Kocaeli University are provided with a "Transcript of Records" showing their ECTS credits and ECTS grades on completion of their study.

C.THE RECOGNITION FOR INFORMAL AND NONFORMAL LEARNING

Turkish higher education institutions are in the start-up phase in this issue. However, computer and foreign language skills that students improve on their own are evaluated through exemption examinations by the university. Students who prove to be proficient in these exams are exempted from related course(s).