Incoming Students

Incoming Students - Erasmus Exchange Program

Welcome to Özyeğin University's exchange student web page. If you are interested in spending your exchange semester or year at OzU, you first need to contact your home institution’s International Exchange Programs Office or exchange coordinator to learn if there is an Erasmus bilateral exchange agreement between your institution and OzU. Exchange students from partner institutions pay their regular tuition fees at the home institution and do not pay tuition at OzU.

If there is no existing exchange agreement between your institution and OzU, you can still apply as a free mover under the visiting student status. Visiting students pay the regular semester-based tuition fee of OzU. You can view further information regarding "Visiting Student" by clicking here.

If you are a student with special needs, please visit this link to learn about the additional support provided.

You may click on the following headings to scroll down to the related section:

• Nomination & Application
• Visa
• Residence Permit
• Health Insurance
• Arrival & Orientation
• Housing
• Course Registration
• Grading System and ECTS Grade Conversion Table

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Nomination & Application

When applying within the framework of an exchange agreement from a partner institution, you must be nominated by your home institution. Nominations to OzU can be completed through the online system OzU uses. Once you are nominated, the online system automatically sends you an e-mail that includes all the necessary information to complete your online application. In order to access the application, you will need a username and password, which will also be sent through the online system.

As part of the online application, you will be asked to complete/upload the following items:

• Proof of English language proficiency*
• Passport photocopy (personal information page)
• Official ECTS transcript

*This is required for students who are not native English speakers. We expect a level of TOEFL 80 (IBT) or equivalent. A proficiency certificate signed by your home institution is also accepted. Students applying from partner institutions teaching fully in English do not need to submit proof of language proficiency.

The application deadline for Fall Semester is July 16th, and for Spring Semester is November 29th. Nominations should be sent approximately one month before the application deadline.

Visa

• You may or may not be required to obtain a Turkish “education/study” visa.
• If you are eligible for a touristic e-visa, you must enter Türkiye (TR) with an e-visa.
• If you are exempt from visas to TR, you can travel with only a valid passport.
• If none of the above applies to you, you must apply for a visa at a consulate.

You may also check the following link for visa information for foreigners: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

Regardless, you must contact the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate to learn if you need to apply for a study visa.

Residence Permit

A Residence Permit is an official document declaring registration at the Presidency of Migration Management (Immigration Office). All foreign nationals must register with the Immigration Office within one month of entering Türkiye in order to obtain a residence permit. The International Exchange Programs Office will actively assist you with the necessary procedures during the Orientation Week. You will be kindly required to submit your residence permit documents to the International Exchange Programs Office after you arrive in Türkiye so that we can make your official application.

Residence Permit Documents:

• Residence Permit Application Form
• Photocopy of passport
• Four (4) pcs biometric photos with white background
• Valid Health Insurance
• Address of residence in Türkiye / Proof of Address
• Receipt of Residence Permit Card Fee Payment

A residence permit card fee of 565 TRY (for 2024) is mandatory for all exchange students to pay.

There may be a "Single Entry Visa Fee" issued for those of you who enter Türkiye without applying for a student visa due to having a visa exemption or any other reason.

Health Insurance

All exchange students must have valid health insurance coverage for the duration of their academic stay. If you obtain health insurance that is different from the options below, you may use it for medical care when in Türkiye; however, it will not be valid for the residence permit application. The following are the only types of health insurance that are valid to be used for the residence permit application:

Option 1: Bilateral Social Security Agreements: E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document to be obtained from provincial social security units which states that the foreigner is benefiting from the health services in Türkiye within the scope of bilateral social security agreements. You will need to get signed approval from the Social Security Institution in Türkiye.

Option 2: E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed provision document received from the Social Security Institution in Türkiye after registration (Provision documents to be received from Social Security Institution must be in such a manner that they must be both supportive and cover family members in family residence permits).

Option 3: Private health insurance (The policy must have the expression of "This policy covers the minimum coverage stipulated in circular no 9, dated 06/06/2014, on private health insurance required to be taken out for residence permit applications." Please present a signed and stamped/sealed original of your insurance policy during application). Important Note: Private health insurance obtained abroad is valid only if the same is given out by the branches (agents) of those insurance companies within Türkiye. If your private health insurance company does not have a branch in Türkiye, you can obtain different private health insurance from Türkiye.

Arrival & Orientation

Once you finalize your arrival details, please fill out the arrival form, and send it to the International Exchange Programs Office by the deadline specified in the welcome e-mail you will receive before your arrival. Each semester, we arrange an airport pick-up service for students who arrive on the official arrival date. Please make sure that you arrange your itinerary accordingly. On a side note, there are two International Airports in Istanbul: Istanbul Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side. If you commute from the airport to our campus on your own, you can find directions using the arrival form, or you may visit this link.

At the beginning of each semester, the International Exchange Programs Office organizes an Orientation Program for incoming exchange students. We strongly recommend your participation, as it helps you to find your way around the university and Istanbul. As part of the orientation, the International Exchange Programs Office will also assist incoming exchange students in obtaining residence permits.

Housing

Özyeğin University residence halls offer a modern, comfortable living environment as well as facilities and services to ensure an efficient study atmosphere. International exchange students are given priority in housing assignments; however, students should not forget to submit their housing applications by the deadline. If you prefer to live on campus, then please fill out, sign, scan, and e-mail the housing form to the International Exchange Programs Office by the deadline specified in the welcome e-mail.

Course Registration

As a rule, exchange students do not register for the courses on their own to the OzU Student Information System. The International Exchange Programs Office will send you an informative e-mail regarding the course selections. According to your selections, we will complete your registration by communicating with Student Services on your behalf.

Course registration takes place at the start of each semester, and during the "Add/Drop period," students have the opportunity to modify their course schedules. By the end of the Add/Drop period, exchange students are required to finalize their schedules and update their learning agreements, which must be signed by both the home and host institution program coordinators.

Students accepted to Özyeğin University under the exchange agreements are considered Özyeğin students for the period of enrollment and have the same rights and privileges as Özyeğin students while also being subject to academic and administrative rules as applied to Özyeğin students.

At the end of your exchange period, OzU will send your academic transcript, which includes the courses you took during your stay at OzU, to your home institution.

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the International Exchange Programs Office by emailing us at international.relations@ozyegin.edu.tr. We look forward to welcoming you to Özyeğin University!

Grading System and ECTS Grade Conversion Table

Özyeğin University issues ECTS Transcripts automatically to all incoming Erasmus exchange students and their home institutions. We use the ECTS credit system, but our grading system is the standard American letter grade. Please review the table below:

Please click here to review the full transcript guide.