Horizontal Transfer

On this page, you can find comprehensive information about horizontal transfer processes for students of the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (BŞEÜ) Department of Economics and those who wish to transfer to the Economics department from other universities. This guide, prepared based on the 2024 horizontal transfer announcements, details the intra-institutional transfer, inter-institutional transfer (based on Cumulative Grade Point Average), and transfer by central placement score (Additional Article 1) processes under separate headings. Important topics such as application dates, evaluation criteria, Economics department quotas, required documents, application steps via the Student Information System (SIS/OBS), frequently asked questions, and example scenarios are also covered.

Types and Processes of Horizontal Transfer

Horizontal transfer is a process that allows a student to continue their education in another program at the same academic level. Opportunities for transfer at the undergraduate (4-year) and associate (2-year) levels are governed by regulations. The BŞEÜ Department of Economics offers three different horizontal transfer methods:

Intra-Institutional Horizontal Transfer

Intra-institutional horizontal transfer is the process where BŞEÜ students change departments/programs within their own university. A student wishing to transfer to the Economics department within BŞEÜ must currently be registered at BŞEÜ and studying in a program with the same name or equivalent content as the target department. The GPA requirement for intra-institutional transfers is generally more flexible than for other methods: BŞEÜ requires applicants for intra-institutional transfer to have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.00/4.00. Furthermore, transfer can only be made during specific periods of study:

• Time Constraints: In undergraduate programs, transfer is generally possible at the end of the first year (after the 2nd semester) or the end of the second year (after the 4th semester). Intra-institutional transfer is not permitted at the end of the first semester or in the final year (4th year in the Economics program). For associate degree programs, transfer is not permitted in the first or last semester. These restrictions require the student to have completed at least one semester and not yet started their final semester.

• Course Status: A student applying for intra-institutional transfer must have successfully taken and passed all courses up to the semester they wish to transfer into in their current program. In other words, they must have no failed courses up to the semester of application. Having deferred registration (taking a break from education) does not prevent the right to transfer.

• Transfer from Evening Education (Second Education): A student studying in the Evening Education program at BŞEÜ can transfer to the Day Education (First Education) Economics department in the same university only if they meet a specific condition: they must be ranked in the top 10% of their class in their current program. Evening Education students who meet this condition can transfer to Day Education within the quota. (Otherwise, Evening Education students can only transfer to other Evening Education programs).

• Application and Evaluation: Intra-institutional transfer applications are submitted according to the same calendar as other horizontal transfer types (details are provided in the "Application Calendar" section below). The student's central placement score (ÖSYM score) and current GPA are evaluated together (see "Evaluation Criteria" section). A special quota is allocated for intra-institutional transfer (1 student quota at each class level for the Economics department – details are provided in the quota table).

Inter-Institutional Horizontal Transfer (Based on Cumulative Grade Point Average - CGPA)

Inter-institutional horizontal transfer is the process where students studying at another university (or BŞEÜ students wishing to transfer to another university) leave their current program and transfer to a diploma program of an equivalent level and name. Students wishing to transfer to the Economics department from other universities should note the following:

• Success Requirement (CGPA): Generally, the applicant's cumulative grade point average (CGPA) must be above a certain level for inter-institutional transfer. For BŞEÜ Economics, the student must have a CGPA of at least 60/100 or 2.29/4.00 for the semesters completed in their registered program. For candidates who fail to meet this success requirement, the alternative is the central score condition (explained below).

• WARNING: The student's current program and the Economics program must have the same name or at least 80% equivalent content. Direct transfer from a program with a different name or significantly different curriculum may not be possible; the relevant administrative board will evaluate the equivalence.

• Class/Year Restrictions: Undergraduate students coming from other universities can generally transfer to the 2nd or 3rd year. For BŞEÜ Economics, transfer applications are not accepted before the first semester of the 1st year is completed or after the 4th year has started (i.e., the student can apply at the earliest at the end of the 1st year and at the latest at the end of the 3rd year). The restriction regarding the first and last semester for associate degree students applies strictly.

• Transfer from Abroad: It is also possible to transfer to BŞEÜ Economics from a foreign higher education institution. This requires the applicant's home institution to be recognized by YÖK (Council of Higher Education) (Equivalency Certificate) and the program's equivalence to be accepted by BŞEÜ. Applicants from abroad must meet the same success requirements (CGPA or central score) as domestic applicants. Additionally, the original transcript must be submitted in a sealed envelope, and course contents must be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator. Note that there is a separate quota for international applications (it is usually very limited).

• Central Score Alternative: A student whose CGPA is below 2.29 can still apply for horizontal transfer if their central placement score (ÖSYM score) from the year they enrolled is equal to or higher than the base score of the BŞEÜ Economics department for that same year. Thus, those who do not meet the academic success requirement can still be considered for inter-institutional transfer if their placement score is sufficient. In this case, the application falls under the central score transfer category (under Additional Article 1) – this method is explained separately below.

• Evaluation and Quota: For inter-institutional transfers, applications are ranked within the quotas based on a weighted score: 80% ÖSYM score and 20% CGPA. In this calculation, 80% of the student's central exam score from the year they entered university and 20% of their current CGPA (converted to the 100-point system) are summed. All applicants are ranked from highest to lowest according to this score, and the number corresponding to the quota is determined as principal candidates; the rest are wait-listed. Inter-institutional quotas for the Economics department are usually limited to a few students at each class level (as indicated in the table below).

Horizontal Transfer by Central Placement Score (Additional Article 1)

Horizontal transfer by central placement score is a special type of horizontal transfer made using the student's central placement score (ÖSYM score) from the year they enrolled in their current program. In this method, the academic GPA requirement is not sought; the application condition is that the student's YKS (or relevant central exam) score must be equal to or higher than the base score of the target program for that year. Students considering applying to the BŞEÜ Economics department under Additional Article 1 should consider the following points:

• Who can apply? Anyone currently registered in a higher education program who wishes to transfer to the Economics department using their previous central placement score can apply. This is often an opportunity for students whose CGPA is low and who cannot meet the normal transfer condition. However, those with a high CGPA can also use their score to benefit from this quota. For example, a student studying Economics at a different university or studying in another department who wants to switch to Economics can apply under Additional Article 1 if their score is sufficient.

• Timing: Applications for central score horizontal transfer are usually accepted twice a year, before the Fall and Spring semesters. Fall semester Additional Article 1 applications are mostly accepted at the beginning of August, and Spring semester applications are typically in January. (Indeed, applications for the 2024-2025 Spring semester central horizontal transfer were accepted between January 27-31, 2025.) These dates may be parallel to or separate from the normal horizontal transfer application periods; it is important to follow current announcements.

• Quotas: The university sets a separate quota for Additional Article 1 transfers. The central score quota for the Economics department is 30% of the relevant year's student quota. For instance, the central score quota for the Economics undergraduate program for 2024-2025 was announced as 12 students. This is generally noted for being a higher number than the normal horizontal transfer quotas. (The central score quota is indicated separately in the table below.)

• Evaluation: The ÖSYM scores of the applicants are checked against the base score of the target program. Students are admitted up to the quota limit from among all candidates who meet the base score requirement. BŞEÜ usually ranks these candidates according to score superiority. For example, if 12 people are to be admitted to the Economics department by central score, the top 12 candidates with the highest scores in the application pool are placed on the principal list. (CGPA is not involved in this process, but your GPA may still be requested during the application; it is important to enter the information correctly.)

• Note: Students who transfer by central placement score are considered to have used their special right under Additional Article 1 and are not considered to have also benefited from their normal horizontal transfer rights. This special right is interpreted as being usable only once per program and student. Furthermore, in central score transfer, the student is also expected to have passed all the courses they took; as failed courses may cause articulation problems later.

Application Calendar and Dates

Horizontal transfer applications are accepted separately for the Fall and Spring semesters of each academic year. Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University announces the application and evaluation calendar through official announcements. The horizontal transfer calendar for the Economics department for the year 2024 (2024-2025 academic year) was as follows:

• Fall Semester 2024-2025: Applications were accepted in July 2024. Inter-institutional (with CGPA) transfer applications were announced on July 08, 2024, and application processes were completed by mid-July. Central score transfer applications, in line with the YÖK calendar, were held between August 1 – 15, 2024. Following evaluations, the Fall semester horizontal transfer results were announced before September, and registrations were completed before the start of classes.

• Spring Semester 2024-2025: Applications were accepted at the end of January 2025. The online application system for both intra/inter-institutional horizontal transfer and central score horizontal transfer was open between January 27-31, 2025. Results were announced in the second week of February after the application deadline. According to the official announcement, the principal and alternate candidate lists for horizontal transfer were published on the university's website on February 12, 2025. Following this, the registrations of the candidates on the principal list were completed between February 13-14, 2025; registrations from the alternate list for vacant quotas were taken between February 17-18, 2025.

The dates above may change each year according to the academic calendar. Before applying, you must check the current announcements for the relevant year. Applications are generally collected in July/August for the Fall and January for the Spring, and results are announced before the semester begins. Results are published on the Announcements section of the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University main website and the Student Affairs page.

• Final Registration: Students who gain the right to horizontal transfer must complete their registration at the accepted unit (e.g., the Faculty Student Affairs Office where the Economics Department is affiliated) on the specified dates. If the candidates on the principal list do not register within the deadline, they are deemed to have waived their rights, and those on the alternate list are called in order. The necessary documents and procedures for registration are explained separately in the "Final Registration and Articulation" section below.

Evaluation Criteria and Placement

When evaluating horizontal transfer applications to the BŞEÜ Economics department, both the student's academic success and their exam score are taken into account (this is based on the relevant regulation provisions of YÖK). The evaluation criteria applied to intra-institutional and inter-institutional horizontal transfer applications are as follows:

• Success Score Calculation: A "determination score" is calculated for each candidate in intra/inter-institutional horizontal transfer applications. This score is the total of 80% of the candidate's ÖSYM central placement score and 20% of their cumulative grade point average. For example, if the candidate's YKS placement score is 400, 80% of this is 320 points; if the CGPA in the 100-point system is 80, 20% of this is 16 points; the total determination score is 336. The scores calculated similarly for all candidates are ranked from highest to lowest.

• Principal and Alternate Lists: The candidates with the highest scores, up to the quota number, are designated as "principal," and the others are listed as "alternate" in order. This ranking is critical when the number of applications exceeds the quota; otherwise (if the number of applications does not exceed the quota), everyone who meets the conditions is accepted. BŞEÜ clearly states that in cases where the application conditions are met and the quota is exceeded, ranking will be done according to the determination score.

• Intra-Institutional Priority: BŞEÜ evaluates and ranks intra-institutional and inter-institutional applications in the same pool for horizontal transfer. However, quotas are generally kept separate. For example, if the quota reserved for intra-institutional transfer in the Economics department is 1 person, the intra-institutional applications are scored internally, and the one with the highest score is the principal candidate. If the quota reserved for inter-institutional (domestic and international) is 2 people, the 2 with the highest scores are selected internally. In summary: Even if applications are received on a common platform, the university usually determines the principal candidates in accordance with the announced quota distribution.

• Threshold Conditions: To be eligible for evaluation, the candidate must meet certain threshold conditions. The most important thresholds are: a) GPA threshold – (for domestic external applications) CGPA must be at least 2.29/4 or 60/100; (for intra-institutional applications) at least 2.00/4. b) Base Score threshold – For those who do not meet the CGPA requirement, the ÖSYM score must meet the base score of the target department. c) Disciplinary Status – The student must not have received any disciplinary punishment and must document this. Applications that do not meet these thresholds will not be accepted or evaluated (they will be eliminated even if they apply through the system).

• Transfer from Evening to Day Education: A special check is performed for students transferring from Evening to Day Education (those applying by entering the top 10% success bracket in their own department) in the evaluation. The relevant student must submit the top 10% document. Those who meet this condition can transfer to Day Education within the quota, as per the legislation.

• International Applications: Candidates from abroad are also included in the scoring system. The ÖSYM score and CGPA (or their equivalence) are calculated in the same way for them. However, if the foreign university grading system is different, YÖK's conversion tables are used to convert it to the 4-point or 100-point system. Since the number of international candidates is low, the quotas are also limited (usually between 0-1). BŞEÜ evaluates these candidates within the quotas announced by YÖK.

• Evaluation in Central Score Transfers: CGPA is not taken into account in applications under Additional Article 1. In these applications, it is first checked whether the candidate's score meets the program's base score. If there are more applicants than the quota among those whose score is sufficient, the university ranks them by score and admits students up to the quota number. For example, if 20 people apply for the 12-person central quota for Economics, the 12 people with the highest scores are admitted. If the scores are equal, the CGPA or other criteria may be considered secondarily (the university's method in this situation may be specified in the announcements; the general tendency is to look at the CGPA in case of equality).

• Announcement of Results and Appeal: When the evaluation results are announced, the principal and alternate lists are published. Students can also follow the status of their applications through the SIS/OBS system. Accepted students must register within the specified period. A separate appeal process is generally not provided for students who are not accepted, but those who believe there is a material error in the results can immediately apply to the Student Affairs Office. If preferences are involved in horizontal transfer applications (if you applied for more than one program), registering for one program may invalidate your right to admission to others – so a final decision must be made to register for a single program.

Vertical Transfer

The Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) is a national examination that provides students who have successfully completed (or are in their final year of) associate degree (two-year) programs with the opportunity to continue their education in related four-year undergraduate programs starting from the third year. This examination is administered annually by the Measurement, Selection, and Placement Center (ÖSYM). Candidates who succeed in the DGS after graduating with an associate degree can be placed in undergraduate programs at state or foundation universities. Examples of associate degree fields that can transfer to the Economics undergraduate program via DGS include Banking and Insurance, Accounting and Tax Applications, Foreign Trade, Public Finance, Securities and Capital Markets, Social Security, and International Trade, which are related to economics and administrative sciences. To be eligible to apply for the DGS, candidates must have an associate degree diploma (or be in their final semester and be in a position to graduate by the time of the exam).

The DGS is usually administered during the summer. Candidates are placed in their preferred undergraduate programs based on their DGS scores. The processes and information that students placed in the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (BŞEÜ) Department of Economics via DGS should be aware of are explained below.

Application Conditions, Registration Process, and Quotas

• Application Conditions: To be placed in the BŞEÜ Economics Department via DGS, you must have been placed in the program as a result of the DGS preference and placement procedures for the relevant year. As stated above, you must be an associate degree graduate to take the DGS. Since you must submit your graduation certificate during registration, you must be a graduate in the year you apply. DGS quotas for the Economics Department are determined annually by YÖK and announced in the ÖSYM preference guide. For 2024, the DGS quota for the BŞEÜ Economics Department was set at 4 students and was completely filled. The quota is expected to be at similar levels (usually between 3-5) in the coming years. Candidates who gain the right to enroll in the program based on the DGS placement results start their studies from the third or fourth year after completing the registration process detailed below.

• Registration Process and Dates: Students placed via DGS must complete their registration at the university on the specified dates following the announcement of the ÖSYM results. Registration can be carried out in two ways:

  • Electronic Registration (via e-Government): Candidates placed in a program by ÖSYM can register electronically via the e-Government system on the specified dates. You must log in to e-Government with your Turkish ID number and e-Government password and use the University E-Registration service under the "Council of Higher Education Presidency" section. When you complete the necessary steps in the system and approve, you will see the message "Your registration has been successfully completed." Candidates who do not complete this process within the specified period lose their right to electronic registration. Students who successfully complete their electronic registration can obtain a barcoded printout called the "University Registration Document." This barcoded e-registration document must be printed and submitted to the faculty student affairs unit by the specified date. This document is the official record that the student has completed their registration electronically.

  • In-Person (Face-to-Face) Registration: In-person registration is provided at the university for candidates who cannot or choose not to register via e-Government. Students registering in person must apply to the student affairs unit of the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Candidates who do not complete the registration process by the end of the specified date lose their right to register. Candidates who cannot come in person due to an excuse can register through a person they have authorized with a notary power of attorney during the same dates. Registration Location: Registrations for the Economics department are conducted at the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences building (Address: Gülümbe Campus, Pelitözü Mah. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bulvarı No:27, Merkez/BİLECİK).

  • Supplementary Placement Registrations: If there are vacant quotas after the initial DGS placements, ÖSYM conducts Supplementary Placement. The registration procedures for candidates placed via supplementary placement are also completed within a short period in a similar manner.

  • Note: The periods specified for both electronic and in-person registration are strict and will not be extended. Therefore, a student placed in a program via DGS must carefully follow the announced registration calendar and complete their procedures on time.

Articulation and Course Exemption Process

• Articulation (Course Credit Transfer): Students who register for the Economics department via DGS may be exempted from some courses in the undergraduate program, depending on the suitability of the courses they took in their previous associate degree programs. After registering at our university, students must submit their associate degree transcripts and course contents as certified documents to the faculty within 15 business days. These documents show which courses you took at your previous school and the curriculum content. Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, through the relevant department's articulation committee, examines these documents to determine which courses taken during your associate degree education can be considered equivalent to the courses in the first two years of the Economics undergraduate program. Thus, you can receive course exemption for subjects you have already learned in the curriculum.

• Course Contents and Petition: Students who do not wish to physically submit course contents for articulation procedures can provide a petition stating that the course contents on their previous university's official website information package/course catalog are current and accessible. If the student commits in writing in this petition that the course contents at their former school are current, a printed course content document may not be required additionally. This is a step that facilitates the process; however, the submission of the transcript document is still mandatory.

• Tracking Articulation Results: Students should follow the results of their articulation procedures through the faculty student affairs or department secretariat after submitting the documents. The articulation (exemption) decision is finalized with the approval of the faculty administrative board, and you are officially informed of the courses you are exempted from. Once this process is complete, it becomes clear which courses you are responsible for in the undergraduate program and which you are exempted from. For example, if you took "General Accounting" in your associate degree program and its content is deemed equivalent to the "Accounting I" course in the BŞEÜ Economics department, you will be exempted from this course, and the corresponding letter grade from your transcript will be transferred and recorded. Students placed at our university via DGS generally continue their studies from the third year. However, if the ECTS equivalent of the articulated courses is 108 ECTS or more, the students' articulation is made to the fourth year.

• Course Selection and Continuation: After the articulation procedures are completed, the student meets with their academic advisor to plan the courses they must take in that semester. At Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, course registrations are made through the Course Selection System. For DGS students, course selection procedures in the first semester of registration are carried out with advisor approval. Based on the articulation results, students determine the courses they must take in the third-year Fall semester (and any courses they must take from lower classes) with their advisors. Then, course registrations are completed through the Course Selection screen at derssecme.bilecik.edu.tr. Course registrations must be made within the periods specified in the academic calendar. DGS students earn the right to graduate after successfully completing all courses they were not exempted from (usually 3rd and 4th-year courses + lower-class courses they were not exempted from).

Required Documents for Application and Registration

The following documents are required for registration for the Economics department via DGS and subsequently for articulation:

a) Associate Degree Diploma or recent Graduation Certificate – Original and photocopy. (After an "original copy" notation is made on the photocopy, the original diploma is returned to the student). A provisional graduation certificate from the graduating university is accepted for those whose diploma is not yet ready. b) DGS Result Document – An internet printout of the result document obtained from the ÖSYM website. (The placement result document can also be obtained with a barcode from e-Government.) c) Identity Card or T.R. Identity Card – Original and photocopy. (Notarization is not required for the photocopy; the original is viewed and returned). ç) Tuition Fee (Contribution Share) Receipt – Bank receipt or document proving that the tuition fee/contribution share has been paid. (Fee amounts and payment methods are specified in the university's announcements each year; check the tuition announcements on the university's website before registration). d) Photograph – 1 passport-sized photo taken within the last 6 months (4.5 × 6 cm in size, current, and easily recognizable).

The above documents are required for final registration. Prepare the originals and photocopies of the documents. Students with missing documents cannot be registered. Especially if your diploma is not yet ready, do not forget to obtain a graduation certificate and your transcript from your graduating school.

• Special Cases: Spouses and children of martyrs, and veterans and their relatives, are exempt from paying the tuition fee throughout their study period if they apply to the university during registration with a "Certificate of Entitlement" from the Social Security Institution. Additionally, disabled students (those who document at least 40% disability with a Health Board report) can receive a reduction in the tuition fee/contribution share equal to their disability percentage by submitting this report to the university after registration (including Day Education students; contribution share is not taken up to the disability percentage). Students who will benefit from these exemptions or reductions must submit the relevant documents to the Student Affairs Office during registration.

• Transcript and Course Contents: After final registration, also prepare your transcript and course contents documents for articulation. The transcript is the document showing the grades of the courses you took during your associate degree education; it can be obtained from your university's Student Affairs Office or with a barcode from e-Government. Course contents are usually printed from the Information Package/Course Catalog section of your previous school's website and certified. These documents must be submitted to the faculty within 15 business days.

Application and Course Registration Steps via SIS/OBS

The Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Student Information System (SIS/OBS) is the portal where registered students can perform their academic transactions online. Newly registered DGS students must log in to the SIS/OBS to verify their information and follow the course registration process.

• Student Number and Password: After completing your university registration, a unique student number is assigned to you. At BŞEÜ, the SIS/OBS login password is automatically sent to the mobile phone number and email address declared by newly admitted students during registration. Therefore, it is important that the contact information you provide during registration is correct and up-to-date. Your password is usually randomly generated initially and sent to you via SMS/email. You can log in to the SIS/OBS using your student number and this password. (If you have not received your password or have forgotten it, you can use the "Forgot/Update Password" link on the SIS/OBS login screen to receive a verification code on your registered mobile phone and create a new password.)

• Logging in to SIS/OBS: Access the Student Information System from the university's main page or directly at obs.bilecik.edu.tr. On the login screen, enter your student number as the username and the password sent to you in the password field to log in to the system. First-time users may sometimes be asked to change their password; choose and confirm a secure password. When you successfully log in to the SIS/OBS, you will see the main page panel with your name and student number.

• Profile and Contact Information: Check your profile information on your first login. Your name, Turkish ID number, and program/department should appear correctly. It is also recommended that you keep your contact information (phone, address) up-to-date on the SIS/OBS. If there is incorrect or missing information, contact the faculty student affairs office.

• Course Registration (Course Selection): DGS students complete their course registration procedures in the first semester they register with the help of their advisors. If you are a new DGS student joining the Economics Department, you should first wait until your articulation process is complete. Once your articulation results are known, the academic advisor will guide you on the courses you need to take. Then, the course registration process begins through the SIS/OBS. At BŞEÜ, course selection for associate/undergraduate students is done on the Course Selection screen (the SIS/OBS system directs you to the relevant page at derssecme.bilecik.edu.tr).

• Adding Courses: On the course selection screen, you will see a list of the courses you need to take in that semester. Since you are starting the third year via DGS, you would normally select the 3rd-year Fall semester courses. However, you may also have courses you need to take from lower classes, depending on your articulation decision. With your advisor's guidance, select all the courses you are obligated to take. After completing the course addition process, you need to save and confirm.

• Advisor Approval: After you select and save your courses, the academic advisor will check your registrations and approve them. Your course registration is finalized when approved by the advisor. You can follow the approval process on the SIS/OBS or contact your advisor. Important: If your course registration is not approved by the advisor, your registration remains incomplete; therefore, make sure your advisor gives approval during the registration period.

• Using the SIS/OBS: In addition to course registration, you can view your grades, generate a transcript, check the academic calendar, and make various applications through the SIS/OBS. Check the system regularly to stay informed about grade entries, exam dates, and university announcements. Also, keep your SIS/OBS password secure and do not share it with others throughout your studies.

By following these steps, you will have completed your registration and course selection processes using the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University SIS/OBS system. If you encounter any problems, you can contact the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) Student Affairs Office for support.