H.U. SAO

ARTICLE 1 – (1) The aim of the Regulation hereby is to regulate the procedures and principles governing the associate and undergraduate education and examinations offered in the faculties and schools at Hacettepe University, except for Medicine and Dentistry Faculties and the Ankara State Conservatory departments which deliver year-based education.

Scope

ARTICLE 2 – (1) The regulation hereby covers the procedures for student registration, education, examinations, graduation, diploma, and withdrawal in all the units of Hacettepe University, except for Medicine and Dentistry Faculties and the Ankara State Conservatory departments which deliver credit-based education.

Basis

ARTICLE 3 – (1) The Regulation hereby is based on Articles 14 and 44 of the Higher Education Act No. 2547 dated November 4, 1981.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4 – (1) The terms and abbreviations in the Regulation hereby shall be defined as follows:

a) ECTS: European Credit Transfer System which enables transferring course credits and grades of the courses which students have taken and passed in and outside the country from one higher education institution to another,
b) Advisor: Academic instructor assigned to guide the student during education, course registrations, graduation, and in similar issues,
c) Faculty: Faculties of Hacettepe University,
d) Progression rule: The requirement for students to prioritize taking required courses they have previously failed or not yet attempted in previous semesters before enrolling in the required and elective courses offered in the current semester.
e) Respective unit: The student’s department, division or program,
f) Respective board: Faculty boards in faculties, school boards in schools and vocational schools, and Conservatory Board in State Conservatory of Hacettepe University,
g) Respective administrative board: Administrative boards of faculties, schools, vocational schools, and State Conservatory of Hacettepe University,
h) Conservatory: Ankara State Conservatory of Hacettepe University
i) The SAO: The Student Affairs Office of Hacettepe University,
j) ÖSYM: The Assessment, Selection, and Placement Center
k) The Rector: The Rector of Hacettepe University,
l) The Rector’s Office: The Rector’s Office of Hacettepe University,
m) The Senate: The Senate of Hacettepe University,
n) The University: Hacettepe University,
o) The University Administrative Board: Hacettepe University Administrative Board,
p) YÖK: The Higher Education Council
q) School: Schools and vocational schools of Hacettepe University.

CHAPTER II

Registration Procedures, Transfers, and Course Exemptions

Initial Enrollment

ARTICLE 5 – Upon admission to Hacettepe University, students shall enroll according to the guidelines established by ÖSYM and YÖK, within the timeframe specified by ÖSYM and the Rector’s Office. Failure to enroll within the designated period shall result in forfeiture of enrollment rights.

Tuition Fees

ARTICLE 6 – (1) Students shall settle the tuition fee, as stipulated by Article 46 of Act 2547 and other relevant legislative mandates, within the timeframe specified in the annual academic calendar. Failure to do so shall result in the inability to renew registration and the loss of student privileges for the respective semester. The unpaid semester/year resulting from outstanding tuition fees shall be counted towards the overall study duration.
(2) Students shall not be dismissed from the University if they fail to pay the tuition fees and renew their registrations in due time. However, upon the proposal from the respective administrative boards, the decision of the University Administrative Board, and the approval of the Higher Education Council, students may be dismissed from the University if they fail to pay the tuition fee and renew their registrations for four consecutive years.

Semester registration and course registrations

ARTICLE 7 – (1) At the beginning of each semester, students shall complete online course registration via the Student Affairs Office webpage, after tuition fee payment within the timeframe indicated in the academic calendar. Registration is considered complete upon approval by the student's advisor.
(2) During the add-drop week, students shall be allowed to adjust their course schedule. Any changes made to course registration during this period shall be considered final upon approval from the student's advisor.
(3) Students who do not renew their semester registrations within the given deadline (during the course registration period and add/drop weeks) shall not be allowed to attend courses or take examinations. They shall also lose student privileges for the respective semester. The unregistered semester/year shall be counted towards the overall study duration.
(4) Following the official add-drop week, students who have already registered for courses may still request course registration or withdrawal within seven days, upon approval by the respective administrative board if valid excuses are presented. No further changes to course registration shall be permitted beyond this designated period.
(5) Students in associate programs may register for a maximum of 30 ECTS credits in both the first and second semesters. For four- and five-year programs, the limit shall be set at 30 ECTS credits for each of the first four semesters. However, starting from the third semester for associate programs and the fifth semester for other programs, students shall be permitted to enroll in courses totaling up to 40 ECTS credits.
(6) Students under the national credit system are allowed to enroll in courses totaling up to 25 credits per academic year. However, this limit may be extended to 28 credits for students in associate programs starting from the third semester, for four-year programs starting from the seventh semester, and for five-year programs starting from the ninth semester. Additionally, students who have 56 credits remaining to graduate and are enrolled in different semesters may also register for up to 28 credits, pending approval from the relevant administrative board.
(7) Minor and double major program courses, internships undertaken outside the regular semester, and the common required courses for students under the national credit system shall not be included when calculating semester credits for the major program during course registration.
(8) The courses students take from other universities shall also be subject to the limitations set out in the fifth and sixth paragraphs of this Article.
(9) During course registrations, the semester structure of the curriculum is followed sequentially, ensuring courses are taken in accordance with the progression rule.

Internal and external transfers

ARTICLE 8 – (1) Internal and external transfers within the faculties and schools of the University shall adhere to legislative provisions and principles established by the Senate. External transfers to undergraduate programs shall be exclusively facilitated during fall semesters, while transfers to associate programs shall be permitted in both fall and spring semesters. Internal transfers to undergraduate programs shall be scheduled for fall semesters, with associate programs offering transfer opportunities in both fall and spring semesters.
(2) Transfers based on central placement scores shall be exclusively processed during the fall semester.

Vertical transfers

ARTICLE 9 – (1) The relevant legislative provisions shall be applied to the graduates of vocational schools and Open Education Faculty associate degree programs who are placed in undergraduate programs via vertical transfers.

Course Exemptions

ARTICLE 10 – (1) Students newly enrolled in the University's undergraduate and associate programs, those re-enrolling via the central placement exam after a previous withdrawal, as well as candidates admitted through external-internal and vertical transfers, transfer via central placement score, and for Bachelor’s degree completion, may apply to their respective department/program for course exemptions before the start of the academic year/semester they are entering. The decision regarding exemptions by the respective administrative board shall be forwarded to the Student Affairs Office by the end of the add/drop week.
(2) The grades of exempted courses for students shall be documented in their transcript of records as per the grading system outlined in Article 24 herein and shall contribute to their CGPA. Moreover, the duration equivalent to the whole number obtained by dividing the total ECTS credits of exempted courses by 30, the standard total ECTS credits for a semester, shall count towards the student's period of study.
(3) Exemption procedures for students shall be conducted during the semester in which they register for degree program courses.

Minor programs

ARTICLE 11 – (1) Minor Program shall be offered to students who meet the requirements set out by the Senate. Minor degree programs shall not be treated as a separate undergraduate education. A Minor Program Certificate shall be granted to students who have completed minor programs. (1) Minor degree programs shall be available to students who fulfill the criteria established by the Senate. They shall not be considered standalone programs. Upon successful completion of a minor program, students shall be awarded a Minor Program Certificate.

Double Major Degree Program

ARTICLE 12 – (1) The University shall offer a Double Major Degree Program to students who fulfill the criteria established by the Senate. Participants in this program shall be permitted to simultaneously pursue courses from two distinct degree programs and upon completion, shall be awarded diplomas for both programs by the University.

CHAPTER III

Principles of Education and Learning

Medium of Instruction

ARTICLE 13 – (1) The primary language of instruction at the University is Turkish. However, exceptions may apply in certain programs where courses can be delivered either partially or entirely in a foreign language. Such deviations require a proposal from the relevant boards, approval from the Senate, and ultimately endorsement from The Council of Higher Education.

Foreign Language/ Turkish Preparatory Class

ARTICLE 14 – (1) Preparatory classes for foreign languages/Turkish shall be administered in accordance with relevant legislative provisions.

Modes of Education

ARTICLE 15 – (1) The primary mode of education in the University's affiliated units is formal education. However, evening and distance education options may also be provided following a substantiated proposal from the respective boards, approval from the Senate, and endorsement from The Council of Higher Education.

Academic year/semester

ARTICLE 16 – (1) Education is conducted on a semester basis, although certain programs may offer some courses on a yearly basis.
(2) An academic year consists of two semesters - fall and spring. Additionally, summer school education may be offered. A semester lasts for at least sixteen weeks, including examination periods. The principles that govern the conduction of summer school education shall be determined by the Senate.
(3) Each year, the academic calendars that include registration, education, and examination periods will take effect upon the approval of the Senate.

Duration of study and student status

ARTICLE 17 – (1) The standard period of study for associate programs is two years, four years for undergraduate programs, and five years for programs that grant both Bachelor's and Master's degrees concurrently, excluding the one-year preparatory class. If a student is suspended from the University, the period spent in suspension shall be counted towards the period of study. Such students must continue to pay tuition fees during the suspension period.
(2) Excluding the one-year preparatory class, students must complete their associate programs within four years, undergraduate programs within seven years, and programs that award both Bachelor's and Master's degrees within eight years, regardless of whether they renewed their semester registrations or not. If a student fails to do so, the following provisions shall be applied:
a) Students who have not taken or have failed six or more courses due to lack of attendance by the end of the maximum period of study will be dismissed.
b) Except for those defined in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, students shall have the right to take two additional exams for all courses they have met the attendance requirement but failed, regardless of the number of such courses, at the end of the maximum period of study. At the end of these exams, if a student has more than five remaining courses to pass for graduation, including the ones they have not taken or have failed due to lack of attendance, they shall be dismissed.
c) Students who have failed one course shall be allowed to take an unlimited number of exams at the end of the maximum period of study or after taking additional exams under subparagraph (b) of this paragraph.
d) Students who have not passed up to five courses required for graduation at the end of the additional exams, including those they have not taken or failed due to lack of attendance, shall be given an extra three semesters.
e) At the end of the maximum period of study, students who have not taken any additional exam and have no more than five remaining courses left for graduation, including those they have not taken or failed due to lack of attendance shall be given an additional four semesters.
f) Students who fail to graduate within the additional periods defined in subparagraphs (d) and (e) of this paragraph shall be dismissed.
g) If a student fails to graduate due to a cumulative grade point average of less than 2.00, even though they have passed all the required courses for their program, they may become subject to dismissal. However, they shall be allowed to improve their cumulative grade point average by taking an unlimited number of exams for the courses of their choice. Students must submit a written request to the respective administrative boards, indicating which courses they wish to take exams for, at least two weeks before the final exam period of the semester.
(3) Students shall only be allowed to take an unlimited number of exams if they have met the attendance requirement of the course. If granted permission to take unlimited exams, students must continue to pay the tuition fee. However, they shall not be entitled to other student benefits, except for the right to take exams. If a student fails to take the offered exams for three academic years consecutively or intermittently, they shall be deemed to have waived their rights and shall be dismissed.

Graduation credits

ARTICLE 18 – (1) The curriculum shall enter into force with the decision of the University Curriculum Committee and the approval of the Senate. The curriculum consists of the program information package and course information package, the contents of which are as follows:
a) The program information package consists of general information on the program, the degree granted, the level of education, admission requirements, the aim of the program, the lists of the program courses (lectures, practicums, projects, studios, laboratory works, and workshops, practical work, internships, sketches, land practices, seminars, graduation projects, and other studies) on a semester basis; semester/year, code, and elective or required status of the courses; the program qualifications; professional profile of the graduates, the structure of the curriculum; examinations, assessment and grading, graduation requirements, mode of education; head of the program and information on similar issues.
b) The course information package consists of the prerequisites, language, mode of delivery, teaching and learning techniques, instructors, objectives, learning outcomes, contents of the courses; and references, weekly course outline, the assessment system, the ECTS table of the course and tables indicating the contribution of the course to the program qualifications.
(2) In order to graduate, students shall complete 300 ECTS for five-year programs; 240 ECTS for four-year programs, and 120 ECTS credits for vocational school programs including the common required courses. Additionally, for those who are subject to the national credit system, five-year curriculums shall cover at least a total of 160 credit courses; four-year curriculums at least 128 credit courses and vocational school programs at least 64 credit courses excluding the common required courses. The principles for calculating the ECTS credit of a course shall be determined by the Senate.

Academic Advising

ARTICLE 19 – (1) The issues related to academic advising shall be regulated by the principles set forth by the Senate.

Courses and the calculation of course credits

ARTICLE 20 – (1) The curriculum includes various types of courses - required, elective, co-requisite, prerequisite, and common required courses.
(2) Required courses are mandatory for students to pass in order to graduate.
(3) Elective courses allow students to select from a range of offerings. There are two types of elective courses: departmental and non-departmental electives.
a) Departmental electives are chosen from a specific group of courses offered by a student's enrolled program for graduation.
b) Non-departmental elective courses are not offered by the program the student is enrolled in but by different academic departments.
(4) Prerequisite courses can only be taken after successfully passing one or more courses offered in previous semesters or years. Prerequisite courses shall be determined by the Senate upon the proposal of the respective boards.
(5) Common required courses include Ataturk's Principles and History of Turkish Revolution, Turkish Language, foreign language courses for programs that do not require a foreign language preparatory class, and courses such as Basic Information and Communication Technology Use, Introduction to University Life, and Occupational Health and Safety for relevant departments, as designated by Article 5 of the Higher Education Act no. 2547.
(6) The ECTS credit of a course shall be calculated by dividing the total workload by 30 hours. The national credit of a course shall stand for 1-hour theoretical course, 1-3 hours of seminar, 2-4 hours of laboratory (workshop or clinical) work, or similar practices within a week of the semester.
(7) Co-requisite courses are a group of two or more courses that must be taken concurrently in any given semester.

Courses taken from another university

ARTICLE 21 – (1) Students intending to enroll in a course(s) offered by another university shall submit an equivalency request to their respective departments before the start of the semester. The decision regarding the equivalency of such courses shall be made by the relevant boards. Grades earned for these courses shall be recorded in their transcripts of records until the conclusion of the course registration period for the subsequent semester.
(2) The grade for a course taken from another university shall be assessed according to Article 24, based either on points if it is a numerical value or the grade point if it is a letter value. Under this assessment, students shall receive a grade of ‘D’ if the grade point equivalent of the passing grade (excluding conditional passes) assigned by the other university is below 1.75."

Attendance

ARTICLE 22 – (1) Attendance to both courses and practical sessions is mandatory. Students failing to attend more than 30% of theoretical hours and 20% of practical hours, even with valid excuses, shall be ineligible to sit for the final or makeup exams for the corresponding course. The list of students ineligible to take exams due to low attendance shall be announced by the course instructor before the final exam period.
(2) If students have met the attendance requirement in previous semesters, attendance for repeated theoretical courses shall not be mandatory.

CHAPTER IV

Assessment, Examinations, Dismissal and Graduation

Final course grade

ARTICLE 23 – (1) The final grade for a course shall be determined by evaluating both the student's performance throughout the semester (such as mid-term exams, assignments, and practical studies) and their performance on the final exam. Whether a student passes or fails the course shall be based on this final course grade. The final exam shall carry a weightage of at least 40% and no more than 60% of the final course grade. The instructor shall announce the weightage of the semester performance and the final exam in the final course grade, the minimum final exam grade needed to pass the course and the syllabus at the beginning of the semester. Failure to appear for the final exam shall result in failing the course. The final course grade shall be calculated by converting the raw scores of the exams into points out of 100 and adjusting them according to the grading system defined in Article 24.
(2) The make-up exam scores shall be evaluated along with the semester performance.
(3) The exam scores shall be announced in writing. The principles governing the calculation of the course grades shall be established by the Senate.

Grading

ARTICLE 24 – (1) Points, grades, grade points referring to final course grades and their explanations are as follows:
a)
Points Grades Grade points
95-100 A1 4,00
90-94 A2 3,75
85-89 A3 3,50
80-84 B1 3,25
75-79 B2 3,00
70-74 B3 2,75
65-69 C1 2,50
60-64 C2 2,25
55-59 C3 2,00
50-54 D 1,75
0-49 F3 0,00
F2 0,00
F1 0,00
F6 0,00
b) The letter grades shall have the following corresponding definitions:
1) F1: The student did not have the right to take final and make-up exams due to lack of attendance, and consequently failed.
2) F2: The student did not take the final or make-up exam despite having the right to and consequently failed,
3) F3: The student took the final or make-up exam but failed.
4) F6: The student does not have the right to take the proficiency and make-up exams due to failure to meet the requirements (except for attendance) to take the proficiency exam during the year in the preparatory class.
(2) Students who receive a grade of A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, and D for a course shall be considered to have passed the course.
(3) Students who receive a grade of F2 or F3 for a course can take make-up exams.
(4) For the departments of Ankara State Conservatory that offer credit-based education, the Senate may set out a passing grade other than those specified in this article.

Grade point average

ARTICLE 25 – (1) To determine the academic standing of the students, the semester grade point average and the cumulative grade point average shall be calculated.
(2) The weighted score of a course shall be obtained by multiplying the course credit by the grade point of the final course grade. The semester grade point average shall be calculated by dividing the sum of weighted scores of all courses taken in a semester by the sum of course credits. The cumulative grade point average shall be calculated by dividing the sum of weighted scores by the sum of course credits. This calculation shall be based on the final course grades of all the courses taken during the student's entire education period.
(3) The division result obtained in the calculation of the grade point average shall be rounded to two decimal points. In case of repeating minor or double major courses, the latest grade from that course shall be counted towards the calculation of the grade point average.

Course repetition

ARTICLE 26 – (1) If students fail a required course, they shall retake it the following semester in which it is offered in case they renew their semester registration, and pass it before they can graduate.
(2) Students who have failed an elective course may repeat it in any semester the course is offered. However, they also have the right to withdraw from an elective course if they no longer wish to take it, but they can only do this for up to three elective courses throughout their entire period of study. Students who withdraw from an elective course shall not be allowed to re-register for the same course, however, the withdrawn course shall still appear on the student's transcript. If a student is expected to graduate and has already used their right to withdraw but still has an elective course they failed previously, they may be able to take another elective course as a replacement with the approval of the administrative board. The student can benefit from this right only once. If a student who is expected to graduate has failed multiple elective courses and these courses have not been offered in the last two semesters, they may be able to drop these courses with the approval of the administrative board, even if they have already used their right to withdraw.
(3) Students may repeat courses they have previously taken and passed (excluding those for which they received an A1 or A2 grade) to improve their cumulative grade point average. In this case, only the latest grade shall be counted.

Exams

ARTICLE 27 – (1) There are six types of exams including mid-term, final, exemption, three-course, make-up, and excuse exams. These exams can be conducted in written, oral, or both written and oral and/or applied formats. If necessary, these exams can be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, except for national and religious holidays, as determined by the respective administrative board. Students shall take exams on the day, at the time and place announced by the respective academic unit. They shall also bring their ID cards and any other requested documents. Otherwise, they shall not be admitted to the exam.
(2) If a student receives a grade from an exam that they are not eligible to take, the grade shall be canceled, even if it has already been announced. Exam papers and/or records shall be kept for two years.
(3) For each course, at least one mid-term exam shall be conducted. Mid-term exams can be conducted in any week within a semester as determined by the department. Mid-term assessments of projects, graduation projects, laboratory works, workshops and similar practices that serve as a separate course themselves may be treated as mid-term exams. Mid-term exam scores shall be announced before the final exam period.
(4) The final exam of a course shall take place at the end of the semester in which the course is completed. Make-up exams of an academic year shall be conducted on the dates specified in the academic calendar before the following academic year begins.
(5) Exemption exams shall take place at the beginning of each semester for courses designated by the Senate upon the proposal of respective boards. Students may take these exams at the beginning of the semester in which they will register for the applicable courses for the first time. Students shall take only one exemption exam per course.
(6) Students who have three courses left for graduation at the end of the maximum period of study, may take a three-course exam if they have met the attendance requirement for these courses and failed them. Students who have passed all the courses of their program but failed to graduate due to a cumulative grade point average of less than 2.00 may also take a three-course exam for three courses of their choice. Students who wish to take a three-course exam shall apply to their departments. Three-course exams shall take place on the dates specified in the academic calendar. Exam results shall be submitted to the SAO by the respective administrative board. Students who use the right to take a three-course exam shall not benefit from other student rights.
(7) Students who have missed a mid-term exam for a valid excuse that has been accepted by the course instructor may take an excuse exam. A list of those whose excuses are accepted shall be submitted by the course instructors to the respective academic unit before the excuse exams. The dates of excuse exams shall be announced by the respective academic unit. These students shall have the right to take an excuse exam until the final exam period. However, students shall not have the right to retake the excuse exams offered in substitution for mid-term exams.

Announcement of exam scores and grade disputes and finalization of grades

ARTICLE 28 – (1) Students who wish to dispute their exam scores can do so by submitting a written application to the relevant academic unit within one week after the deadline for the submission of exam scores to the SAO, as specified on the academic calendar.
(2) The respective administrative boards shall then review the requests and decide on any changes to be made in grades. All of these procedures shall be completed within fifteen days following the deadline for the submission of exam scores to the SAO.

Dismissal and withdrawal

ARTICLE 29 – (1) Students shall be deregistered from the University in the following cases:
a) If they fail to complete their education within the periods defined in Article 17;
b) If they request to withdraw;
c) If they receive an expulsion punishment from the higher education institution as per the applicable legislative provisions.
(2) Students who fail to pay the tuition fee and renew their registrations for four consecutive years within the maximum period of study may be dismissed from the University based on the decision of the University Administrative Board.

Graduation

ARTICLE 30 – (1) To be recognized as having fulfilled their studies and qualifying for graduation, students shall satisfy the following requirements:
a) To fulfill the graduation requirements, students shall complete the total number of credits for required and elective courses separately and fulfill other graduation requirements (if applicable) stipulated by their program under this Regulation,
b) They must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
(2) Upon fulfilling the graduation requirements stipulated by the faculty/school/vocational school program, students shall be awarded either a Bachelor's or an Associate's Degree.
(3) The procedure for granting an Associate's Degree to those enrolled in Bachelor's degree programs shall be carried out under the applicable legislative provisions.
(4) A Diploma Supplement shall accompany the Diplomas granted to students who have completed their programs. The Diploma Supplement shall contain information about the titles, contents, and ECTS credits of all courses taken during the education period, as well as standard diploma supplement content. However, the Diploma Supplement cannot substitute for a Diploma.

Honor and high-honor students

ARTICLE 31 – (1) Students who, under the provisions stipulated herein, successfully fulfill all courses, practices, and internships as outlined by their respective programs within faculties and schools and achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 3.00 and 3.49 out of 4.00 shall be designated as honor students, whereas those attaining a GPA of 3.50 and above are designated as high honor students. This distinction shall be explicitly stated on the student's diploma supplement and diploma.
(2) Students enrolled in courses totaling a minimum of fifteen credits within a standard semester and who complete all coursework with a grade point average ranging from 3.00 to 3.49 out of 4.00 are acknowledged as Semester Honor Students. Similarly, those achieving a GPA of 3.50 and above shall be acknowledged as Semester High Honor Students. The respective academic units shall publish the list of these distinguished students at the end of each semester, and this achievement shall be noted on their transcript of records for the corresponding semester.

CHAPTER V

Exchange Programs and Special Students

National and international student exchange programs

ARTICLE 32 – (1) Student exchange programs are facilitated through agreements between the University and a domestic or foreign higher education institution. Within these programs, students can study abroad for one or two semesters at partner universities. These exchanges adhere to bilateral agreements and principles established by The Council of Higher Education.
(2) The courses, internships, practicums, and associated activities for students admitted to the Erasmus+ and Mevlana Exchange Programs shall be designated by the respective coordinators in each department. They may serve as replacements for or be recognized as equivalent to the courses within the University's undergraduate curriculum. However, if no substitute or equivalent course is available, it will be denoted on the transcript as an 'other university elective course.'
(3) The courses to be undertaken by outgoing students enrolled in domestic universities as part of the Farabi Exchange Program shall be specified by Farabi Coordinators within each department. The corresponding equivalents and scores of the courses completed at the host university shall be documented on the transcript of records.
(4) The relevant administrative boards shall assess course equivalencies for courses completed during exchange programs and allocate ECTS credits for 'other university elective courses.'

International joint-degree programs

ARTICLE 33 – (1). International agreements may facilitate the establishment of joint-degree programs offering joint undergraduate education. The Senate shall establish the guiding principles for implementing education within these international joint-degree programs.

Special students

ARTICLE 34 – (1) To enhance their proficiency in specific subjects, individuals meeting eligibility criteria or students from other universities may enroll as special students in up to two courses per semester upon the decision of the respective administrative board.
(2) Special students shall pay the course fee determined by the Senate. Individuals previously dismissed from any higher education institution due to disciplinary reasons are ineligible for special student status. Special students shall adhere to all regulations of their registered courses. While they are not eligible for a degree, they will receive documentation for their status from the SAO.

CHAPTER VI

Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Notifications and address notices

ARTICLE 35 – (1) All kinds of notifications shall be delivered to students by registered mail to the mailing addresses on the official records or by e-mail to the e-mail address entered in the SAO system. Students shall promptly inform the Student Affairs Office in person of any updates or changes to their mailing and email addresses. They shall regularly monitor and act upon notifications sent to their email addresses. If they fail to do so, notifications to the current addresses on the records shall be deemed valid.

Disabled students

ARTICLE 36 – (1) Disabled students of the University, whose status and degree of disability are documented through medical reports, shall follow the provisions of this Regulation regarding course registration.
(2) If disabled students encounter challenges fulfilling the requirements of a course due to their disability, they may substitute the concerned course(s) with equivalent alternative(s) upon the approval of their advisor, the course instructor, and the respective administrative boards.

Leave of Absence

ARTICLE 37 – (1) Upon approval by the respective administrative board, students may be granted a leave of absence for a maximum period of two years due to valid reasons. Except for the case detailed in the second paragraph of this Article, students are permitted only one leave of absence during their enrollment. Students shall apply to their academic unit for a leave of absence before the semester begins. Semesters during which a student is on leave will not be counted toward their overall study duration.
(2) If the duration of a student's approved leave of absence under Article 29 of Law on the Organization and Duties of the General Directorate of Sports exceeds the maximum allowable absence period stipulated in this Regulation, the courses registered by the student for that semester shall be canceled following a recommendation from the relevant administrative board and subsequent approval by the University Administrative Board. The affected semester shall not be counted toward the student's study period.

Annulled regulation

ARTICLE 38 – (1) The Regulation on Associate and Undergraduate Education and Examination of Hacettepe University, as published in the Official Gazette dated September 28, 2012, and numbered 24425, is hereby annulled.

Course repetition

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1 – (1) Students may repeat the courses they have taken up until the end of the 2011-2012 Academic Year to improve their cumulative grade point average. However, courses cannot be retaken if a grade of B3 or higher has been previously attained. Only the most recent grades obtained for retaken courses will be considered.

Adjustment

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 2 – (1) The provisions outlined in the fifth paragraph of Article 7 shall not apply to students enrolled in the third, fourth, and fifth years during the Fall Semester of the 2018-2019 Academic Year. These students shall be allowed to enroll in courses totaling up to 42 ECTS credits in the third year and 48 ECTS credits in the fourth and fifth years.

Grades of the courses exempted

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 3 – (1) Students who are currently pursuing their studies and were previously exempted from taking certain courses before the implementation of this Regulation have their grades included in their transcript of records. These grades shall be assigned according to the grading system outlined in Article 24 of this Regulation and shall contribute to their cumulative grade point average.

Enforcement

ARTICLE 39 – (1) This regulation shall take effect at the commencement of the 2018-2019 Academic Year.

Implementation

ARTICLE 40 – (1) The provisions of this regulation are implemented by The Rector of Hacettepe University.

**The English version of this Regulation is provided for information only. In the event of any dispute, the Turkish version is binding.