EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE PROGRAMS, REGISTRATION AND ADMISSION BY-LAW

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1 In case of absence of mutual agreement between two parties regarding the English version of these regulations, Turkish version regulations are valid and will be applied. EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE PROGRAMS, REGISTRATION AND ADMISSION BY-LAW EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT, OPERATIONS AND WORKING PRINCIPLES BY-LAW (By-law Under Article 7) With the approval of the Senate, the Rector s Office prepared this by-law in accordance with Article 7 of the [Board] Regulation for the Establishment of the Institute for Graduate Studies and Research: Establishment, Operations and Working Principles. I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Brief Name S92/ Eastern Mediterranean University Graduate Programs: By-law for Registration and Admission S04/ Scope 2. This By-law regulates the conditions under which students can apply and be admitted to postgraduate programs. II. MAIN PROVISIONS Announcing the Availability of Student Places Applications to Postgraduate Programs 3. Every semester, graduate and doctoral degree programs which will admit new students and application requirements of these programs are announced on dates specified by the Institute. 4. (1) In order to be eligible to apply for a postgraduate program, candidates must have graduated from an undergraduate program with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of However, in exceptional conditions, candidates with lower CGPAs may be considered as applicants upon the recommendation of the relevant faculty council and the approval of the Institute Executive Board. (2) Applicants for doctoral degree programs must possess a Master s degree. (3) Students already registered in a postgraduate program at another university can apply to be transferred horizontally to one of the postgraduate programs of the Eastern Mediterranean University. S14-364/11 (4) Students registered in a postgraduate program in Eastern Mediterranean University may apply for a horizontal transfer between thesis or nonthesis programs. To be eligible to transfer from a non-thesis postgraduate program to another program with thesis requirements, the student should meet the application conditions specified for the thesis program and, at the same time, successfully complete a minimum of three courses and obtain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 in the non-thesis program. These conditions are not sought for those who apply to transfer from a postgraduate program with thesis requirements to another with no thesis requirement. Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 1

2 (5) Applicants must submit their applications and supporting documents to the Registrar s Office within the specified period. All applications submitted during the specified period are sent to the Institute Directorate. Admissions 5. (1) The Institute Directorate sends the applications to relevant departments/units for evaluation. (2) Postgraduate Study Committees in every department/program evaluate applications taking into consideration previously set criteria and principles. Based on the submitted documents, the committees decide whether the applications will be accepted or rejected without an exam, or with a written and/or spoken exam and/or an interview. (3) In the evaluation of applications for horizontal transfers, candidate s current program and the prospective program should be equivalent and the applicants should demonstrate successful performance in their current programs. (a) For horizontal transfer students, any exemptions to be granted and the period within which the student is expected to complete the program are determined by Post-graduate Study Committee according to Article 6 of this By-law. The Institute Directorate is notified accordingly. (b) Those who are admitted to the postgraduate programs in EMU through horizontal transfers have to study in EMU for at least the minimum amount of time specified in Articles 4.(2) and 10.(2) of Postgraduate Studies and Examinations By-law. S13-361/4 (4) (a) Candidates who have been admitted into the English medium programs should obtain the minimum score specified by the Institute Council from internationally recognized proficiency exams such as TOEFL or IELTS or submit a document with a score from an equivalent English language test. A valid document submitted during the date of application is also considered valid during the date of registration to the program. (b) Validity of any English language test document is assessed by the Foreign Languages and English Preparatory School. (c) Applicants who do not possess documents to be exempted from the English Preparatory program take the English Proficiency Test administered by Foreign Languages and English Preparatory School. Those who obtain the minimum grade (or above) specified by the Institute Council are eligible to start their postgraduate studies. (d) Applicants not meeting the English proficiency requirements can be admitted to postgraduate programs on the condition that they sit for the English Proficiency Test administered by the Foreign Languages and English Preparatory School and register for the English Support Program corresponding with their level of English. (e) Candidates who have graduated from an EMU English medium postgraduate program and who apply for another English medium Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 2

3 postgraduate or doctoral degree program are exempted from the English Proficiency Exam requirement on the condition that they apply within two years after their graduation. (f) No English language test requirement is sought for applicants who have been re-admitted to postgraduate programs, on the condition that they were registered to a postgraduate program in Eastern Mediterranean University within the last two years from their application date to the program and that they submit a document certifying that they possess the minimum score specified for the semester of application to the postgraduate program of readmission. (g) No English language test requirement is sought for applicants who are citizens of countries whose official language is English and, at the same time, who obtained their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees from an English-medium institution of higher education. (h) No English language test requirement is sought for applicants who are citizens of countries whose official language is not English but who obtained their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees from an English-medium institution of higher education in a country whose official language is English, on the condition that they apply within two years following their graduation. (i) For programs where the language of instruction is not English, the required level of foreign language is determined by the Institute Board. (5) Decisions of each Department s/program s Postgraduate Committee concerning the applications are sent to the Institute Directorate. (6) Admission of candidates takes effect upon the approval of the Institute Director. Exemptions S13-361/4 6. (1) For students who have registered to postgraduate programs in EMU, courses taken from a post graduate program at another institution and courses taken from post graduate programs as a post graduate student can be taken into consideration and their equivalency can be shown on the condition that they are not used for diploma purposes. Such courses are shown as E on the student transcript but they are not included in the computation of CGPA. (2) Previously taken courses that are exempted by the registered program should have B as the minimum grade and should be taken within four semesters before the postgraduate program registration in EMU. (3) Total credits of exempted courses transferred to the registered program can only be equivalent to half of the credits necessary to complete the program. Out of the previously taken credit courses that are transferred to the new program, a semester is deducted from the student s total study period for every three exempted courses on the condition that the total period of study is not less than the minimum study period specified in Postgraduate Study and Examinations By-law. S10-327/3 (4) Exemptions for courses which are taken at a certification program are not given. In accordance with articles 6(6) and 7(2) of this By-law, Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 3

4 exemptions can be applied for courses which are taken Eastern Mediterranean University with a special student status. (5) In the newly registered program, if the student has courses that are equivalent to the courses previously taken and used for another diploma, s/he has to register for equal number of other courses approved by the Postgraduate Education Committee to meet the minimum credit requirements of the program. S10-327/2 S10-327/2 S12-346/3 S12-346/3 S12-346/3 (6) (a) If students who left a postgraduate program at EMU for a reason other than a disciplinary penalty gain admission by re-applying to the University or by transferring between different programs, courses with a minimum C grade in postgraduate programs and B grade in doctoral degree programs which were taken during the last four semesters (counting backwards from the date of application) can be exempted upon the approval of the Postgraduate Studies Commission. (b) However, postgraduate students are required to re-register for the Seminar Course and Thesis Study in thesis programs and Semester Project in non-thesis programs. Similarly, Doctoral Degree students are required to re-register for the Ph.D. Qualification Exam and Thesis Study. (c) The minimum study period for students who get exemption for certain courses is the minimum study period specified in article 4(2) and 11(2) of the By-law for Graduate Studies and Examinations together with the period of study in the previous program. (d) The remaining period of study after the course exemption procedure is recalculated by the deducting one semester for every three credit courses. (e) Regarding students who transfer between thesis and non-thesis programs with identical titles within the University, all credit courses already taken in the previous program, including the failed ones, appearing on the student transcript are transferred to the new program, regardless of the obtained grades. Student Status 7. Postgraduate students have the following status: (1) A student satisfying all conditions for admission in a postgraduate program is given the right to register for the applied program. However, students who have bachelor or postgraduate degrees in fields different from the postgraduate program for which they are applying, or who are considered by the department to be inadequate with regards to scientific/academic proficiency can be accepted on the condition that they successfully complete the scientific preparation program. Such students are called Probationary Students. Transfer of such students to the normal program takes place upon the recommendation of the department/program head and the approval of the Institute Director. Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 4

5 S10-327/3 S10-327/3 (2) (a) Special students are the students who are granted permission to attend some courses under the conditions specified by departments. Such students are not issued a diploma or a title. However, a document listing the courses taken and grades received at the program attended may be issued by the Registrar s Office for such students. Students who take courses with special student status cannot benefit from student rights. In the admission of special students, there is no entrance exam or a requirement for a specific grade level. Like other students, special students are required to fulfill their obligations and meet the conditions specified for the courses they follow. (b) In case of a special student gaining right to register to a postgraduate program and transferring to full student status no later than four semesters, credits gained from the postgraduate courses with a special student status may be accepted by the student s current program upon the recommendation of the Postgraduate Study Committee and the approval of the Institute Administrative Board on the condition that the number of credits gained from postgraduate courses taken with a special student status do not exceed half of the credits of the currently followed program. (3) Students who are registered in a postgraduate program at another institution and who are allowed to take certain number of courses in EMU postgraduate programs upon the approval of their institution are called Visiting Students. (4) Students who are admitted to a postgraduate program and who have the department/program head s approval to devote full time study to the requirements of the registered program (classes, examinations, laboratories, seminars, library, various research topic requirements, thesis writing etc.) are registered as full-time students. (5) Students who are admitted to a postgraduate program and who have the department/program head s approval to devote 50% of their time or less to the requirements of the registered program are registered as parttime students. (6) Students who become successful in the PhD qualifying exam and whose doctoral thesis recommendation is approved are Doctoral Degree Candidates. (7) Doctoral Degree Candidates who meet all program requirements except for the publication are put to the waiting publication status upon the submission of their thesis to the Institute. Scientific Preparation Program 8. (1) Probationary students admitted to a program under Article 7(1) may be required firstly to complete an Academic Preparation Program. (2) Subjects taken as part of academic preparation program do not substitute for subjects necessary for the completion of the postgraduate program. (3) The maximum period for completing a scientific preparation program is one calendar year. This period cannot be extended except for the Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 5

6 semester holidays. Time spent in the scientific preparation program is not considered as part of the time required to complete a Master s or Doctoral Degree Program. (4) In order to be considered as successful, a student must score a minimum grade of C from the courses taken as part of the Scientific Preparation Program. (5) A student who fails the same course twice in the Scientific Preparation Program is dismissed from the Institute. (6) Courses taken or time spent in the Scientific Preparation Program are shown separately on the transcript, but are not included in the CGPA of the Postgraduate program. Opening New Programs Registration and Admissions 9. When the number of applicants provisionally registered to a newly opened postgraduate program in any semester is less than 5, the program may not admit any students based on the recommendation of the department/program head and the approval of the Institute Director. 10. (1) Initial registration of students admitted to the postgraduate programs is carried out by the Registrar s Office. During registration, original diplomas and transcripts must be submitted. (2) Course and thesis registrations are carried out by the relevant academic department at the beginning of each semester. Students failing to register during the specific registration period indicated in the academic calendar will be dismissed from the Institute. III. OTHER PROVISIONS 11. In the event that documents submitted by students registering to any of the Postgraduate programs are discovered to be false, these students will immediately be dismissed regardless of the stage they are in their studies. If such students have already left the University any certificate/diploma or similar documents will be declared void and legal action will be pursued. IV. FINAL PROVISIONS Coming into Force Topics not covered Execution Temporary Provision 12. This By-law comes into force following its approval by the Senate. 13. Other EMU By-laws Topics not covered by this By-law are subject to other Bylaws and regulations of the University. 14. This By-law is executed by the Rector. 15. Duties of the Institute Executive Board specified in this By-law are performed by the Institute Board until relevant By-law changes take place. Graduate Programs, Registration and Admission By-Law Page: 6