FAQ

Who Can Participate in the Mevlana Exchange Program?

Within the scope of the Mevlana Exchange Program, registered associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in formal education programs at all higher education institutions in Turkey (those that have signed the Mevlana Exchange Program Protocol) can participate in student exchange.

Additionally, all academic staff members working in domestic and international higher education institutions that have signed the Mevlana Exchange Program Protocol can also participate in the Mevlana Exchange Program.

What Are the Application Requirements for the Mevlana Exchange Program?

To be a participant in the Mevlana Exchange Program as a student:

The student must be enrolled in associate, undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs in formal higher education institutions.
For associate and undergraduate students, the minimum general academic grade point average should be at least 2.5 out of 4.
For graduate and doctoral students, the minimum general academic grade point average should be at least 3 out of 4.
A combined score of 50% language proficiency + 50% Grade Average.

Students enrolled in preparatory and first-year associate and undergraduate programs, as well as those in preparatory and scientific preparation periods of graduate and doctoral programs, cannot benefit from this program for the first semester of their main education.

To be an academic staff member in the Mevlana Exchange Program:

All academic staff members working in domestic and international higher education institutions that have signed the Mevlana Exchange Program Protocol can participate in academic staff mobility.
Priority is given to specific cases such as the instructional language of the host higher education institution, the language in which the academic staff member will teach, and their proficiency in that language.
In the exchange, priority is given to applications from academic staff members who have not previously participated in academic staff exchange activities.

What are the stages of student evaluation and selection?

The higher education institution determines the number and distribution of students who will go abroad or come from abroad, based on the dual protocols it has implemented, considering the allocated resource amount by the YÖK Executive Board. Higher education institutions cannot select students to participate in the Mevlana Exchange Program before signing the Mevlana Exchange Program Protocol.

During the evaluation, the weighted average of students' GPAs (50%) and the language scores (50%) indicating the proficiency level of the language used in the education of the higher education institution where the student will become a Mevlana Exchange Program student are taken into account. This is used to calculate the students' overall weighted GPA, and a ranking is conducted for the selection process.

From the students who apply to the Mevlana Exchange Program, the higher education institutions that have signed the exchange protocol request a jointly determined language exam result document, which will be the basis for the students' selection.

The evaluation results are published on the official website of the signatory higher education institutions.

The provisions of this article are also applied to the evaluation of applications from students coming from abroad and the selection of these students. However, the evaluation of applications from students coming from abroad and the selection of these students are carried out with the knowledge of the signatory higher education institution within the country.

How should an eligible individual who wants to benefit from the Mevlana Exchange Program apply?

Students can apply to the Mevlana Exchange Program by filling out the necessary forms completely and submitting their application to the institution's Mevlana Exchange Program institution coordination office where they are registered in Turkey.

Similarly, all academic staff members working at higher education institutions that have signed the Mevlana Exchange Program Protocol can apply to the relevant Mevlana Exchange Program institution coordination office with the necessary documents.

Does a student who participates in the program experience a loss of academic terms?

A student who participates in the Mevlana Exchange Program and studies abroad for one or two terms does not experience any loss of academic terms upon returning to their home country. This is because the courses taken by the student at the foreign higher education institution are clearly defined in the Learning Protocol, indicating the equivalent courses (based on their performance). This ensures that the student does not incur any term loss when they return to their country.

How many times and for how long can we benefit from the Mevlana Exchange Program?

Students can benefit from the Mevlana Exchange Program for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of two semesters. While the calculation of semesters may vary based on the educational system, the total exchange period cannot exceed one academic year.

Students can only benefit from the Mevlana scholarship once throughout their entire educational journey, covering different levels in higher education. The same student can participate in the program for a second time at a different higher education level, but without receiving a scholarship.

Academic staff members can benefit from the Mevlana Exchange Program by providing teaching mobility within the scope of the program for a minimum of one week and a maximum of three months, limited to one time per academic year.

What is the duration and content of teaching mobility within the scope of academic staff mobility?

The total duration of academic activities included in the mobility for academic staff members cannot be less than six hours per week. The calculation of activities conducted by academic staff is based on hourly teaching. If the teaching hours do not fill a total of six hours per week, academic activities such as seminars, panels, or conferences are also considered within this scope. Mobility plans for academic staff that do not involve teaching activities cannot be evaluated under the Mevlana Exchange Program and will not be accepted for exchange.

Is any specific type of language exam/document (such as YDS, TOEFL, IELTS) mandatory to assess the language proficiency of applicants to the program?

One of the essential criteria used in selecting students to benefit from the program is their language proficiency. However, there is no specific exam type or document mandated by relevant regulations. Higher education institutions may request a nationally or internationally recognized exam type/document from candidates, or they can assess/document students' language skills through their own administered exams. Language proficiency of candidates is one of the most important factors affecting both the success of the program and the students themselves. It is expected that our higher education institutions exercise sensitivity in this matter when selecting candidates.

Will a student who wants to benefit from the Mevlana Exchange Program need to pay tuition fees at the host institution?

During their status as Mevlana Exchange Program students, participants will continue to pay the tuition fees or contributions required by their home higher education institutions where they are registered. They will not be required to pay an additional tuition fee to the host higher education institution they will be visiting within the program.

What are the scholarship amounts for students participating in the Mevlana Exchange Program?

For the 2013-2014 academic year: