Academic Opportunities
Student Counseling
According to Article 25 of the Mersin University Associate and Bachelor's Degree Education and Examination Regulation, newly enrolled students at the university are assigned an academic advisor from the faculty members of the relevant department before the registration period. Advisors are responsible not only for administrative tasks such as determining the student's class schedule and monitoring their academic progress but also for addressing other issues that students may encounter to the extent of available resources. The role of advisors continues until the student graduates or leaves the university.
Scholarship
To facilitate the education process for financially disadvantaged students at our university, the Student Social Assistance Project is being implemented. This project, led by the Mersin University Alumni Association (MERMED), provides unconditional scholarships to students through monthly financial support voluntarily contributed by the university's academic and administrative staff, as well as its alumni.
Furthermore, needy students enrolled at our university receive Breakfast Grants. The breakfast, provided to a total of 1500 students, is distributed every weekday in both central campus and schools in the districts. Through a collaborative effort with the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, some students are provided with passes to access municipal buses free of charge.
Processes for the annual scholarships and grants offered to university students by the Directorate General of Credits and Dormitories Authority, under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, are handled by the Student Affairs Department. This collaborative effort aims to support students in need and enhance their overall educational experience
In-University Transfer
Students enrolled in an educational program within Mersin University who have demonstrated academic success are provided with the opportunity to transfer to an equivalent program that better suits their personal preferences, abilities, and unique circumstances. The in-university transfer within the university is facilitated in accordance with the 'Principles of Mersin University Associate and Undergraduate Degree / Transfer Programs.'
Applications for in-university transfer must be submitted to the Faculty Dean's Office/School Directorate, at least 10 days before the start of each semester. Additionally, the entrance score of the program in which the student is currently enrolled should be equal to or higher than the minimum score required for the desired program, and the types of scores should be the same. The detailed procedures and criteria for internal horizontal transfer are outlined in the university's regulations governing these processes.
Vertical Transfer
The admission processes for graduates of vocational schools and Open Education associate degree programs to bachelor's degree programs are regulated in accordance with the provisions of the 'Regulation on the Continuation of Bachelor's Education for Graduates of Vocational Schools and Open Education Associate Degree Programs.'
Annually, the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) prepares a guide indicating which bachelor's programs graduates of vocational schools and open education associate degree programs can apply for vertical transfer to, along with the conditions and the number of students to be accepted into these programs. Candidates who meet the conditions specified in the relevant regulation and have their applications accepted undergo placement based on the central exam results conducted by ÖSYM.
Distance Learning
Distance learning provides an educational environment that is independent of time and place, eliminating opportunities for inequality and offering a more flexible educational opportunity. It possesses an extremely dynamic structure compared to traditional approaches. Particularly utilizing communication and information technology, this method allows students to follow the provided courses at their convenience—irrespective of location and with the desired frequency. The learning environment, enriched with materials such as sound, video, and graphics, ensures a more enduring and enjoyable learning experience for students. In Internet-Based Distance Education, both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (different-time) communication can be established between students and educators. Internet and web technologies play a crucial role in facilitating healthy communication among individuals.
Mersin University pioneered the implementation of distance education in technical programs for the first time in the 2002-2003 academic year, marking a groundbreaking initiative in Turkey. Associate degree programs in Computer Programming, Electronic Technology, Electronic Communication Technology, Pharmacy Services, Healthcare Management, Forestry and Forest Products, Public Relations, Occupational Health and Safety are offered through distance education. These programs follow the same curriculum and are equivalent to on-campus education.
The courses, spread over 2 years and 4 semesters in associate degree programs, are conducted through distance education. Students enrolled in these programs are required to have access to a personal computer with an internet connection. In accordance with the ‘Principles and Procedures for Distance Education in Higher Education Institutions’, mid-term exams, final exams, and makeup exams are conducted in a supervised face-to-face manner.
Internship activities are compulsory in distance education programs in alignment with the regulations governing distance education in higher education institutions
E-Master of Business Administration (e-MBA)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) signifies postgraduate education in the field of Business Administration. Within our university, admission is open for the Master's in Business Administration program (e-Business) through the distance education model. The program, which admitted its first students in the 2009-2010 academic year, generally covers courses in finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, organizational management, information management, decision-making techniques, and more.
The objective of the e-Business Non-Thesis Master's Program, based on distance education techniques, is to provide students with expertise in fundamental business management areas that meet the strategic and competitive needs of the business world. It aims to offer an education opportunity independent of time and place, taking advantage of the diverse educational possibilities offered by information technologies.
The program's structure, independent of time and place, provides a suitable alternative for many individuals who are unable to pursue postgraduate education due to work hours or location constraints, creating demand for such a flexible format.
The admission process does not include interviews. Instead, the Master's entrance score is calculated based on 40% of the candidate's undergraduate GPA (converted from a scale of 100) and 60% of the ALES (Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam) weighted score. Students may be required to come to our university campus only for final exams (applicable to courses with in-person exams), while all other exams, assignments, and practices will be conducted online.
Summer Term Education
Summer Term Education is an education program implemented during the summer break to utilize educational opportunities outside the fall and spring semesters. The objective is to enable successful students to graduate more quickly by taking upper-level courses, provide students with the opportunity to take courses they may have missed or failed for various reasons, and enhance the efficiency of education by addressing student accumulations in classes.
The education period of the summer term, excluding exams, is seven weeks. For each course opened during the summer term, the total number of class hours conducted is equivalent to those conducted during regular semesters. The determination of courses offered during the summer term is based on the preference of the instructor who preferably taught the course during the regular semester, the approval of the relevant department/branch, and the decision of the respective Faculty/School/Institute Board.
Minor and Double Major Program
Students successfully completing undergraduate programs at Mersin University have the opportunity to pursue education in another field of interest through a Minor Program or to obtain a second bachelor's degree in a different major through a Double Major Program. The initiation of Minor and Double Major programs requires the recommendation of the relevant department and the Faculty/School board, as well as the approval of the University Senate. The Minor Program consists of a minimum of 18 credits, while the Double Major Program comprises a minimum of 36 credits. Both programs encompass all courses within the relevant major (department/program).
International Students
Our university accepts international students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Foreign nationals who wish to pursue undergraduate studies can apply for admission to our university either through the Foreign Students Exam (YÖS) administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) or with the results of an international exam recognized as equivalent to YÖS by the Higher Education Council. For those interested in graduate studies, direct application to our university is required.
Foreign nationals seeking admission to our university must hold a high school diploma or an equivalent vocational school diploma approved by the Ministry of National Education. Additionally, for international students admitted to programs conducted in Turkish, the commencement of their studies after enrollment is contingent upon the results they obtain from the Turkish Proficiency Test.
Foreign language
At our university, English, German, or French is taught as a foreign language or as a second foreign language in the first-year classes of the units where associate and undergraduate education is conducted. The duration of the Foreign Language Preparation Program in departments/programs with a Foreign Language Preparation Program is not included in the overall education period. Many departments and programs affiliated with faculties, schools, and vocational schools implement a one-year compulsory foreign language preparation program or a one-year (optional) foreign language preparation program within the quota.
Erasmus Program
Our university signed the 'Erasmus Charter for Higher Education,' a Higher Education Agreement within the European Union, in 2004, providing our students with a European identity. Through the Erasmus education program, our students have the opportunity to participate in multicultural exchange programs both in our country and abroad, receive education at partner universities in Europe, and engage in international projects. Within the framework of the Erasmus program, 65 bilateral agreements have been signed to date. Since 2004, nearly 250 of our students have had the opportunity to receive education at various universities abroad through the Erasmus student exchange program. During this period, numerous international students have also studied at our university, and our faculty members have given lectures at foreign universities as part of the faculty exchange program.
Farabi Exchange Program
In short, the "Farabi Exchange Program," officially known as the "Student and Academic Staff Exchange Program Among Higher Education Institutions in Turkey," is a program facilitating the exchange of students and academic staff among universities and institutes of higher technology that provide education at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The program aims to enable students or academic staff to continue their education and teaching activities at a higher education institution other than their own for one or two semesters. The principles governing the implementation of the Farabi Exchange Program are detailed in the Regulation and Principles and Procedures. Our university has initiated activities within the framework of the Farabi Exchange Program, including the establishment of a dedicated webpage and the signing of Farabi Exchange Protocols with various universities.