Department of Undergraduate English Program

ENGLISH PREPARATORY PROGRAM REGULATION

SECTION ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis, and Definitions

Purpose

ARTICLE 1-(1) The purpose of this Regulation is to determine the principles of education and instruction to be applied in the English Preparatory Program of Izmir University of Economics.

Scope

ARTICLE 2-(1) This Regulation covers the fundamental issues regarding the education and training to be applied in the compulsory and optional English Preparatory Program for associate, undergraduate, and graduate students at Izmir University of Economics.

Basis

ARTICLE 3-(1) This regulation has been prepared based on the Higher Education Law No. 2547 dated 04.11.1981, and the “Regulation on Principles for Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education Institutions and Teaching in Foreign Languages” published in the Official Gazette No. 29662 dated 23.03.2016.

Definitions

ARTICLE 4-(1) The references in this regulation are as follows:

a) External exam: English language exams not administered by Izmir University of Economics,

b) Graduate School: The Graduate School of Izmir University of Economics,

c) Placement Exam: The Placement Exam administered by Izmir University of Economics,

ç) IUE: Izmir University of Economics,

d) PIE: The Proficiency in English Exam administered by Izmir University of Economics,

e) In-Module-Assessments: Assessments that measure students’ language skills throughout the module,

f) Gateway Exam: The Exam conducted at the end of the module, determining whether students may progress to a higher level,

g) Module: Each eight-week education period,

ğ) Senate: The Faculty Senate of Izmir University of Economics,

h) SFL Administrative Board: The Administrative Board of School of Foreign Languages of Izmir University of Economics,

ı) SFL Board: The Board of School of Foreign Languages of Izmir University of Economics,

i) SFL: The School of Foreign Languages of Izmir University of Economics.

SECTION TWO

Exemption and Proficiency in the English Preparatory Program

Exemption and Proficiency

ARTICLE 5- (1) Associate, undergraduate, and graduate students newly admitted to IUE who meet the conditions specified below, and who document that they meet these conditions by submitting the required documents in full within the registration period, are exempt from the English Preparatory Program without taking the English examinations administered by the School of Foreign Languages.

a) Those who achieve the score determined by the Council of Higher Education in centralized or internationally recognized foreign language exams,

b) Those who studied for at least the last three years in English-medium higher education institutions in countries where English is the native language,

c) Those who have studied for at least the last three years and completed their education at secondary or higher education institutions in a country where English is the native language, provided that these institutions are attended by citizens of that country and the medium of instruction is English,

ç) Those who studied continuously in English-medium programs at a higher education institution affiliated with the Council of Higher Education in the last three years before application,

d) Those who graduated from an English-medium higher education program and applied within three years (of graduation?) to an English-medium associate, undergraduate, or graduate program.

(2) For the score obtained in exams specified in paragraph a, clause 1 of this Article to be considered for evaluation, the exam validity period determined by the relevant institutions conducting the exam shall be taken as the basis. If the validity period of the exam is not specified, this period shall be determined by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education.

(3) Validity period for PIE is 3 years.

(4) SFL may request official transmission of results, investigate, or refuse suspicious external exam results.

(5) Newly admitted associate, undergraduate, and graduate students at IEU who do not meet the exemption conditions specified in this article, are administered first the Placement exam and then the PIE exam to determine their English language proficiency and level.

Placement Exam

ARTICLE 6- (1) Administered to determine students’ language levels.

(2) Students who score 70.00 or above on this exam are eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE). Those who do not achieve a sufficient score on the English Placement Exam (İDBS) and are required to study in the English Preparatory Program continue at the appropriate level of the program based on their scores.

Proficiency in English Exam (PIE)

ARTICLE 7- (1) Determines if students possess sufficient language skills to follow academic courses. This exam measures students' language skills and proficiency in terms of grammar, reading, listening, note-taking, written expression, and oral expression.

(2) Students, who score at least 40% of the total points within each section of the PIE (writing, listening and reading, grammar, and speaking sections) and whose total PIE score is 65.00 or higher for associate and undergradaute degree programs, or who achieve the total score determined by the Graduate School Board for the relevant program in graduate degree programs, are considered to have passed the PIE and proceed to their academic program. Students who pass the PIE will receive a “S-Satisfactory” grade on their transcripts, which does not affect their GPA, while those who fail will receive a “U-Unsatisfactory” grade. Students must attend all sessions of the exam. Associate and undergraduate students who do not receive a sufficient score on the PIE continue in the English Preparatory Program at the appropriate level according to the score they receive.

(3) Whether graduate students will benefit from the English Preparatory Program is determined by the Senate upon the recommendation of the Graduate School Board.

(4) Students who have frozen their registration in the fall and/or spring semesters of the relevant academic year may take the end of the academic year English Proficiency Exam (PIE); those who have not renewed their registration (i.e., remained inactive) in both semesters and/or only in the spring semester, may also take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) at the end of the academic year if they enroll in the English Preparatory Summer School Program.

(5) There is no make-up exam for the PIE.

SECTION THREE

Education in the English Preparatory Program

Compulsory English Preparatory Program

ARTICLE 8-(1) The aim of the education and instruction in the English Preparatory Program is to develop students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in the language of instruction of their registered program to the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), thereby equipping them with language skills they can use in their academic and professional lives. Students enrolled in programs in which the medium of instruction is fully or partially English are required to complete the compulsory English preparatory education.

(2) In the Compulsory English Preparatory Program, the regular education period is one year, and the maximum education period is two years. Students, who fail to complete the program within this period, are dismissed from the University. For dismissed students, the procedures outlined in Article 44 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 and in the Regulation on Principles for Foreign Language Teaching in Higher Education Institutions and Teaching in Foreign Languages published in the Official Gazette No. 29662 dated 23.03.2016 shall be applied.

(3) Students who are dismissed from the compulsory English Preparatory Program are, upon application, granted the right to sit three exams within three years in accordance with Article 44 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547. Students who take these exams cannot in any way benefit from student rights, and the time spent taking the exams is not counted towards their period of study. Students who obtain a sufficient score from these exams may re-enroll, provided they meet the registration renewal requirements, and may resume their studies from where they stopped-out. In such cases, the right to take the exam may also be evaluated through the submission of a certificate verifying language exemption within the dates determined by the University. Students who have been dismissed gain the right to begin their associate, undergraduate, or graduate programs if they are successful in the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) or if they submit a certificate verifying language exemption within the registration period. Students entitled to begin their programs are required to pay the fees determined for the relevant academic year and to fulfill any additional obligations set by the University.

Optional English Preparatory Program

ARTICLE 9-(1) Students in Turkish-medium programs may register to the English Preparatory Program if the quota allows.

(2) The maximum duration in the study in the Optional English Preparatory Program is two years.

(3) Students in the Optional English Preparatory Program may transfer to their registered program, regardless of success at the end of first semester. Students who fail the English Preparatory Program at the end of the first year may continue their English Preparatory Program education in the second year by applying to the SFL with a written request, if they so desire.

(4) These students may take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) by submitting a petition to the School of Foreign Languages no later than seven days before the exam date, at any time during their studies in their registered programs.

Modular System

ARTICLE 10- (1) The English Preparatory Program uses a modular system. An academic year consists of four modules. Each module lasts for eight weeks.

(2) The modular system in the English Preparatory Program consists of the following levels:

a) Level A (Elementary): Students who begin the modular system at Level A progress sequentially through Levels A, B, C, and D. Students at Level A become eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) upon successfully completing each module they attend.

b) Level B (Pre-Intermediate Level): Students who begin the modular system at Level B progress sequentially through Levels B, C, and D. Students at Level B become eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) upon successfully completing each module they attend.

c) Level C (Intermediate Level): Students who begin the modular system at Level C progress sequentially through Levels C and D. Students at Level C become eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) upon successfully completing each module they attend.

ç) Level D (Upper-Intermediate Level): Students who begin the modular system at Level C and successfully complete this level proceed to Level D. Students at Level D become eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) upon successfully completing the module they attend.

(3) Pre-Faculty Program: Students who successfully complete Level D at the end of the Second Module and are exempted from the PIE under Article 14(5) of this directive, or who take and pass the PIE under Article 7(2), may, if they wish, continue in the “Pre-Faculty Program” during the Third and Fourth Modules upon payment of the relevant semester fee. In such cases, their class status remains “Preparatory” until the end of the relevant academic year

(4) PIE Success Program: Students who successfully complete Level D at the end of Module Two but fail the PIE may, if they wish, continue with the “PIE Success Program” in Modules Three and Four, provided they pay the relevant semester fee.

Summer School

ARTICLE 11- (1) A summer school program may be offered for students who have failed at any level during the academic year or who have not achieved a sufficient score on the PIE.

(2) Students who register for the summer school and meet the attendance requirement are eligible to take the PIE exam given at the end of the program.

English Preparatory Support Group

ARTICLE 12- (1) Students, who are not successful after two semesters (fall, spring) in the English Preparatory Program, may attend the English Preparatory Support Group in the following semester if they wish, on the condition that they renew their registration.

(2) Students attending the English Preparatory Support Group are placed into two groups by the SFL based on their levels as “Support 1” and “Support 2”.

(3) Students in this group are allowed to take the English Proficiency Exam (PIE) even if they do not meet the attendance requirement; however, in such cases, the scores they obtain from the exams in the Support Group are not added to their PIE score at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th modules. If students fulfill the attendance requirement, the scores they obtain from the exams in the English Preparatory Support Group are added to their PIE score at a ratio determined by the School of Foreign Languages Executive Board.

(4) Students who have completed the English Preparatory Support Group and subsequently fail the PIE exams taken during the Fall and Spring semesters and at the end of the year are granted the right to take the PIE exam organized for newly enrolled students before they are dismissed.

Non-Compulsory Attendance Status

ARTICLE 13- (1) Students, who are not successful after two semesters (fall, spring) in the English Preparatory Program and who do not wish to continue with the English Preparatory Support Program may apply to the Student Affairs Directorate to be in “Non-Compulsory Attendance” status in the following semesters until the maximum period of study expire.

(2) The time spent in this status is considered equivalent to the time spent in the English Preparatory Program. Students in Non-Compulsory Attendance status pay half of the tution fee.

(3) These students do not attend the English Preparatory Program courses, however, they have the right to take the PIE exam in the Fall and/or Spring semesters and the PIE at the end of the year. Students who pass this exam, or bring the external exam result certificate specified in Article 5 of this regulation, will begin the education programs to which they have been accepted. Students who fail the PIE, if their maximum period has not expired, continue their education at the level in the English Preparatory Support Group in which they were placed by SFL.

Success Criteria and Conditions for Completion of the Preparatory Program

ARTICLE 14 – (1) Students who successfully complete Levels A, B, and C advance to the next level and continue their studies. The final level to be achieved in the English Preparatory Program is Level D.

(2) The conditions that students must meet to successfully complete Levels A, B, C, and D are determined by the SFL Board and announced at the beginning of each academic year. Students who fail a level must repeat that level.

(3) Students who successfully complete Level D are eligible to take the PIE. Students who pass the PIE, who are exempt from this exam, or whose English proficiency is deemed sufficient in accordance with Article 5 of this regulation, may begin associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs.

(4) Students who begin the academic year at Level A, and fail no more than any level once are eligible to take the PIE administered at the end of Module 4, if they achieve Level C in Module 4 and receive a final module assessment score of 70 or higher.

(5) Regardless of the level they were placed in at the beginning of the academic year, students who successfully complete the progressive levels in the English Preparatory Program and reach Level D, and who also successfully complete this level, will be exempt from taking the PIE and proceed to their academic program if the average of the end-of-module assessment scores they obtain per module (Level A, B, and C Gateway Exam Score and Level D Module Assessment Score) is 80 or above. Students exempt from the PIE cannot take the PIE. These students receive a “S-Satisfactory” grade on their transcripts, which does not affect their GPA.

(6) To successfully complete the Pre-Faculty Program, students must obtain a total score of at least 70.00 from their In-Module In-module assessments. For students enrolled in this program, either their annual average that granted them exemption from the PIE under Article 14(5) of this regulation, or their PIE score obtained under Article 7(2), is recorded on their transcripts at the end of the relevant academic year as “S-Satisfactory,” which does not affect their grade point average. The grades obtained from the Pre-Faculty Program are evaluated in accordance with the “School of Foreign Languages Undergraduate and Accociate English Language Programmes Fundamentals of Education and Evaluation Principles".

(7) Students continuing in the “PIE Success Program” will have their grades from the exams given in the program added to their PIE scores at the end of the relevant module at a ratio determined by the SFL Board, provided they meet the attendance requirement. If students do not meet the attendance requirement, their grades from the exams given in the program will not be added to their PIE scores.

SECTION FOUR

Evaluation Methods in the English Preparatory Program

Evaluation Methods

ARTICLE 15- (1) In the English Preparatory Program, evaluation methods are applied with content and percentage weights determined by the SFL Board and are announced to students by the SFL.

(2) The modular system evaluation methods consist of in-module assessments and an end-of-module Gateway Exam.

(3) In-module assessments: These are in-class evaluations applied throughout the module to measure students' language skills.

a) Students in levels A (Elementary), B (Pre-Intermediate), and C (Intermediate) who score a total of at least 60.00 points on on in-module assessments and fulfill the attendance requirement meet the conditions to take the Gateway Exam for that module. Students who do not meet these conditions will repeat the same level with different teaching materials.

b) Students in level D (Upper Intermediate) who successfully score a total of at least 65.00 points on in-module assessments and fulfill the attendance requirement are entitled to take the PIE given at the end of the module. D-level students who score between 60.00 and 64.99 on these assessments have the right to retake the in-module assessment in which they received the lowest score among the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar skills. When calculating the final score for students in this situation, the higher score from the relevant on in-module assessments is considered. Students who do not meet these conditions will repeat the same level with different teaching materials.

(4) The Gateway Exam: This is an exam given at the end of each module to measure whether students have achieved the goals of the completed module and have the necessary skills for the next level. No make-up exams are offered for students who are unable to take the Gateway Exam.

a) For students at levels A, B, and C to advance to the next level, they must attend all sessions of the Gateway Exam and score a total of 60.00 or higher. Students who score between 50.00 and 59.99 at level A, or between 55.00 and 59.99 at levels B and C, pass to the next level with conditional success. Students with this status must meet the necessary conditions from the in-module assessments and complete the tasks assigned to them by the SFL to be successful at the next level. Students who do not meet these conditions will repeat the same level with different teaching materials.

b) The Gateway Exam is not administered at the end of level D; students’ success is determined by their on in-module assessments.

SECTION FIVE

Other Provisions

Attendance

ARTICLE 16- (1) Attendance in classes and participation in all course activities is mandatory in the English Preparatory Program. Students who fail to maintain sufficient attendance in the English Preparatory Program, regardless of their level, cannot advance to the next level and/or take the PIE, even if they achieve the required score from the in-module assessments.

(2) Students are required to fulfill their attendance obligation at the rate determined and announced by the SFL Board, taking into account the principles established by the Council of Higher Education. Students who fail to maintain sufficient attendance cannot take the end-of-module exam and/or the PIE, or obtain exemption from the PIE. Monitoring students' attendance status is the responsibility of the instructor teaching the course.

Clerical Errors in Grading

ARTICLE 17- (1) The Gateway Exam and PIE results will be announced by the SFL within three business days following the exam.

(2) Students may submit a written appeal to the SFL regarding grading errors in their Gateway Exam and PIE results within three business days of the announcement of grades.

(3) The exam documents of students who object to their exam grades are reviewed for grading errors. If any errors are found, the request for correction is decided upon and announced by the SFL Administrative Board.

Late-Registered Students

ARTICLE 18 - (1) The English language proficiency of students who have been admitted to the university through the OSYM additional quota, through transfer, etc., is determined by the results of the exams administered by the SFL. Students who will receive education in the Preparatory Program continue their education according to the level determined for them during the relevant semester. Additional quota, vertical transfer students may attend the Summer School free of charge in accordance with the relevant Senate decision.

(2) Students admitted to the University at the beginning of the Spring Semester who are enrolled in the English Preparatory Program may take the PIE exam administered at the end of the relevant academic year. Students who fail this exam will be placed in the appropriate level for the following academic year based on the results of an exam administered by the SFL.

Deferred Registration

ARTICLE 19-(1) The procedures regarding deferred registration are indicated in the Regulation for Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examinations, which is published in the Official Gazette dated 22.1.2013 and numbered 28536.

(2) Students who defer registration, cannot attend the courses or the exams during the deferred period.

(3) The English proficiency levels of students who have deferred their registration and wish to resume their studies by renewing their registration is determined by the results of an exam administered by the SFL. In the relevant semester, students continue their education according to their determined proficiency levels. Students who have studied in the Preparatory Program for two semesters continue their education in the English Preparatory Support Group in the following semester.

Non Provisional Circumstances

ARTICLE 20-(1) Provisions of the IUE “Core Bylaw” published in Official Gazette dated 03.11.2001 and numbered 24572, IUE “Regulation for Associate and Undergraduate Degree Education and Examinations” published in the Official Gazette dated 22.1.2013 and numbered 28536, IUE “Faculty of Medicine Education and Examination Bylaw” published in the Official Gazette dated 9.10.2017 and numbered 30205, IUE “Graduate Degree Education Bylaw” published in the Official Gazette dated 28.11.2016 and numbered 29902, and IUE “Summer School Bylaw” published in the Official Gazette dated 01.08.2002 and numbered 24833, and provisions of other respective legislations shall be taken into account should non provisional cases occur in this regulation.

SECTION SIX

Effectiveness and Enforcement

Effectiveness

ARTICLE 21-(1) This regulation takes effect on the date it is approved by the University Senate.

Enforcement

ARTICLE 22-(1) The Rector of Izmir University of Economics enforces the provisions of this regulation.

Repealed Regulations

ARTICLE 23 – (1) The “English Preparatory Program Regulation”, which took effect with the Senate decision dated 06.11.2019 and numbered 374-A/4, and the decision of the Board of Trustees dated 19.11.2019 and numbered 28, has been repealed.

References

ARTICLE 24 – (1) References made to the “English Preparatory Program Regulation,” which took effect with the Senate decision dated 06.11.2019 and numbered 374-A/4, and decision of the Board of Trustees dated 19.11.2019 and numbered 28, shall be deemed to be made to this regulation.

Amendments

ARTICLE 25 – (1) This regulation may be amended by decision of the IUE Senate.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1- (1) Students enrolled in the English Preparatory Support Program during the 2024-2025 academic year may also benefit from the “right to enter the PIE” mentioned in the fourth paragraph of Article 12 of this regulation.

This regulation took effect with the Senate decision dated 20.08.2025 and numbered 561-2025/18.

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