FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CONTENTS
1. English Preparatory Program and exams given at the beginning of the academic year
2. Preparatory program, exams, and attendance
3. Orientation
4. Departments in which English is not compulsory
5. Psychological Support and Counselling Center (PDRM)
6. Contact
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1. ENGLISH PREPARATORY PROGRAM AND EXAMS GIVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR |
Is the English Preparatory Program compulsory for all students?
The English Preparatory Program is “compulsory” for students who are registered in departments in which the medium of instruction is completely or partly English. Students registered in departments in which attending the English Preparatory Program is “voluntary” are required to inform the Directorate of the School of Foreign Languages during their registration if they wish to attend the English Preparatory Program.
How long is the English Preparatory Program?
The normal period of study for the English Preparatory Program is 1 (one) academic year, and the maximum duration is 2 (two) academic years. Students who successfully complete the program at the end of the first academic year start attending their respective programs at the university at the beginning of the second academic year; while those who are not successful continue to attend the English Preparatory Program. Students who fail to complete the English Preparatory Program until the end of the second academic year are (academically) dismissed from the university.
Students attending the English Preparatory Program but who are registered in departments in which English is voluntary start attending their respective programs at the beginning of the second academic year, whether they successfully complete the English Preparatory Program or not. These students are required to apply to the Directorate of the School of Foreign Languages if they wish to continue attending the English Preparatory Program in the second academic year.
How can I be exempt from the English Preparatory Program?
New students who want to be exempt from the English Preparatory Program are required to take and pass the exams given by the School of Foreign Languages English Preparatory Program. In addition, students who hold a document verifying that they have achieved an acceptable score in an international English proficiency exam (e.g. TOEFL, Pearson PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced – CAE)) recognized by the Senate at Bahçeşehir University, may be exempt from the English Preparatory Program, as well as undergraduate students who have attended a program instructed 100% in English at their previous university and who hold a document verifying their Proficiency in English from the relevant university’s English Preparatory Program.
Which exams do l have to take to be exempt from the English Preparatory Program?
The English Placement Exam is an exam for evaluating the English proficiency levels of the students who will be attending university for the first time, and for determining the students who are eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam (that will be administered subsequently). All new undergraduate students registered in departments in which the medium of instruction is completely or partly English (English is compulsory) and students registered in departments in which English is voluntary but wish to attend the English Proficiency Program (including those who will be studying in the US, UK & Canada as well as the students who will be studying in İstanbul) are required to take the English Placement Exam. Students who achieve a net score of 30 out of 60 on this exam are eligible to take the English Proficiency Examination, while those who score less than the above-mentioned rates and fail, are placed in an appropriate level in the English Preparatory Program based on the results of their English Placement Exam.
The English Placement Exam will be administered FACE-TO-FACE on September 7, 2022, Wednesday at 10 a.m. Students will have 75 minutes to complete the exam.
The English Placement Exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions on grammar and reading comprehension. In scoring the multiple-choice questions on the English Placement Exam, for every 4 (four) incorrect answers, one correct answer WILL BE DEDUCTED.
You can access sample questions for the English Placement Exam through the sub link “English Placement Exam Sample Questions” on the website of the Bahçeşehir University School of Foreign Languages.
You can learn the result of your English Placement Exam given at the beginning of the academic year, by clicking on the sub link “Announcements and News” on the Web page of the School of Foreign Languages, on September 10, Saturday, as indicated in the Academic Calendar and the Registration Guide.
Students who achieve a net score of at least 30 out of 60 in this exam are eligible to take the English Proficiency Exam.
The English Proficiency Examination is an exam that assesses the students’ proficiency in English and that may exempt the students from the English Preparatory Program. Students who are successful in the English Placement Exam administered at the beginning of the academic year and students who pass B2 level with a minimum score of 65 or B1 level with a minimum score of 80 (only in module 2, 4 & 5) are eligible for the English Proficiency Exam. Students who pass the proficiency exam are matriculated into their departments.
The English Proficiency Exam is held four times during an academic year: in September, January, May, and July. (For exam dates please refer to the Academic Calendar of the School of Foreign Languages).
The English Proficiency Exam will be administered FACE-TO-FACE on September 12, (Monday) 2022 at Besiktas South and North Campuses and BAU Future Campus located in Kemerburgaz. The written exam will be administered between 9 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. The speaking exam will be administered in the afternoon between 13:30 p.m. and 17:30 p.m. on the basis of an online appointment system.
For undergraduate students and Vocational School students who would like to transfer to the 4-year undergraduate programs, the minimum passing grade required is 60 (sixty) out of 100 (one hundred).
For students of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Dentistry, the minimum passing grade is 70 (seventy) out of 100 (one hundred).
For undergraduate students in the Department of English Language Teaching and Faculty of Medicine, the minimum passing grade required is 80 (eighty) out of 100 (one hundred).
Written Exam: assesses the reading and writing skills of the students, and their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.
Speaking Exam: assesses the students’ speaking skills.
You can find more detailed information and sample English Proficiency Exams through the sub link “English Proficiency Sample Exams” on the website of the Bahçeşehir University School of Foreign Languages.
You can learn the result of your English Proficiency Exam by clicking on the sub link “Announcements and News” on the website of the School of Foreign Languages, on September 15, Thursday, as indicated in the Academic Calendar of the School of Foreign Languages and the Registration Guide.
Books aimed at KPDS, TOEFL, YDS / e- YDS / YÖKDİL, CAE exams or any other English Proficiency Exam would be appropriate.
How am I assigned to a class in the English Preparatory Program?
Students who score below net 30 out of 60 questions in the English Placement Exam and students who fail in the English Proficiency Exam are assigned to classes appropriate to their levels. Classes will start on October 3, 2022, Monday.
Do I have a chance of being exempt from the English Preparatory Program without sitting the English Proficiency Exam?
For a student to be exempt from the English Preparatory Program, the student must achieve a satisfactory score in an international exam whose equivalency is recognized by Bahçeşehir University. Foreign language exam results received in the last two years are acceptable.
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For undergraduate students |
For students registered in the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Pharmacy: |
For students registered in the Department of English Language Teaching (ELT) and Faculty of Medicine: |
Valid for |
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TOEFL IBT 72* |
TOEFL IBT 75* |
TOEFL IBT 79* |
2 years |
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Pearson PTE Academic 55 |
Pearson PTE Academic 71 |
Pearson PTE Academic 78 |
2 years |
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CAE C |
CAE B |
CAE A |
2 years |
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YDS / e- YDS / YÖKDİL 60 |
YDS / e- YDS / YÖKDİL 70 |
YDS / e- YDS / YÖKDİL 80 |
5 years |
* TOEFL® is valid for 2 years after the test date. Bahcesehir University’s institution code for ordering your official TOEFL Test score from ETS is C471. There is no department code, this can be left blank. Test taker copies are not accepted, and test scores need to be sent directly by ETS. Applicants can order their score reports through their test taker profile by indicating Bahcesehir University’s institution code. Bahcesehir University verifies the TOEFL results in the online verification system provided by ETS. Additional information can be found here www.toeflgoanywhere.org
Bahcesehir University does not accept TOEFL Special Home Edition™ scores.
Also undergraduate students who submit “English proficiency documents” verifying that they have successfully completed the English Preparatory Program of a university in Turkey within the last two years in which the medium of instruction is 100% English, as well as students who have attended high school at least in the last three years in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Southern Ireland), New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States and have completed their education in an institution which the citizens of those countries attend, may be exempt from the English Preparatory Program.
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2. English Preparatory Program, Exams, and Attendance |
What is the teaching system in the English Preparatory Program?
A modular system (course system) is in effect for students attending the English Preparatory Program. The Academic Year is comprised of a total of 5 eight-week modules in length and the program offers 4 levels (A1, A2, B1, B2) and a Proficiency Exam Preparation Course (PREP-C). Students are required to successfully complete each level before they can advance to the next level.
A student is required to complete each level successfully with an overall grade of at least 65 to advance to a higher level.
A student is required to comply with the school’s attendance requirements for that module in to be eligible to take the End of Module Exam.
What are the requirements for eligibility to take the English Proficiency Exams offered during the academic year?
For the English Proficiency Exams held during the academic year in January, May, and July, PREP-C level students who have fulfilled their attendance requirements and students who have successfully completed the B2 level and/or B1 level students (except for English Language Teaching and Faculty of Medicine students) who have performed exceptionally well and achieved an overall minimum grade of 80 (eighty) in modules 2, 4 and 5 are eligible to take the English Proficiency Examination.
English Language Teaching (ELT) students and students from the Faculty of Medicine are required to pass B2 level to be eligible for the proficiency exam. They cannot take the exam even if their B1 average is 80 or more.
All students who have failed in the English Proficiency Examinations given in the previous academic year reserve the right to take the English Proficiency Examination given at the beginning of the following academic year, and those students who successfully pass the English Proficiency Examination become eligible to study in their respective departments.
If I successfully complete the English Preparatory Program at the end of the 1st Semester, can I register for courses in my department in the 2nd Semester?
(Undergraduate) students who successfully complete the English Preparatory Program at the end of the 1st semester (those who pass the English Proficiency Exam) start attending classes in the respective departments of their faculties in the 2ndsemester. All students who successfully complete the program at the end of the 1st semester are required to register for courses offered by their faculties.
Is attendance compulsory in the English Preparatory Program?
Yes, regular attendance is required in the English Preparatory Program. Students studying at all levels of the English Preparatory Program must meet the attendance requirements of each module to qualify for the End of Module Exam given at the end of that module. Students are responsible for keeping track of their class attendance through the Student Information System (SAP).
The upper limit for absenteeism is 20 (twenty) class hours for 8-week modules (attendance requirement is 90% of the total class hours of that module) or 40 (forty) class hours for the extended module, with or without a doctor’s report. Students who exceed this absenteeism limit cannot take the end of module exam.
Am I entitled to make-ups for the exams that I have missed?
Make-up exams are given for some tasks and exams if students submit a medical report from the following health institutions: Public Hospitals, Group A Private Hospitals or Family Practice Centers. (14th article of the Higher Education Law no. 2547 and 47th amendment of the Establishment of Higher Education Institutions Law no. 2809). Medical reports must be submitted to the English Preparatory School Student Affairs Office within 5 (five) working days following the final date of the report. Students are informed about the exams for which they can make up at the beginning of the academic year.
How can I keep track of my grades and my attendance record?
You can check your grades and your attendance record by logging into our Student Information System (SAP) on the Bahçeşehir University website using the username and password that have been given to you during your registration (process).
What should I do if I encounter technical problems in online courses and exams?
Students can email Technology Enhanced Language Learning Unit (telu@sfl.bau.edu.tr) for help when they encounter technical problems on any online work or class, or they can send a message to BAU SFL TELU from their itslearning pages.
Can I freeze (suspend) a semester at BAU PREP?
Yes. You have a right to freeze maximum two semesters at English Preparatory Program. Students need to fill out a form at BAU Student Affairs Office (not BAU PREP Student Affairs Office). Those students who freeze a semester or two are required to take the BAU English Placement Exam when they return to study at BAU PREP.
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3. Orientation |
Is participation in the English Preparatory Program Orientation compulsory?
As the orientation meetings provide detailed information about the English Preparatory Program, attendance is compulsory. All information pertaining to the English Preparatory Program will be provided in detail during the orientation period, and all issues that the students are curious about will be answered. If you do not attend the orientation, you could miss out important information on academic subjects and about your responsibilities in the English Preparatory Program. The dates and times of the orientation program will be announced on the sub link Announcements and News of the webpage of the School of Foreign Languages, along with the English Proficiency Exam results.
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4. Departments in which English is not compulsory |
What should students registered in departments in which English is voluntary do if they want to attend the English Preparatory Program?
Students registered in departments in which English is optional but who wish to attend the English Preparatory Program, are required to fill in the “Application Form for Participation in the English Preparatory Program” during their registration, indicating their wish to attend the program. Students who have filled in this form are deemed to have accepted all terms and conditions regarding the English Preparatory Program. Students who fail to fill in this form, or who do not state their wish to do so to the registrar during registration will not be accepted to the English Preparatory Program and will be assigned to their respective departments.
What are the advantages of participating and successfully completing the English Preparatory Program for students registered in departments in which English is optional?
In some departments at Bahçeşehir University, attending and completing the English Preparatory Program is voluntary. However, attending and completing the English Preparatory Program offered in Turkey or abroad will provide these students several opportunities, such as the following:
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5. Psychological Support and Counselling Centre (PDRM) |
Are there Psychological Support and Counselling services at Bahçeşehir University?
Yes, there are. The goal of the Psychological Support and Counselling Center (PDRM) at Bahçeşehir University is to support the personal development of the students, and to equip them with the necessary skills required to adjust to university life to achieve this goal. The Psychological Support and Counselling Center (PDRM) at Bahçeşehir University works as a unit of the Office of the Dean of Students and offers service at all the BAU Campuses. All services at the Center are provided by specialized psychologists, free of charge. Services at all the offices are scheduled by setting appointments.
You can get more information about the services offered, functioning, the staff and how to apply to the Psychological Support and Counselling Center (PDRM) by clicking on the sub link Units on the website of the Dean of the Student Office.
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6. Contact |
You can get information about education, campus life, and examinations at Bahçeşehir University School of Foreign Languages English Preparatory Program (BAU PREP) through the channels listed below.
E-mail: info@sfl.bau.edu.tr
Web page: https://bau.edu.tr/academic/12573-school-of-foreign-languages
Phone: 4442864 (Call Center)
Instagram: bau_prep_
Twitter: @BAU_Prep
