UOL-LSE Honours Programme Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there a fee that should be paid in order to study in the programme in addition to the tuition fee of Istanbul Bilgi University (BILGI)? If yes, does my BILGI scholarship apply to that fee?

Yes, there is an additional tuition fee paid directly to the University of London (UoL) for the programme. As such, student’s BILGI scholarship does not apply for the tuition fee of the UoL. A student who is accepted in the honours programme must pay tuition fees of both BILGI and the UoL. Total 3-year tuition fee of the UoL was £ 7200 in October 2021 and UoL holds the right to change this total. Yearly payment demanded by the UoL is made in two instalments, one in November and the other in January and these processes of tuition payment to UoL are completely independent of BILGI.

BILGI, on the other hand, offers honours programme scholarships that vary between 20% and 75% of the tuition fee of the UoL, for the students of the programme. Minimum requirement to apply for this scholarship is 3.20/4.00 GPA, among other criteria to apply to the programme. The selection committee considers both academic success and financial need of the applicant to award a scholarship for the new entrants. For the following two years in the honours programme, the scholarship is based only on academic merit.

• I have an OSYM scholarship. Is there a chance that I lose my scholarship upon entry to the Honours Programme?

Economics Honours programme is a route under the Economics programme in Faculty of Business and similarly Economics – Finance Honours programme is a route under the Economics - Finance programme. Therefore a transfer to one of the Honours programmes is realised under the same conditions and criteria that applies to a transfer to their respective parent programmes. Therefore if a candidate cannot realize the conditions to keep his/her OSYM scholarship when transferred to one of the parent programmes, s/he will lose the scholarship upon transferring to the honours programme as well. Candidates are strongly advised to contact Emine Çağan (emine.cagan@bilgi.edu.tr) in Student Support Centre to learn about their own personal standing regarding this matter.

• Is there a limit to the number of places offered in the Honours Programme?

No. The selection committee tends to accept applications of all candidates who appear to have adequate academic background, as evidenced by their GPA, mathematics and English, and study camp results, and necessary motivation, as demonstrated in Statements of Purpose and interview, to successfully complete the programme.

• Is GPA the most important criterion to make an application strong?

As discussed in response to the previous question, the committee accepts all applications that it believes to be a successful prospect for the programme, therefore no criterion can be said to solely decide whether a candidate is accepted or not. However, it should be noted that, a higher GPA, higher maths grades, higher English results, higher study camp results, all mean a stronger application for the candidate and as such a better chance to be accepted.

• Will Management and Digital Innovation Programme accept students this year?

No.

• I am an Economics – Finance student applying for Economics – Finance in Honours Programme OR I am an Economics student applying for Economics in Honours Programme. Do I still have to write a Statement of Purpose/ attend study camp/ enter written exam or enter interview (oral exam)?

Yes. Writing a statement of purpose, attending the study camp and entering written exam and interview (oral exam), all four, are compulsory for all candidates.

• What are the content of the courses that will be held in the study camp?

Introductory microeconomics and mathematics courses will be taught. Recommended readings will be sent to the candidates shortly before the camp begins.

• What type of questions is asked in the interview (oral exam)? Is the interview (oral exam) in English?

The interview is a meeting with the candidate through which the selection committee sees and understands how motivated the candidate is to undertake the demanding academic undertakings of the Honours Programme. It is held in English and scientific questions may be asked if the need arises.

• Can I apply online?

Yes you can apply online via sending the soft copies of your documents to Neslihan Sözeri (neslihan.sozeri@bilgi.edu.tr).

• How do I know that I satisfy Mathematics Proficiency Condition?

If a candidate’s final year grade in high school, or for foreign candidates it’s conversion to numerical system, is greater than 70, than the candidate satisfies the mathematics proficiency.

If a candidate’s letter grades from her/his first year mathematics courses at BILGI are at least B- or better, than the candidate satisfies the mathematics proficiency.

If a candidates one letter grade from the first year mathematics courses is better than B- and one is lower than that, then average of the two grades are taken and if the average is B- (2.7) than the candidate satisfies the mathematics proficiency.  Method of calculation with examples is given below:  A=4, B=3, C =2, D =1 and F=0. For a plus grade, 0.3 should be added; C + = 2.3, B + = 3.3 etc. For a minus grade 0.3 should be subtracted; A-=3.7, B-=2.7 etc. Therefore if the simple arithmetic average of the two maths courses is 2.7, then it is a B- and proficiency condition is satisfied.  Let’s say a candidate achieved an A from one of the math courses and D+ from the other: 4+1.3=5.3. 5.3/2=2.65, 2.7 when rounded up, the candidate has a B- and satisfies the condition but A- and D+ for instance is insufficient do since the average is 2.5.

• I want to satisfy English Proficiency Condition via IELTS. Should I take the academic or general training test?

As per the requirements of University of London, a 6.0 result from both types of IELTS suffices.

• I am an irregular student/ I have completed more than 60 credits in my original programme, can I apply to transfer to the Honours Programme?

Yes, you can, given that you have completed the 60 credits (exemptions will be accounted for) from the first two academic semesters and you satisfy the remaining conditions. However, if you are accepted, the courses you have completed from semester 3 and above in your original major, cannot be transferred to Honours Programme, they will be discarded and you continue from the beginning of the third academic semester.  As such irregular students should complete the total 60 credits offered to them in the first two academic semesters of their department in order to be eligible for application. Credits above that will be discarded upon the transfer to the Honours Programme. To meet the criterion and receive advice on planning their curriculum with the goal of applying the Honours Programme, the students should consult with their academic advisor.

• Once I am accepted to the programme, what are the requirements to continue?

Of the students who are accepted to the honours programme, those who fail from at least 2 of their courses or fail to have an at least 2.70/4.00 GPA or better, in their first year in the honours programme, will be transferred back to their original programme. For the remaining two years those students whose GPA fall below 2.70/4.00 shall be ‘On Probation’ and they will have to repeat the academic year.

• Will the opportunities for a minor, double major or a student exchange, be changed due to being accepted for the Honours Programme?

Students can be in Honours Programme and study minors and double majors with the same conditions and requirements that apply to any other programme. Similarly conditions and requirements for applying and being accepted for Erasmus Exchange Programme is the same for Honours Programme students with students from any other programme. However credits completed in an Erasmus Exchange Programme cannot be transferred to the Honours Programme curriculum and they will have to be discarded. This automatically means that number of semesters spent in the exchange has to be repeated in the Honours Programme resulting in extra semesters to graduate. The Honours Programme offers its own exchange programme of transferrable curriculum with Higher School of Economics in Moscow.