English Language Teaching Programme

The English Language Teaching Programme is an undergraduate programme within the Department of Foreign Language Education, Faculty of Education. It was founded in 1994 to train English teachers and higher-education instructors qualified to work at every level of education (primary, secondary, and tertiary), admitted its first students in 1999, and as of 2026 has graduated its 24th cohort.

Students who successfully complete the programme are awarded the Bachelor's Degree in English Language Teaching (Diploma). A compulsory one-year English Preparatory Class has been in place since 2016 (this year is not included in the programme duration). Students who provide documented proof of a passing score on a national or international foreign-language examination recognised by the University, or who pass the English proficiency examination held at the start of the academic year, are admitted directly to the first year.

The programme is subject to the provisions of the "Regulation on Foreign Language Teaching and Instruction in Foreign Languages at Higher Education Institutions."

This is a 240-ECTS, eight-semester (four-year) undergraduate programme. Of the total ECTS credits, 139 (57.9%) consist of English-medium subject-area courses; subject-area courses are conducted entirely in English, while Educational Sciences and General Culture courses are conducted in Turkish.

The programme meets the ECTS and qualification requirements defined as "First Cycle" in the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA), "Level 6" in the Turkish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (TQF-HE), and "Level 6" in the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF-LLL); total student workload ranges between 6,000 and 7,200 hours (1 ECTS = 25–30 hours; see tyyc.yok.gov.tr).

Graduates are entitled to teach English at schools of every level affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, and may also work in private educational institutions or organisations requiring foreign-language proficiency, or pursue graduate studies.

Admission to the programme is based on the Foreign Language Test (YDT) score obtained within the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), administered nationally by ÖSYM (the Student Selection and Placement Centre).

To be admitted to the programme, candidates must achieve a national ranking of at least 300,000th place in the YDT score type, in line with the general rule applied by the Council of Higher Education to faculties of education and teacher-training programmes; candidates ranked below this threshold are not admitted. Current cut-off scores and rankings can be tracked via YÖK Atlas.

In placing Turkish national candidates, secondary-school achievement scores are taken into account in addition to YKS scores. International students may be admitted without examination, on the basis of a secondary-school diploma and internationally valid examination results accepted by the University, in accordance with Council of Higher Education decisions and principles adopted by the University Senate. Exchange students are admitted under bilateral agreements such as Erasmus+/Mevlana; visiting students may attend courses with the approval of the relevant academic unit.

Transfer Admission: As 57.9% of the programme's courses are conducted in English, applicants for transfer admission must demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum required score is 80; this may be met either by scoring 80 or above on the University's own proficiency examination, or through an equivalent score/certificate from examinations such as YÖKDİL, YDS, or TOEFL. Equivalencies are assessed on the basis of ÖSYM's current International Foreign Language Examinations Equivalency Document (dated 11 March 2025). Other transfer applications are evaluated by the transfer committee formed with the opinion of the relevant Department, in accordance with applicable legislation.

Documents Required for Enrolment: The original or a University-certified copy of a secondary-school diploma or equivalent document; the ÖSYS/YKS result document; and a declaration regarding military-service status and criminal record. Candidates who do not apply within the registration period or fail to provide the required documents are not enrolled.

For the full legal basis, see the Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Student Registration and Admission Regulation.

Students continuing in the programme may be exempted from courses taken at a previous institution, in accordance with the relevant regulations. Where the content of the course(s) taken is consistent with the content of the corresponding course(s) in this programme, and subject to approval by the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Education, the student may be exempted from such course(s).

To be awarded the degree, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 out of 4.00, successfully complete all compulsory courses and other prescribed requirements of the curriculum, and complete a total workload of 240 ECTS credits; the relevant administrative board decides on the award of the degree.

The Department of Foreign Language Education runs a 240-ECTS, eight-semester undergraduate programme oriented toward training teachers in English Language Education; at present this is the only programme offered by the Department. The aim of the Department is to train English teachers and scholars who are committed to the principles of contemporary education and able to keep pace with developments in educational technology and their field.

The programme offers a curriculum combining theory and practice: the classroom use of foreign-language skills, methods for teaching English as a foreign language and its component skills, the use of technology in language teaching, courses in educational sciences and general culture, and school-experience and teaching-practice courses delivered in coordination with the Department at partner schools.

The academic staff of the programme comprises 3 Professors, 1 Assistant Professor, 1 Instructor, and 1 Research Assistant.

Graduates may work as English teachers in state and private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, and may also work as instructors at higher-education institutions.

Graduates may continue on to graduate study. The Department offers graduates the opportunity to pursue a thesis-based Master's degree in English Language Education through the University's Graduate School.

To graduate, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 out of 4.00, successfully complete all compulsory courses and other prescribed requirements of the curriculum, and complete a total workload of 240 ECTS credits; the relevant administrative board decides on graduation. Graduates receive an English-language Diploma Supplement together with their diploma.

Students are offered the opportunity to learn English during the preparatory year (+1 year); to study for one academic year within Türkiye through the national Farabi Exchange Programme; to study abroad for up to 12 months through the international Erasmus+ and Mevlana Exchange Programmes; and to continue to graduate study after completing the programme.

The Department has three classrooms equipped with computers, projectors and sound systems, one of which houses the departmental library, and provides students with open wireless internet access.

The highest-scoring candidate admitted to this programme who does not receive a scholarship from another institution (excluding those admitted through additional placement) receives a non-repayable scholarship from the İzzet Baysal Foundation; candidates who list this programme among their first five preferences and are placed in it are supported, up to the announced quota, with scholarship status by the Ministry of National Education (this announcement should be followed annually through the relevant authorities; it does not apply to additional placement).