Foreign Trade
The International Trade Programme of the Department of International Trade commenced full-time education in the 1993–1994 academic year under the name ‘Customs Management Programme’ within the Department of Economic and Administrative Programmes at Mersin Vocational College; in the 2006–2007 academic year, it began admitting students to part-time study under an additional quota. Since the 2010–2011 academic year, the programme has continued its educational activities under the name of the Department of International Trade. From the 2024–2025 academic year onwards, the admission of students to the evening programme has been discontinued, and educational activities are now conducted exclusively within the framework of full-time education.
The aim of the programme is to train qualified international trade professionals who possess the professional knowledge and skills required by businesses operating at national and international levels in areas such as international trade, exports, imports, customs clearance, foreign exchange and international trade accounting; who are capable of analytical thinking, can communicate effectively, are committed to ethical values, able to use technology effectively and adapt to changing global trade conditions.
The programme’s objective is to become the programme of choice for training qualified foreign trade professionals who possess the knowledge, skills and competencies required by the foreign trade sector, are committed to ethical values, think analytically, can use technology effectively and have a commitment to lifelong learning.
Students who successfully complete the compulsory modules and the elective modules required for graduation, achieve a total of 120 ECTS credits, fulfil all programme requirements (including the work placement), and have a minimum overall grade point average of 60.00 are eligible to graduate and receive an Associate Degree in International Trade.
Graduates of the programme may be employed by private-sector companies operating in the fields of foreign trade, imports, exports, customs clearance, logistics and international transport, as well as by customs consultancy firms. Furthermore, following the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS), they may take up posts in relevant public institutions and organisations, primarily the Ministry of Trade.
Students graduating from the programme may transfer to relevant bachelor’s degree programmes in their field, subject to the relevant legislation, following the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM). The bachelor’s degree programmes eligible for transfer are listed in the Vertical Transfer Examination preference guide published by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).