The AÖF honor certificate is issued to students who qualify, and the university notifies the student by SMS or email. Once notified, students who wish to receive the certificate in physical form must log in to the university’s open education automation system. If requested through that system, the honor certificate can be mailed to the address on file.
What Is the AÖF Honor Certificate?
The AÖF honor certificate is essentially the same type of recognition awarded by other educational institutions. It certifies that a student completed the term with high grades and distinguished academic achievement. The certificate is issued to congratulate and encourage the student.
When Is the AÖF Honor Certificate Awarded?
There are specific requirements to qualify for an AÖF honor certificate. A student must take at least 30 ECTS credits in a term and pass all courses taken. Students whose term average is 3.50 or higher receive the High Honor Certificate, while those with a term average above 3.00 receive the Honor Certificate.
If a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) at graduation is 3.00 or higher, they graduate as an Honor Graduate. Graduating with a GPA of 3.50 or higher awards the title of High Honor Graduate. These distinctions are recorded on the graduation transcript and diploma.
How Are AÖF Passing Scores Calculated?
Passing scores vary between universities. Letter grade equivalents and passing thresholds are set by each institution. At Atatürk University’s Open Education Faculty, the minimum passing score is 35; grades below 35 are recorded as FF and indicate failure. At Anadolu University, the passing score is set at 30; grades below 30 are recorded as FF and do not pass.
Additionally, to pass a course the final exam score must be at least 50. Regardless of midterm scores, a final exam below 50 results in failing the course.
When Is the AÖF Honor Certificate Not Granted?
Meeting the grade average alone may not guarantee the AÖF honor certificate. The certificate will not be issued in the following situations:
- The student has a disciplinary sanction.
- A student who has received FF, YZ or DZ letter grades cannot graduate with an honor certificate.
- Courses taken during summer school are not eligible for honor certificates.
- If a course was failed and then retaken, the honor certificate is not awarded for that course.
What Is the Purpose of the AÖF Honor Certificate?
Because the AÖF honor certificate documents successful academic performance, it is commonly included on résumés. Listing the honor certificate on a CV signals to employers that the applicant is disciplined and organized. When applying for jobs related to the field of study, it suggests strong subject knowledge, eagerness to learn, and special interest in the field.
Students who plan to continue with graduate studies often use the certificate in applications. For universities that require an interview, the honor certificate can enhance the applicant’s impression during the interview, giving faculty a more favorable view of the candidate’s discipline and motivation. Additionally, for graduate admissions the student’s GPA is considered alongside ALES and language proficiency scores; a high GPA provides an advantage.
Where to Obtain the AÖF Honor Certificate?
To obtain an AÖF honor certificate, you must apply to the university where you are enrolled. Each university provides an open education student automation system. Log in with your national ID number, student number and password. If an honor certificate has been issued for you, request it from the faculty through that system. Make sure the address information registered in the system is correct; if not, update it before requesting the document.
Anadolu University has discontinued sending term honor certificates by mail. Instead, students can access a PDF version of their personalized honor certificate through Anadolu University’s Open Education Automation. This PDF can be downloaded and printed. Students who prefer a hard copy may also pick up the certificate in person at AÖF offices.
Atatürk University’s Open Education Faculty no longer issues a separate “Honor Graduate” certificate at graduation. The university issues term-based Honor and High Honor certificates instead. These documents can be requested with a digital signature via the Atatürk University Student Information System (OBS). For any document requiring an original wet signature, the university requires a written petition completed by hand. Petitions can be submitted in person, by mail, or by fax.
How Is Eligibility for the AÖF Honor Certificate Calculated?
To qualify for an AÖF honor certificate, a specific grade average must be achieved. You can verify whether you meet this requirement by checking your university’s student system. If the system does not show the information, you must use the university’s grading scale. Common letter grade definitions across universities include:
- FF: Indicates failure in the course.
- CD/DC/DD: Conditionally passed. If the term average is 2.00 or higher, the course is considered passed; below 2.00 it is considered failed.
- CC and above: Unconditional pass.
Numeric equivalents for these letter grades vary by institution because they are tied to each university’s passing threshold. For example, when the passing score is 35, CC corresponds to 35; in institutions with a 50 passing score, CC corresponds to at least 50.
The grade point average is calculated by multiplying the credit of each enrolled course by the numerical coefficient of the letter grade from the relative grading scale, summing those values, and dividing by the total credits of those courses.
When this calculation covers courses taken in a single term, it yields the Term Grade Point Average (TGPA). When it covers all courses taken to date, it yields the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). If a course has been retaken, the most recent grade is used in the CGPA calculation.
When Is the AÖF Honor Certificate Issued?
The AÖF honor certificate is awarded based on term-grade evaluations. If a student meets the end-of-term academic and other requirements, an honor certificate is issued. To be recognized as an Honor Graduate, a student must graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher; a GPA of 3.50 or higher qualifies the student as a High Honor Graduate. Honor certificates are issued alongside diplomas. If you want to receive the physical certificate during graduation formalities, notify the university; otherwise the honor designation may only be recorded on the diploma and transcript.
Where to Check If You Have an AÖF Honor Certificate?
To verify whether you have been awarded an AÖF honor certificate, check your university’s student system. Universities notify eligible students by SMS or email. If you no longer have access to the university system because you have graduated, you can check through the e-Devlet portal. E-Devlet does not display the honor certificate itself, but it allows viewing the graduation certificate and transcript. If you graduated as an honor student, this status will be noted on your graduation certificate and transcript.