School of Applied Sciences
Tourism Guidance
Applications open
Tuition and study format
Academic year: 2026/27
Intakes and application dates
- 2026/2027 Ön BaşvuruApplications openJanuary 1, 2026 — August 31, 2027
Programme information package
The programme's definition and learning outcomes, as the university publishes them in its official information package.
Programme definition
History
The Department of Tourism Guidance started education within the Istanbul Nişantaşı University School of Applied Sciences in the 2016-2017 academic year and had its first graduates in 2020.
Qualification Awarded
Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Guidance
Level of Qualification (Short Cycle , First Cycle , Second Cycle, Third Cycle)
Bachelor's Degree (EQF-LLL Level 6)
Specific Admission Requirements
Turkish Citizens: Admission and registration to the department are regulated within the framework of the Higher Education Law and its rules. Students are accepted to the department according to the results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS), Basic Proficiency Test (TYT) and Foreign Language Test (YDT) conducted by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). Candidates who have received sufficient scores from TYT and YDT for admission to the department are registered at the university on the dates determined by the Council of Higher Education. Foreign Students: Foreign students are accepted in accordance with the criteria determined by the University Senate. Please review the relevant web page. Lateral Transfer: A student who has started his or her education in an equivalent program at home or abroad can apply for undergraduate lateral transfer. A student's acceptance is examined and evaluated individually before the start of the semester, taking into account each student's conditions and the degree to which he/she has applied. Please review the relevant legislation. İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Önlisans ve Lisans Öğretimi Yatay Geçiş Yönergesi: Exchange Students: Within the scope of student exchange programs approved by the university and the framework of which is determined by an agreement, students from home and abroad can take the courses offered in the program.
Specific Arrangements For Recognition Of Prior Learning (Formal, Non-Formal and Informal)
Students' previous education and achievements can be recognized in accordance with the “İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Önceden Kazanılmış Yeterliliklerin Tanınması, Ders Eşdeğerlik ve İntibak Esasları Yönergesi” and exemption from the necessary courses can be provided accordingly. Link to access the instructions:
Qualification Requirements and Regulations
Qualification Conditions and Rules are as explained in the "Graduation Requirements" section.
Profile of The Programme
Vision: By constantly increasing the quality in scientific research and education activities, contributing to regional development in the future with its expert academic and administrative staff, reaching the top of the preferences of students at national and international levels, being staffed by expert academicians in its field, and being a qualified, natural, historical and cultural institution that the tourism sector needs. The department aims to train contemporary, fair, innovative, creative-thinking, reliable and sharing guiding individuals who research, embrace, protect and promote our heritage and values, and each of whom will be a voluntary promotion ambassador of their own country. Mission: The mission of the Department of Tourism Guidance aims to train professional tourist guides who are well-equipped, cultured, have the necessary skills and foreign language knowledge and are employed by the travel and tourism industry. Program Teaching Objectives • PÖA1: To train qualified tourist guides by enabling students to understand and apply the concepts and principles specific to the tourism guiding profession. • PÖA2: To raise generations who are knowledgeable about tourism activities in Turkey and the world, who learn national and international tourism guidance standards, who follow all social, economic, technological and political developments in the field of tourism guidance in Turkey and the world, and who make lifelong learning a goal.. • PÖA3: To gain the ability to recognize tourism destinations, chronological cultural changes, museums, protected areas, works of art, natural and thematic attractions in Turkey and the world, and to research, learn and interpret them individually, and to practice this subject in different languages, especially Turkish and English. • PÖA4: To raise students' awareness about the legislation, standards and professional values regarding tourism guidance in Turkey and the world, and to motivate them to carry out their profession according to these values. • PÖA5: To prepare students for the profession in line with tourist motivation and satisfaction by teaching concepts related to tourist psychology, tourist perceptions, tourist loyalty. In this context, it can be seen that the department has educational objectives that are compatible with our university's core missions of "lifelong learning" and "raising individuals who evaluate the innovations and opportunities that the technological revolution will bring to social life and business life". In addition, the aims of the Department of Tourism Guidance are for students to recognize and interpret tourism destinations, cultures, museums, works of art, natural and thematic attractions in Turkey and the world; To be able to follow positive sciences such as Archeology and History and obtain up-to-date information about these attractions; become aware of the legislation, standards and basic values regarding tourism guidance in Turkey and the world and be motivated to carry out their profession according to these values; it also includes elements such as tourist psychology, tourist perceptions, learning concepts related to tourist loyalty and becoming ready for the profession in line with tourist motivation and satisfaction. This aim coincides with the university's aim of "raising individuals who produce knowledge based on positive science and can think analytically and critically." Students who want to study in this department are expected to have foreign language and communication skills, be dynamic, have no travel restrictions, have a leadership spirit, be solution-oriented, and have respect, tolerance, kindness and ethical values. In this regard, the department's core duties are; • BÖ1: To develop the knowledge and guidance skills required to effectively promote cultural, historical and natural riches by ensuring that students understand and apply the basic concepts in all aspects of the tourism guiding profession. • BÖ2: To provide students with information to follow current developments in tourism activities in Turkey and around the world, national and international tourism guidance standards, and to enable them to gain lifelong learning and leadership competencies. • BÖ3: To develop students' skills in researching and interpreting tourism destinations and cultural heritage in Turkey and the world, and to enable them to convey this information effectively in different languages, especially Turkish and English. • BÖ4: To raise students' awareness about the legislation, standards and professional values in Turkey and around the world in the tourism guiding profession, and to ensure that they carry out their professional practices in an ethical and professional manner according to these values. • BÖ5: To offer an education that aims to prepare students for the profession by learning about tourist psychology, perceptions and loyalty, and by providing them with the skills necessary to increase tourist motivation and satisfaction. The Department of Tourism Guidance is established to train professional tourist guides who are well-equipped, knowledgeable, cultured, at western standards, and have knowledge of foreign languages, employed by the travel and tourism industry. The department has been accredited by the Tourism Education Evaluation and Accreditation Board (TURAK), a board authorized by YÖKAK and affiliated with the Association of Tourism Academicians, until 31.12.2027 to be re-evaluated on the expiry date.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates With Examples
Tourism is one of the sectors where the employment gap is persistent. The Department of Tourism Guidance is one of the rare departments that does not encounter a situation such as being unemployable after graduation. Students who successfully complete the Tourist Guidance Program have the opportunity to be employed as independent tourist guides, tourist guides affiliated with travel agencies, mid or senior-level managers in tourism enterprises (especially travel businesses), information officers at travel agencies, or museum guides, provided that they participate in domestic field trips organized by universities authorized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and conducted under the supervision and inspection of the Ministry, and meet the foreign language proficiency requirements imposed by the Ministry. Also, graduates of the department who get sufficient scores from the Public Personnel Selection Examination have employment opportunities in public institutions and organizations. They can work in many public and private sector organizations such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tourist Information Offices of Municipalities, Provincial Tourism Directorates, organization and advertising companies, export-import units of private organizations, foreign promotion offices and airports.
Access to Further Studies
Candidates who have successfully completed their undergraduate education can study in postgraduate programs, provided that they receive a valid score from the ALES and have sufficient knowledge of the English language.
Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading
Students who register for the relevant course at the beginning of the semester must attend at least 70% of the theoretical courses and at least 80% of the applied courses in order to take the final exam. Students are subject to midterm and final exams for each course. The contribution of the midterm exam (scores obtained from measurement tools such as homework, laboratory exam, quiz, etc. can also be evaluated as midterm exam grade) to the success grade is 40%, and the contribution of the final exam is 60%. For the measurement and evaluation criteria of each course, you can click on the course name in the Curriculum (below). You can review the relevant regulations and guidelines. In addition, measurement and evaluation methods are also included in the course information packages. İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Ön Lisans ve Lisans Eğitim Öğretim ve Sınav Yönetmeliği
Graduation Requirements
In order to be eligible for graduation, students must have successfully completed all courses in the curriculum (equivalent to a total of at least 240 ECTS) and their overall weighted grade point average at graduation must be at least 2.00 out of 4.00. For graduation, the student must successfully complete the internship or graduation project. Please review the relevant regulations and guidelines. İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Ön Lisans ve Lisans Eğitim Öğretim ve Sınav Yönetmeliği: İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi 8. Yarıyılda İş Başında Mesleki Uygulamalar (İMU) Yönergesi: İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Diploma, Diploma Eki Ve Diğer Belgelerin Düzenlenmesine İlişkin Yönerge:
Mode of Study (Full-Time, Part-Time, E-Learning )
Tam Zamanlı
Address, Programme Director or Equivalent
Department Chair: Asst. Prof. Dr. Süheyla GOLCHESHMEH E-mail: suheyla.golcheshmeh@nisantasi.edu.tr Phone: +90(212)2101010 Adress: Neotech Kampüs, Maslak Mah., Taşyoncası Sok. No: 1V ve No: 1Y, 34398 Sarıyer/İstanbul
Facilities
The department has a balance between theoretical and practical courses. The tourist guide candidate acquires academic knowledge and knowledge of the tourism industry, profession and profession in which he will work. The faculty of the department consists of academics and tourist guides who are generally experienced in tourism, travel management and guidance. Since graduates' learning different foreign languages will give them a priority position when they start working, academic theory courses are supported by practice and foreign language courses. On the other hand, the diversity of elective courses in the last two years of education is also one of the issues taken into consideration within the framework of the curriculum. Guide candidates, who have learned the profession adequately in theory, receive on-the-job professional practice training in the travel industry during a certain period of their education. During their education, students participate in urban and intercity trips and reinforce their theoretical knowledge by visiting historical places, main tourist attractions and museums. Career Counseling: Internship and Job adverts: Graduate Feedbacks:
Programme outcomes
- Has knowledge about the sectoral structure of tourism and the skills of the guiding profession.
- Can express himself/herself correctly in at least two foreign languages, including Turkish and English, and can convey his/her knowledge in these languages.
- He/she is knowledgeable about and defends the geographical, historical, religious, cultural and artistic values of the communities that lived in Anatolia and around the world, the natural and cultural heritage of Turkey, the principles of Atatürk and the fundamental values of the Republic.
- He/she has advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of tourism guidance, travel agency and tour operation and can use this knowledge effectively.
- Has knowledge of first aid, occupational health and safety and can apply it.
- Can make independent decisions, think analytically and strategically, is solution-oriented and can communicate effectively.
- He/she follows economic, political and technological developments, understands the importance of professional and personal learning and is open to lifelong learning.
- Has a high level of professional and scientific ethical awareness, complies with the professional standards required by the tourism guiding profession and is attentive to personal care.
- Has awareness of protecting cultural values and the environment, feels responsible towards society and organizes social projects.
- Analyzes individual and group behavior from a sociological and psychological perspective and develops appropriate behavioral attitudes.
Programme outcomes and the Turkish Qualifications Framework
Each line is an item of the Turkish Qualifications Framework; the numbers beside it are the programme outcomes that meet it.
KNOWLEDGE
- 1
Possess advanced level theoretical and practical knowledge supported by textbooks with updated information, practice equipments and other resources
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9
SKILLS
- 1
Use of advanced theoretical and practical knowledge within the field
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 - 2
Interpret and evaluate data, define and analyze problems, develop solutions based on research and proofs by using acquired advanced knowledge and skills within the field
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10
COMPETENCES ( Competence to Work Independently and Take Responsibility )
- 1
Conduct studies at an advanced level in the field independently
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 10 - 2
Take responsibility both as a team member and individually in order to solve unexpected complex problems faced within the implementations in the field
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 - 3
Planning and managing activities towards the development of subordinates in the framework of a project
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 10
COMPETENCES ( Learning Competence )
- 1
Evaluate the knowledge and skills acquired at an advanced level in the field with a critical approach
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 - 2
Determine learning needs and direct the learning
Programme outcomes3 · 6 · 7 · 9 - 3
Develop positive attitude towards lifelong learning
Programme outcomes3 · 7 · 9
COMPETENCES ( Communication and Social Competence )
- 1
Inform people and institutions, transfer ideas and solution proposals to problems in written and orally on issues in the field
Programme outcomes1 · 2 · 4 · 6 - 2
Share the ideas and solution proposals to problems on issues in the field with professionals and non-professionals by the support of qualitative and quantitative data
Programme outcomes1 · 4 · 6 · 10 - 3
Organize and implement project and activities for social environment with a sense of social responsibility
Programme outcomes6 · 9 · 10 - 4
Monitor the developments in the field and communicate with peers by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level
Programme outcomes2 · 6 - 5
Use informatics and communication technologies with at least a minimum level of European Computer Driving License Advanced Level software knowledge
Programme outcomes2 · 7
COMPETENCES ( Field Specific Competence )
- 1
Act in accordance with social, scientific, cultural and ethic values on the stages of gathering, implementation and release of the results of data related to the field
Programme outcomes1 · 8 · 9 - 2
Possess sufficient consciousness about the issues of universality of social rights, social justice, quality, cultural values and also, environmental protection, worker's health and security
Programme outcomes3 · 5 · 8 · 9