Official Legal Notice: This document is an English translation of the original Turkish text. In the event of any dispute, ambiguity, or discrepancy between this translation and the Turkish text, the original Turkish text shall prevail.

1.1 Identity of the Data Controller

Pursuant to Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (“KVKK”), your personal data is collected, recorded, stored, and processed by İpekyolu Kişisel Gelişim ve Eğitim Limited Şirketi (“Company” or our brand “ThinkTürkiye”) acting as the data controller within the scope described below, in full compliance with the law and principles of good faith.

Commercial Title: İpekyolu Kişisel Gelişim ve Eğitim Limited Şirketi
Brand: ThinkTürkiye
Address: Esentepe Mh. Kocatepe Cd. Kapı No:28 Daire No:1, Kartal / İstanbul, Turkey
Phone / WhatsApp: +90 505 527 30 20
Email: [email protected]

1.2 Categories of Processed Personal Data

Through the ThinkTürkiye website (thinkturkiye.com.tr), application forms, WhatsApp consultation line, and in-person consultations, the following personal data categories are processed:

Identity Data: First name, last name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, passport number, Turkish ID number or Foreigner ID number (if applicable), gender.
Contact Data: Phone number, WhatsApp contact info, email address, residence address, home country address.
Educational and Professional Data: Name of graduated or attended high school/university, high school graduation diploma grade, academic transcript, grade point average (GPA), international exam results (SAT, etc.), TR-YÖS result document, language proficiency certificates (TÖMER, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).
Visual Data and Documents: Scanned copy of the passport identity page with photograph, scanned copies of high school diploma and transcripts, passport-sized/biometric photographs.
Transaction and Cybersecurity Data: IP address, website log records, cookie logs, form submission timestamps.

1.3 Purposes of Processing Personal Data

Your personal data is processed in a limited, proportionate, and relevant manner for the following purposes:

Executing admission, pre-registration, and final registration applications for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs at partner foundation and state universities in Turkey,
Procuring conditional acceptance letters and official acceptance letters from universities and delivering them to the candidate,
Providing consulting services required for diploma equivalency procedures (Denklik) before the Ministry of National Education (MEB) and the Council of Higher Education (YÖK),
Planning and monitoring consulate student visa and student residence permit (ikamet) application processes in Turkey,
Managing registration and placement test procedures for YÖS preparation courses and TÖMER Turkish language courses,
Organizing dormitory, accommodation, and airport pickup/transportation services upon the student’s request,
Fulfilling legal obligations under applicable legislation and providing required information to competent public authorities.

1.4 Transfer of Personal Data

Your collected personal data may be transferred, in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the KVKK, for the fulfillment of the purposes stated above:

To selected and applied partner foundation and state universities in Turkey,
To authorized public authorities such as the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Ministry of National Education (MEB), and Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi),
To consulates and embassies,
To notaries public and sworn translation offices,
To partner dormitories, accommodation providers, and transfer service companies strictly upon the student’s explicit request and consent.

1.5 Method and Legal Basis of Personal Data Collection

Your personal data is collected through automated or semi-automated methods via forms on our website, online placement tests, WhatsApp communications, email correspondence, and physical document submissions. These activities are carried out based on the following legal grounds:

KVKK Art. 5/2-c: “Processing of personal data belonging to the parties of a contract is necessary, provided that it is directly related to the conclusion or performance of that contract”,
KVKK Art. 5/2-ç: “It is mandatory for the data controller to fulfill its legal obligations”,
KVKK Art. 5/2-f: “Data processing is mandatory for the legitimate interests of the data controller, provided that it does not harm the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject”,
In cases requiring passport and identity scans or international data transfer, processing is carried out based on the explicit consent of the data subject pursuant to KVKK Art. 5/1.

1.6 Rights of the Data Subject (KVKK Article 11)

Pursuant to Article 11 of the KVKK, every data subject has the right to: learn whether their personal data is processed; request information if it has been processed; learn the purpose of processing and whether it is used in accordance with its purpose; know the third parties to whom data is transferred domestically or abroad; request correction of incomplete or inaccurate data; request deletion or destruction of personal data; and demand compensation for damages incurred due to unlawful processing.

You may submit your requests in writing together with identity verification documents in person to Esentepe Mh. Kocatepe Cd. Kapı No:28 Daire No:1, Kartal / İstanbul, Turkey, or send them via email with a secure electronic signature to [email protected].

Personal Data Protection (KVKK) Disclosure Text