Personal Research Fund

The Personal Research Fund (PRF) is a fund provided to faculty members, researchers, postdoctoral fellows and some visiting professors determined by faculties, depending on their research or artistic performance during the year. PRF may be used for expenses related to performing research, including the purchase of books and/or journals, conference or seminar registration fees, domestic and international travel, lab and office supplies, and membership to scientific or professional organizations. PRF amounts are determined according to the research outputs of individuals in the preceding year as well as other evaluation criteria set in place by faculties.

Internal Research Projects

Having made interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research a priority since its foundation, Sabancı University provides support to ambitious inter-faculty or intra-faculty research projects that significantly expand the boundaries of research at the university through its Internal Research Fund. You can find detailed information from here about Internal Research Projects.

Internal Academic Activity

The Internal Academic Activity Fund provides support to academic activities such as seminars, workshops, short-term courses, and conferences planned by Sabancı University in association with other institutions and/or sponsors. You can find detailed information from here about Internal Academic Activity.

RGP Project Consultancy and Travel Allowance

RGP provides travel and consultancy allowances to SU faculty members and researchers specifically for the development phase of project submissions to the European Union Framework Programs.

Project Incentive

Project incentives are additional benefits paid to faculty members and researchers when they obtain project funding from external sources. Amounts are calculated according to the rules of the institution and the percentage of the time the researchers dedicate to the project.

Scientific Publication Incentive

In addition to PRF, scientific publication incentives are available to Sabancı University faculty and students to encourage publications in international journals.

Academic Entrepreneurship Support

Sabancı University strives to be the most innovative and entrepreneurial university in Turkey. To this end, the university implements processes that improve the academic entrepreneurship environment, provide support to entrepreneurs in areas that they need, and help the creation and development of companies that generate value. Undergraduate and graduate students are permitted and encouraged to be partners in academic entrepreneur companies. A full-time faculty member and academic entrepreneur may devote up to 1 full business day's working hours to their company provided that their duties to the University are not neglected. Sabancı University provides the following incentives to interested faculty members either directly or through Inovent A.Ş.

Sabbaticals and Research Leaves

Sabancı University offers its faculty members to engage in full-time research in order to encourage scientific studies and international cooperation by faculty members. Academic leaves in Sabancı University are in two categories: Sabbaticals and Research Leaves.

Sabbatical Leave

Faculty members who have worked in Sabancı University for the fall and spring semesters of at least four years will be entitled to sabbaticals. The sabbatical term and the salary to be paid during the sabbatical are determined according to the sabbatical credits earned by faculty members. Faculty earn 1 sabbatical credit for each spring and fall semester they work at Sabancı University. Sabbaticals may take up to 11 months including summer semesters. In addition, eligible Deans, Directors and Program Coordinators will be entitled to a fully-paid sabbatical of 1 semester at the end of their duty term regardless of the sabbatical credits they have earned.

Research Leave

Faculty members who have worked in SU for at least 1 year will be entitled to a Research Leave. Research leaves may be used for 2 months during the summer semester with 100% salary payment provided that the researcher has expended their paid leave days, or during the spring or fall semesters with 20% salary payment.

In furtherance of the research support and personal support programs above, offices established under RGP create an ecosystem where faculty and researchers are supported from the idea phase to commercialization. The support provided by various RGP offices are explained in detail on the For Researchers, For Industry and For Entrepreneurs pages.