Organization of Doctoral Studies
According to the Regulation on Postgraduate Education and Training, the doctoral program consists of at least 240 ECTS, including at least seven courses, seminars, proficiency exams, thesis proposals and thesis work, with a total of twenty-one credits for students accepted with a thesis-based master’s degree and at least 60 ECTS for one academic term. It also consists of 14 courses, seminars, proficiency exams, thesis proposals and thesis work, with a total of at least 300 ECTS for students accepted with a bachelor’s degree, with a total of at least forty-two credits. The doctoral program, excluding the period spent in scientific preparation, is eight semesters for those accepted with a thesis-based master’s degree and the maximum completion period is twelve semesters; for those accepted with a bachelor’s degree, it is ten semesters and the maximum completion period is fourteen semesters. The maximum period for successfully completing the credit courses required for the doctoral program is four semesters for those accepted with a thesis-based master’s degree and six semesters for those accepted with a bachelor’s degree. Students who cannot successfully complete their credit courses within this period or who cannot achieve the minimum general grade point average required by the higher education institution are dismissed from the higher education institution.
Proficiency in art is a higher education program equivalent to a doctorate that aims to produce an original work of art and a superior practice and creativity in music and performing arts. The proficiency in art program consists of a total of twenty-one credits for students admitted with a master’s degree with thesis and at least 240 ECTS credits, including at least seven courses, practices and studies such as thesis, exhibition, project, recital, concert, representation, provided that an education period is not less than 60 ECTS. For students admitted with a bachelor’s degree, it consists of at least 300 ECTS credits, including fourteen courses of at least forty-two credits, applications and studies such as thesis, exhibition, project, recital, concert, concert, representation. The completion period of the proficiency in art program is eight semesters for those who are accepted with a master’s degree, excluding the time spent in scientific preparation, and the maximum completion period is twelve semesters, and ten semesters for those who are accepted with a bachelor’s degree, and the maximum completion period is fourteen semesters. The maximum time to successfully complete the credit courses required for the proficiency in art program is four semesters for those accepted with a master’s degree with thesis and six semesters for those accepted with a bachelor’s degree. Students who fail to successfully complete the credit courses within this period or who fail to achieve the minimum grade point average stipulated by the higher education institution are dismissed from the higher education institution.
According to the Regulation on Postgraduate Education and Training, specialization in medicine and dentistry is equivalent to a doctorate, and these specialty trainings are carried out in accordance with the Regulation on Specialty Education in Medicine and Dentistry. The specialty branches and education periods of Veterinary Medicine Specialization Programs are carried out in accordance with the Regulation on Specialty Education in Veterinary Medicine, and the specialty branches and education periods of Pharmacy Specialization Programs are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Specialty Education in Pharmacy.
Admission Requirements
According to the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, in order to apply for a PhD program:
a) They must have a master’s degree with thesis and must have at least 55 ALES score in the score type of the program they apply for. However, graduates of doctorate/qualification in art, specialization in medicine, specialization in dentistry, specialization in dentistry, specialization in veterinary medicine and specialization in pharmacy are exempt from the ALES requirement and apply with an ALES score determined by the university between 55 and 75.
b) They must have a bachelor’s degree from faculties of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and preparatory classes of at least ten semesters or a specialization in a laboratory branch according to the principles regulated by the Ministry of Health, and they must have the ALES score to be determined by the senate, provided that it is not less than 55 points in the score type of the program they apply from ALES.
c) Candidates applying with a bachelor’s degree must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.00 out of 4.00 and an ALES score of 80.
d) A minimum score of 55 from the central foreign language exam or an equivalent score from an international equivalent exam is required.
e) In order to apply for doctoral programs in basic medical sciences, graduates of medical faculties must have a score of at least 55 points in ALES numerical score type or a score of at least 50 points in the Medical Specialty Education Entrance Examination (TUS) determined by the relevant senate decision. Those who are not graduates of the Faculty of Medicine must have a master’s degree and score at least 55 points in ALES numerical score type.
In the application evaluation process, in addition to ALES score, written scientific evaluation, interview, undergraduate and/or graduate grade point average may also be taken into consideration. The weight of the ALES score in the evaluation, provided that it is not less than 50%, is determined by the senate decision. Universities may also accept students with ALES score only.
Status of Doctoral Students/Candidates
Students who are accepted to doctorate/ proficiency in arts programs carried out within higher education institutions can study on their own, or they can be employed as research assistants within the scope of Article 50/d of the Higher Education Law. In addition, relevant institutions and organizations may send students abroad for doctoral education within the framework of certain legislation. The status and personal rights of these students are determined in the relevant legislation. For example, within the scope of the Law on Students to be Sent to Foreign Countries, students are sent abroad on behalf of higher education institutions and public institutions and organizations for graduate education with scholarships.
Supervision Roles
According to the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, a thesis advisor is appointed for each student studying in doctorate/ proficiency in art programs. When the thesis advisor will be appointed within the student’s program is specified in the regulation adopted by the senate. If there is no faculty member with the specified qualifications in the higher education institution, a faculty member from another higher education institution can be selected as an advisor within the framework of the principles determined by the university senate. In cases where the nature of the thesis study requires more than one thesis advisor, the second thesis advisor to be appointed may be a person with at least a doctorate degree from outside the university staff. A thesis monitoring committee is formed within one month for the student who is successful in the qualifying exam. The thesis monitoring committee consists of three faculty members.
According to the Regulation on Specialty Education in Medicine and Dentistry, a thesis topic and thesis advisor are determined for the specialty student within the first half of the specialty education period. The principles for the formation of the thesis jury, appointment of the advisor, monitoring of the thesis process and evaluation of the thesis are decided by the Board.
Employability
Universities recruit research assistants and lecturers in accordance with the “Regulation on the Procedures and Principles Regarding the Central Examination and Entrance Examination to be Applied in Appointments to Academic Staff Positions Other than Faculty Members”. The appointments performed according to the said regulation are made within the scope of subparagraph (d) of the first paragraph of Article 50 of the aforementioned Law in accordance with the procedure specified in Article 33 of the Higher Education Law.
Public institutions and organizations and the private sector can send students abroad for doctoral education. Those who complete their doctoral education are employed in the relevant institution. Some of the trained human resource requirements of higher education institutions and public institutions and organizations are met by scholarship students studying abroad on scholarship. For example, students studying in doctoral programs in accordance with the Law on Students to be Sent to Foreign Countries are employed in public institutions and organizations upon successful completion of their studies.
Evaluation
According to the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, doctoral students must have completed the courses in the program, be successful in the doctoral qualifying exam and at least three thesis monitoring committees and successfully complete the thesis defense.
The qualifying exam is the measurement of whether the student who has completed the courses and seminar has the basic subjects and concepts in the field and the depth of scientific research related to the doctoral study.
The time when the student will take the qualifying exam is determined by the regulation adopted by the senate. However, students admitted with a master’s degree must take the qualifying exam until the end of the fifth semester at the latest, and students admitted with a bachelor’s degree must take the qualifying exam until the end of the seventh semester at the latest.
The student who fails the qualifying exam is taken the exam again in the next semester from the department/departments in which he/she failed. The student who fails in this exam is dismissed from the doctoral program.
Upon successful completion of the doctoral qualifying exam, the student defends his/her thesis proposal orally before the thesis monitoring committee within six months at the latest. The thesis monitoring committee decides by absolute majority whether the thesis proposal submitted by the student will be accepted, corrected or rejected. The student whose thesis proposal is rejected has the right to choose a new advisor and/or thesis topic. In this case, a new thesis monitoring committee may be appointed. The student who is found unsuccessful by the committee twice in a row or three times intermittently is dismissed from the higher education institution.
The student in the doctoral program defends his/her thesis orally in front of the jury. After the completion of the thesis exam, the jury decides on acceptance, rejection or correction by absolute majority. The student whose thesis is rejected as unsuccessful is dismissed from the higher education institution. The student who is given a correction decision for the thesis defends it again in front of the same jury by making the necessary corrections within six months at the latest. The student who fails in this defense is dismissed from the higher education institution.
According to the Regulation on Specialty Education in Medicine and Dentistry, it is compulsory for the specialty student to prepare a thesis in order to take the graduation exam for specialty education the main branch. The specialty student whose thesis is accepted, who successfully completes the specialty training period and rotations, and whose completion of the part of the specialty training report card that determines the core education curriculum is approved by the relevant program manager is entitled to take the specialty education completion exam. This condition is notified to the dean’s office in faculties and health facilities affiliated with the Ministry and universities in cases where the relevant units of universities are used together, to the head of the institution in the Forensic Medicine Institution, to the Ministry in training and research hospitals or to the unit delegated by the Ministry to determine the exam juries, exam place and date within fifteen days by registering in the Specialty Education Tracking System (UETS) and those whose procedures are completed are taken to the exam. The examinations for completion of specialty training are held by examination juries at the place and date announced in UETS. The specialization exam is conducted in two stages, one of which is a professional knowledge exam, and the other is a practical and skills exam. Candidates are considered successful if their averages are sixty or above for both exams separately. The result of the exam is communicated to the Ministry by the head of the jury through the relevant institution. Those who do not succeed in the exam for the completion of specialty education or those who do not take the exam shall take the exam again within six months. Those who fail to succeed in the second exam or those who do not take the exam shall be dismissed from the specialty training.
In order to complete the specialty education, the thesis must be accepted for main specialty students, the duration of the specialty education and rotations related to the specialty branch specified in the charts must be completed, the part of the specialty education report card determining the core education curriculum must be approved by the relevant program director, and the completion of the specialty education must be successful in the exam.
Certification
According to the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, the student who is successful in the thesis defense and meets the other conditions and whose thesis is approved in terms of form is entitled to receive a doctoral diploma. Students who have applied to the doctorate program with a bachelor’s degree and who are not successful in their doctoral thesis are awarded a master’s degree without thesis upon request, provided that they have fulfilled the credit load, project and other similar requirements for a master’s degree without thesis. Students who are successful in the thesis defense in the proficiency in art study and whose thesis is approved in terms of form, provided that they meet the other conditions, are entitled to receive a proficiency in art diploma. Students who are not successful in their proficiency in art studies are awarded a master’s degree without thesis upon their request.
According to the Regulation on Specialization Education in Medicine and Dentistry, the Ministry of Health issues and registers the specialization certificates of those who successfully complete their specialization education. Specialization in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy is equivalent to a doctorate.
Organizational Diversity
Doctorate/proficiency in art programs and specialization programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy within higher education institutions in Türkiye are conducted through formal education. There are no doctorate/qualification in arts and specialization programs conducted through open or distance education.