The duration of the PhD program (excluding the period in scientific preparation) is 8 semesters from the beginning of the program in which s/he is registered, and the program is completed in 12 semesters. The maximum duration to successfully complete the courses with credits required for PhD program is 4 semesters.

For each student, the head of the department proposes a faculty member of Yaşar University, whose PhD or associate professorship studies are directly related with student’s thesis subject, and who has given undergraduate courses for at least four semesters or graduate courses for at least two semesters, and who has supervised at least one completed master’s thesis. Determination of the thesis advisor is finalized with the decision of the administrative board of the graduate school.

If the second thesis advisor is to be appointed when necessary, it may be appointed from faculty staff among those, who are not within the staff of Yaşar University, too and who have at least a PhD degree.

PhD students who will take the proficiency exam in the following semester or semester after completing the seminar and lessons should be enrolled in the course “XXXX 56XX Guided Research/Focused Study/Proficiency” in the following semester.

The qualifying exams are organized and conducted by a PhD qualifying committee of five people, which is proposed by the department and approved by the administrative board of directors of the graduate school. The committee constitutes exam juries for the purpose of preparing, conducting and evaluating exams in different fields.

A qualifying exam jury consists of five faculty members, one of whom is the advisor, including at least two instructors from outside Yaşar University. The administrative board of directors of the graduate school decides whether the advisor is entitled to vote; if there is no right to vote, the jury consists of six people. The department submits the “PhD Qualifying Exam Jury Proposal Form” to the graduate school and the qualifying exam jury is appointed by the administrative board of directors of the graduate school.

In this case, the student has to accomplish these tasks.

The thesis monitoring committee consists of three faculty members, one of whom is the advisor, one from the department, and one from outside the department. If there is a second thesis advisor, s/he may attend the meetings if s/he wishes.

The members of the thesis monitoring committee can be changed with the proposal of the department head through the “PhD Thesis Monitoring Committee Member Change Form**” and with the approval of the graduate school administrative board of directors.

*Click here for Distance-PhD Thesis Monitoring Committee Proposal Form
**Click here for Distance-PhD Thesis Monitoring Committee Member Change Form

The members of the thesis monitoring committee decide by absolute majority whether the thesis proposal will be accepted, corrected or rejected. The decision is submitted to the graduate school by the department head within 3 workdays together with the “PhD Thesis Proposal Meeting Minute*”.

*Click here for Distance-PhD Thesis Proposal Meeting Minute

At least one month before the meeting date, the student presents the committee members a summary of the progress in his/her thesis and a written report of the workplan for the following semester.

The thesis studies of the student are found successful or unsuccessful by the thesis monitoring committee. The “PhD Thesis Monitoring Committee Meeting Minute*” containing the decision is forwarded to the graduate school within 3 workdays by the head of the department.

*Click here for Distance-PhD Thesis Monitoring Committee Meeting Minute

If the student will choose a new advisor, s/he can take the thesis proposal again within 6 months with a new thesis topic.

In both cases, a new thesis monitoring committee can be constituted.

The student, whose thesis proposal is not accepted in this proposal, is dismissed from the program.

In the opinion that the thesis is defensible,  thesis, transcript and the “PhD Thesis Defense Application and Jury Proposal Form” is submitted to the Graduate School by the head of the department via EBYS.

Graduate School may extend the submission period up to 1 month if needed. Students who do not meet these requirements can not obtain the diploma, and student rights and dismissed if the maximum period expires. Within three months of the thesis submission, the thesis is sent to the YOK thesis depository by the Graduate School to be offered to the research and academic activities.

Note: Foreign students can login the National Thesis and Dissertation Center by getting temporary e-government password.

Foreign students can obtain e-government passwords from Postal Office Central Directorates or authorized branches in Turkey by presenting passports and a valid residence permit.

e-Government password can be obtained from embassies and consulates abroad. Detailed information can be obtained from the related foreign representative offices.

At the end of this defense, the student, whose thesis is not found successful, is dismissed from the program, in which s/he is enrolled, by the decision of the administrative board of directors.