The Direct PhD Program in Economics at Istanbul Kültür University aims to train qualified academicians. In this context, the program intends to offer a doctoral education at international standards in the fields of theoretical and applied economics to students admitted to the program. In the first year, students are provided with compulsory courses covering the fundamental topics of economics at the doctoral level, along with various elective courses that address current economic issues. By the end of the first year, students will have built a solid foundation with the courses they have taken, and the program aims to equip them to conduct independent and ethical research in the field of economics, analyze scientific works from a broad perspective, and contribute to both national and international economics literature.

Duration:

5 (five) Academic Years (10 Semesters)

Program Admission Periods:

Applications for the program are accepted twice a year, in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Language of the Program: The language of instruction for the program is Turkish.

Admission Requirements 

To apply for admission to the Direct PhD Program in Economics, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree and have an ALES (Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam) score of at least 70 in the Equally Weighted (EA) category. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00/4.00 or an equivalent score and must now have been dismissed from any master’s or doctoral program due to disciplinary reasons.  

In addition, candidates applying to the Direct PhD Program in Economics are required to provide proof of English proficiency, with a minimum score of 55 on the YDS (Foreign Language Exam) or an equivalent score from other language exams recognized by the Interuniversity Board, in accordance with the equivalency tables determined by ÖSYM and approved by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). For international applicants and Turkish citizens residing abroad, the ALES requirement is waived, and the admission procedures will follow the Senate decision of Istanbul Kültür University.

Graduation Requirements:

For students graduating directly from the PhD Program in Economics, the course requirement is 36 credit hours over a maximum of three years. Students who successfully complete the course requirements will be assigned a Qualifying Exam by a jury established upon the recommendation of the Department Head and approval of the Institute's Board of Directors. The Direct PhD Program in Economics concludes with a thesis, written in Turkish or English, and prepared over nine semesters under the supervision of a designated faculty advisor, following the successful completion of the qualifying exam. The thesis process is reported to the Department Head at the end of each semester by a thesis monitoring committee of at least three members, established upon the recommendation of the Department Head and approval of the Institute's Board of Directors. The thesis author, whose thesis is deemed successful by a jury—formed upon the recommendation of the Department Head and approval of the Institute's Board of Directors, and upon the positive opinion of the advisor—is awarded a doctorate in Economics.

To graduate directly from the doctoral program, students must have at least one article published or accepted for publication in a national or international refereed journal, or at least one full-text publication published or accepted in the proceedings of a national or international congress, prior to the submission of the doctoral dissertation. Click for detailed information...