Clinical psychology is one of the important subfields of psychology that examines the mental, behavioral and emotional disorders of the individual. In addition to frequently using psychotherapy methods, it is also engaged in research, teaching and program development. As a specialty, clinical psychology seeks to solve the problems individuals as well as families and diverse communities encounter through their lives. Psychotherapy practices can only be carried out by psychologists who have a master's degree in clinical psychology. The number of clinical psychologists who have received their specialization according to international academic and practical training criteria in our country is still insufficient to meet the needs of the field. IKU  Clinical Psychology Master's Degree Program aims to educate clinical psychologists who are aware of professional ethical principles and qualified with theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. The services provided by clinical psychologists may differ from each other, and these differences require separate specialization. Therefore, IKU  Clinical Psychology Master's Degree Program focuses on different areas of clinical psychology and includes adult, child-adolescent, couple-family therapy sub-branches to be opened by determining needs in academic terms. The first semester of the program consists of intensive theoretical education, and the second semester consists of practical internships and thesis studies. Clinical Psychology Master's Degree students are given the opportunity to experience psychological assessment and psychotherapy skills. It is also aimed that prospective specialist students will be able to turn scientifically supported approaches (such as cognitive, cognitive/behavioral, behavioral, dynamically oriented) into practice in the field of clinical psychology.

Assoc. Prof. Melis Seray ÖZDEN YILDIRIM 
The Head of the Department

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Student admission requirements for the Clinical Psychology Master's Program are given below. These conditions are further detailed in Istanbul Kültür University Graduate Education and Training Regulations and related Senate Principles.

a.    Article 9 – (1) of the Regulation on Postgraduate Education and Training for the students applying for postgraduate programs: The Institute Administrative Board determines which foreign language or languages must be known at what level in order to be able to enroll in a postgraduate program, upon the recommendation of the heads of the relevant institute departments/major branches, and specifies it in the announcement to be made according to the fifth article. Accepted documents for English and the acceptable achievement sub-limits: KPDS/ÜDS/YDS 60, IELTS 6, TOEFL (IBT 72, CBT 198-199, PBT 531-532). Students who do not have one of these documents must be successful in the English proficiency exam conducted by Istanbul Kültür University.

b.    Candidates applying for postgraduate programs must have at least a standard score of 55 in the score type of the program they apply for from the Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES) conducted centrally by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), and in case of GRE, they must have a score of 610 in the old system, 149 in the new system, and 450 in GMAT; department heads may raise this score for the postgraduate programs they carry out.

c.    Fourth-year students enrolled in an undergraduate program at a higher education institution and holders of an undergraduate diploma may apply to postgraduate programs. A student who does not have an undergraduate diploma at the time of application may be conditionally admitted to a postgraduate program. The final acceptance of the student to the postgraduate program is only possible by submitting the graduation certificate or diploma and the original document showing the courses and grades taken from the higher education institution from which they graduated to the Registrar's Office within the announced period.

d.    The application files of the candidate students are examined by the relevant institute and forwarded to the Program Admission Commission through the head of the relevant department. For applicants to the postgraduate program, ALES score is taken into consideration with a weight of at least 50%.

e.    Candidates are evaluated by juries. The juries consist of at least three members determined by the departments. Separate juries may be established for the different postgraduate programs that are conducted within the same department. The success status of a candidate applying to a graduate program is determined by the total score calculated out of 100 full points. Candidates who meet the application requirements can be admitted to a postgraduate program (except non-thesis master's programs) just according to ALES score; in addition to the ALES score, provided that it is not less than 50%, the students are ranked according to the score calculated in accordance with the procedures and principles approved by the Senate with the recommendation of the head of the department/major of the Graduate School and the decision of the Graduate School Board, taking into account the evaluation result in case of the foreign language score, undergraduate / graduate grade point average, written and / or interview scholastic assessment test, with a total of 100%. Candidates with a total score of at least 65 out of 100 points are ranked as the main and reserve list, starting from the candidate with the highest score, considering the quota. For the ranking of candidates with equal total scores, the undergraduate/postgraduate grade point average is taken into consideration.

f.    Final admission takes place when the recommendations of the program admission commission are approved by the Graduate School Executive Board and announced to the candidates. At the stage of admission to master's programs with and without thesis, it is stated which program (thesis or non-thesis) the candidate is admitted to.

g.    Candidates applying for a master's program are interviewed, if necessary, by the relevant Program Admission Commission. The Commission ranks the students by taking into account the content of the student's application file and whether the student has the necessary background for the program they are applying for. It decides how many of these students are qualified for admission together with their substitutes, provided that they do not exceed the announced quotas. The Program Admission Commission is not obliged to fill the announced quota completely. The list is forwarded to the relevant institute by the head of the department and approved and announced by the institute board of directors. Students who are accepted to the program register within the announced period. If the total number of enrolled students remains below the announced quota, an additional admission list is not published and substitutes, if any, are allowed to enroll.

Requirements for the master's degree program with thesis

• Psychology bachelor’s degree or certified graduation certificate or provisional certificate of graduation
• ALES score of at least 55 (EA) or equivalent GRE/GMAT exam result
• Documents accepted for English from foreign language exams accepted by the Higher Education Council other than their native language, and the lower limits of success to be accepted are: KPDS/ÜDS/YDS 60, IELTS 6, TOEFL (IBT 72, CBT 198-199, PBT 531-532). Students who do not have one of these documents must be successful in the English proficiency exam held by Istanbul Kültür University.
• Two reference letters (this will not be required for Istanbul Kültür University graduates)
• Undergraduate GPA must be at least 2.50 out of 4 or equivalent

Requirement for the non-thesis master's degree program

• Psychology undergraduate diploma or certified graduation certificate or provisional certificate of graduation
• ALES is not required for admission to non-thesis master's programs.
• Two reference letters (this will not be required for Istanbul Kültür University graduates)
• Undergraduate GPA must be at least 2.50 out of 4 or equivalent

Success Grade: 
ALES (EA) 50% + science exam score 10% + interview score 40% for MA program with thesis
For the non-thesis MA program, the science exam score will be calculated as 20% + the interview score will be 80%.
The passing grade for the science exam is evaluated as 50 out of 100 points.
Candidates with a total score of at least 65 out of 100 are listed as the main and reserve list, starting with the candidate with the highest score, and taking into account the quota. The undergraduate grade point average is taken into account for the ranking of the candidates whose total points are equal.

• Application periods will be announced on the web page of Istanbul Kültür University Institute of Graduate Studies.
• All documents will be uploaded online from the online application tab of the Istanbul Kültür University Institute of Graduate Studies web page.
• Reference letters are to be sent by the professor who wrote the letter to the klinikpsikoloji@iku.edu.tr email address during the enrollment period and are to be hand-delivered in person to the Department of Psychology in a sealed envelope and signed with ink on 14 September 2023.
• If the documents are not submitted in full, the application will not be accepted. 
• Candidates who cannot submit the "Provisional Certificate of Graduation or Diploma" document requested during the application because they have not yet received these documents can submit these documents in the final registration. Candidates who do not receive the Provisional Certificate of Graduation or Diploma until the final registration will not be able to register.
• The fact that the candidates have completed the application process completely does not mean that they are accepted to the program. The candidates who have completed the application process for the program acceptance completely, will be evaluated for their suitability for the program they have applied for through written exams and interviews, and the list of the candidates who have been accepted to the program will be announced on the website of IKU Institute of Graduate Studies.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION TO ALL PROGRAMS

Requirements for candidates during application: 

• Copy of Diploma or Provisional Certificate of Graduation,
• Copy of transcript,
• Copy of ALES Certificate,
• Military Status Certificate (For male candidates),
• 2 Passport Photographs
• Identity Card Copy
• Copy of Foreign Language certificate for PhD Programs,

Requirements for the final registration:

• Certified copy of Diploma or Provisional Certificate of Graduation,
• Certified copy of transcript,
• ALES Certificate (Obtaining the printout at the Institute),
• Original Military Status Document (For male candidates),
• 6 Passport Photographs
• Foreign Language Certificate for PhD Programs (Obtaining the Printout at the Institute),
• The first installment of the Tuition Fee,

The Program with Thesis
The Non-Thesis Program

 

Lecturer	Position
Assoc. Prof. Melis Seray Özden YILDIRIM	Chairperson of the Quality Commission
***	Quality Commission Member
***	Quality Commission Member

 

FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS

• Assoc. Prof. Melis Seray Özden Yıldırım    
• Assoc. Prof. Ayhan Erbay 
• Assist. Prof. Nida Ateş    
• Assist. Prof. Ece Naz Ermiş        

CLINICAL SUPERVISORS

• Prof. Dr. Özay Özdemir  
• Assist. Prof. Nida Ateş    
• Assist. Prof. Ece Naz Ermiş

What is clinical psychology?

Clinical psychology is concerned with the "normal" and "abnormal" behavior of people. The research feature is basically human behavior and this information obtained through research is applied by integrating it with practice. An important feature of this field is the measurement and evaluation function. Clinical psychologists collect information through various methods to base their decisions on the people they observe and examine, and they generally help people or groups with psychological problems, distress, and stress. They are also involved in preventive mental health. Although these features suggest that they have overlapping aspects with other specialties, it is their clinical attitudes and approaches that are important. It is among the duties of clinical psychologists not to learn what the nature of behavior is, but to know what to do with this information and to develop skills in this regard. It is important for the field of clinical psychology to make research and measurements to be able to define the problem and the situation to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior. In order to become a clinical psychologist, it is necessary to obtain at least a "master's degree" in this field. Master's programs in this field are offered in the psychology departments of universities. Courses offered in these programs should include courses such as psychopathology, psychotherapy, research methods, statistics, personality and intelligence tests, and cognitive processes. In addition to these courses, supervised paediatric and adult clinic internships and a research-based thesis in the field are also required.

What graduation degree will I have after completing this program?

Students who successfully complete this program are entitled to receive a Master of Arts degree in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (Turkish, Thesis/Non-Thesis).

What are the career opportunities for graduates of the program?

What branches do clinical psychologists specialize in? The number of specialist clinical psychologists in Türkiye is below the determined need. Clinical psychologists can work with psychiatry in severe disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, as well as life events and problems related to periods such as emotional, mental, and behavioral problems, adolescence problems, adult self-esteem problems, old age problems and losses. The research topics, on the other hand, range from psychotherapy to personality traits, from the development of phobias to the causes of schizophrenia. Clinical psychologists can work in academic environments, as well as in the health sector, in the mental health units/departments of private or public hospitals, psychotherapy or psychological counselling centers, rehabilitation centers and private education institutions, non-governmental organizations providing clinical services, institutions conducting clinical research, primary, secondary and higher education institutions that include clinical psychologists, in nursing homes, in law and forensic areas (family courts, probation offices, prisons), and in public health centers.

What are the evaluation criteria for admitting students to the Program?

Evaluations when selecting students for the Program consists of three stages:

1) Application file
2) Scientific exam (determined according to each application period)
3) Interview 

After the evaluation of each question asked in the application file and each document requested, an application file score is given. Those whose application file is found sufficient are taken to the other stages.

What work experience is required to be accepted into the Program?

No special experience is required. Clinical experience is considered aa positive effect.

Does having work, internship and/or education experience in the field of psychology constitute a priority for admission?

Activities directly or indirectly related to clinical psychology and/or social responsibility are preferred.

Can I get information about the science exam?

The science exam includes the subjects of psychology undergraduate courses. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions. The exam duration is 1 hour. Wrong answers do not affect the right ones and more than one option should not be marked. The total score of the exam is 100 and the passing grade is determined as 50. Each question has equal points. Candidate students who fail the science exam will not be admitted to the interview exam.
 
Can I get information about the interview?

Interview lists will be hung in the Psychology section (Ataköy Campus 3rd Floor) and prospective students will be able to learn the interview date and time range from the lists. Students who pass the science exam will be interviewed. Interview locations will be specified in the relevant lists.

In the interview evaluations of the candidates, questions will be asked in the core areas that are important for a clinical psychology master's degree, especially the reasons for choosing clinical psychology, undergraduate processes, the reason for choosing the university, references, professional experience, talent and culture, openness to contemporary scientific and technological developments, as well as clinical psychology graduate related psychotherapy, psychopathology and basic research methods. The answers given by the candidates are evaluated by the members of the jury, scored and recorded in the evaluation form."

How can I prepare for the interview?

No special preparation is required. The interview is conducted in a clinical interview style and the candidate's suitability to become a clinician is evaluated. That's why it's important to just be yourself and be aware of your characteristics.

Can I apply if I do not receive the official transcript of the department I have studied within the time specified for the application?

Yes, however, if you are accepted, you must provide and submit this document until the time of registration.

Should I put the originals of the results of exams such as ALES in the application file?

There may be photocopies of these documents in the application file, but the originals are required at the registration stage.

How is your application calendar and does it change annually?

The application period is announced approximately 1 month in advance of each year. You can follow this period from the University website or the Institute secretariat. The exact dates are announced on the website.

Can I apply if my undergraduate degree is in a field other than psychology?

The program is only open to applicants who have graduated from 4-year psychology undergraduate programs of universities.

Can I apply to your program a second time?

There is no limit to the number of applications to the program and the application procedure is the same for each application.

Can I work during the program?

There is a 70% attendance requirement to the courses. Therefore, it is possible to work. However, it is envisaged that priority will be given to this program. It should be considered by the candidates that the courses are during the daytime and/or evening hours. Due to the nature of the program, they are required to devote a few days of the week to full-time training.

What are the scholarship/discount opportunities, amount and conditions?

Scholarship/discount rates are determined each year. The list of winners of the program is determined according to their success, regardless of scholarship requests. The distribution of scholarships is made in line with the criteria of success and need. We recommend that candidates do not ignore that they can find graduate scholarships from public institutions such as TUBITAK or private institutions. Some institutions where the candidate is working can provide support for the program fee within the framework of the advanced education support program provided to the personnel of that institution if the graduate program is won.
Related link: https://enstitu.iku.edu.tr/tr/ogrenci/indirimler

What are the differences between thesis and non-thesis clinical psychology master's programs?

Our master's program continues with a project and thesis. At the admission stage, the department in which the candidates are accepted in the success lists is determined as with or without thesis. While continuing the program, at the end of the first year, those who are deemed suitable can switch to the thesis department if they wish. Theoretical or applied courses taken in both programs are similar, and in the thesis program, students are required to attend an additional one-hour thesis seminar per week. However, especially the thesis is based on a more comprehensive, labour-intensive, time-consuming, and stricter research than the project. If students want to pursue a doctoral program, the program with thesis is more suitable. A program with a project is recommended for those who do not aim for a doctorate and will work mainly as clinicians.

How and where do the clinical internships take place in the second year?

Clinical internships in the second year are carried out in the Psychological Counselling Unit (PDB) of our university or in the psychiatry departments of the centers or hospitals that provide psychotherapy under supervision. Each trainee is scheduled to upload at least 3-5 therapy cases and undertake two comprehensive psychological assessments during this year. During the internship year, 3 hours of group supervision, 2 hours of case meeting, individual supervision (the duration is determined by the person who will give the supervision), 1 hour of case presentation/discussion, psychological evaluation supervision as needed. During the internship, each intern also receives supervision from the clinical supervisors of the program. Our students graduate with the awareness that they will not be a mature clinician immediately with their graduate education and that they need to constantly improve themselves by taking further and different trainings.

Does your program have a theoretical/clinical orientation?

Our program has an integrative clinical program structure with a systemic weight, including Adult, Child-Adolescent and Double-Family modules. In addition to its descriptive and analytical structure, cognitive-behavioral and humanistic approaches are also given in theoretical courses and supervisor teaching. The basic approach of all faculty members and clinical supervisors is to maintain integrated, descriptive, and supportive features. It is aimed to update psychotherapy research and to develop theoretical knowledge and skills for most basic psychotherapies. With the awareness that the most important healing/transformative factor is the therapy relationship, we attach special importance to raising our students' theoretical and practical awareness. Considering the personal orientation of our students, it is also important to create basic clinical formation and skills that are beneficial in addition to their theoretical/clinical orientation.

Who can I contact for additional questions?

If you have unanswered questions despite reviewing the information on our university website, you can reach the program secretariat via e-mail (enstitu@iku.edu.tr).
 

 

İstanbul Kültür University Institute of Graduate Studies
	(0212) 498 41 41
	enstitu@iku.edu.tr
Bakırköy Campus Ataköy Building E5 Highway 34158 Bakırköy/İSTANBUL