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What is a PhD?
A PhD is the highest stage of graduate education. In Turkish it is called "doktora". During a master's degree you specialize in a field; during a PhD you are expected to add new knowledge to it. That is why the core of a PhD is not coursework but an original piece of research that you carry out, written up as a dissertation.
In Türkiye, PhD programs are run by the graduate schools (enstitü) of universities. There is no central placement exam: you apply directly to the university, and each university announces its own quotas, calendar and selection method. The framework is set by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in its Regulation on Graduate Education. The durations and scores on this page are based on that regulation.
The levels of higher education are:
- 01Associate degree: 2-year programs
- 02Bachelor's degree: 4-year programs (longer in fields such as medicine and dentistry)
- 03Master's degree: 2 years with a thesis, 1 year without
- 04PhD: 4 years after a master's degree, 5 years after a bachelor's
In the Turkish Qualifications Framework, the PhD sits at level 8, the top level. In the fine arts, the equivalent of a PhD is proficiency in art (sanatta yeterlik), and the regulation treats the two degrees as equivalent.
There are two ways into a PhD: after completing a thesis-based master's degree, or directly with a bachelor's degree through an integrated PhD. If you want to know more about the master's stage, see our master's degree guide; to compare the two degrees, read master's or PhD.
How do you start a PhD? PhD after a master's and integrated PhD
Graduates of a thesis-based master's apply for a PhD with an ALES score of at least 55 and normally finish in 4 years. Bachelor's graduates can apply for an integrated PhD with a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4 and an ALES score of at least 80; this route has a heavier course load and a normal duration of 5 years.
PhD after a master's8 semesters
Integrated PhD10 semesters
| PhD after a master's | Integrated PhD | |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Graduates of a thesis-based master's. Ten-semester bachelor's degrees such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine also count. | Graduates of a four-year bachelor's degree |
| ALES | At least 55 | At least 80 |
| Undergraduate GPA | No minimum in the regulation | At least 3.00 out of 4 |
| Foreign language | At least 55 | At least 55 |
| Course load | At least 7 courses (21 credits), at least 240 ECTS in total | At least 14 courses (42 credits), at least 300 ECTS in total |
| Deadline for coursework | Within 4 semesters | Within 6 semesters |
| Qualifying exam | By the end of semester 5 | By the end of semester 7 |
| Normal duration | 8 semesters (4 years) | 10 semesters (5 years) |
| Maximum duration | 12 semesters (6 years) | 14 semesters (7 years) |
| If the thesis is not completed | Enrollment ends when the maximum duration runs out | If you meet the conditions, you can request a non-thesis master's diploma |
Which one suits you? If your undergraduate GPA is high and you can score 80 or more on ALES, an integrated PhD saves you a year. On this route, however, you choose your topic and supervisor earlier, and the first years can be demanding if you have no research experience.
A thesis-based master's first, on the other hand, lets you get to know your field and learn how to do research, and you can show your thesis and publications when you apply for a PhD. For details, read what an integrated PhD is, can you do a PhD without a master's and moving from a master's to a PhD.
Which route suits me?
A PhD after a master's looks like the right route for you. After a thesis-based master's you apply with at least 55 on ALES and at least 55 on a language test. If you do not have a master's yet, starting with a thesis-based program is the safest path.
An integrated PhD looks like a good fit for you. You can start a PhD directly with your bachelor's degree; you need at least 80 on ALES and a GPA of at least 3.00. The program lasts 5 years and has a heavier course load.
Take a close look at PhDs in priority fields. In fields such as IT, cybersecurity and AI, students are selected through a central written exam and those who win are appointed as research assistants. There is an age limit of 35 and an ALES quantitative requirement.
Proficiency in art looks like the right route for you. In fine arts and conservatory fields, the equivalent of a PhD is proficiency in art (sanatta yeterlik). Programs that admit students through a talent exam may not require ALES.
How long does a PhD take?
A PhD started after a thesis-based master's normally takes 4 years (8 semesters) and must be completed within 6 years (12 semesters). For an integrated PhD started after a bachelor's, the normal duration is 5 years (10 semesters) and the maximum is 7 years (14 semesters).
The clock starts in the term you enroll. Students who start with a master's must finish coursework within 4 semesters, and those who start with a bachelor's within 6. If you are asked to take a scientific preparation program because you come from another field, that period (at most two semesters) does not count toward your PhD duration.
In some cases the time is extended. Students who give birth receive two extra semesters on request, and these do not count toward the maximum duration. In situations such as disasters or epidemics, up to two extra semesters can be granted for the thesis stage. If you have a valid reason, you can also suspend your enrollment. For details on the maximum duration, see our article on the maximum PhD duration.
How are you starting your PhD?
Which term do you start?
Which year?
Dates are calculated from the latest deadlines in the regulation. Semester end dates can vary by a few weeks depending on the university's academic calendar.
What are the PhD admission requirements? What ALES and language scores do you need?
Graduates of a thesis-based master's can apply with at least 55 on ALES, and bachelor's graduates with a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4 and at least 80 on ALES. Both routes require at least 55 on a foreign language test. Universities can set higher scores.
ALES score
For ALES, the score type required by the program you apply to counts. ALES carries at least 50 percent of the overall evaluation. A university may select students on ALES alone; the weight of your master's grade, an entrance exam or an interview is decided by the university senate. Instead of ALES, a GRE or GMAT score accepted as equivalent by YÖK can also be used.
For your questions about the exam:
Foreign language
You need at least 55 on YDS, e-YDS, YÖKDİL or a test that ÖSYM accepts as equivalent. Universities can raise this, and English-taught programs often ask for more. We explain the scores in YDS and YÖKDİL scores for a PhD and help you choose a test in YDS or YÖKDİL.
GPA, entrance exam and interview
With a bachelor's degree, your GPA must be at least 3.00 out of 4. With a master's, the regulation sets no minimum, but your master's grade may be part of the evaluation. Most programs hold an entrance exam or an interview; our article on what to watch out for in a PhD interview helps you prepare.
Exceptions and special cases
- Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine: These degrees count as equivalent to a master's, so you can apply with at least 55 on ALES.
- Basic medical sciences: You need at least 55 in ALES quantitative, or at least 50 in the basic medical sciences score of TUS.
- Fine arts and conservatories: Programs that admit students through a talent exam may not require ALES, although a university can still ask for it.
- Non-thesis master's graduates: The master's route requires a thesis-based diploma. Non-thesis graduates can apply for an integrated PhD with their bachelor's degree.
- Age: There is no age limit for PhD applications. Priority-field PhDs and the YÖK 100/2000 scholarship, however, have an age limit of 35.
- International students: Admission conditions are set by each university senate. See our guide to the PhD application for international students.
Thesis-based master's, ALES at least 55, language at least 55.
ALES at least 80, GPA at least 3.00, language at least 55.
ALES quantitative at least 70, at least 80 in the program's score type, language at least 55, GPA at least 3.00.
ALES at least 70, English YDS or YÖKDİL at least 70.
These are the minimum scores in the regulation and the calls. Universities can ask for higher scores, and because places are limited, meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.
How do you apply for a PhD? Six steps
A PhD application starts with choosing your field and the faculty members you want to work with, and ends with final registration. Follow the six steps below in order and you will not miss a date or a document.
Choose your field and potential supervisors. In a PhD, the supervisor matters as much as the program. Look at the publications and supervised theses of the faculty members you want to work with, and contact them before you apply if you can. You can compare programs by field, university and city on Mezun Kampüsü Atlas. For choosing a supervisor, read how to choose a PhD supervisor.
Open AtlasKeep track of application dates. PhD calls usually come out together with master's calls: in the summer for the fall term, and in December and January for the spring term. Application windows are short. Research assistant vacancies are announced separately, so follow them too. Current calls are on the academic announcements page.
See announcementsGet your ALES and language certificates ready. Plan around the exam calendar, since results take a few weeks. Before you apply, check how long your ALES score is valid and the validity of your language certificate.
ALES guideWrite your research proposal and statement of purpose. Most PhD programs ask for a short research proposal or statement explaining what you want to study. Be concrete about your topic, question and method. Our guides on how to write a research proposal and the sample statement of purpose give you a framework.
Research proposal guidePrepare for the entrance exam or interview. Interviews cover your knowledge of the field, what you have read, your research idea and why you chose the program. Being able to explain your master's thesis briefly and clearly is a big advantage.
The PhD interview Entrance exam guideComplete your final registration. If you are on the main list, register within the given dates; otherwise your place passes to a reserve candidate. To have courses from your master's recognized, see our article on graduate course exemptions.
Course exemption guide
You're at the start
As you tick items, we show your next step.
Next step: Choose your program and potential supervisors
When do PhD applications open?
At most universities, PhD calls are published in the same period as master's calls. The chart below shows the months when calls usually open; you can find current calls in the university announcements that Mezun Kampüsü tracks every day.
Fall-term PhD calls open in the summer, and spring-term calls in December and January. Some universities admit PhD students in only one term, so check the past calls of the program you are aiming for.
Fall-term PhD calls open in the summer. Complete your ALES and language certificates in the spring and have your research proposal ready by early summer.
Spring-term PhD calls open in December and January. Prepare your documents in the autumn; not every program admits students in the spring.
Calls opening soon
See in announcements OngoingCalls open right now
See in announcements Closes todayCalls on their last day
See in announcementsFor all PhD and research assistant calls, go to the academic announcements page.
All announcementsDo not miss a PhD call. Sign up for free and add the programs you like to your list; we will remind you when calls open and as deadlines approach.
Sign upPhD in Türkiye in numbers
Based on the YÖK 2025-2026 Higher Education Bulletin (March 2026), the 2026 priority fields call and the Regulation on Graduate Education:
Students enrolled in PhD programs in Türkiye in the 2025-2026 academic year.
People who completed a PhD in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Total places in priority-field PhD programs in the 2026 cycle.
The normal duration of a PhD started after a master's. For an integrated PhD it is 5 years.
Calls change every week. Follow new PhD calls on Announcements and deadlines on the Dates page.
Thesis monitoring committee, proposal and defense
Within a month of passing the qualifying exam, a thesis monitoring committee (TİK) is set up. You defend your thesis proposal before this committee within six months at the latest, and the committee then reviews your work twice a year. After at least three monitoring reports, you defend your dissertation before a jury of five.
- The monitoring committee is formedWithin 1 month of the qualifying exam
The committee has three faculty members: your supervisor, a member from your department and a member from outside it.
- You defend your proposalWithin 6 months at the latest
You present the aim, method and work plan of your research. If it is rejected, you defend it again within 3 months with the same supervisor, or within 6 months with a new one; a second rejection ends your enrollment.
- The committee reviews your work2 meetings a year
The committee meets once between January and June and once between July and December, and you submit a progress report. A student found unsuccessful twice in a row, or three times in total, is dismissed.
- You defend your dissertationAfter at least 3 reports
The jury has five members: three from your monitoring committee and at least two from other institutions. It decides to accept, reject or ask for revisions; with a revision decision, you defend again within six months at the latest.
A student whose dissertation is accepted graduates and receives the title of doctor after submitting the copies required by the graduate school. Read more in our articles on the PhD thesis process and when you receive the doctor title.
A student who started with a bachelor's and cannot finish the dissertation can request a non-thesis master's diploma if they have completed their credit courses and meet the conditions. While writing, our guides to the YÖK National Thesis Center and a table of contents in Word make things easier.
PhD in priority fields (2026)
A PhD in priority fields is a model in which students in fields set by YÖK are selected through a central written exam. Those who win are appointed as research assistants. In the 2026 cycle there are 550 places across four fields, and the written exam takes place on 28 November 2026.
1. Pre-selection
Based on this score, up to four times the number of places are invited to the written exam.
2. Final ranking
Candidates scoring below 70 on the written exam fail. There is no oral exam.
To apply, you need at least 70 in ALES quantitative and at least 80 in the ALES score type of the program you choose. You also need at least 55 on a language test and a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4. Applications for 2026 were accepted between 8 and 22 September.
The figures in this section are for the 2026 cycle; fields, places and dates are announced again each cycle. Exam topics and preparation tips are in our article on the central written exam for priority-field PhDs.
Is a PhD free? Scholarships and research assistantships
At public universities, a PhD is mostly free within the normal duration; students who exceed it pay a contribution fee. At foundation (private) universities a PhD is paid, though scholarships and discounts are available. The main ways to fund a PhD are the TÜBİTAK 2211-A scholarship, the YÖK 100/2000 scholarship and research assistant positions.
Fees vary widely by program and university, so check the exact amount on the university's own page before you apply. You can find a detailed comparison in our article is a PhD free.
TÜBİTAK 2211-A:Supports students for 48 months in a PhD after a master's and 60 months in an integrated PhD. The latest call asked for at least 70 on ALES and at least 70 on English YDS or YÖKDİL. Details are in our article on the TÜBİTAK 2211 scholarship.
YÖK 100/2000:Awarded to PhD students in priority thematic areas set by YÖK; the universities select the students. You must be a Turkish citizen and under 35 at your first application. Details are in our article on the YÖK 100/2000 scholarship.
Research assistantship:Lets you continue your PhD while working in a salaried university position. Vacancies are announced separately. See how to become a research assistant and research assistant salaries.
Other scholarships:We have collected university, foundation and institutional scholarships in our article on PhD scholarships. International students can read our Türkiye Scholarships guide.
Scholarship conditions are updated with each call; read the institution's current call before you apply.
What is a PhD good for? Academic careers and public-sector rights
A PhD is the basic requirement for becoming a faculty member: appointment as an assistant professor (doktor öğretim üyesi) requires a doctorate. In the public sector it brings grade, step and allowance benefits, and in the private sector it is a sought-after qualification in R&D centers and technoparks.
Academic careers. After a PhD you can apply for assistant professor positions and then move on to associate professorship. We cover which positions are open without a PhD in can you become an academic without a PhD, and your options afterwards in postdoc and life after a PhD. The difference between a lecturer and a research assistant is another common question.
Public employees. A graduate degree gives civil servants step and grade progression; we explain the calculation in grade and step for civil servants. Teachers can read about how a PhD affects salary and the expert and head teacher exemption, and those with a language score can read about the foreign language allowance.
Military service. Graduate students can defer military service under certain conditions. You can find the conditions and age limits in our article on graduate military service deferment.
Private sector and R&D. Employees with a PhD also bring support advantages to employers in R&D centers and technoparks. See the advantages of PhD holders. If you plan to work during your PhD, read can you work while doing a PhD, and see our careers page for current openings.
Should I do a PhD? There is no single answer for everyone. Are you ready to spend four or five years on one research question? Does the job or academic position you want require this degree? Is there a scholarship or position to support you during this time? Before deciding, read is a PhD worth it and a PhD abroad or in Türkiye.
PhD programs by field
We have compiled PhD programs, the universities that offer them and their requirements in the most searched fields.
Great, your search is ready. On Atlas you can filter PhD programs that match these criteria and add them to your list, and apply for free to the private university you like through Mezun Kampüsü.
If your field is not listed here, you can search all PhD programs on Atlas. If you are looking at a particular university, start from the universities page.
What to know during your PhD
Here are the questions that come up most often after you enroll:
- Supervisor: Appointed by the end of the second semester at the latest. How do you choose a PhD supervisor?
- Publication requirement: The Regulation on Graduate Education does not require publications for graduation, but some universities ask for them under their own rules. The publication requirement for a PhD
- Online PhD: YÖK's distance education rules cover associate, bachelor's and master's programs only, so a PhD cannot be done online. Is there an online PhD?
- Evening programs: PhD programs are not offered as evening (second-shift) programs. If you plan to work, plan class hours around your job. Can you work while doing a PhD?
- Scientific preparation: Students from another field may be asked to complete up to two semesters of scientific preparation, which does not count toward the PhD duration. What is scientific preparation?
- Course transfer: Graduate courses you took before can count under certain conditions. Graduate course exemptions and visiting versus special students
- PhD abroad: A doctorate earned abroad is valid in Türkiye once YÖK grants equivalence. Doing a PhD abroad
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a PhD take?
A PhD started after a master's normally takes 4 years and must be completed within 6. For an integrated PhD started after a bachelor's, the normal duration is 5 years and the maximum is 7.
What ALES score do you need for a PhD?
At least 55 when you apply with a master's and at least 80 when you apply with a bachelor's. Universities can raise these minimums.
Can you do a PhD without a master's?
Yes. Bachelor's graduates with a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4 and at least 80 on ALES can apply for an integrated PhD.
What is an integrated PhD?
It is a PhD program that bachelor's graduates start directly, without a master's. Its normal duration is 5 years and it requires at least 14 courses.
Is there an age limit for a PhD?
There is no age limit for PhD applications. Priority-field PhDs and the YÖK 100/2000 scholarship, however, have an age limit of 35.
Is there an online PhD?
No. YÖK's distance education rules cover associate, bachelor's and master's programs, so a PhD cannot be done online.
Do you pay tuition for a PhD?
At public universities it is mostly free within the normal duration; students who exceed it pay a contribution fee. Foundation universities charge tuition.
Can you work while doing a PhD?
Yes, but since PhD programs are not offered as evening programs, you need to plan coursework and research around your job. If you work in the public sector, check your institution's leave rules.
Can you become an academic without a PhD?
You can work at a university as a research assistant or lecturer, but an assistant professor position requires a PhD.
Is there a publication requirement for a PhD?
The regulation does not require publications for graduation. Some universities ask for them by senate decision, so check your program's rules.
What happens if I fail the qualifying exam?
You retake the part you failed in the next semester. If you fail a second time, you are dismissed from the program.
When do you receive the doctor title?
You graduate and receive the title of doctor once your dissertation is accepted at the defense and you submit the copies required by the graduate school.
Is a PhD earned abroad valid in Türkiye?
Yes, as long as YÖK grants equivalence. See our diploma equivalence guide for the process.
Sources
- YÖK, Regulation on Graduate Education (Turkish)
- YÖK, call for student selection and central written exam for priority-field PhD programs (2026, Turkish)
- YÖK, 2025-2026 Higher Education Bulletin (Turkish)
- TÜBİTAK, 2211-A National PhD Scholarship call (Turkish)
- NTV, new YÖK rules for PhD and graduate students (6 March 2026, Turkish)
Do not miss a PhD call. Sign up for free and add the programs you like to your list; we will remind you as deadlines approach.
Sign upAll PhD programs: List every PhD program in Türkiye on Atlas.
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