The information and program qualifications related to the Structural Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Civil Engineering of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
Undergraduate and graduate education at Istanbul Technical University was separated in 1974 and in addition to the undergraduate program, graduate education was started. The Structural Engineering Program has the highest student quota and the largest faculty member in Civil Engineering. In 1981, the Graduate School was attached to the Graduate School of Science, Engineering and Technology. Structural Engineering Program was established with the members of Technical Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Structural Analysis, Timber and Steel Structures, Reinforced Concrete and Advanced Strength of Materials, and Construction Materials units.
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Registration Requirements
Application Term : Previous Term / 2024-2025 Spring Semester
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Earthquake Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 10
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Earthquake Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering.
Quota (For International Students): 5
Application Page Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
The goals of the program are:
• To have graduates that can utilize all kinds of theoretical information at the level of expertise and apply it to solve the problems encountered during the design of structures.
• To have graduates that are able to critically evaluate the results obtained by using information technologies together with computer software at the required level.
• To have graduates that gained the ability to combine the knowledge of interdisciplinary subjects.
• And to give graduates professional and ethical responsibilities
Measurement and Evaluation
Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.
ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
| Grade Description |
Grade |
Scale |
| Excellent |
AA |
4.00 |
| Very good plus |
BA+ |
3.75 |
| Very good |
BA |
3.50 |
| Good plus |
BB+ |
3.25 |
| Good |
BB |
3.00 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB+ |
2.75 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB |
2.50 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC+ |
2.25 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC |
2.00 |
| Fail |
FF |
0.00 |
| Fail(No Exam) |
VF |
0.00 |
ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.
Internship
There is no internship in this program.
Graduation Requirements
Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education regulations are determined on the basis of Istanbul Technical University Senate Principles. In this context:
PhD Degree students in Structural Engineering in Department of Civil Engineering are required to:
• At least 30% of thecourses must be inEnglish.
• A total of 21 credits must be achieved.
• Cumulative GPA must be atleast 3.00.
• The conditions for "completion of the doctoral thesis" set forth in the ITU Senate Principles must be met.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title : Doctor of Philosophy
Program Employment Opportunities
• Design of extraordinary structures
• Design and inspection of high-rise buildings
• Solving the mechanical problems that will arise in the behaviors of the structures
• Modeling of the design and behavior of the structures, developing computer programs, adaptation of existing programs
• Development of new construction and composite materials
• Investigation of the behavior of materials
• In order to address and solve the problems that cannot be solved by undergraduate engineers related to structural analysis and construction materials;
i) As civil servant in all kinds of state institutions (such as Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, General Directorate of State Airports Authority, General Directorate of Highways, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works etc.)
ii) As a staff member in the Department of Civil Engineering at Universities
iii) As senior engineers and managers in the construction, real estate and structural analysis departments of the municipalities,
iv) As an engineer and consultant in the design and construction of special projects.
v) As an engineer and consultant in all kinds of construction consultancy firms,
vi) Production, quality and research and development engineer in all kinds of construction materials production factories,
vii) As quality manager and plant manager in all types of ready mixed concrete plants,
viii) As site engineer, consultant and quality control engineer in all kinds of construction sites,
ix) As an engineer to make mechanical design of the products in all kinds of manufacturing factories,
x) As a non-destructive testing specialist, retrofitting designer and practitioner in all types of retrofitting projects,
xi) As a scientist to work in the relevant departments of all scientific research institutions such as Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey – TÜBİTAK, Turkish Standards Institution – TSE.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 12 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Developing and intensifying the current and high-level knowledge in the area with the use of original thinking and/or research processes and in a specialistic level, based upon the competency in M.S. level (knowledge).
P.O.2 Grasping the inter-disciplinary interaction related to one’s area; reaching original results by using the specialistic knowledge in analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating new and complex ideas (knowledge).
P.O.3 The ability to evaluate and use new information in the area with a systematical approach (skill).
P.O.4 Developing a new idea, method, design and/or application which brings about innovation in the area; or, applying a conventional idea, method, design and/or application to a different environment; researching, grasping, designing and applying an original subject (skill).
P.O.5 The ability to critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate the new and complex ideas (skill).
P.O.6 Acquiring the most developed skills about using the research methods in studies in the related area (skill).
P.O.7 Contributing to the progress in the area by independently carrying out a study which uses a new idea, method, design and/or application which brings about innovation in the area; or, applying a conventional idea, method, design and/or application to a different environment (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P.O.8 Expanding the limits of knowledge in the area by publishing at least one scientific article in an international peer reviewed journal and/or creating or interpreting an original work (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P.O.9 Fulfilling the leader role in the environments where solutions are sought for the original and inter-disciplinary problems (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P.O.10 Developing area-related new ideas and methods by making use of high level intellectual processes such as creative and critical thinking, problem solving and decision making (Learning Competence).
P.O.11 Ability to see and develop social relationships and the norms directing these relationships with a critical look and the ability to direct the actions to change these when necessary. (Communication and Social Competency).
P.O.12 The ability to establish effective communication with experts in the international environments to discuss the area-related subjects and to defend original opinions, showing one’s competency in the area (Communication and Social Competency).
P.O.13 Proficiency in a foreign language –at least European Language Portfolio C1 Level- and establishing written, oral and visual communication and developing argumentation skills with that language (Communication and Social Competency).
P.O.14 Contributing to the society’s state and progress towards being an information society by announcing and promoting the technological, scientific and social developments in one’s area (Area Specific Competency).
P.O.15 Ability to establish effective communication in the solving of the problems faced in the area, by using the strategic decision making processes (Area Specific Competency).
P.O.16 Contributing to the solution of area-related social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems and promoting the development of these values (Area Specific Competency).
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links