The information and program qualifications related to the Ground Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Civil Engineering of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
Geotechnical Engineering at ITU is the oldest geotechnical group in Turkey. With modern equipment in the laboratories, the group provides research on Soil Improvement Methods, Deep Excavations, Environmental geotechnics, Earth Retaining Systems, Liquefaction, Behaviour of Soils under Dynamic Loading, Microzonation and Soil-Structure Interaction Problems.
Click here for the program's website.
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 , GMAT minimum , GMAT minimum 540). 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 Civil Engineering, Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 4
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 , GMAT minimum , GMAT minimum 540). 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 Civil Engineering, Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Quota (For International Students): 1
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
Graduates of the Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Doctorate Program are expected to:
1. Conduct research, defend the research they have done, present it, have physical and numerical modelling skills and use technology
2. Conduct the geotechnical engineering profession in any local, regional, national and international private companies, universities or governmental agencies.
3. Lead research and disseminate the results as journal or conference papers.
4. Participate in professional society activities, and perform their professions with ethical principles and professional 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
For graduation, students with a masters degree have to take at least twenty one credits of minimum seven courses, seminar course, qualification exam, thesis proposal and work. For students with an undergraduate degree have to take at least forty two credits of minimum fourteen courses, seminar course, qualification exam, thesis proposal and work.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title : Doctor of Philosophy
Program Employment Opportunities
Those who graduate from the doctorate program can work as a project, site or control engineer in the projects about site investigation, soil improvement, shallow and deep foundations, deep excavations and design these structures. They have work opportunities in private and public sectors. They also work as lecturers or professors in universities.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 6 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 By means of 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 MS level, grasping the interdisciplinary interaction related to one’s area and reaching original results by using this specialistic knowledge in analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating new and complex ideas (knowledge).
P.O.2 By means of the ability to evaluate and use new information in the area with a systematical approach, 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 and designing and applying an original subject, and also by the ability to critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate new and complex ideas, acquiring the most developed skills about using the research methods in studies within the related area (skill).
P.O.3 By means of 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 that area; or, applying a conventional idea, method, design and/or application to a different environment, expending the limits of knowledge by publishing at least one scientific article in a national and/or international peer reviewed journal (competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P.O.4 By means of fulfilling the leader role in the environment where solutions are sought for the original and interdisciplinary problems, 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 (competence to work independently and take responsibility, learning competence).
P.O.5 Ability to see and develop social relationships and the norm directing these relationships with a critical look and ability to direct the actions to change these when necessary. (Communication and social competency).
P.O.6 By means of 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, the ability to establish effective communication with expert in the international environment to discuss the area related subjects and to defend original opinions, showing ones competency in the area (communication and social competency).
P.O.7 By means of contributing to the society state and progress towards being an information society by announcing and promoting the technological, scientific and social developments in one’s area, and ability to establish effective communication in the solving of problems faced in that area by using strategic decision making processes, contributing to the solution of area related social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems and promoting development of these values (area specific competency).
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links