The information and program qualifications related to the Architectural Design Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Architecture of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
Architectural Design PhD Programme is a Graduate Programme for doctoral studies. The Programme is working under the Graduate Level of Architecture Department that is directly connected to the rules and legislations of ITU Senate and ITU Graduate School of Science Engineering and Technology. The Programme is coordinated by an elected member from Architectural Design MSc. and PhD. Programmes Faculty Committee. The Executive Board of Coordination is made up of 3 elected members including the coordinator in that sense. Two research assistants are also elected working as reporters of the programme.
Research Areas :
Theory, criticism and history in architecture
Architectural design theories and methods
Environmental, social and cultural studies in architectural design
Architectural design technology and informatics
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies in architecture
Brief history of the program
After the embracement of the 4+2-year education system in 1978 at ITU Faculty of Architecture, the program was established as a thesis-based education under the name of Engineering Architecture Postgraduate Study (MMLS) between 1982 and 2002, the program continued as the Master and Doctorate Program in Building Knowledge. In 2002, during the restructuring of ITU Graduate Programs, the program was restructured as a 24-credit and thesis program under the name of "Architectural Design Master's and Doctoral Program". During this transformation process, new courses were offered, the course contents were updated and several courses were omitted since the content was either obsolete or they were standing as passive classes in the curriculum. As one of the leading graduate programs in the field of architecture, design theory and criticism in the nation, ITU Architectural Design Master's and Doctoral Program, continues to improve itself and maintain its leading role through new courses, up-to-date program structure and international education incentives.
Vision of Architectural Design Thesis Doctorate Program:
Located in Istanbul, a global metropolis, the vision of the program is to be the focus of theoretical developments and scientific studies in the field of architectural design and to maintain its leading role in architectural design research at the national and international level.
Mission of Architectural Design Thesis Doctorate Program:
The mission of the program is to promote advanced research studies in architectural design through the critical and theoretical reflection within the discipline of architecture. The program enables students to propose, conduct, conclude and share crossdisciplinary research studies for architectural design problems using analytical methods and techniques in the fields of architectural design, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
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 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Environmental Control and Construction Technologies, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Architectural Design, Architecture, Architectural History, Landscape Architecture, Restoration, Urban and Regional Planning.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 5
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 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Environmental Control and Construction Technologies, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Architectural Design, Architecture, Architectural History, Landscape Architecture, Restoration, Urban and Regional Planning.
Quota (For International Students): 2
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
- Raise the awareness of current issues in the field of architectural theory and practice with a critical perspective,
- Comprehend, reveal and interpret phenomenon of architecture and discourse based on recent developments in the profession,
- Create a professional formation with multi-dimensional thinking and conduct in-depth research by combining technology, art, science and human factors,
- Comprehend the interactive relationship between thought, theory and praxis in architecture,
- Generate new knowledge on architectural design problems through qualitative and quantitative research methods,
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of design and conduct original scientific research in the field of architectural theory and criticism,
- Comprehend the research logic and method of design; and develop the skills for perceiving, comprehending and transforming design problems into knowledge with a holistic approach.
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
Programme is working under the legislations of ITU Senate and ITU Graduate Studies Regulations.
Additional URL :
https://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/TR/mevzuat/lisansustu-yonetmelik.php
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title : Doctor of Philosophy
Program Employment Opportunities
Graduated students may be working in a great diversity of academic and professional fields related to the objectives of this programme.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 19 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Knowledge : 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
P.O.2 Knowledge : 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
P.O.3 skill : The ability to evaluate and use new information in the area with a systematical approach
P.O.4 Skill : 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
P.O.5 Skill : The ability to critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate the new and complex ideas
P.O.6 Skill : Acquiring the most developed skills about using the research methods in studies in the related area
P.O.7 Competence to work independently and take responsibility : 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
P.O.8 Competence to work independently and take responsibility : 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
P.O.9 Competence to work independently and take responsibility : Fulfilling the leader role in the environments where solutions are sought for the original and inter-disciplinary problems
P.O.10 Learning Competence : 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
P.O.11 Communication and Social Competency : 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
P.O.12 Communication and Social Competency : 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
P.O.13 Communication and Social Competency : 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
P.O.14 Area Specific Competency : 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
P.O.15 Area Specific Competency : Developing new strategic approaches while taking responsibility in Architectural Design and related disciplines
P.O.16 Area Specific Competency : Paying regard to social, scientific, cultural and ethical values during the collecting, interpreting, practicing and announcing processes of architectural design data and the ability to teach these values; developing strategy, policy and application plans and the ability to evaluate the end results of these plans within the frame of quality processes
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links