The information and program qualifications related to the Defense Technologies Master of Science Program, under the Department of Defense Technologies of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
Istanbul Technical University Defense Technologies Master's Program is a unique program that offers students great flexibility in planning their graduate education roadmap. The program consists of five sub-programs (compulsory course packages): 1) Materials, Design and Manufacturing Technologies, 2) Strategy Development Technologies, 3) Information Technologies, 4) Energy Technologies, 5) Autonomous Systems.
The program requires students to complete four compulsory and four elective courses, as well as a seminar course and a master's thesis. 30% of the total credits must be earned from courses taught in English. The student must focus on a research topic within the theme of “Defense Technologies” and complete the thesis accordingly. Research topics may include, but are not limited to, all state-of-the-art topics related to defense. For example:
- Unmanned air/sea/land vehicles
- Composite materials
- Micro/nano satellite design
- Electromechanical systems
- Armor technologies
- Artificial intelligence applications
- Machine learning
- Ceramic materials
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 70 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 675, new system GRE minimum 153 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.8/4 (72/100). Graduation must be All Engineering, Astronomy and Space Sciences, Cybersecurity Engineering and Cryptography, Information Security Technology, Information Technologies, Computer Sciences, Information Systems and Technologies, Electronic Warfare, Physical, Aerospace Structures and Materials, Air Transport Management, Aviation Electrical and Electronics, Aeronautics Management, Heat-Fluid, Solid Mechanics, Chemistry / Kimya, Polar Sciences, Machine Dynamics, Vibration and Acoustics, Material, Materials Science and Technologies, Materials and Manufacture, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pilotage, Polymer Science and Technology / Polimer Bilim ve Teknolojisi, Polymer Science and Technology / Polimer Bilimi ve Teknolojisi, Rotor Aero Vehicles Technologies, Aircraft Maintenance and Repair, Aircraft Electrical and Electronics, Aircraft Body and Engine Maintenance. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
(1) Must have a 4-year undergraduate degree in engineering sciences, computer sciences, aerospace sciences or basic sciences.
(2) Submit a curriculum vitae including past academic and/or industrial studies and a list of publications, if any.
(3) Submit at least two letters of reference, at least one of which must be academic, in a sealed envelope or electronically transmitted by the reference himself/herself.
(4) Submit a letter of intent including the subject and plan of the thesis study in the field of Defense Technologies.
(5) Optional documents that contribute to the evaluation:
(5a) Graduation/graduation project, study, thesis or report if it was done in the previous education.
(5b) If he/she has received acceptance from a faculty member as thesis advisor, he/she may submit an \\\"Advisor Acceptance/Reference Letter\\\". The advisor acceptance/reference letter is not a mandatory document.
(5c) If he/she has worked/is working in the defense industry or aviation sector, he/she may submit a document showing the period of activity.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 20
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 70 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 675, new system GRE minimum 153 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.8/4 (72/100). Graduation must be All Engineering, Astronomy and Space Sciences, Cybersecurity Engineering and Cryptography, Information Security Technology, Information Technologies, Computer Sciences, Information Systems and Technologies, Electronic Warfare, Physical, Aerospace Structures and Materials, Air Transport Management, Aviation Electrical and Electronics, Aeronautics Management, Heat-Fluid, Solid Mechanics, Chemistry / Kimya, Polar Sciences, Machine Dynamics, Vibration and Acoustics, Material, Materials Science and Technologies, Materials and Manufacture, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pilotage, Polymer Science and Technology / Polimer Bilim ve Teknolojisi, Polymer Science and Technology / Polimer Bilimi ve Teknolojisi, Rotor Aero Vehicles Technologies, Aircraft Maintenance and Repair, Aircraft Electrical and Electronics, Aircraft Body and Engine Maintenance. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
(1) Must have a 4-year undergraduate degree in engineering sciences, computer sciences, aerospace sciences or basic sciences.
(2) Submit a curriculum vitae including past academic and/or industrial studies and a list of publications, if any.
(3) Submit at least two letters of reference, at least one of which must be academic, in a sealed envelope or electronically transmitted by the reference himself/herself.
(4) Submit a letter of intent including the subject and plan of the thesis study in the field of Defense Technologies.
(5) Optional documents that contribute to the evaluation:
(5a) Graduation/graduation project, study, thesis or report if it was done in the previous education.
(5b) If he/she has received acceptance from a faculty member as thesis advisor, he/she may submit an \\\"Advisor Acceptance/Reference Letter\\\". The advisor acceptance/reference letter is not a mandatory document.
(5c) If he/she has worked/is working in the defense industry or aviation sector, he/she may submit a document showing the period of activity.
Quota (For International Students): 6
Transfer Quota : 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
1) Development of highly competitive, interdisciplinary technologies in the defense industry
2) Turning acquired technologies into advantages in the international arena
3) Reducing external dependency, increasing the number and quality of domestic and national products
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
Students who meet the requirements defined in the "İTÜ Lisansüstü Eğitim ve Öğretim Yönetmeliği Senato Esasları" and complete their thesis on the theme of “Defense Technologies” are eligible for graduation.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Master of Science Title : -
Program Employment Opportunities
Defence Technologies Master of Science Program has gained recognition among the start-ups and large-scale companies that serve Turkey’s defence industry. The graduates have the opportunity to advance in their careers in such companies including:
TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industry)
TEI (Turkish Engine Industry)
ASELSAN (Military Electronics Industry)
ROKETSAN (Missile Industry and Trading Company)
HAVELSAN (Aerospace Electronics Industry)
TUBITAK-UZAY/BILGEM/SAGE (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)
BAYKAR (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles)
Students working in such companies are also encouraged to receive graduate-level education, mostly by provided with leave of absence for education.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 21 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Gaining the MSc level knowledge and skills in the fields required by defense industry
P.O.2 To have the ability to make appropriate assumptions while solving engineering problems and to test the validity of the assumptions leading to this solution
P.O.3 Gaining high-level skills in using theoretical, numerical and experimental research methods and applying them in the defence technologies area
P.O.4 To have the knowledge of foreign language technical terminology at a certain level to follow the international literature in the defence technologies area
P.O.5 Ability to transfer the knowledge of fundamental science to engineering applications in the defence technologies area
P.O.6 To be able to conduct independent research on novel topics and to direct them to practice and to produce designs for the product
P.O.7 Being open to teamwork in order to work in the multi-disciplinary working environment of the defence industry, understanding interdisciplinary interaction, critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new and complex ideas, and reaching original results
P.O.8 Ability to manage multi-disciplinary technical projects related to defence technologies and have leadership skills in this regard
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links