Master's Degree with Thesis

The thesis-based master’s program is a graduate education program designed to enable students to specialize in a specific field of science and to acquire the competence to generate, evaluate, and interpret knowledge using scientific research methods. The program consists of courses, seminar work, and the preparation and successful defense of a master’s thesis based on original research. Students who successfully complete the thesis-based master’s program are awarded a master’s degree.

The program duration, excluding the time spent on scientific preparation, starting from the semester in which courses for the enrolled program are offered, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in each semester; for thesis-based master’s programs, the standard duration is 4 (four) semesters, with a maximum of 6 (six) semesters.

The thesis-based master’s program;

1. consists of 7 (seven) courses totaling at least 21 (twenty-one) local credits, along with a seminar course, a course on research methods and scientific ethics, and thesis work.
2. An academic term consists of a total of at least 120 ECTS credits, provided that each term is no less than 60 ECTS credits.

Of the 7 (seven) courses—excluding the “Research Methods and Scientific Ethics” and “Seminar” courses—must be taken within the first four semesters of graduate education, and at least 4 (four) of these must be courses included in the curriculum of the student’s Department of Science or Department of Art.

To pass a course, the grade must be at least CB (2.50) for master’s programs and at least BB (3.00) for doctoral programs.

• The Specialization Course is conducted theoretically for 3 (three) hours per week for master’s students. It carries 0 (zero) local credits and has an ECTS value of 20 (twenty). The days and times are specified in the weekly course schedule.
• The thesis course consists of 1 (one) hour per week of practical work. It carries 0 (zero) local credits and 40 (forty) ECTS credits. The days and times are specified in the weekly course schedule.
• Master’s students with a thesis who have been assigned a thesis advisor and have completed their coursework must register for the graduate thesis and/or specialization courses offered by their advisor within the registration period. These courses continue throughout the year and independent of academic semesters for the duration of the student’s maximum study period, provided the student remains under the advisor’s supervision. 
• Students must be enrolled in the thesis and specialization courses in the semester in which they intend to graduate.

In order for a student to graduate from a thesis-based master’s program:

• The student must fulfill the course, local credit, and ECTS requirements within the maximum duration defined for the thesis-based master’s program, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50/4.00, and pass the thesis defense exam.
• Students must be enrolled in their thesis and specialization course during the semester in which they intend to graduate. 
• For the relevant graduate program, visit Yıldız Technical University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations: Procedures and Principles for Implementation, Article 41 must be met.
• At least 3 (three) copies of the thesis, signed by the advisor and the jury members and bound, must be submitted to the Institute within 1 (one) month from the date of the thesis defense exam, and the thesis must comply with formatting requirements.

In thesis-based master’s programs, students must successfully complete their studies within the maximum time limits set for the program. 

• Students who fail to fulfill program requirements or successfully complete the program by the end of the maximum duration,
• During their graduate studies, fail to complete the credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing course load—as defined under the relevant provisions of the Yıldız Technical University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations: Procedures and Principles—with a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average of 2.50/4.00 (GPA),
• who fail to meet the publication requirement within the maximum timeframe,
• who fail to meet the requirements for the thesis defense exam, who do not participate in the thesis defense exam, or whose thesis is deemed unsuccessful and rejected by the committee,

• or who, despite passing the thesis defense exam, fail to submit their thesis and meet the formatting requirements within the specified timeframes,

  will have their enrollment at the University terminated.

If a student who has been admitted to a doctoral program with a thesis-based master’s or bachelor’s degree and has failed their thesis work requests it, provided they fulfill the course credit load, project writing, tuition, and other requirements of the non-thesis master’s program of the same name, the program may award a non-thesis master’s degree.

To enable the student to fulfill the course credit load, project writing, and similar requirements of the non-thesis master’s program, the relevant provisions regarding the “Non-Thesis Master’s Program” in the University’s Regulations on Graduate Education and Teaching: Procedures and Principles shall apply.

In such cases, applications are finalized based on the recommendation of the Department/Program Committee and a decision by the Graduate School Council.