REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE ISTANBUL AYDIN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE EDUCATION INSTITUTE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1-      When will the applications for Master’s and Doctoral programs begin?

Applications are received within the dates determined by our Institute at the end of each academic term and will be announced on our website. During the pandemic period and the following terms, you may submit your online applications via https://apply.aydin.edu.tr/lisansustu/.

• Readable and complete scanned copies of the required documents must be uploaded to this platform.

2-      How can Master’s and Doctoral students apply for advisor assignment?

In accordance with the relevant article of the Graduate Education, Instruction and Examination Regulation, graduate students must determine their thesis/project advisors by the end of their first semester.

The advisor assignment form available on our website must be completed and submitted to the Institute together with the required approvals.

    3-  How can I request a change of advisor?

To request a change of advisor, you must fill out the advisor change form available on the Institute website and submit it to the Institute with the necessary approvals.

    4- What should be done to determine a thesis/project topic?

Master’s students must determine their thesis/project topics by the end of their second semester. The thesis/project topic approval form available on the Institute website must be submitted together with the necessary approvals. Students in thesis-based Master’s programs must also submit their thesis proposals along with this form.

Doctoral students must establish their thesis committees within one month after passing the Doctoral Qualifying Examination and submit their thesis proposals within six months.

• During the pandemic period, approvals can be obtained in writing via email.

   5- How can I apply for a change of thesis/project topic?

Master’s students must complete and submit the thesis topic change/project topic change form available on the Institute website with the required approvals.

For doctoral students, thesis topic changes can be made during thesis monitoring committee meetings.

• During the pandemic period, approvals can be obtained in writing via email.

   6 - How are Doctoral Qualifying Examination applications submitted?

Doctoral Qualifying applications are made in November and April every year, as stated in the academic calendar. You can fill out the application form on our website, obtain the necessary approvals, and submit it to our Institute.

  7- When will the Doctoral Qualifying Examination be held?

After the application process is completed, our Institute will forward the applications to the relevant departments via an official letter. Following this, the departments will send information regarding jury members and exam dates. The exam dates will then be announced on our website, as well as through UBIS and our social media accounts.

  8- How are publications submitted to the Institute? What are the required criteria?

For the publication requirement, students must use their university email addresses, and the publication must explicitly state that the author is a student of Istanbul Aydın University.

Publications must be peer-reviewed. Papers presented at symposiums and congresses are accepted only if published in the abstract or full-text proceedings.

For doctoral publication requirements, the article must be indexed in ULAKBİM.

If you have a publication already accepted or published, you may submit the “Publication Submission Form” along with the required documents to the Institute.

   9 - How are thesis defense procedures carried out?

In the following step, after completing the “Thesis Submission and Jury Assignment Form” with your advisor and obtaining the department approval, you must obtain a Turnitin Similarity Report and send it to the Institute via e-mail. After your jury is approved by the Institute, you must fill out the “Thesis Submission to Jury Members Form” with your advisor, determine the defense date, and send the form to the Institute via e-mail.

Graduate students can defend their thesis at the earliest 10 days after delivering copies to jury members, while doctoral students can defend at the earliest 15 days later.

    10- How is thesis submission completed after the thesis defense?

After passing the thesis defense, the student must make the necessary revisions, obtain advisor approval, and send the Word version of the thesis to the Institute for format review. Only theses approved by the Institute may be submitted in bound form. This process must be completed within one month following the defense. Master’s theses must be bound in navy blue, and doctoral theses in black. Graduation is finalized at the following Board of Directors meeting, and notifications are sent via UBIS and student email.

   11- How can I apply for a leave of absence (registration freeze)? Can students with frozen registration continue their academic procedures?

You must prepare a petition and attach documents meeting the conditions listed in Article 56 of the Istanbul Aydın University Graduate Education and Examination Regulation, then submit it to the Institute.

a) Health issues documented with medical board reports.

b) Natural disasters documented by the local civil authority.

c) Documenting travel abroad for language education, with proof of education upon return.

ç) Detention or imprisonment.

d) Imprisonment that does not require dismissal from higher education according to the relevant legislation.

e) Being drafted into military service.

f) Temporary assignment domestically or abroad for reasons related to profession or graduate studies.

g) Illness of a first-degree relative when no other caregiver is available.

ğ) Delays in thesis studies due to circumstances beyond the student’s control (equipment problems, etc.).

If approved by the Board of Directors, the registration may be frozen.

Students with frozen registration cannot carry out any academic procedures.

    12- How can I submit documents to the Institute?

During and after the pandemic period, all educational forms and petitions may be emailed to the Institute ([email protected]) after obtaining the approval of your program coordinator and advisor, if applicable.

    13- How can students who were dismissed re-enroll?

Students who were dismissed for certain reasons may reapply as new applicants. Once accepted and enrolled, they may apply for course exemption for previously completed successful courses upon the recommendation of the department head. Students who re-enroll after dismissal are granted a 25% scholarship.

    14- How often does the Board of Directors meet?

The Board of Directors meets twice a month regularly, every 15 days. However, meeting frequency may vary depending on workload and member availability.

• For your documents to be included in the closest Board meeting, they must be submitted to the Institute at least 3 days before the meeting date. Otherwise, they will be processed at the next meeting.

    15-  How are Midterm, Final, and Make-up Exams conducted?

These exams are conducted at the discretion of the instructor (online test, assignment, project, etc.). Students must follow all processes in contact with the course instructor.