Bilkent University Quality Management in Education
Doctor of Philosophy in History

Foundation

1993

Qualification Awarded

Doctor of Philosophy in History

Level of Qualification

Third Cycle Degree

Mode of Study

Full Time

Admission & Registration Requirements

Bilkent University graduate programs offer admission to applicants who have the necessary qualifications and show promise of scholarly achievement. Each department establishes its own criteria for admission, and departmental listings include more detailed information about these requirements.



The following are some of the admission requirements common to all departments:





  • Submission of ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı/Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Exam) or GRE scores. GMAT scores are required for graduate programs in Business Administration.)


  • Fluency in written and oral English. Please see the websites of each graduate school for the list of accepted tests.


  • Official transcripts.


  • Recommendations from instructors or others qualified to evaluate academic ability.








Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy in History (2017) are available at http://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/bilkent/gradstudents/history/.



On-line applications are accepted at https://stars.bilkent.edu.tr/gradapp/

Assessment of Student Performance

Apart from work conducted throughout the semester, students are usually asked to take a final examination and at least one midterm examination for a course. If a staff member considers it appropriate, practical laboratory work or other such assignments may be assessed as midterm examinations or as a final examination.

Grades are finalized when they are announced via the internet on the date specified in the Academic Calendar. Semester grades for practical studies and other non-lecture courses are determined by an evaluation of the student's overall work and performance throughout the semester.

The University grading system uses letter grades with pluses and minuses. Letter grades and their grade point equivalents are: A+ to D; F, FX is failing. The quality-point equivalents of the grades are:

  A+   4.00   B+   3.30   C+   2.30   D+   1.30   F   0.00
  A   4.00   B   3.00   C   2.00   D   1.00   FX   0.00
  A-   3.70   B-   2.70   C-   1.70           FZ   0.00

Other grades used are S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), I (Incomplete), P (In Progress), T (Transfer), and W (Withdraw). These grades do not have grade point equivalents.

S : accorded to students who are successful in non-credit courses.
     
U : accorded to students who are unsuccessful in non-credit courses.
     
I : accorded to students who, although otherwise successful, have failed to complete the required assignments for a course due to illness or some other valid reason. Proof of illness or other reason for non-completion must be submitted within two days of the date of the final exam. A student receiving an incomplete grade for any course must make up for the deficiencies within 14 days after the final exam in order to obtain a grade. Otherwise, the grade I automatically becomes FX. At the discretion of the department chair, the period specified above may be extended until the beginning of the following semester. P : progress, used for multi-semester courses.
     
P : progress, used for multi-semester courses.
     
T : reflects approved transferred courses from other universities or from an exchange program. A student with a grade of T is exempted from an equivalent number of credits on the condition that the courses are accepted by the department on the recommendation of the department chair and with the approval of the board of the faculty/school. This grade may provide an exemption for a particular course at the program.
     
W : student has withdrawn from the course before the withdrawal deadline of the respective semester.

A student with extraordinary performance in a course may be granted an A+ grade. However, the number of A+ grades in a given course is limited based on class size: If the class size is less than 25 students, no A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 25 and 74 students, only one A+ grade may be given; if the class size is between 75 and 124 students, two A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 125 and 174 students, three A+ grades may be given; if the class size is between 175 and 225 students, four A+ grades may be given; if the class size is more than 225 students, five A+ grades may be given. (The letter grade A+ was instituted beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year.)

Students who have not met the minimum performance and/or attendance requirements to qualify to take the final exam receive an FZ grade before the final exams begin. Failing students who have not shown up at the final exam receive an FX grade instead of an F.

In graduate programs, in addition to grade S, a grade of C or higher is a passing grade in masters programs and a grade of B or higher is a passing grade in Ph.D. programs. Letter grades lower than C and grade U are failing grades in masters programs and grades lower than B and grade U are failing grades in Ph.D. programs.

A student's academic performance is determined at the end of each semester by computing an average of the letter grades he/she has received during that semester. For each course, the grade point equivalent of the letter grade received by the student is multiplied by the credit units for that course; the sum of these products is then divided by the total credit units taken in that semester to yield the Grade Point Average (GPA) for that semester. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is calculated by multiplying the grade point equivalent of the letter grade by the credit units for each course and then dividing the total sum by the total credit units taken in the program.

National Degree Qualifications

Basic Field Qualifications for Humanities (Academic - Weighted) - 8th Level - Doctor of Philosophy
NQF-HETR
LEVEL		 KNOWLEDGE
- Theoretical
- Conceptual		 SKILLS
- Cognitive
- Practical		 COMPETENCES
Competence to Work
Independently and
Take Responsibility 		Learning Competence Communication and Social
Competence 		Field Specific Competence
8th Level Doctorate
EQF-LLL:
8th Level
QF-EHEA:
3rd Cycle
Qualifications that signify completion of the sixth cycle are awarded to students who
K1. Develops and deepens the current and advanced knowledge in the field of human sciences at the graduate level and original thinking and research, based on the graduate qualifications, conducts related studies and creates original definitions and concepts that will bring innovation to the field.
K2. In the field of humanities, have full understanding of the interdisciplinary interaction, and reach original conclusions using the knowledge that requires expertise to analyze and evaluate new and complex ideas, discussions and progress.
K3. Be familiar with national and international resources in the related field they require in order to develop and deepen advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of humanities.
S1. Evaluates, examines and uses the developments and information in the field of humanities with a systematic approach.
S2. Develop an idea, a method or an application that brings innovation to the field of humanities; and adapts to another field an idea, a method or an application that is used in humanities.
S3. Research, comprehend, design, adapt and apply an original subject.
S4. Make analysis, synthesis and critical evaluation of new and complex ideas in humanities.
S5. Make use of, at the highest level, the research methods and techniques employed in the field of humanities.
W1. Contribute to the scientific research in the relevant field by carrying out an original study, program and project independently.
W2. Enhance the frontier of knowledge by conducting original research or bringing new interpretations to available research in the field of humanities.
W3. Have their research published in related national and international resources.
W4. Assume the leadership role in settings that require the solution of original and interdisciplinary problems in the field of humanities.
W5. Take part in national or international projects and/or develop new projects.
L1. Think creatively and critically; and develop new thoughts, models, methods and applications in the field of humanities by using high-level decision making processes such as problem solving, comparison and planning.
L2. Explain to their subordinates advanced knowledge in the field of humanities through theory and applications.
C1. Investigate and improve through a critical perspective the norms and rules that govern relations in the field of humanities; and when required, take action to change these relations.
C2. When discussing topics regarding humanities with field specialists, introduce original ideas and establish an effective communication demonstrating their competence in the field and interdisciplinary point of view.
C3. Communicate and discuss advanced written, oral and visual communication by using a foreign language at least at the C1 Level of European Language Portfolio.
C4. Use computer software and information and communication technologies required by the field of humanities at the advanced level.
F1. Contribute to the process of being an information society and sustaining it by introducing scientific, cultural and artistic developments in the field of humanities.
F2. Make decisions at the highest level regarding problems encountered in the field of humanities; and establish constructive and effective interaction with related institutions and individuals.
F3. Contribute to the solution of scientific, cultural, artistic and ethical problems in the field of humanities; and support the development of these values.
F4. Provide support to decision-making processes of relevant individuals and institutions with regard to the solution of problems encountered in humanities.
F5. Contribute to the efforts of relevant academic and professional institutions and organizations in order to protect historical and cultural heritage and environment.
F6. Comply with the requirements of quality management and processes; and manage these processes.

Program Outcomes

  1. a. Acquisition of the necessary linguistic proficiencies for the particular field of the student
  2. b. Acquisition of knowledge and expertise in a variety of specialized subjects through courses
  3. c. Demonstration through the Comprehensive Exams of a broad proficiency in academic history
  4. d. Production of an adequate research proposal for the PhD thesis
  5. e. Production of an original PhD thesis on a historical topic using primary and secondary sources

Program Outcomes/Degree Qualification Matrix

 Program Outcomes
Qualification(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)
K1✓✓✓✓✓
K2✓✓✓
K3✓✓✓
S1✓✓
S2✓✓
S3✓✓
S4✓✓✓
S5✓
W1✓✓
W2✓✓
W3✓
W4✓
W5✓✓
L1✓
L2✓
C1✓✓✓
C2✓✓
C3✓✓
C4✓✓
F1✓
F2✓
F3✓✓
F4✓
F5✓
F6✓
Qualification
Program Outcome

Program Curriculum

Course Code Course Name Hours Credits Prerequisite Options
Lecture Lab/Studio
/Others		 Bilkent ECTS
GE 500 Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics 0 0 0 1 [ Syllabus ]
GE 690 Academic Practices 0 0 0 24 [ Syllabus ]
HIST 693 Pre-Thesis Seminar 3 0 0 1 [ Syllabus ]
HIST 699 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 0 179 [ Syllabus ]
Elective 3 [ Courses ]
Restricted Elective 18 [ Courses ]


Elective Courses in the Curriculum

Elective Count Program Outcomes Options
Elective 1 ( Acquisition of knowledge and expertise in a variety of specialized subjects through coursesb) ( Demonstration through the Comprehensive Exams of a broad proficiency in academic historyc)   [ Courses ]
Restricted Elective 6 ( Acquisition of knowledge and expertise in a variety of specialized subjects through coursesb) ( Demonstration through the Comprehensive Exams of a broad proficiency in academic historyc)   [ Courses ]