Bilkent University Quality Management in Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering

Foundation

2009

Qualification Awarded

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering

Level of Qualification

Third Cycle Degree

Mode of Study

Full Time

Admission & Registration Requirements

All applicants are required to have a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, or in a related field of science or engineering. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı - Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination) scores, past academic records, reference letters and an interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizen applicants who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit a proof of satisfactory knowledge of English.

24 credit units of course work beyond the M.S. level is required. PhD candidates must pass a qualifying exam typically on their fourth semester, and then must prepare a thesis work proposal. Preparing and defending a dissertation based on original research is the essence of the program. A dissertation based on original research is the essence of the program. The expected duration to complete the Ph.D. program is eight semesters for students who enter the program after an M.S. degree. The maximum duration is 12 semesters, respectively.

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 Engineering (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. Define and apply basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences at the utmost level.
K2. Have extensive and in-depth knowledge including the latest developments in the field.
S1. Reach the latest information in a field and have the ability to comprehend these methods and skills to conduct research at a high level.
S2. Conduct a comprehensive study that either develop a new scientific method or technological product/process, or apply a known method in another field, bringing innovation to science or technology.
S3. Define and apply basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences at the utmost level.
S4. Have extensive and in-depth knowledge including the latest developments in the field.
S5. Perceive, design, apply and conclude an original research process independently ; manage this process.
W1. Contribute to national and international literature of science and technology, publishing the outcomes of academic research in prestigious academic journals.
W2. Conduct a comprehensive study that either develop a new scientific method or technological product/process, or apply a known method in another field, bringing innovation to science or technology.
W3. Evaluate scientific, technological, social and cultural developments and impart such knowledge to the society, in consideration of scientific impartiality and ethical responsibility.
L1. Perceive, design, apply and conclude an original research process independently ; manage this process.
L2. Have access to the most recent information in the field; have advanced methods and skills required to conduct research, using this information.
L3. Conduct a comprehensive study that either develop a new scientific method or technological product/process, or apply a known method in another field, bringing innovation to science or technology.
L4. Contribute to national and international literature of science and technology, publishing the outcomes of academic research in prestigious academic journals.
C1. Make a critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of ideas and developments in the field of expertise.
C2. Communicate effectively in written and oral form with experts and wider scientific and social communities, communicate and discuss advanced written, oral and visual communication by using a foreign language at least at the level of European Language Portfolio C1 General Level.
F1. Evaluate scientific, technological, social and cultural developments and impart such knowledge to the society, in consideration of scientific impartiality and ethical responsibility.
F2. Communicate effectively in written and oral form with experts and wider scientific and social communities, communicate and discuss advanced written, oral and visual communication by using a foreign language at least at the level of European Language Portfolio C1 General Level.

Program Outcomes

  1. a. an ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge and command of advanced mathematics, engineering and science
  2. b. an ability to independently carry out original research
  3. c. an ability to independently address complex research tasks
  4. d. contributions to the national and international literature in the field and publications in prestigious academic journals
  5. e. an ability to evaluate cross-disciplinary information and synthesize integrative solutions to research problems
  6. f. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. g. an ability to communicate research processes and results effectively in national and international settings with a specialist audience as well as with large scientific communities
  8. h. an ability to evaluate the impact of novel developments in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context, in consideration of scientific impartiality and ethical responsibility
  9. i. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
  10. j. a knowledge of contemporary issues and recent developments
  11. k. an ability to use state-of-the-art techniques, skills and tools necessary for research and innovation

Program Outcomes/Degree Qualification Matrix

 Program Outcomes
Qualification(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j)(k)
K1✓✓
K2✓✓
S1✓✓✓
S2✓✓✓✓
S3✓✓
S4✓✓
S5✓
W1✓
W2✓✓✓✓
W3✓✓
L1✓
L2✓✓✓
L3✓✓✓✓
L4✓
C1✓✓✓
C2✓
F1✓✓
F2✓
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 ]
ME 699 Ph.D. Dissertation 0 0 0 203 [ Syllabus ]
Graduate Elective 9 [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Elective 3 [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Mathematical Elective 3 [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Seminar [ Courses ]
Restricted ME Graduate Technical Elective 6 [ Courses ]


Elective Courses in the Curriculum

Elective Count Program Outcomes Options
Graduate Elective 3 (an ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge and command of advanced mathematics, engineering and sciencea) (an ability to use state-of-the-art techniques, skills and tools necessary for research and innovationk)   [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Elective 1 (an ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge and command of advanced mathematics, engineering and sciencea)   [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Mathematical Elective 1 (an ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge and command of advanced mathematics, engineering and sciencea)   [ Courses ]
ME Graduate Seminar 1 (an ability to communicate research processes and results effectively in national and international settings with a specialist audience as well as with large scientific communitiesg) (a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learningi) (a knowledge of contemporary issues and recent developmentsj)   [ Courses ]
Restricted ME Graduate Technical Elective 2 (an ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge and command of advanced mathematics, engineering and sciencea)   [ Courses ]