Institute of Graduate Programmes | Department of Civil Aviation | Doctorate Degree (Ph.D)

Profile of the Programme

Graduate education leading to PhD degrees in Civil Aviation started in 1993 and since thenadvanced study and research opportunities regarding ai

The Civil Aviation Doctoral Program is an interdisciplinary graduate program that addresses the field of civil aviation from an interdisciplinary perspective and aims to provide advanced theoretical knowledge, scientific research competence, and the ability to make original contributions. The program aims to evaluate aviation systems holistically in terms of technical, operational, managerial, economic, environmental, and regulatory dimensions. In this context, airline and airport management, air transportation, aviation safety and security, sustainable aviation, legislation, risk management, data analytics, and decision-making processes are among the main areas of study of the program.

The program also covers engineering- and technology-based research topics such as aircraft systems, aircraft and UAV technologies, maintenance and repair processes, aircraft performance, flight operations, aircraft design, propulsion systems, digitalization in aviation, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence applications, modeling, simulation, optimization, system design, operational planning, and decision-support systems. Thus, students are supported in examining aviation problems through the methods and approaches of different disciplines.

The doctoral-level education process aims to enable students to develop original research problems, apply scientific methods independently, and conduct academic studies that contribute to the literature. Within the scope of the program, students are expected to analyze complex problems encountered in civil aviation systems through engineering, management science, data analytics, modeling, optimization, design, and planning approaches.

The Civil Aviation Doctoral Program contributes to the development of researchers, academics, and expert human resources needed by the national and international aviation sector. Program graduates may undertake advanced research, analysis, design, planning, optimization, evaluation, and management roles in higher education institutions, research centers, airline and airport enterprises, civil aviation authorities, maintenance and repair organizations, aviation technology and defense industry organizations, consulting companies, and relevant public or private sector organizations.

rframe powerplant maintenance, avionics and air transportation fields have been offered.

Programme Director & ECTS Coord.

Specific Admission Requirements

General admission requirements stated under Info on the Institution on this website are being applied to start this programme.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Depending on the degrees awarded, theoretical or practical courses taken as part of a degree (completed or not completed) may lead to recognition of these as prior learning by the programme administration. The students who have taken courses in another institution in Turkey or abroad can ask for credit and grade transfer. The executive boards of relevant programme will decide on the courses to be transferred covering students' entire academic program once and for all with the condition that the request for transfer be made within the first week of the academic year, the requests cannot be repeated.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Access to Further Studies

May apply to post doctorate programmes.

Graduation Requirements

A student with an MA/MS degree is required to successfully complete a minimum of 7 courses, not less than 52,5 ECTS credits on the other hand student without an MA/MS degree enrolling in the doctorate programs is required to successfully complete a minimum of 14 courses not less than 105 ECTS credits. Both groups of students are required take the required Field Specialization course, pass the qualifying exam, have an accepted dissertation proposal and successfully compete doctorate dissertation work with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits, have a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 and no letter grades lower than CC and no YT, DZ grades.
The Doctorate degree requires course work and thesis research. The students will conduct original research and prepare a thesis, then make an oral defense of her/his completed research. Students require about four years beyond the Master's degree to complete a Doctorate of Philosopy program.

Occupational Profiles of Graduates

Graduates of the Civil Aviation Doctoral Program may be employed in higher education institutions, research centers, airlines and airport operators, ground handling organizations, maintenance and repair organizations, civil aviation authorities, consulting companies, aviation technology firms, defense industry organizations, aviation R&D centers, engineering design offices, and system integration organizations.

Graduates may undertake advanced research, analysis, design, planning, evaluation, consultancy, and management roles in areas such as civil aviation, airline and airport management, flight network and fleet planning, terminal and ground operations, aircraft and UAV systems, aircraft engines, aviation technologies, R&D, engineering design, production processes, testing and verification, certification, maintenance engineering, modeling, simulation, optimization, data analytics, decision-support systems, aviation safety, sustainability, quality, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Grade	Coefficient
AA	4,0
AB	3,7
BA	3,3
BB	3,0
BC	2,7
CB	2,3
CC	2,0
CD	1,7
DC	1,3
DD	1,0
FF	0,0