BÄ°OPHYSÄ°CS
Second Cycle Programmes
(Master's Degree)

D.1. General Information about Program

The Biophysical Department as A Research Environment

Our department has been established in 1970 as a research institute under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Erol BaÅŸar. Foundation of the Council of Higher Education, which acts as the central governor organization, caused a change in the status of our department. In 1981 Institute of Biophysics became the Biophysical Department of Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine and from this year onwards our department started giving Biophysics lectures to the students of Medicine. In 1987, Biophysics Department was recognized as an independent scientific research department and started to carry out the Graduate Program in Biophysics. Besides its educational tasks, our department stood out as a powerful research unit; although composed of a relatively small number of academicians, around 50 research papers has been produced in the field of biophysics. A great number of these articles have been published in esteemed journals; and some of these papers have the honor of being the first publications originating from Turkey (1). These papers have been receiving approximately 20 citations per year (2). Besides these activities, a great number of original thesis, research reports and research projects were realized. At present, three fully equipped research laboratories are conducting original researches by using contemporary methods; employing biophysical approaches in the field of Neural Sciences on the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and systemic levels.

The present academic staff were appointed to their positions by taking into consideration the criterions established by the Council of Higher Education and Hacettepe University (3), in a competitive and transparent manner dictated by the law code 2547.

The Biophysical Department is located in the Basic Medical Sciences Section which is famous for having a powerful research tradition. Having the capability of an easy access to various equipment, knowledge and expertise from neighboring departments provides a substantial support to our research potential (4). Our department supports some multidisciplinary programs such as Stem Cell Sciences and Bioinformatics; and provides its own needs from these departments in return. Also, we are collaborating with the Biophysical Departments of Ankara University (5) and METU (6); and with Konya Selçuk University Faculty of Dentistry (7).

In conclusion, our department successfully carried on its powerful research tradition up to the present time by its own resources and collaborators; and as a result became a leader in its field. We assent this tradition as our prime goal.

Experimental researches in our Department are being conducted in line with the principles as dictated by “Helsinki Declaration II” for clinical studies; “EU Directive 2010/63/EU” for experimental animals and biological samples; and “Oviedo Convention” for bioethical considerations (8). All researches that are realized obey the regulations referenced in Good Laboratory Practice (9), Good Clinical Practice (10) guidelines; and take into consideration the personal safety and environmental protection principles.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Master's Degree

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 2
EQF-LLL: 7

D.4. Provisions for Registration

 1. Applicants for the program must be graduated from Faculty of Medicine,  Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences or Faculty f Engineering Sciences and must posses the other qualifications declared by the Institute of Health Sciences (1).

2. With refer to the article 14 of the regulation (2); as a result of the interview, applicants may be advised to take some undergraduate courses in medicine or physics if an insufficiency of his/her previous education was diagnosed. Those candidates are expected to complete required preparation courses successfully prior to his/her thesis work.

3.  Admission of the foreign students will be processed according to the article 18 of the regulation (2) and the principles declared in the web site of the Institute of Health Sciences (3).

To have ALES (SAY / EA) score type and ALES and Foreign Language base score determined by the Health Sciences Institute Board and approved by the Hacettepe University Senate http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/en/menu/ales_foreign_language_scores-252

1. http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/index.php?option=com_content&view=

article&id=23&Itemid=24

2. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Lisansüstü Eğitim-Öğretim Ve Sınav Yönetmeliği. Resmi Gazete 6 Kasım 2006 Pazartesi, Sayı 26338.

3. (http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=118&Itemid=66)

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Prior to graduation of a PhD student, the institution would evaluate and approve the following points:

1. Successful completion of the required graduate and preparation courses sum of which must yield at least 21 local credits or 120 ECTS points.*

2. Conduction of an original research activity and presentation of the related results in his/her thesis in the form directed by the regulation (2).

3. Presence of a printed article, related to his/her thesis work, in one of the scientific journals.

4. Successful defense of his/her thesis.

* Evaluation would be made with refer to ECTS system only after completion of the implementation of the Bologna principles into the University regulations.

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

The graduate and preparation courses taken by the students within three years prior to his/her recruitment to the program could be transferred into his/her master program if those are approved by his/her supervisor and the departmental council with refer to the principles defined in article 21 of the regulation. The approved courses are registered in his/her transcript.

D.7. Goals and Objectives

Primary objective of the program is to educate and train the students as expert scientists and a competent researcher and a candidate for Ph. D Program

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Nearly all the Biophysics Master Program graduates have been accepted to Ph. D. Programs in various Universities. None of our graduates failed to find a further education position in Biophysics. One of our graduates went into biomedical-service area by his own will and onother is working as Project mannager in Havelsan.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.14. Profile of the Programme

The program is planned to be completed within at least four semesters; it is divided into two sections, namely, the educational period and the thesis period; both having a span of at least two half semesters. Students will take the compulsory and selective courses at the same time within the educational period. In the first semester, students will take the courses which will give them the basic knowledge in the field. The courses of the second semester, on the other hand, are intended for the specific topics which the student would like to gain knowledge, skill and proficieny in future. Within the educational period, the student is obliged to successfully take some courses yielding 21 credits or 90 ECTS points in total. 53% and 47% of the ECTS credits will be acquired from compulsory and optional courses, respectively. At least 60% of the seelctive courses must be chosen from the courses of the Biophysics Program. During the thesis period the candidates carry out research work under the supervision of their instructors; this period consists of two half semesters. At the end of the thesis period the outcomes of the research is rendered a thesis and research article. The candidate who completes his/her qualifications successfully defends his/her thesis in front of a jury composed of academic staff who are proficient in their fields. The candidates who are successful in their thesis defense complete their master education successfully.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

 

The program is planned to be completed within at least four semesters; it is divided into two sections, namely, the educational period and the thesis period; both having a span of at least two half semesters. Students will take the compulsory and selective courses at the same time within the educational period. In the first semester, students will take the courses which will give them the basic knowledge in the field. The courses of the second semester, on the other hand, are intended for the specific topics which the student would like to gain knowledge, skill and proficieny in future. Within the educational period, the student is obliged to successfully take some courses yielding 21 credits or 90 ECTS points in total. 53% and 47% of the ECTS credits will be acquired from compulsory and optional courses, respectively. At least 60% of the seelctive courses must be chosen from the courses of the Biophysics Program. During the thesis period the candidates carry out research work under the supervision of their instructors; this period consists of two half semesters. At the end of the thesis period the outcomes of the research is rendered a thesis and research article. The candidate who completes his/her qualifications successfully defends his/her thesis in front of a jury composed of academic staff who are proficient in their fields. The candidates who are successful in their thesis defense complete their master education successfully.

D.16. Graduation Requirements

 

The program is planned to be completed within at least four semesters; it is divided into two sections, namely, the educational period and the thesis period; both having a span of at least two half semesters. Students will take the compulsory and selective courses at the same time within the educational period. In the first semester, students will take the courses which will give them the basic knowledge in the field. The courses of the second semester, on the other hand, are intended for the specific topics which the student would like to gain knowledge, skill and proficieny in future. Within the educational period, the student is obliged to successfully take some courses yielding 21 credits or 90 ECTS points in total. 47% and 53% of the ECTS credits will be acquired from compulsory and optional courses, respectively. At least 60% of the seelctive courses must be chosen from the courses of the Biophysics Program. During the thesis period the candidates carry out research work under the supervision of their instructors; this period consists of two half semesters. At the end of the thesis period the outcomes of the research is rendered a thesis and research article. The candidate who completes his/her qualifications successfully defends his/her thesis in front of a jury composed of academic staff who are proficient in their fields. The candidates who are successful in their thesis defense complete their master education successfully.

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Prof. Nuhan PURALI