TUMOR BÄ°OLOGY and IMMUNOLOGY
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

D.1. General Information about Program

The Department of Basic Oncology is one of the three departments of Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, which was founded in 1982 by Turkish Council of Higher Education in order to fulfil the need in oncology in Turkey both at the basic and clinical levels as well as to educate public about preventive measures by conducting epidemiological research studies. The activities of the Department mainly include the education of investigators who can contribute to research activities in the field of basic oncology with the help of the master's and doctorate degree programs, to provide the application of current diagnostic and research procedures as well as to conduct advanced and comprehensive research studies in the fields of cancer biology, cancer immunology and cancer biochemistry.

The research studies conducted within the scope of the Tumor Biology and Immunology Ph.D. Program, which is executed by the Department of Basic Oncology, aim to reveal the molecules and biological mechanisms that are responsible for the growth, proliferation, spread and immune escape of various cancers, to identify the mechanisms involved in the development of cancers and disorders of the immune system as well as anti-tumor immune responses and components of the immune system infiltrating into different types of cancers, and thereby determining novel therapeutic molecular targets and developing immunotherapeutic approaches. Accordingly, immune regulation of the lung and breast cancer microenvironments, immune compartmentalization in breast cancers as well as the interaction between myeloid leukemias cells and fibronectin are investigated in the program.

In order to ensure the practice of various genetical, biochemical, cellular and immunological analyses, the Tumor Biology and Immunology Ph.D. Program aims the use of the entire technical infrastructure of the Department of Basic Oncology, including the cell culture facility, flow cytometry and cell sorting facility, bright-field and fluorescent microscopy facility, facility for DNA (such as the real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) and protein studies, the cytogenetics and Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH) facility as well as the HLA typing (DNA based typing with PCR-SSP method) facility.

The Tumor Biology and Immunology Ph.D. Program, which is a vital component of the Department of Basic Oncology, where innovations and novelties in respective fields are closely followed and a number of international basic research studies are conducted owing to a special library solely dedicated to cancer studies, high-speed wireless internet connections and mutual collaboration agreements with various well-known oncology centers, contributes to replenish the need for expert specialists and technical staff, who can contribute to the production of original knowledge with universal impact in this field. The signing of the “Sister Institute” agreement between Hacettepe University and MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas, USA) provided a solid ground to conduct collaborative research studies. Postgraduate students participating in this program are highly encouraged to attend the meetings in the department, where they can discuss current issues with the faculty, as well as to participate in national and international meetings in the field, thereby ensuring the progression and development of postgraduate students in all aspects during their education and training.

The language of education is Turkish (If necessary, the language of education may be in English). However, most of the educational resources including books, journals and computer programs require the use of an advanced level of English language. Thus, concurrent tracking of international studies that are relevant to the field is ensured.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

Graduates of schools of medicine ; students who graduated from master?s degree programs in  various departments of veterinary schools or schools of medicine; students who completed their master?s degree programs in the fields of medical biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, genetics and basic oncology and  those who fulfil the eligibility criteria stated in Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences Application Conditions for Postgraduate Education can apply to this program (For foreign students, the equivalency of the diplomas, degrees and certificates must be confirmed by the Turkish Council of Higher Education).

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

To meet the application requirements of Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations and Institute of Health Sciences.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

In order to be graduated from this program:

• The student should  successfully complete courses covering at least 21 national credits (according to the Hacettepe University criteria) and 240 ECTS credits (according to the Turkish Council of Higher Education criteria), with at least 25% of all ECTS credits being from elective courses.
• The student should succeed in all courses.
• Noninfringement of any of the conditions stated in Hacettepe University Postgraduate Education, Training and Evaluation Guidelines and Regulations. Please find the relevant link below:
• His/her dissertation for the degree of doctor of philosophy should be accepted and successfully presented to the dissertation committee.

All rules and regulations are based upon the Postgraduate Education-Training Guidelines. Please find below the link for the guideline:

http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/kanun_ve_yonetmelikler-219
 

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

A postgraduate student who completed his/her graduate studies in a university/college/ higher education institution abroad that is approved as equivalent by the Turkish Council of Higher Education can apply to this program, in case the student fulfils the eligibility criteria and documents that he/she meets the requirements for application to this program. A postgraduate student who completed his/her graduate studies in a university/college/ higher education institution abroad that is NOT approved as equivalent by the Turkish Council of Higher Education can apply to this program only after the graduate program he/she completed is approved as equivalent by the Turkish Council of Higher Education and documenting that he/she meets the requirements for application to this program. Lateral (graduate) transfer and credit transfer procedures are executed according to the relevant guidelines and regulations.

All rules and regulations are based upon the Postgraduate Education-Training Guidelines. Please find below the link for the guideline:

http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/kanun_ve_yonetmelikler-219

D.7. Goals and Objectives

The aim of the Tumor Biology and Immunology Ph.D. program is to train the expert staff who can contribute to the identification of novel molecular targets and to the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches that can be installed in clinical applications, by gaining sufficient level of knowledge and experimental skills about basic immunologic principles and methods, the mechanisms involved in cancer development and disorders of the immune system as well as the mechanisms of anti-tumor immune responses.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Students who are eligible to graduate from the program can apply to various schools of science in different universities and departments of basic medical sciences in schools of medicine either as a researcher or academician. Graduates of this program are highly encouraged to apply to various institutions worldwide. Almost all graduates of this program are accepted to the relevant departments and programs of high profile respectable academic institutions upon their submission. Those who would not like to pursue their career in academic environments can easily find suitable positions in appropriate business environments of the private sector.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

Students are allowed to choose among all courses offered by the Institute of Health Sciences that are related to immunology, cancer and biochemistry. Obligatory courses of the program aim to inform the students with sufficient advanced knowledge about tumor biology and immunology, whereas the selective courses aim to help the students gain information and skills related to special areas that they may choose to engage with further in their career. Besides, students are also allowed to choose among different courses offered by various institutions connected to the Institute of Health Sciences, regardless of the relevance of the offered course to this program. In cases where courses that are not within the scope of this program are selected, no credits will be earned by the selection of that course.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The method for the evaluation of each course is determined by the responsible faculty. Each student is evaluated with respect to his/her continuity and admission to the courses. Although the method of evaluation depends on the content of each course, midterm and final exams, contribution to studies in laboratory and evaluation of the presentation of a seminar are the main methods to evaluate student success.  Each method evaluates a single student?s success based on a 1 to 100 scale. Each of those grades is then multiplied by a previously specified percent value, which is based upon the importance and intensity of the measured skill. Finally, a sum of all grades will determine each student?s grade over a 1 to 100 scale. 

All exams and evaluations are performed in accordance with Hacettepe University Postgraduate Education-Training and Examination Regulations and Guidelines. Please find the relevant web link below:

http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/kanun_ve_yonetmelikler-219

D.16. Graduation Requirements

In order for each student to be eligible to complete this program, all of the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• The student must successfully complete courses covering at least 21 national credits (according to the Hacettepe University criteria) and 240 ECTS credits (according to the Turkish Council of Higher Education criteria), with at least 25% of all ECTS credits being from elective courses.
• The student must succeed in all courses.
• Noninfringement of any of the conditions stated in Hacettepe University Postgraduate Education, Training and Evaluation Guidelines and Regulations. Please find the relevant link below:

(link: http://www.hubologna.hacettepe.edu.tr/lisansustu_yon_271112.pdf)

• His/her dissertation for the degree of doctor of philosophy should be accepted and successfully presented to the dissertation committee.

All rules and regulations are based upon the Postgraduate Education-Training Guidelines. Please find below the link for the guideline:

http://www.saglikbilimleri.hacettepe.edu.tr/tr/menu/kanun_ve_yonetmelikler-219

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Prof. Dr. Güneş Esendağlı

Head of Basic Oncology Department

E-mail: gunese@hacettepe.edu.tr

Tel: +90 312 3054322-24

Fax: +90 312 3242009

Address: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Kanser Enstitüsü Temel Onkoloji Anabilim Dalı

Web Address: www.temelonko.hacettepe.edu.tr