MEDÄ°CAL BÄ°OLOGY
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

D.1. General Information about Program

Department of Medical Biology was established in 1981 with the aim of teaching and conducting research on the intersecting subjects of life sciences and human health. The main area of research is genomics utilizing techniques of molecular cell biology and molecular genetics. The Department is situated in the Rectorate Building Block A and the infrastructure consists of cell culture laboratories, molecular biology and genetics laboratories, a genetic testing laboratory and a biological sample (DNA/Cell) Bank. The Department has 6 professors, 2 associate professors, 1 assistant professor and 5 research assistants.

The medium of Master of Science and Doctorate education programmes is Turkish. The Master of Science programme requires a minimum of two years of study. 120 ECTS credits (1 ECTS: 30 hours of work load) are required for graduation. During the first year, the required 24 credits (60 ECTS credits) are collected through must and elective courses in two semesters. The second year is devoted to thesis work (60 ECTS credits). To fullfill the doctorate degree, 240 ECTS credits (1 ECTS: 30 hours of work load) are required. A minimum of 21 credits (120 ECTS credits) are collected in four semesters that is followed by a proficiency exam. Successful candidates submit a thesis proposal and initiate their experimental work. Students are also introduced to various laboratory studies and techniques during their theoretical courses to improve their practical proficiency. Medical students that are enrolled in the MD-PhD Integrated Program may get a PhD degree in Medical Biology. Students are expected to participate in weekly journal clubs and lab meetings where the results of Department?s research projects are discussed. Invited lecturers? seminars and student seminars are also held periodically.

In the context of genomic sciences, the Department conducts research in identification of disease genes and the molecular fundamentals of genetic diseases by using ?omics? technologies and various in vitro and in vivo models. These are the most distinguishing properties of the program.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

• Graduates of Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Veterinary or Faculty of Pharmacy.
• Graduates with an MSc. degree in Medical Biology or Medical Biology and Genetics, Molecular Biology or Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Physiology or Histology and Embryology
• Having ALES (SAY) score type and ALES and Foreign Language base score determined by the Health Sciences Institute Board and approved by the Hacettepe University Senate

• To meet the application requirements of Hacettepe University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations and Institute of Health Sciences.
• Students who are accepted to the doctorate programme must take Scientific Preparation Programme if deemed necessary by the Academic Board of the Department.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The education period is four years (8 semesters). Students are required to be successful in must/elective courses during the first two years and take a proficiency exam in order to proceed to PhD thesis. At the end of fourth year, students need to be successful in the thesis defence exam. 21 credits (240 ECTS credits) are required for graduation (Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination*).

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

For acceptance of national or international students; previous courses, their contents, credits and equivalence to H.U. Medical Biology PhD programme must be evaluated and confirmed by the academic board (Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination*).

D.7. Goals and Objectives

To educate students to have knowledge, technological competence and extensive experience in education, training and research activities within the broad concept of cell biology, molecular biology and molecular genetics.

Learning Objectives:

• To be able to access and interpret literature in the field of cell biology, molecular biology, molecular genetics and to learn, develop and apply analytical methods in these fields.
• To gain skills in basic/practical and translational research.
• To gain skills in scientific thinking and to be able to develop scientific hypothese.
• To be able to gain multidisciplinary scientific approach.
• To gain skills in presenting research results orally and in written format and to contribute to international scientific literature.

Faculty Members of the Department :

Prof. Serap DÖKMECİ

Prof. Ahmet KART

Prof. Meral ÖZGÜÇ

Prof. Hayat YURTER

Prof. Pervin DİNÇER

Prof. Çetin KOCAEFE

Assoc. Prof. Didem DAYANGAÇ-ERDEN

Assoc. Prof. Banu PEYNÄ°RCÄ°OÄžLU

Assist. Prof. Burcu HAYTA

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Medical Biology, PhD graduates generally continue their academic career in national or international programmes and work as faculty members. Additionally they can work in public and private institutions as an expert, adviser or senior manager.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

Theoretical courses in Medical Biology Programme except for the ‘Special Subject (Thesis)‘, ‘Preparation to Doctoral Proficiency‘, ‘Seminar', ‘Laboratory Techniques in Cell Biology', and ‘Methods in Genome Analysis' are all selective courses. Must courses compose 72% and elective courses (technique and non-technique) compose 28% of the total 240 ECTS credits that are required for graduation. Elective courses can be selected from other PhD programmes within or outside the Institution. Prerequisites of Medical Biology Doctorate programme (student quota, required courses and ECTS credit etc.) are given in E.1.Course Information section.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Examination regulations and grading for each course is given in `Assesment Methods? part of the Course Plan.  The related rules of `Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination*? will be applied.

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

D.16. Graduation Requirements

Students are required to be successful in must/elective courses and take a proficiency exam in order to proceed to PhD thesis. At the end of fourth year, students need to be successful in the thesis defence exam. 24 credits (240 ECTS credits) are required for graduation (Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination*).

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. Serap DÖKMECİ (Head, Department of Medical Biology)

Telephone: +90 312 305 2541

Fax: +90 312 309 6060

E-mail address: semre@hacettepe.edu.tr