SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

D.1. General Information about Program

The Department of Social Research Methodology was founded as a separate department within the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies in 2013; on the basis of the experience in courses taught on social research methods and nation-wide surveys conducted since 1968. The department aims to educate future experts on quantitative and qualitative research techniques.

Medium of instruction of the program is English.

The Department of Social Research Methodology offers a PhD program and an Integrated PhD Programme. Our doctoral programme includes both compulsory and elective courses which offers a major specialization either in quantitative or qualitative techniques.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

The program accepts students with a master's degree from Social Research Methodology department. Students who have completed their master's degrees in demography, statistics or other social sciences disciplines are also accepted to the program with the condition that they take specified courses as scientific preparation.

The applicants must provide the following documents:

• Their Master's degree diploma or an approved temporary graduation certificate
• An academic transcript of their Bachelor's and Master's degree
• A document of their ALES score (Minimum 65, equally weighted verbal and quantitative score, international students may submit their GMAT -minimum 485- or GRE scores -minimum 151-)
• A document of their YDS/YÖKDÄ°L or another equivalent language exam score accepted by the Interuniversity Council (For YDS/YÖKDÄ°L a score of minimum 75, for TOEFL IBT a score of minimum 90 is needed)
• Two head shot photos
• A copy of their ID cards (or equivalent document)
• A letter of intent
• Two academic letters of recommendation from two instructors who are familiar the applicant's education.

International students are expected to provide additional documents such as:

• An education visa
• A passport that is valid at the application date instead of a copy of their ID cards
• A residence permit

Admission of foreign students to the program is decided after the necessary documents are received and evaluated by the Institute of Population Studies.

http://www.oid.hacettepe.edu.tr and http://www.osym.gov.tr  can be visitied for the university regulations and ÖSYM exams, respectively.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

In order to get a PhD degree on Social Research Methodology, students need to complete 240 ECTS (21 national credits, excluding the Preparation For Proficiency course). The program consists of 8 semesters; class taking in the first four semesters; and thesis writing in the last four semesters. PhD students can choose to take their elective courses from the master's programme in Social Research Methodology. Furthermore, they can choose to take a maximum of two elective courses from other graduate programs with the approval of their advisors. It is required to complete a minimum of 120 ECTS before starting the thesis work.

The minimum grade to succeed in a course is B2 (3,00 in a 4-grade system, or 75-79 percent) (Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations, Item 16). Students who are accepted to the PhD programme without a Social Research Methodology Master's Degree are expected to complete the scientific preparation programme that consists of the following courses: SAY 601 Fundamentals of Social Survey Methodology, SAY 631 Introduction to Qualitative Survey Techniques and SAY 602 Questionnaire Design.

Detailed information regarding gaining a PhD degree in Social Research Methodology is explained in Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations.

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

According to the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations, a student can transfer classes they have already taken if: these classes have been taken from graduate schools in Turkey or abroad within the last five years preceding the date of registration to the program - including courses taken as a special student; if their advisor approves; the Department approves; and the Institute Board approves. 

D.7. Goals and Objectives

The PhD program in Social Research Methodology aims to educate future experts on research design, implementation and data analysis; using quantitative and qualitative methods. Another aim of the program is to introduce wide and in-depth interpretation of quantitative and qualitative research results; using scientific methods.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Graduates of the program have the opportunity to work in research institutions, international organizations, especially research units of public institutions, and private research companies. The fact that the program is taught in English increases the chances of graduates to persue a career abroad and work at international institutions.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

The proportion of must courses is 53.8% and the proportion of elective courses is 46.2% in the program. Students are free to take elective courses from other departments with the approval of their advisors. In order to accept a course from another program as a must course; a procedure similar to that in item f is followed, in line with the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations (Items 16 and 21). The classes offered at the department of Social Research Methodology are semester courses.

a.      The number-proportion of must courses: 7 must courses, 7/13 = 0.538

b.      The number-proportion of elective courses: 6 elective courses, 6/13 = 0.462

c.      The year when elective courses were first offered:  2017

d.      Number of non-departmental electives:  -

e.      Internship obligation:  -

f.      Courses with prerequisites:  SAY711, SAY712, SAY734

g.      The structure of the program in terms of years: The students must successfully complete at least 13 courses, 7 of which are compulsory and 6 are elective, in the first four semesters of the program. The students who are preparing for the doctoral proficiency exam in the fourth semester take 4 more courses for thesis preparation from the fifth semester onwards, after successfully passing the proficiency exam. The doctoral candidates, who start their thesis studies under the supervision of their academic advisor, are qualified to receive their doctorate degree after successfully defending their thesis.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

The measurement and evaluation methods applied for each course are defined in the course information package prepared by the relevant faculty member/s. As regards the exams and course success criteria, the related items of the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations are applied. Click here for Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations.

D.16. Graduation Requirements

For students who have been accepted to the PhD program with a master's degree with thesis the doctorate program consists of at least 240 ECTS credits, including at least 21 national credits and not less than 90 ECTS credits, at least seven courses, one seminar course, thesis proposal and thesis work.

Detailed information on earning a PhD degree in Social Research Methodology is explained in the Hacettepe University Graduate Education Regulations.

D.18. Programme Director

Head of Department: Prof. Dr. A. Sinan Türkyılmaz

Phone: 0312 297 73 67-68-69

Intercom: 0312 297 73 71

Fax: 0312 297 73 70

E-mail: aturkyil@hacettepe.edu.tr