EPIDEMIOLOGY
Third Cycle Programmes
(Doctorate Degree/Doctor of Fine Arts)

D.1. General Information about Program

PhD Program in Epidemiyology is a postgraduate program offered bu Department of Public Health, under the umbrella of Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences, since 1988.

Program aims to graduate future leaders of health research to improve health status and life quality of the population, with their expert knowledge and skills on epidemiological research methods, with field- and clinical- applications. It also aims to contribute the development of epidemiology as a scientifi discipline in Turkey.

Foreign students are accepted to the program.

The Program consists of theoretical and applied courses, besides a dissertation thesis related with program topics. The medium of instruction is Turkish. 

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

The Program accepts graduates of medical, pharmaceutical, dentistry, veterianery, health sciences faculties, as well as, the graduates of health-related departments of science, engineering or social sciences faculties, who already holds an MSc degree in epidemiology or public health. Foreign students also have the opportunity to apply for the PhD Program.

Candidares need to fulfill the requirements specified in the ByLaw of Hacettepe University on Postgraduate Studies and Examinations.

All candidates require to present anALES (SAY / EA)and Foreign Language base scores, as requested 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

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

In order to qualify for Epidemiology PhD Degree, students need to take required and elective courses of the program to earn at least 120 ETCS credits (equals 21 national credits), to pass the PhD qualification exam, to complete a dissertation  within the scope of the program topics (120 ECTS), and finally to defend their dissertaton successfully to earn a total of 240 ECTS credits. The students are subject to the ByLaw of Hacettepe University on Postgraduate Studies and Examinations.

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

 Students are allowed for lateral transfer, and credit transfer between programs according to the ByLaw of Hacettepe University on Post-Graduate Studies and Examinations.

D.7. Goals and Objectives

The general aim of the Epidemiology PhD Program is to provide program graduates with the essential knowledge to use the epidemiological principles and methods effectively, and to gain skills to plan and conduct research in order to give consultancy and training on epidemiology.

The graduates of the program will be able to:

• Develop suitable/novel methodology for the new and original studies in health,
• Plan and implement regional, national and international studies on a spectrum of health topics,
• Give consultancy on the necessary intervention programs to the related individuals/institutes by preparing reports under the light of the abovementioned studies,
• Make critical appraisal of the studies, and to evaluate the evidence from the view point of epidemiological quality,
• Give consultancy and technical support to various research groups.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

Graduates of this Program have the opportunity to work in different departments of the Ministry of Health (e.g. Public Health Agency of Turkey), as well as the provincial public health directorates, community health centers (TSM), directorates of health affairs in the municipalities, international organizations, private sector, and non-governmental organizations as consultant, trainer or the team leader. Graduates of this program also have the opportunity to continue with an academic career in universities.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

The duration of this PhD Program is 8 semesters. The Program consists of a total of 240 ECTS credits (36 national credits), composed of four semesters of course work (30 ECTS credits per semester), and four semesters of thesis work (120 ECTS credits in total).

Students may select elective courses with the consent of his/her supervisor. With the offer of supervisor, other courses available in the postgraduate programs of Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health and/or the Institute of Social Sciences. The prerequisites of the mandatory and/or elective courses (if any) are given in the course packages. If the mandatory courses have prerequisites as taking some master courses of the Epidemiology MSc Program of the same department, the student should take these course before taking the mandatory course.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Evaluation and assessment methods for each course are described in the course syllabus prepared by each instructor. After completing their courses in four semesters, students need to pass the PhD qualification exam before they continue with their dissertation. For the examinations and pass grades, respective articles of the ByLaw of Hacettepe University on Post-Graduate Studies and Examinations shall be applied.

D.16. Graduation Requirements

 To successfully complete the Epidemiology PhD Program, the students need to need to take required and elective courses of the program to earn at least 120 ECTS credits (21 national credits), pass the PhD qualification exam, write a thesis within the scope of the program topics (120 ECTS), and defend their thesis successfully to earn a total of 240 ECTS credits. The students are subject to the ByLaw of Hacettepe University on Postgraduate Studies and Examinations.

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

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Head of Department: Prof. Dr. K. Hakan Altıntaş

Program Director: Prof. Dr. Banu Çakir

                             Tel: +90.312.305 1590/135

                              Fax: +90.312.3110072

                              e-mail: bcakir@hacettepe.edu.tr, banucakir4@gmail.com