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

D.1. General Information about Program

Hacettepe University Institute of Science - Department of Nuclear Engineering has offered Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree since 1977. The main feature of the program is that, while it focuses on nuclear energy production, studies in a broad range including applications of nuclear sciences and technology in areas such as medical sciences and industry are also offered and conducted.

The language of education is Turkish.

There is a 'radiation detection and measurement laboratory' (located in the building of Physics Engineering) and a 'thermal-fluid laboratory' (located in the building of Mechanical Engineering), which are used by the department for experimental studies and research activities.

The department has a High Performance Parallel Computing System [16 nodes, 100 cores (300 GFlops)]. Because a considerable part of the educational and research activities carried out in the department require 'fast computing capability', the computing system mentioned bears great importance and is almost continuously in use. The capacity of the system is gradually increased by virtue of projects conducted by the members of our department.

D.2 Qualification Awarded

Doctorate

D.3. Level of Qualification

QF-EHEA: 3
EQF-LLL: 8

D.4. Provisions for Registration

Master of Science degree in the fields of science and engineering is required for admission to this program. Conditions of application and admission are stated in Articles 14, 16 and 17 in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination.

(http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/EN,7526/rules-and-regulations.html)

Students holding a Master of Science degree in a science or engineering field other than nuclear engineering are required to go through a scientific preparation program according to Article 7 in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination.

D.5. Qualification Requirements and Regulations

To earn a Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in nuclear engineering, one should;

(1) succeed in all required courses (a total of 36 ECTS credits) in the curriculum,

(2) gain at least 54 ECTS credits in elective courses, with at least 27 ECTS credits of that from NEM-coded elective courses,

(3) earn at least a total of 24 national credits and 90 ECTS credits from courses,

(4) pass the Qualification Exam, which corresponds to 30 ECTS credits, and

(5) complete a Doctorate (Ph.D.) thesis study.

Conditions stated in Article 35 in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination are valid in any case. (http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/EN,7526/rules-and-regulations.html)

D.6. Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning

Transfer of a student who received graduate education in Turkey or abroad to the Doctorate program in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and recognition of her/his prior learning are handled on the basis of Article 18 in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination. (http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/EN,7526/rules-and-regulations.html)

D.7. Goals and Objectives

To have students acquire thorough knowledge in the fields of nuclear engineering and nuclear technology/sciences, do independent research, examine scientific data and findings broadly and in depth, develop new methods or approaches and/or produce original knowledge; to raise experts who have comprehensive knowledge and computational experience in the areas of nuclear reactor core design and safety, thermal-hydraulic analysis, nuclear fuel and waste management, and radiation protection; and to raise academics who can contribute to educational activities and do research in order to give rise to improvements at the current scientific level in all areas related to nuclear energy/processes.

D.12. Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples

5 people received Doctorate degrees from the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Hacettepe University up to now. 4 of them were working for Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) when they received their degrees; 3 of them are still employed by TAEK, the other is working as an academic in our department. One person was working as a research assistant in the department when he received his Ph.D. degree; he is now working as an academic at Akdeniz University.

D.13. Access to Further Studies

D.14. Profile of the Programme

Doctorate program in nuclear engineering is comprised of at least 90 ECTS credits from the courses, 30 ECTS credits from the Qualification Exam and 120 ECTS credits from the Ph.D. thesis study. (1 ECTS credit corresponds to 25 hours of workload per semester.) The total ECTS credits of the required courses in the program are 36, which is 40 % of the minimum total course load (90 ECTS) and 15 % of the minimum total overall ECTS credits (240 ECTS) required to complete the program.

“Project I” (12 ECTS), “Project II” (12 ECTES) and “Seminar” (12 ECTS) are the required courses.

The minimum number of ECTS credits that should be earned from elective courses is 54; at least 27 ECTS credits of elective courses should be collected from NEM-coded electives.

There are a total of 18 elective courses in the program. A Ph.D. student can take courses in the graduate programs of other departments with consent of her/his advisor and the department offering the course.

In the program, there is no course with a prerequisite, and no course is taught on annual basis. Of the courses in the curriculum, Project I and II, Special Subjects and other courses involving project assignments are intended for applications.

D.15. Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

For each course, the methods used in assessment and grading are described in the “Assessment Methods” table contained in the course information package prepared by instructors. For the examination regulations and the grading system, relevant Articles in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination are in force. (http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/EN,7526/rules-and-regulations.html)

D.16. Graduation Requirements

Conditions in Articles 35 and 43 in Hacettepe University Regulations on Graduate Education and Examination are valid in any case. (http://www.hacettepe.edu.tr/EN,7526/rules-and-regulations.html)

In order to graduate from the Doctorate program of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, it is necessary; (1) to succeed in all required courses (a total of 36 ECTS credits) in the curriculum, (2) to gain at least 54 ECTS credits in elective courses, with at least 27 ECTS credits of that from NEM-coded elective courses, (3) to earn at least a total of 24 national credits and 90 ECTS credits from courses, (4) to pass the Qualification Exam, which corresponds to 30 ECTS credits, and (5) to complete a Doctorate (Ph.D.) thesis study.

D.17. Education Type

1. Full Time Education

D.18. Programme Director

Prof.Dr. H. Okan ZabunoÄŸlu

Tel : +90 (312) 2977300

Fax : +90 (312) 2992122

E-posta: okan.zabunoglu@gmail.com