New Regulation from The Council of Higher Education for Doctoral Students and Postgraduate Student Mothers
A new regulation regarding the admission of doctoral students to priority fields needed by Türkiye and their appointment to research assistant positions has been published in the Official Gazette.
Under the regulation titled “Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on the Principles and Procedures Concerning the Central Examination and Entrance Examinations to be Applied in Appointments to Academic Staff Positions Other than Faculty Members,” a new evaluation process has been introduced for candidates applying to doctoral programs in priority fields determined by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Accordingly, candidates eligible to take the written exam will be determined based on 40% of the ALES score, 30% of the foreign language score, and 30% of the undergraduate GPA, and the number of candidates invited to the exam will be limited to a maximum of four times the quota.
Written exam to be conducted centrally
The written exam required for admission to these doctoral programs will be conducted centrally in accordance with the procedures and principles determined by the Council of Higher Education. Candidates scoring below 70 points in the written exam will be considered unsuccessful.
In the final evaluation, 25% of the ALES score, 25% of the undergraduate GPA, 20% of the foreign language score, and 30% of the written exam score will be taken into account. Candidates whose final evaluation score falls below 70 points will not be admitted to the doctoral program.
Candidates who qualify for doctoral education will be appointed to research assistant positions in priority fields in accordance with the existing legislation. The regulation aims to strengthen research capacity and academic infrastructure, particularly in fields where there is a critical national need.
Additional time for graduate students who give birth
Another regulation published in the Official Gazette introduces support measures for graduate students who give birth. According to the amendment to the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, female graduate students who give birth may be granted an additional two semesters after childbirth upon request. These additional semesters will not be counted within the maximum study period.
