Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctoral Program
General Information
Lokman Hekim University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctorate Program was approved by the decision taken at the Higher Education Executive Board meeting dated 17.03.2021 and opened within Lokman Hekim University Institute of Health Sciences. The program is carried out by expert faculty members in the field. The language of instruction is Turkish.
Degree Awarded
Doctorate Degree in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
Education Level
Doctorate Level
Registration Acceptance Requirements
The applications of the candidates are made in accordance with Lokman Hekim University, Institute of Health Sciences, Graduate Education Directive. Before each application period, with the recommendation of the relevant Department and the decision of the Institute Administrative Board, the special conditions required for the applicant students, the place and date of the entrance exam are determined and announced before the application.
Students who have a Master's degree with thesis from the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of the Institute of Health Sciences or the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and its sub-departments / programs or students who have graduated from an equivalent degree abroad and candidates whose master's degree is approved by the Institute Board with the recommendation of the Academic Board of the Department can apply to the program. Turkish or foreign students who have completed a master's degree program in foreign countries are required to have a certificate of equivalence or recognition from the Council of Higher Education. Applicants must have a score of not less than 55 in the numerical score type of the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES), which will be determined by the Graduate School Board, or a score equivalent to the score to be determined by the Senate upon the recommendation of the Academic Board of the Department and the decision of the Graduate School Board, provided that it is not less than 55 points from the Foreign Language Proficiency Level Assessment Exam (YDS) or foreign language exams that are considered equivalent to YDS and accepted at national or international level. Students who meet the application requirements are taken to the scientific evaluation exam (written and / or interview). The calculation of the overall success grade is made by taking into account the ALES score, Foreign Language score, Graduate School Graduation grade point average and the results of the scientific evaluation exam. According to the general success grade ranking, the student is entitled to final enrollment within the quota specified.
Degree Requirements and Rules
The doctoral program consists of a total of 21 national credits and at least 240 ECTS credits, including at least 7 courses, a seminar and a thesis study, provided that an education period is not less than 60 ECTS credits. Of the 240 ECTS credits, 120 ECTS credits include courses, seminar and preparation for the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, and 120 ECTS credits include thesis studies. The duration of the doctoral program is eight semesters, starting from the semester in which the courses related to the program in which the student is enrolled, regardless of whether he / she registers for each semester, except for the period of scientific preparation, and the program is completed in a maximum of twelve semesters.
The student must take at least half of the total credits required by the program to which he / she is affiliated from his / her own program, even if he / she has credit transfer courses. If deemed appropriate and necessary by the advisor, courses from other programs can also be selected.
The maximum time to successfully complete the credit courses required for the doctoral program is four semesters. Students who fail to successfully complete the credit courses within this period or who fail to achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 are dismissed from the university. 'Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations' are taken as basis in the evaluation of students' course success.
The qualifying exam is the measurement of whether the student who has completed the courses and seminars has the basic subjects and concepts in the field and the depth of scientific research related to the doctoral study. A student takes the qualifying exam at most twice a year. Upon successful completion of the doctoral qualifying exam, the student defends his/her thesis proposal, including the purpose, method and work plan of the research to be conducted, orally in front of the thesis monitoring committee within six months at the latest.
For the student whose thesis proposal is accepted, the thesis monitoring committee meets at least twice a year, once in January-June and once in July-December. The student submits a written or oral report to the committee members at least one month before the meeting date. In this report, a summary of the work done so far and the work plan for the next semester are stated. The student's thesis work is determined by the committee as successful or unsuccessful by absolute majority. Students who are found unsuccessful by the committee twice in a row or three times in a row are dismissed from the university.
A student in a doctoral program writes the results obtained in accordance with the Thesis Writing Guide of the Institute of Health Sciences and defends the thesis orally in front of the jury.
After the completion of the thesis exam, the jury decides on acceptance, rejection or correction of the thesis by absolute majority. Students whose thesis is accepted are considered successful. This decision is reported to the institute by the head of the institute department within three days following the thesis exam. The student whose thesis is rejected as unsuccessful is dismissed from the university. The student, who is given a correction decision about his/her thesis, makes the necessary corrections and defends his/her thesis again in front of the same jury within six months at the latest. The student who is also unsuccessful in this defense is dismissed from the university.
Provided that the student is successful in the thesis defense and meets the other conditions, the student who submits at least three bound copies of the doctoral thesis to the institute within one month from the date of entry to the thesis exam and whose thesis is found to be appropriate in terms of form is entitled to receive a doctoral diploma.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of prior learning is regulated in accordance with Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Training Regulations.
Purpose of the Program
Lokman Hekim University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctorate Program, physiotherapy and rehabilitation-related issues from a holistic perspective, follow and apply evidence-based practices, solve problems by determining problem-oriented solution methods, analyze and interpret physiotherapy evaluation results and plan and implement appropriate physiotherapy program, select current therapeutic modalities and use rehabilitation technology, use evaluation and treatment methods related to the field in clinical and academic studies; The program is structured to train doctoral physiotherapists who will hypothesize, determine appropriate research methods, carry out projects, produce, plan and implement in the field of physiotherapy by combining clinical experience and academic knowledge, adapt to rapid information flow and continuous change, have sufficient clinical knowledge and skills, and gain lifelong learning behavior with professional and scientific ethical sensitivity.
Key Learning Outcomes of the Program
- Follows the current developments in the field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation by following the international literature and national / international scientific activities, transfers the knowledge gained to clinical practice and scientific research.
- Uses the technological equipment required by the evaluation and treatment methods related to the field in clinical practice and scientific research.
- Plans, conducts and analyzes scientific research and projects, presents the results in scientific meetings and transforms them into scientific publications.
- Demonstrates commitment to ethical principles in scientific research and publication processes.
- Carries out clinical practices within the framework of ethical principles and legal legislation and performs multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary work with other professionals in the health field.
- Use the knowledge in the field of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in activities to improve public health and contribute to the development of public health policies at national and international level.
- Develops programs for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation education and contributes to educational processes.
- Establishes written and oral communication in international clinical and academic circles with foreign language skills, makes international scientific publications.
Employment Opportunities
Students who graduate from the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctorate Program can carry out clinical and academic studies in various institutions and organizations in the fields they specialize in. They can work as faculty members to support the teaching staff of universities, as well as take an active role in the development and execution of research and projects in national and international research and application centers. In addition, they can be employed in special education centers, special education schools, sports centers and sports clubs, prosthesis and orthotics application centers, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedics, cardiology, chest diseases, neurosurgery, neurology and pediatrics departments of hospitals according to their specialization areas.
Access to Higher Degree Programs
Candidates with a PhD degree can apply for associate professorship in the relevant field if they complete the necessary academic studies.
Assessment and Evaluation
Exams and evaluations are carried out in accordance with the rules determined by Lokman Hekim University, Institute of Health Sciences and Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Training Regulations, taking into account the learning outcomes as shown in the introductory information of each course.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctorate Program, the student must have successfully completed all the courses in the program, provide a minimum of 240 ECTS credits, and have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00. The evaluation of students' course success is based on the “Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations”. The student who successfully completes the courses and successfully completes the doctoral qualifying exam defends the thesis proposal including the purpose, method and work plan of the research to be conducted orally in front of the thesis monitoring committee within six months at the latest. The student writes the results of the thesis study in accordance with the writing rules accepted by the institute and defends the thesis orally in front of the jury. After the completion of the thesis exam, the jury decides on acceptance, rejection or correction of the thesis by absolute majority. The student whose thesis is accepted by the jury submits at least three bound copies of the thesis to the relevant institute within one month from the date of entry to the thesis exam. A doctoral diploma is awarded to the doctoral student whose thesis is approved in terms of form. The graduation date of the student is the date when he / she defends his / her thesis in front of the jury and is successful. The maximum duration of the PhD program is 12 semesters.
Mode of Study
The mode of operation is full-time. If necessary, lectures and exams can be held remotely after the end of working hours on weekdays and/or on Saturdays and Sundays or online synchronously.
Program Officer and Contact
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Banu ÜNVER
E-mail: banu.unver@lokmanhekim.edu.tr
Tel: 444 8 548 Extension: 6439
