PhD Program in Medical Pharmacology

General Information

Lokman Hekim University Medical Pharmacology Doctorate Programme was approved by the decision of the Higher Education Executive Board dated 07.07.2021 and opened within Lokman Hekim University Institute of Health Sciences. The programme is carried out by expert faculty members in the field. The language of instruction is Turkish.

Pharmacology, defined as "the science of medicine", is a branch of science that has existed throughout human history. It plays a role in drug research and development, determining the quality, standard, diagnosis and treatment of drugs; It plays an important role in the planning, execution or management of research together with other disciplines in the fulfilment of local, regional and national development goals. The ultimate goal of pharmacological investigations is the discovery of new chemical substances for the diagnosis, prophylaxis, treatment and other medical purposes, their development as drugs and the determination of the principles of treatment of established drugs.

Degree gained

Doctorate Degree in Medical Pharmacology

Education Level

Doctorate Level

Registration Acceptance Conditions

Students are admitted to the PhD programme by written and/or oral examination. The number of students to be admitted to the programme and the qualifications to be sought in candidate students are announced before the beginning of each semester. In this announcement, the application conditions and deadline, the place and date where the candidates will take the exam are specified.

Students who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Dentistry can apply directly to the PhD programme with their undergraduate diploma. In addition, students who graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics who graduated from a master's programme in the field of Medical Pharmacology can apply with a master's degree. Turkish or foreign students who have graduated from the relevant undergraduate programme or master's programme in foreign countries must have a certificate of equivalence or recognition from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

For applications to doctoral programmes, it is necessary to have the ALES score to be determined by the relevant Graduate School Board, provided that it is not less than 55 points in the score type of the programme applied for, and the minimum foreign language minimum base score determined by the Department Heads and accepted by the Senate from the central foreign language exams or international foreign language exams accepted as equivalent by ÖSYM.

Degree Requirements and Rules

The doctoral programme 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 consist of courses, seminar and preparation for the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, and 120 ECTS credits consist of thesis studies. The duration of the doctorate programme is eight semesters, starting from the semester in which the courses related to the programme in which the student is enrolled are given, regardless of whether he/she registers for each semester, except for the period spent in scientific preparation, and the programme is completed in a maximum of twelve semesters. Seminar course and thesis work are non-credit and are evaluated as successful or unsuccessful. One ECTS is equivalent to 30 hours of workload.

Students are required to take at least half of the total credits required by the programme to which they are affiliated, even if they have credit transfer courses.  If the advisor deems it appropriate and necessary, courses from other programmes can also be selected.

Students are required to write their thesis in accordance with the 'Institute of Health Sciences Thesis Writing Guide'. The evaluation of students' course success is based on the 'Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations'.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is regulated in accordance with Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Training Regulations.

Aim of the Programme

The Medical Pharmacology Doctorate Programme aims to educate individuals who will contribute to the rapidly advancing pharmacological research with the facilities of our university and at the same time use the basic knowledge they have acquired in interdisciplinary studies. With the designed doctoral education programme, it is aimed to provide students with the ability to plan and project a scientific research independently as well as the basic knowledge to be gained in the field of pharmacology.

It is aimed that our students who successfully graduate from the PhD Programme in Medical Pharmacology will be able to apply the knowledge and experience gained in the field of pharmacology in interdisciplinary studies, have theoretical and practical knowledge about the experimental methods used in this field and apply these methods, and contribute to science by designing and conducting pharmacological research.

Key Learning Outcomes of the Programme

Have basic knowledge about drug interactions, side effects of drugs and toxic effects of drugs.
To have basic knowledge about pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs.
Have knowledge about drugs related to systems.
Have knowledge about the theoretical foundations of experimental methods used in basic and clinical pharmacological research.
Apply experimental methods used in basic pharmacological research with competence.
Design and implement an experimental setup in the field of medical pharmacology and analyse the data obtained.
Suggests the appropriate statistical method in the evaluation of medical pharmacology research data, interprets the results and decides whether there is a pharmacological effect.
Evaluates the information related to the field of medical pharmacology with a critical approach, follows evidence-based practices and conducts research that will create evidence in its field related to professional practices.
Gains the habit of working in accordance with the rules of "good laboratory practices" and "good clinical practices" that have adopted ethical values.
Interpret the knowledge in the field of medical pharmacology by integrating information from different disciplines.

Employment Opportunities

Students who successfully graduate from the PhD Programme in Medical Pharmacology can work in different units of the pharmaceutical industry, R&D centres, public institutions and organisations such as Turkish Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Turkish Social Security Institution, Turkish Public Health Institution and academic staff of universities.

Access to Higher Degree Programmes

Candidates who have received a doctoral degree can apply for associate professorship in the field of Medical Pharmacology if they complete the necessary academic studies.

Assessment and Evaluation

The grading of all educational studies and exams of the student is based on Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Training Regulations.

Graduation Requirements

The doctoral programme 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. 120 ECTS credits of the 240 ECTS credits include courses, seminar and preparation for the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, and 120 ECTS credits include thesis studies. The duration of the doctorate programme is eight semesters, starting from the semester in which the courses related to the programme in which the student is enrolled are given, regardless of whether he/she registers for each semester, except for the period spent in scientific preparation, and the programme is completed in a maximum of twelve semesters. Seminar course and thesis work are non-credit and are evaluated as successful or unsuccessful. One ECTS is equivalent to 30 hours of workload.

Students are required to take at least half of the total credits required by the programme to which they are affiliated, even if they have credit transfer courses.  If the advisor deems it appropriate and necessary, courses from other programmes can also be selected.

Students are required to write their thesis in accordance with the 'Institute of Health Sciences Thesis Writing Guide'. The evaluation of students' course success is based on the 'Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations'.

Provided that they are successful in the thesis exam and meet the other requirements for graduation determined by the Senate, the doctoral student who submits at least five bound copies of the doctoral thesis to the relevant 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 awarded a doctoral diploma.

Mode of Study

The mode of operation is full time. If necessary, courses and exams can be held after the end of working hours on weekdays and/or on Saturdays and Sundays.

Programme Officer and Contact

Prof. Dr Bülent Gümüşel

Head of Department of Medical Pharmacology

E-mail: bulent.gumusel@lokmanhekim.edu.tr

Tel: 444 8 548 Extension: 6213