PhD Program in Medical Pharmacology
General Information
The Lokman Hekim University Doctoral Programme in Medical Pharmacology was approved by the Higher Education Executive Board on 07.07.2021 and established within the Lokman Hekim University Institute of Health Sciences. The programme is conducted by faculty members who are experts in their field. The language of instruction is Turkish.
Pharmacology, defined as ‘the science of drugs,’ is a branch of science that has existed throughout human history. It plays a role in drug research and development, determining drug quality, standards, diagnosis, and treatment; and, in collaboration with other disciplines, it plays an important role in planning, conducting, or managing research to achieve local, regional, and national development goals. The ultimate goal of pharmacological studies is to discover new chemical substances for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and other medical purposes, to develop these substances as drugs, and to determine the therapeutic principles of established drugs.
Degree Awarded
Doctorate Degree in Medical Pharmacology
Level of Education
Doctorate Level
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the doctoral programme through written and/or oral examinations. The number of students to be admitted to the programme and the qualifications required of applicants are announced before the beginning of each semester. This announcement specifies the application requirements, the deadline for applications, and the place and date of the examination.
Students who have graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Dentistry may apply directly to the doctoral programme with their bachelor's degree. In addition, students who have completed a master's programme in Medical Pharmacology from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science/Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics may apply with their master's degree. Turkish or foreign nationals who have completed a relevant undergraduate or master's programme in a foreign country must obtain an equivalence or recognition certificate from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
For applications to doctoral programmes, applicants must have a minimum ALES score determined by the relevant Institute Council, provided that the score is not less than 55 in the relevant programme's score type, and must meet the minimum foreign language score set by the Department Chairs and approved by the Senate in the central foreign language exams or international foreign language exams recognised as equivalent by ÖSYM.
Requirements and Rules for the Degree
The doctoral programme consists of a minimum of 240 ECTS credits, including at least 7 courses, a seminar, and a thesis, with each academic term comprising at least 60 ECTS credits. Of the 240 ECTS credits, 120 ECTS credits are for courses, seminars, and preparation for the Doctoral Qualification Exam, and 120 ECTS credits are for thesis work. The duration of the doctoral programme, excluding the period spent on scientific preparation, is eight semesters, starting from the semester in which the courses related to the registered programme are offered, regardless of whether the student registers for each semester, and the programme must be completed within a maximum of twelve semesters. Seminar courses and thesis work are not credited and are evaluated as either successful or unsuccessful. One ECTS credit is equivalent to 30 hours of work.
Even if a student has transferred credits, they must complete at least half of the total credits required by their programme from their own programme. With the approval of the advisor, courses from other programmes may also be selected.
Students must prepare their thesis in accordance with the ‘Health Sciences Institute Thesis Writing Guide’. The evaluation of students' course performance is based on the “Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Examination Regulations”.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The recognition of prior learning is regulated in accordance with the Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations.
Programme Objectives
The Doctoral Programme in Medical Pharmacology aims to contribute to rapidly advancing pharmacological research through the resources of our university and to train individuals who can apply the fundamental knowledge they have acquired in interdisciplinary studies. The designed doctoral education programme aims to equip students with fundamental knowledge in pharmacology, as well as the ability to independently plan and project scientific research.
It is expected that students who successfully complete the Medical Pharmacology Doctoral Programme will be able to apply the knowledge and experience they have gained in pharmacology in interdisciplinary studies, have theoretical and practical knowledge of the experimental methods used in this field and be able to apply these methods, and contribute to science by designing and conducting pharmacological research.
Key Outcomes of the Programme
- Possess basic knowledge of drug interactions, side effects of drugs, and toxic effects of drugs.
- Possess basic knowledge of drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
- Possess knowledge of drugs related to systems.
- Possess knowledge of the theoretical foundations of experimental methods used in basic and clinical pharmacological research.
- Can competently apply experimental methods used in basic pharmacology research.
- Can design, implement, and analyse an experimental setup in the field of medical pharmacology.
- Can recommend appropriate statistical methods for evaluating medical pharmacology research data, interpret the results, and determine whether there is a pharmacological effect.
- Evaluates information related to the field of medical pharmacology with a critical approach, follows evidence-based practices, and conducts research that will generate evidence in their field related to professional practices.
- Adopts ethical values and gains the habit of working in accordance with the rules of ‘good laboratory practices’ and ‘good clinical practices.’
- Can interpret information in the field of medical pharmacology by integrating it with knowledge from other disciplines.
Employment Opportunities
Students who successfully graduate from the Medical Pharmacology Doctorate Programme can work in various units of the pharmaceutical industry, R&D centres, public institutions and organisations such as the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, the Social Security Institution of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Public Health Agency, and in the academic staff of universities.
Transfer to Higher Degree Programmes
Candidates who have obtained a doctoral degree may apply for associate professorship in the field of Medical Pharmacology upon completion of the required academic work.
Assessment
The grading of all educational work and examinations of students is based on the Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations.
Graduation Requirements
The doctoral programme consists of a minimum of 240 ECTS credits, including at least 7 courses, a seminar, and a thesis, provided that each academic term is at least 60 ECTS credits. Of the 240 ECTS credits, 120 ECTS credits are for courses, seminars, and preparation for the Doctoral Qualification Exam, and 120 ECTS credits are for thesis work. The duration of the doctoral programme, excluding the period spent on scientific preparation, is eight semesters, starting from the semester in which the courses related to the registered programme are offered, regardless of whether the student registers for each semester, and the programme must be completed within a maximum of twelve semesters. Seminar courses and thesis work are not credited and are evaluated as either successful or unsuccessful. One ECTS credit is equivalent to 30 hours of work.
Even if a student has transferred credits, they must complete at least half of the total credits required by their programme from their own programme. With the approval of the advisor, courses from other programmes may also be selected.
Students must prepare their thesis in accordance with the ‘Health Sciences Institute Thesis Writing Guide’. The evaluation of students' course performance is based on the “Lokman Hekim University Graduate Education, Teaching and Examination Regulations”.
Upon successfully passing the thesis examination and fulfilling the other requirements for graduation determined by the Senate, the doctoral student who submits at least five bound copies of the thesis to the relevant institute within one month of the thesis examination date and whose thesis is found to be formally acceptable is awarded the doctoral degree.
Work Format
The mode of study is full-time. In necessary cases, courses and examinations may be held after regular working hours on weekdays and/or on Saturdays and Sundays.
Programme Coordinator and Contact
Prof. Dr. Müge TECDER
Head of the Department of Medical Pharmacology
E-mail:muge.tecder@lokmanhekim.edu.tr
Tel: 444 8 548
