Graduate School | Department of Private Law | Doctorate Degree (Ph.D)

Last Updated: 21/09/2026

Private Law PhD Program aims to provide advanced academic knowledge and research competence in the field of private law.

Within the scope of the program, candidates examine current, controversial and practical issues in the sub-branches of private law with a systematic approach for four semesters. In this process, candidates critically evaluate existing private law concepts and institutions in the light of new developments and gain the ability to identify and define new ideas and approaches by following current developments.

The program supports candidates to develop academic originality; to reach new and original conclusions by critically analyzing the knowledge they have acquired, and to defend their original ideas in academic environments.

Candidates who successfully complete the course phase conduct an independent scientific research in a specific sub-branch of private law and at the end of this process, they are entitled to a PhD degree by preparing an original doctoral thesis.

Admission to graduate programmes is governed by the relevant legislation on graduate education, the Anadolu University Regulation on Graduate Education and Examinations, and the admission requirements announced by the relevant Graduate School. Depending on the programme, admission decisions may take into account the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES) score, foreign language proficiency, undergraduate or graduate grade point average, written scientific assessment examination, interview, portfolio, and/or other programme-specific selection criteria.
Candidates who are offered admission must complete their registration within the deadlines announced by the relevant Graduate School and submit all required documentation. Admission through horizontal transfer is carried out in accordance with the Anadolu University Regulation on Graduate Education and Examinations and the procedures established by the relevant Graduate School. The application and admission procedures for international applicants are conducted in accordance with the admission requirements and supporting documentation approved by the Senate of Anadolu University.
Turkish and foreign students can enroll in the program by meeting the conditions.Those who apply with a bachelor's degree must get at least 80 points in the score type of the program they apply for from ALES or an equivalent score accepted by the Senate from GRE/GMAT exams, and those who apply with a master's degree must get at least 70 points in the score type of the program they apply for from ALES or an equivalent score accepted by the Senate from GRE/GMAT exams. The candidate must have at least 55 points out of 100 from one of the foreign language exams organized by the Center for Measurement, Selection and Placement (ÖSYM) or at least 55 points from the Higher Education Institutions Foreign Language Exam (YÖKDİL) or an equivalent score from international foreign language exams accepted as equivalent by ÖSYM.The application success grade is calculated with 50% of the ALES score, 30% of the undergraduate / graduate GPA and 20% of the foreign language score.

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the relevant higher education legislation, the University's regulations governing education, examinations and assessment, and the institutional principles for exemption and credit transfer. Students may apply, within the specified deadlines, for exemption and credit transfer based on courses successfully completed at another higher education institution or on equivalent prior learning. Applications are evaluated by the relevant board or commission with due consideration of course content, credit/ECTS values, grades obtained, and their compatibility with the curriculum and learning outcomes of the relevant programme.

All students enrolled at Anadolu University are assigned a faculty academic advisor to provide guidance and support throughout their studies. Academic advisors offer counselling from the beginning of the student's academic programme until graduation, assisting students with academic, administrative, and other matters related to university life. In particular, advisors provide guidance during course registration and course selection processes, monitor students' academic progress, and support them in making informed decisions regarding their educational pathways.
For further information, please refer to the Academic Advising Directive of Anadolu University.

The programme is delivered in face-to-face / blended mode. Students are enrolled on the programme as (full-time / part-time) students. Teaching and learning activities are conducted in accordance with the programme curriculum, including the semester structure, scheduled class hours, practical components, and, where applicable, online learning environments.

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Grade	Coefficient
AA	4,0
AB	3,7
BA	3,3
BB	3,0
BC	2,7
CB	2,3
CC	2,0
CD	1,7
DC	1,3
DD	1,0
FF	0,0

A student with an MA/MS degree is required to successfully complete a minimum of 7 courses, not less than 52,5 ECTS credits on the other hand student without an MA/MS degree enrolling in the doctorate programs is required to successfully complete a minimum of 14 courses not less than 105 ECTS credits. Both groups of students are required take the required Field Specialization course, pass the qualifying exam, have an accepted dissertation proposal and successfully compete doctorate dissertation work with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits, have a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 and no letter grades lower than CC and no YT, DZ grades.
A student with a master's degree with thesis must have completed at least seven courses, seminar course, qualifying exam, thesis proposal, specialization course and thesis study with a total of not less than 60 ECTS credits and not less than 180 ECTS credits, must have a grade of at least YT, CC or above from all courses taken and must have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.The student who has been accepted with a bachelor's degree must have completed at least fourteen courses, seminar course, proficiency exam and thesis proposal, specialization course and thesis with a total of not less than 120 ECTS credits, and must have a grade of at least YT, CC or above from all courses taken and a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.

To be awarded a Doctoral Degree (PhD), students admitted with a Master's degree must successfully complete at least seven courses, a seminar course, and the doctoral qualifying examination, corresponding to a minimum of 60 ECTS credits. Students admitted directly with a Bachelor's degree must successfully complete at least fourteen courses, a seminar course, and the doctoral qualifying examination, corresponding to a minimum of 120 ECTS credits. In addition, both groups must successfully complete a thesis proposal, specialisation courses, and the doctoral dissertation, corresponding to a minimum of 180 ECTS credits, and successfully defend the dissertation before an examination committee.
To qualify for graduation, students must obtain a grade of Satisfactory (YT) or CC or above in all courses, achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, and have at least one article published or formally accepted for publication in an indexed peer-reviewed journal relevant to their field of study.
A student with a master's degree with thesis must have completed at least seven courses, seminar course, qualifying exam, thesis proposal, specialization course and thesis study with a total of not less than 60 ECTS credits and not less than 180 ECTS credits, must have a grade of at least YT, CC or above from all courses taken and must have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.The student who has been accepted with a bachelor's degree must have completed at least fourteen courses, seminar course, proficiency exam and thesis proposal, specialization course and thesis study with a total of not less than 120 ECTS credits, and must have a grade of at least YT, CC or above from all the courses he / she has taken and must have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.For the graduation of the doctoral program student, at least one article in the relevant department must be published or accepted for publication in one of the refereed journals scanned in the indexes determined by the Institute Board of Directors in order to promote and discuss their publications in the national and international arena, to increase the number of publications of the University, to increase the quality and to encourage publication.

Students who successfully fulfil all programme requirements are awarded a Doctoral Degree (PhD) Diploma in Doctorate Degree (Ph.D).. Graduates obtain a Level 8 (Doctoral Degree) qualification within the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF).

Graduates can apply for faculty positions at universities. They can work as an executive or researcher in research projects supported by universities, TÜBİTAK and other scientific institutions and organizations. In addition, those who work as lawyers, notaries, judges and prosecutors, legal advisors, inspectors, managers in the public and private sectors can develop their careers in private law branches where they have a doctorate.

The Doctoral Degree (PhD) represents Level 8, the highest academic qualification within the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF). Accordingly, there is no higher academic degree following the completion of a doctoral programme. Graduates may pursue academic careers as faculty members, researchers, or continue their scholarly development through postdoctoral research programmes at national or international higher education and research institutions.
Graduates can apply for postdoctoral research programs in Turkey and abroad.


PROF. DR. TOLGA AKKAYA
ASSIST. PROF. DR. NEYZEN FEHMİ DOLAR