Graduate School | Department of Pharmacology | PhD in Pharmacology

Last Updated: 21/09/2026

The Doctorate degree requires course work and research. The student should take qualification exam at the end of courses. Following a successful exam, students have to conduct original research in the direction of recommendations of their supervisor and prepare a dissertation. After the submisson of dissertation, students should make an oral defense of their completed research against a jury of five experts. Student require about four years apart from the Master's degree period to complete a Doctorate (Ph. D.) Program. Necessary instruments and facilities for this scientific activities are available at the research laboratory of the department. The followings are examples from research topics that have been investigated by members of the department: and students can investigate: Pharmacology of smooth muscles, cardiovascular pharmacology, central nervous system pharmacology, behavioral pharmacology and psychopharmacology, autonomic pharmacology, autocoids, bradykinin and related kinins, endocrine pharmacology, experimental diabetes and its complications (Link to PubMed), hepatotoxicity and anti hepatotoxic compounds, the pharmacology of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), cancer and antineoplastic compounds, wound healing activity, studies for the development of new drugs from natural and synthetic sources, pharmacology of pain and investigations on novel antinociceptive compounds, antiinflammatory activity, antithrombotic activity.

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.

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.

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.

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

Students who successfully finish this program, if they had graduated from a faculty of pharmacy (BA degree), could establish a drug store (pharmacy); work at hospitals and healthcare organizations including SGK as senior executives. Graduates from faculty of pharmacy and/or other than pharmacy faculties, could work at international or national pharmaceutical industries or laboratories in pharmacology related research and development fields. If students have required scores from ALES and language proficiency exams, they could be appointed as academic staff.

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.


PROF. DR. RANA ARSLAN