Graduate School | Department of Open and Distance Learning | PhD in Open and Distance Learning | PhD in Distance Education

Last Updated: 21/09/2026

The Distance Education Doctorate Program, which has been offered by Anadolu University Open Education Faculty Open and Distance Learning Department focuses on training researchers who are considering an academic career in the field. The program aims to help learners become academicians/researchers with the theoretical, conceptual, technological and methodological background that will contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of open and distance learning. The educational goal of the program is that 50% of the graduates will have an academic career in a unit related to the field of Open and Distance Learning.

The program is offered within Anadolu University Graduate School of Education. Student registrations are made at the beginning of the academic year. Please follow the Graduate School web page (lee.anadolu.edu.tr) for application requirements and dates. You can also get information about the programs on our Department website (avuo.anadolu.edu.tr). ALES and Language Scores are effective for enrollment to the program. There is no interview. Students who have received their master's degree from outside the Open and Distance Learning field are required to take 6 courses (three in the fall semester and the others in the spring semester) within the Distance Education Thesis Master's Program. Graduates of the Distance Education Thesis Master's Program offered within the Graduate School can apply to the program within the scope of the "in the field" quota.

Within the scope of the program, students are required to successfully complete 4 compulsory and 4 elective courses including Seminar course. Students who successfully complete the courses are eligible to take the Qualifying Exam. Through this exam, the student's competence in the field and methodology are measured and the competence to conduct a scientific study is tested. It is both written and oral. In order to take the oral exam, at least 70 points must be obtained from the written exam. Students who are successful in this exam are required to carry out a thesis study with their advisors and report it.

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.
A foreign language score of at least 65 is required.

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.

No content has been provided.

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.
PhD program consists of at least seven courses not less than 52,5 ECTS credits, proficiency exam, thesis proposal, speciality field course, and thesis study not less than 60 ECTS credists for the students who have masters degree; and the program consists of at least 14 courses not less than 105 ECTS credits,one seminar course, proficiency exam, thesis proposal, speciality field course, and thesis study not less than 60 ECTS credits for the students who have undergraduate degree.

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

The graduates of the PhD programme in distance education can work as distance learning and communication environment experts, designers, researchers and developers in state and private universities, public institutions and private companies.

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. EVRİM GENÇ KUMTEPE
PROF. DR. BERRİN ÖZKANAL
PROF. DR. ELİF TOPRAK
ECTS Department Coordinator
PROF. DR. ELİF TOPRAK
ECTS Department Asst.Coord
PROF. DR. EVRİM GENÇ KUMTEPE