Frequently Asked Questions

If you satisfy all other requirements, you would be eligible. This is an interdisciplinary program and candidates with a background other than design are welcome.

​This program is approved by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and most Turkish academic institutions hiring research assistants or lecturers in the field of design have been informed about our program in one way or another. We have Erasmus agreements with many European academic institutions (see our website for details). Several of our students have participated in the Erasmus program and spent one or two semesters at our Erasmus partner institutions resulting in an exchange of information, cooperation in research, and an improved reputation of our program.

This program is approved by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and most Turkish academic institutions hiring research assistants or lecturers in the field of design have been informed about our program in one way or another. We also offer the Design Studies PhD degree for those who want to continue their academic quest in this field. For those who want to pursue an academic career in Europe, USA, or Canada, where interdisciplinary design programs are becoming the norm rather than a rarity, an MDes in Design Studies could be an advantage.

Typically you are required to complete a thesis based on some type of research related to design. However, part of your research may be in the form of design-led research.

The interview is important for us in order to get to know the applicants and make sure that they understand the nature of the program. Not attending the interview without informing us about the reason (with possible rescheduling) means that you are not interested in the program, so you will not be considered as a candidate. (Please note that international students apply through a different process than Turkish students and do not have to take an interview).

No, you don’t need to take additional courses. However, you may attend additional courses to learn more about a specific field in which you want to focus on.

İzmir University of Economics Graduate School of Social Sciences - Frequently Asked Questions