MSc in

M.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience

Bilkent University Graduate School of Engineering and Science

Introduction
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Key Information

Campus location

Languages

English

Study format

On-Campus

Duration

4 - 14 semesters

Pace

Full time, Part time

Tuition fees

USD 14,500 / per year *

Application deadline

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Earliest start date

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* international students, 45,000 TL: Turkish nationals - 8% VAT included

Introduction

Graduate Program

Bilkent University is home to a large group of scientists with diverse backgrounds who share a common interest in understanding the structure and function of the brain in health and disease. In 2014 Bilkent University launched an interdisciplinary neuroscience graduate program, which offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Neuroscience. Areas of research include systems-, cellular & molecular-, developmental-, cognitive-, social-, and behavioral neuroscience, neuroengineering, neuroeconomics, neuroprosthetics, neurogenomics, and optogenetics.

The Neuroscience program is directly affiliated with the Graduate School of Engineering and Science. The program provides students with a strong theoretical neuroscience background and provides opportunities to learn cutting edge methods and technology in the area. Our students have access to advanced neuroimaging, nano-, and biotechnology labs and equipment in Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), and National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM). The diversity of research of faculty members in the Neuroscience program allows students with a variety of different backgrounds, such as Physics, Engineering, Psychology, Economics, Biology, or Computer Science, to be accepted to the program.

The graduate program in neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with a broad background and training in the neuroscience field. Our mission is to provide students with the instruction, research experience, and mentoring they need to become leaders in research and education. Students will take a variety of courses that focus on both systems neuroscience and cellular and molecular neuroscience, as well as courses that are offered from different departments including Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Physics and Psychology among others. Areas of research include systems neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, social neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, neuroengineering, neuroeconomics, neuroprosthetics, and neurogenomics.

Master of Science in Neuroscience

Admission: All applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or psychology or medicine or a related field. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı - Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination) scores, past academic records, reference letters, and an interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizen applicants who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit a proof of satisfactory knowledge of English.

Degree Requirements: In addition to at least 21 credit units of course work, the M.S. degree candidate must prepare and successfully defend a thesis. The expected duration to complete the M.S. program is four semesters; the maximum duration is six semesters.

Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience

The program is going to offer a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience. There are two tracks: a Ph.D. program integrated with a coterminal Master’s degree (for students who enter with a Bachelor's degree, and a direct Ph.D. (for students who enter with an M.S./M.A. degree).

Degree Requirements: 21 credit units of course work beyond the M.S. level or 42 credits of course work beyond the B.S. level is required. Ph.D. candidates must pass a qualifying exam and then must prepare a thesis work proposal. Preparing and defending a dissertation based on original research is the essence of the program. A paper based on the candidate's thesis must be accepted or published in a reputable journal before the dissertation can be defended. The expected duration to complete the Ph.D. program is eight semesters for students who enter the program after an M.S. degree, and ten semesters for those who enter after a B.S. degree. The maximum durations are twelve and fourteen semesters, respectively.

The program will include the following areas:

Systems neuroscience
Cellular and molecular neuroscience
Developmental neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Mathematical and computational modeling in neuroscience
Neuroscience in sensory and motor systems
Neuroscience in higher-order cognitive functions; decision making, memory, attention, language
Neuroeconomics
Neuroimaging and biomedical engineering
Genetical origins of neural systems
Neuroanatomy
Visual neuroscience
Imaging genomics
Neural networks
Neuro-prosthesis
Neuro-engineering
Social neuroscience
Aging neuroscience
Neuroscience in learning and memory
Artificial intelligence
Neuro-genomics
Neuro-technology

The program will comprise the following disciplines:

Molecular Biology and Genetics
Psychology
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Computer Engineering
Materials Science and Nanotechnology
Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Economics
Management

Graduate Degree Requirements

BS graduation CGPA

2.80/4.00 for Ph.D. applicants with an MS degree and MS applicants
3.00/4.00 for Ph.D. applicants without an M.S. degree

ALES or GRE General Test

ALES is required from resident Turkish citizens who are applying for the graduate programs. Turkish citizens who are residents of foreign countries and those applicants who are not Turkish citizens may provide GRE scores instead of ALES.

M.S.: 55 (quantitative)
Ph.D.: 55 (quantitative, for those who hold an M.S degree with thesis.)
Ph.D.: 80 (quantitative, for those who do not hold an M.S. degree with thesis.)

GRE General Test

Turkish citizens who are residents of foreign countries and those applicants who are not Turkish citizens may provide GRE scores instead of ALES.

M.S.: Minimum* quantitative: 153
Ph.D.: Minimum* quantitative: 157

*Applications from those candidates who miss these minimum scores by a small margin, but have other academic credentials that indicate a strong background necessary to complete the applied degree, will also be considered.

English Proficiency

TOEFL IBT (at least 87), IELTS (at least 6.5 average and 5.5 from each section) or Bilkent COPE (at least C). In addition, foreign language requirements as imposed by Inter-universities Board (ÜAK) of Turkey (minimum of 55 from YDS or its equivalents as listed by the Board, in a language other than the mother tongue) must be satisfied by Turkish citizen Ph.D. applicants.