The information and program qualifications related to the Transport Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Civil Engineering of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
ITU Transport Engineering Master and Doctorate Program was established quite a long time ago. Students are admitted since 1974 when the number of registered students have been varied ranging from 6 to 7. With the development of Science Engineering and Technology Programs at 1982, the number of registered students increased and reached the number of 20 to 25 students nowadays. A number of the students, more than capacity of the program, are attended the interview and just the suitable ones are selected.
Istanbul Technical University having an experienced and broad academic staff differs from other universities especially in having a staff who are expert in railway engineering. The academic program of outstanding universities in the world is analysed and it is found that the ongoing education at ITU has significant similarities with that of programs.
First of all, it is expected that the students who want to do PhD in ITU Transport Engineering Program should have made their Master studies in a field related to transportation. In addition, students are expected to determine their thesis advisor and get approval before the interview in order to gain admission for PhD program. The students who are registered in Transport Engineering PhD Program need to complete 21 credits towards their interest areas. There are not compulsory courses for PhD program courses. After passing the PhD Qualifying Exam and PhD Thesis, students get the PhD Degree. It is expected that a student needs to specialize on a specific and current subject and to reveal a new method, theory or contribution to literature that does not exist before the PhD Thesis. Transportation having multidisciplinary characteristics provides a variety of subjects of PhD and Master Thesis.
Transportation is an important sector of development of country, which is preferred by most of the students taking into account its interest areas. People who work in transportation areas as practitioners might apply the program in order to increase their academic information regarding transportation. They can also integrate the information for practice and academical ones into common ground.
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Registration Requirements
Active Student Count
Program Profile
The objective of the Ph.D. Program in Transportation Engineering is to educate expert researchers who are capable of conducting advanced scientific research in the field of transportation engineering, making original contributions to the theoretical and applied body of knowledge in the field, developing innovative methods, and contributing to the planning, design, operation, management, maintenance, and sustainable development of transportation systems at national and international scales. The program places at its core the fundamental attributes of doctoral education, namely the production of original research, the generation of new knowledge, the critical evaluation of existing methods, and the advancement of scientific innovation in transportation engineering.
The program has an interdisciplinary structure encompassing core areas such as highways, railways, maritime transportation, air transportation, urban transportation, public transportation, logistics, traffic engineering, transportation planning, transportation economics, transportation safety, ITS, and sustainable mobility. In addition, highway pavements, road materials, asphalt and concrete pavements, flexible and rigid pavement design, pavement performance evaluation, maintenance and rehabilitation strategies, and pavement management systems constitute significant research areas of the program. Within this framework, students are expected not only to apply existing knowledge and practices, but also to formulate original research questions and develop new models, methods, analytical approaches, and decision-support tools in these areas.
Within the scope of the program, students are expected to apply not only conventional theories and methods of transportation engineering, but also emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, big data analytics, digital twins, IoT, connected and autonomous vehicles, V2X communication, simulation, optimization, and decision-support systems to transportation-related problems. In particular, the program aims to foster the development of data-driven, innovative, and original approaches in areas such as the monitoring of transportation infrastructure, assessment of pavement condition, deterioration prediction, maintenance prioritization, asset management, and digital twin-based infrastructure management. In this regard, the program supports students in producing original doctoral dissertations that contribute to the scientific literature in transportation engineering.
Taking into account the increasing demands associated with urbanization, climate change, energy efficiency, accessibility, safety, resilience, and sustainability, the program aims to educate researchers who are capable of analyzing complex transportation problems through scientific methods, producing data-driven solutions, and contributing to the development of transportation policies. Furthermore, the program seeks to enhance students’ competencies in critical thinking, independent research, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and the production of original scientific outputs in the field of transportation engineering.
Graduates are expected to possess the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to play an active role in advanced research, planning, design, consultancy, management, infrastructure asset management, and technology development activities in academic institutions, research centers, public agencies, local governments, international organizations, and the private sector. The program aims to educate graduates who not only follow existing practices in transportation engineering, but also develop new approaches through original research, contribute to the production of scientific knowledge, and help shape the design of future transportation systems.
Program Learning Environments
The learning environments in the Transportation Engineering Doctoral Program are structured to support students in acquiring advanced knowledge in transportation engineering, applying this knowledge in scientific research and engineering practice, and making original scientific contributions to the field. The doctoral learning process aims not only to enable students to acquire existing knowledge, but also to critically evaluate it, define new research problems, develop original methodologies, and produce results that contribute to the literature. The program offers an integrated learning structure consisting of graduate-level courses, seminars, research projects, data analysis applications, numerical modeling studies, field observations, academic advising, and doctoral dissertation studies.
Within the program, students gain advanced knowledge and research skills in areas such as transportation planning, traffic engineering, highway and railway engineering, highway pavement and materials, pavement management systems, public transportation systems, logistics, transportation economics, road safety, AI applications in transportation systems, ITS, and sustainable transportation. These areas require transportation systems to be examined not only from a technical perspective, but also through their economic, environmental, social, and managerial dimensions. Therefore, the program supports students in approaching transportation problems from a holistic, interdisciplinary, and innovative perspective.
Graduate-level courses are among the fundamental learning environments of the program. In these courses, the theoretical foundations of transportation engineering and current research topics are addressed through a scientific approach. Students actively participate in learning through article reviews, problem-solving, project work, case studies, computer-aided applications, and in-class discussions. This process strengthens their ability to question knowledge, conduct critical evaluations, identify research gaps, and develop original research questions at the doctoral level.
Data analysis and numerical modeling are also key learning environments in transportation engineering. Students develop the ability to model transportation demand, analyze traffic flows, evaluate system performance, and compare alternative transportation scenarios using data such as traffic volumes, travel times, accident data, public transportation usage, road network performance indicators, and user behavior patterns. At the doctoral level, these studies go beyond the application of existing methods by aiming to develop new models, improve current models, or integrate different data sources in an original manner.
Field studies and practice-oriented observations further support the learning process. Activities such as traffic observations, road and intersection performance analyses, examination of public transportation systems, and evaluation of user behavior help students relate theoretical knowledge to real-world engineering problems.
The academic advising process is one of the most important learning environments of the program. Under the guidance of their advisors, students identify an original research topic, conduct a comprehensive literature review, reveal the research gap, define the research problem, select appropriate methods, and carry out their doctoral dissertation studies.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
Vision of the Transport Engineering Master and Doctorate Program is to have the ability of planning, designing and implementing related systems considering sustainable transportation and development, to follow the latest innovations in the developed countries, to do world class researches and to be equipped with contemporary information in the awareness of professional and ethical responsibilities.
Mission of the Program is to train transportation engineers who can plan, conduct and conclude a research, who are open to contemporary developments, able to work in interdisciplinary fields, have a national and universal culture, consider environmental problems, use modern methods and tools, analyze and synthesize about subjects of transportation engineering, have experimental or theoretical modelling skills with the principle of sharing knowledge.
Transportation related issues are very broad and they also involve other disciplines like geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, construction management, and urban planning. Since transportation investments have become increasingly important, the possibility of graduate students working in a transportation related department is increasing. Nowadays, there has also been a significant increase in investments in railways as well as highways, therefore many students or graduates work in these institutions. Majority of the Master and Doctorate Program students work in the companies, institutions and centers related to transportation planning, projecting, maintenance, laboratory or research. Master and PhD thesis include the theoretical work as well as the practical studies.
The young researchers who come to the ITU Transport Engineering Program to do PhD studies from other universities in our country also take the title of doctor and take the steps of academic career after they return to their universities. They participate in the academicians who are limited in the transportation engineering area in our country.
Nowadays, the convenience and innovations in accessing information and documents affect the Master and PhD courses and thesis; also enable studies which are more current, useful and applicable. Graduate theses are also used in academic publications, contributing to the total number of publications of our university annually.
Measurement and Evaluation
Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.
ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
| Grade Description |
Grade |
Scale |
| Excellent |
AA |
4.00 |
| Very good plus |
BA+ |
3.75 |
| Very good |
BA |
3.50 |
| Good plus |
BB+ |
3.25 |
| Good |
BB |
3.00 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB+ |
2.75 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB |
2.50 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC+ |
2.25 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC |
2.00 |
| Fail |
FF |
0.00 |
| Fail(No Exam) |
VF |
0.00 |
ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.
Internship
There is no internship in this program.
Graduation Requirements
First of all, it is expected that the students who want to do PhD in ITU Transport Engineering Program should have made their Master studies in a field related to transportation. In addition, students are expected to determine their thesis advisor and get approval before the interview in order to gain admission for PhD program. The students who are registered in Transport Engineering PhD Program need to complete 21 credits towards their interest areas. There are not compulsory courses for PhD program courses. At least half of the courses must be with code number of 600. After passing the PhD Qualifying Exam and PhD Thesis, students get the PhD Degree. It is expected that a student needs to specialize on a specific and current subject and to reveal a new method, theory or contribution to literature that does not exist before the PhD Thesis.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title : Doctor of Philosophy
Program Employment Opportunities
Studies on Transportation Planning of Large Cities
In Transportation Feasibility Researches
At the General Directorate of Highways
In the Traffic and Transportation Units of Metropolitan Municipalities and Municipalities
In the works related to Airways Transportation and Airport Construction
In Passenger and Freight Transportation Companies
Intersection, Highway etc. Projecting and Construction Works
Institutions which work related to Railway Superstructure and Maintenance
Companies and Institutions which work related to Transportation Infrastructures
Companies and Institutions which work related to railways like as TCDD and Metro Istanbul
Other Universities.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics (Last Five Years)
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Developing and intensifying the current and high-level knowledge in the area with the use of original thinking and/or research processes and in a specialist level, based upon the competency in M.S. level.
P.O.2 Grasping the inter-disciplinary interaction related to one’s area; reaching original results by using the specialist knowledge in analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating new and complex ideas.
P.O.3 The ability to evaluate and use new information in the area with a systematical approach.
P.O.4 Developing a new idea, method, design and/or application which brings about innovation in the area; or, applying a conventional idea, method, design and/or application to a different environment; researching, grasping, designing and applying an original subject.
P.O.5 The ability to critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate the new and complex ideas.
P.O.6 Acquiring the most developed skills about using the research methods in studies in the related area.
P.O.7 Contributing to the progress in the area by independently carrying out a study which uses a new idea, method, design and/or application which brings about innovation in the area; or, applying a conventional idea, method, design and/or application to a different environment.
P.O.8 Expanding the limits of knowledge in the area by publishing at least one scientific article in an international peer reviewed journal and/or creating or interpreting an original work.
P.O.9 Fulfilling the leader role in the environments where solutions are sought for the original and inter-disciplinary problems.
P.O.10 Developing area-related new ideas and methods by making use of high level intellectual processes such as creative and critical thinking, problem solving and decision making.
P.O.11 Ability to see and develop social relationships and the norms directing these relationships with a critical look and the ability to direct the actions to change these when necessary.
P.O.12 The ability to establish effective communication with experts in the international environments to discuss the area-related subjects and to defend original opinions, showing one’s competency in the area.
P.O.13 Proficiency in a foreign language –at least European Language Portfolio C1 Level- and establishing written, oral and visual communication and developing argumentation skills with that language.
P.O.14 Contributing to the society’s state and progress towards being an information society by announcing and promoting the technological, scientific and social developments in one’s area.
P.O.15 Ability to establish effective communication in the solving of the problems faced in the area by using the strategic decision making processes.
P.O.16 Contributing to the solution of area-related social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems and promoting the development of these values.
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
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