The Graduate Program in Geological Engineering upholds the university’s long-standing tradition in Earth sciences. Since its establishment, the program has built a robust research and educational infrastructure encompassing all sub-disciplines of geology, and has grown into one of the most comprehensive Geological Engineering departments in Türkiye, with a strong academic staff consisting of 39 faculty members and 27 research assistants. The scientific knowledge and expertise of this academic cadre are supported by numerous large-scale national and international research projects, and a significant number of interdisciplinary research initiatives are currently being conducted within the department. Graduate students actively participate in these projects, gaining research experience and carrying out their thesis studies within the scope of these ongoing scientific activities.

Courses offered within the Geological Engineering Master’s Program are conducted for full-time students, and instruction takes place during daytime hours.
At ITU, education is organized on a semester basis. Each academic year consists of Fall and Spring semesters. Excluding the two weeks allocated for final examinations, both the Fall and Spring semesters comprise 14 weeks of coursework.
Geological Engineering graduate courses are primarily delivered at ITU Ayazağa Campus, within the Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, and in associated laboratories. In this context, students have access to the thin section laboratory, XRD laboratory, mineral preparation laboratory, geochemistry laboratory, geomicrobiology laboratory, rock mechanics and index testing laboratory, and microscopy rooms. Laboratory applications are integrated with field studies and geological modeling activities to create a comprehensive learning environment.
A substantial portion of the instructional materials used in courses and practical sessions is supported by web-based tools. ITU provides an e-learning platform called NINOVA, which enables students to access course materials, announcements, assignments, resources, attendance information, and discussion boards.
Graduate students in Geological Engineering are also allowed to enroll in courses offered by other master’s and doctoral programs across the university. Accordingly, students are not limited to Ayazağa Campus; depending on the program offering the course, they may also take courses at the Gümüşsuyu, Maslak, Taşkışla, and Tuzla campuses.

Course adjustment and exemption procedures are carried out in accordance with the Exemption and Adjustment Procedures Regulation of Istanbul Technical University.
Exemption and Adjustment Procedures Regulation

The primary aim of the program’s educational and research mission is to train researchers with strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, scientific integrity, and specialized expertise across a broad range of fundamental and applied geological fields. These include mineralogy–petrography, geochemistry, economic geology, energy resources, engineering geology, hydrogeology, environmental geology, tectonics, stratigraphy, sedimentology, and natural hazards. The program seeks to ensure that students gain both advanced theoretical knowledge and proficiency in modern laboratory and field techniques. Accordingly, students take an active role in research conducted in the department’s modernized laboratories as well as in field studies carried out in collaboration with various institutions.
The academic staff maintains strong collaborations with universities, research centers, and industrial partners both in Türkiye and abroad. Numerous seminars, workshops, and academic events are organized each year with the participation of international scholars. This provides graduate students with opportunities to engage in global geological research, follow current scientific developments, and gain experience in international projects. Additionally, through Erasmus+ and other exchange programs, students have the opportunity to conduct research and obtain academic experience at universities around the world.

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.

There is no internship in this program.

The duration of the master's program with thesis is 4 semesters, regardless of whether or not students enrolled for each semester, starting from the semester when the courses related to the registered program are given and the program is completed in maximum 6 semesters.

Students who can not successfully complete the credited courses and seminar courses in the curriculum at the end of four semesters or fail to complete the conditions of success / within the maximum period of time, the student who fails in the thesis study or does not enter the thesis defense is dismissed from the university.

A student who succeeds in the thesis examination and fulfills the other conditions, after completing the necessary corrections, submits a copy of the master's thesis and a copy of the thesis written according to the thesis writing guide determined by the senate together with the acceptance letter of the thesis advisor within 1 month. The board of directors of the institute may extend the delivery period on request by no more than one month. Students who do not fulfill these conditions can not take their diploma until the conditions are fulfilled, they can not benefit from student rights and if the maximum period expires, the relationship with the university will be dismissed.
At least 3.00 GPA is required for master graduation and the seminar course and thesis study must be successfully completed.
Course Load
At least 120 AKTS credits are required for graduate studies.
Courses
The total course credits that the student is obliged to take during his / her graduate study;
Must take at least 50% from compulsory courses.
Must take at least 30% from English courses.
Master degree students enrolled in engineering programs must take at least one mathematics course.
Each student must be enrolled in at least one seminar course and make at least one presentation. The seminar coordinator evaluates students in terms of attendance. Students may enroll in the seminar course earliest in their second semester.
Specialist courses are non-credit courses offered by the advisor for graduate and doctoral / artistic qualification students in the thesis phase. The counselor opens two specialist courses for graduate and doctoral / arts competency students, one for master's specialization course and the other for doctoral / arts proficiency specialization course. Even if an advisor is consulting in different institutes, each semester can not open a master's degree and a doctorate / arts proficiency specialty course.
Students enrolled in a thesis must also register for these courses opened by the advisor. These courses continue throughout the year and up to the graduation of registered students regardless of academic semesters.

Students who have successfully completed their courses, seminar courses and thesis studies and have a weighted GPA of at least 3.00 can graduate in a shorter time.

Degree : Master of Science    Title : -

Students who complete the graduate program can work with various public institutions and organizations in the field of specialization in the private sector and can provide engineering services by establishing a company of their own.
Public Institutions and Organizations
 General Directorate Of Mineral Research And Explorations(MTA)
 General Directorate of Turkish Coal (TKİ).
 General Directorate of Electricity Generation Corporation (EÜAŞ).
 General Directorate Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).
 Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
 General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ).
 Republic of Turkey General Directorate of Highways (TCK).
 Turkish State Railways (TCDD)
 General Directorate of State Ports and Airports (DLH)
 Related departments of Universities.
 National and International Research Institutes.
 Ministries (Energy and Natural Resources, Transport-Maritime and Communication, Forestry and Water Affairs, Environment and Urbanism etc.) In addition, Provincial Organizations.
 Related Departments of Municipalities.
 Special Provincial Administration.
 ILBANK (Investment Banking)
Private Sector Organizations
Graduates of the postgraduate study programs participate in the phases of planning, research, projection, implementation and monitoring of the following topics;
 Investigation and operation of underground resources,
 Metallic,
 Industrial raw materials ,
 Energy,
 Aggregate Producer,
 Geological-geotechnical investigations for spatial planning, micro zonation and suitability for settled.
 Seismicity Research,
 Active Tectonics
 Designing of engineering constructions (master plan, feasibility), implementation and monitoring,
 Investigation of Groundwater,
 Hot Springs and Mineral waters
 Geothermal Energy,
 Environmental Impact Assessment Reports

Graduate Statistics (Last Five Years)

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Zeynep Döner
E-mail: donerz@itu.edu.tr
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/donerz

Prof. Dr. Şenel Özdamar
E-mail: ozdamarse@itu.edu.tr
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/ozdamarse