The information and program qualifications related to the Control and Automation Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Control and Automation Engineering of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
In a broad sense, control and automation engineering deals with the solution of the problem about the orientation of a system to the desired situation by means of appropriate software and equipment. Control science and automation technologies are rapidly evolving areas ranging from all science and engineering fields to economic systems and social sciences with a wide range of applications and research areas. The Control and Automation Engineering Ph.D. program has a content that covers advanced aspects of control theory, control techniques and automation technologies and aims to develop them.
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Active Student Count
Program Profile
The Control and Automation Engineering PhD Program is a higher education program consisting of ten semesters based on a bachelor's degree and eight semesters based on a master's degree with thesis. The program aims to educate researchers who can conduct independent research, analyze scientific problems and data from a broad and in-depth perspective, and generate original scientific contributions in the field of control and automation engineering.
Within the scope of the program, students are expected to acquire advanced knowledge in areas such as control systems, automation technologies, robotics, intelligent control methods, embedded systems, and industrial automation, and to apply this knowledge to solve complex engineering problems. The program also aims to enable students to effectively use modern engineering tools and research methods in modeling, analysis, simulation, design, and implementation processes.
The program supports students in conducting original research, developing new methods, producing scientific publications, and contributing to interdisciplinary studies. In this way, graduates are expected to gain the competence required to work as researchers and experts in academia as well as in advanced technology-based industries.
Registration Requirements
Application Term : Previous Application / 2025-2026 Spring Semester
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Numerical must be minimum 80 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 720, new system GRE minimum 156 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Computer Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Control and Computer Engineering, Control and Automation Engineering, Mathematics Engineering, System Dynamics and Control, Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering, Astronautical Engineering. Applicants must have graduated a 4 year-engineering programme from the above list.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 10
ITU-Machinery and Chemical Industry Inc. (MKE) Protocol Quota (For T.C Nationality): 1
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 80 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 720, new system GRE minimum 156 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.5/4 (88.33/100). Graduation must be Computer Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Control Engineering, Control and Computer Engineering, Control and Automation Engineering, Mathematics Engineering, System Dynamics and Control, Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering, Astronautical Engineering. Applicants must have graduated a 4 year-engineering programme from the above list.
Quota (For International Students): 3
Transfer Quota : 2
Click here for quotas and conditions for all semesters. Application Page Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
Program Learning Environments
Learning activities in the Control and Automation Engineering PhD Program are primarily conducted through formal education. The courses are supported by classroom lectures, seminars, and academic discussions.
Students have the opportunity to develop and apply their theoretical knowledge using modern engineering software and simulation tools used in areas such as control systems, automation technologies, robotics, intelligent control methods, and embedded systems. Practical activities are also carried out in laboratories and research centers within the university.
Within the scope of the doctoral program, students participate in advanced research environments through research activities, projects, and doctoral thesis studies conducted under the supervision of their advisors. These activities aim to develop students’ abilities in scientific problem solving, analysis, and conducting original research.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
Students that are graduated from the ITU Control and Automation Engineering Ph.D. Program
• gain the necessary skills to implement and improve advanced knowledge, concepts and technologies in R & D activities in the field of Control and Automation Engineering.
• have the advanced knowledge to be able to make research and publications that contribute to the development of science in Control and Automation Engineering
• be at a level to propose theoretical and/or technological developments being speciaized on a subject determined in Control and Automation Engineering.
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
For graduation requirements, the "Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations" (https://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/TR/mevzuat/lisansustu-yonetmelik.php) and "Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations – Senate Principles" (https://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/TR/mevzuat/lisansustu-esaslar.php) are applicable.
REGULATION ARTICLE 16(2):
The PhD program consists of at least seven courses with a minimum total of twenty-one credits, a seminar, a qualifying examination, a thesis proposal, and a doctoral dissertation for students admitted with a master’s degree. For students admitted with a bachelor’s degree, the program consists of fourteen courses with a minimum total of forty-two credits, a seminar, a qualifying examination, a thesis proposal, and a doctoral dissertation.
Students are expected to successfully complete the studies specified in Regulation Article 16(2).
REGULATION ARTICLE 19(2):
The weighted grade point average of the courses taken by the students must be at least 3.00.
SENATE PRINCIPLES ARTICLE 53:
Of the total course credits that the student is required to complete during the PhD program:
a) At least 50% must be taken from graduate courses offered by programs affiliated with the department to which the student is enrolled.
b) At least 30% must be taken from courses offered in English.
c) Students admitted to the PhD program with a bachelor’s degree must select at least 25% of their total course credits from the compulsory courses of the relevant master’s program.
d) PhD students who started their studies in the 2022–2023 Spring semester or later are required to take and successfully complete one course from the LEE-coded Career Development course group.
SENATE PRINCIPLES ARTICLE 18(a):
In order for a student to submit a doctoral dissertation, at least one international scientific article derived from the dissertation, in which Istanbul Technical University is indicated as the author’s affiliation among the student’s institutional affiliations, must have been published or formally accepted for publication in internationally indexed and peer-reviewed journals listed under Category A1 in the ITU Academic Promotion and Appointment Criteria for the relevant department. In addition, the student must have presented a paper related to the dissertation at an international conference.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Doctor of Philosophy Title : Doctor of Philosophy
Program Employment Opportunities
ITU Control and Automation Ph.D. Program graduates are employed in national or international research centers, national or foreign universities, and technology centers in relation to the following study subjects.
• Control and System Theory
• Modeling, Simulation, and System Identification
• Industrial automation
• Robotics
• Autonomous Systems
• Process Control, Measurement and Instrumentation
• Motion and Power Control Systems
• Drive Systems
• Intelligent Control Systems
• Computer-Based Real-Time Control Systems
• Robust Control Systems
• Fault Tolerant Systems
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics (Last Five Years)
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Ability to improve and deepen current and advanced level knowledge in control and automation engineering to expert level with novel thinking and/or research, and/or ability to reach original definitions that would introduce novelties in his/her field, using graduate level knowledge and skills.
P.O.2 Ability to comprehend the interdisciplinary interactions in relation to control and automation engineering, ability to reach novel and/or scientifically consistent conclusions, using expert level knowledge in the analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new and complex problems
P.O.3 Ability to achieve critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new and complex problems using research methodologies in studies related to control and automation engineering
P.O.4 Ability to apply knowledge in a different discipline to control and automation engineering or to develop a new idea, method, design and/or application that would introduce a novelty to the field, and ability to evaluate and use new knowledge in the field with a systematic approach.
P.O.5 Ability to apply knowledge in a different discipline to control and automation engineering or to develop a new idea, method, design and/or application that would introduce a novelty to the field, and ability to evaluate and use new knowledge in the field with a systematic approach.
P.O.6 Ability to develop novel solutions and/or display leadership attributes in solving interdisciplinary problems.
P.O.7 Ability to establish advanced written, oral and visual communication and discussion,
ability to defend one’s own novel opinions to experts in the field in international platforms and to set up effective communication to show competence in the field.
P.O.8 Ability to contribute to the solution of social, academical and ethical problems related to control and automation engineering, and to support improvement of these values
P.O.9 Ability to develop strategies, policies and execution plans for the solution of problems related to control and automation engineering, ability to evaluate the obtained solutions within the framework of quality processes.
Turkish Qualifications Database
The qualification has not yet been incorporated into the TYÇ.
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
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