The information and program qualifications related to the Architecture Master of Science Without Thesis Program, under the Department of Architecture of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
The Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture, conducted under the Department of Architecture, provides a graduate-level academic environment that addresses the theoretical, methodological, and practice-oriented dimensions of the architectural discipline through a holistic perspective. The program approaches architecture not merely as the production of physical space, but as a multilayered field of knowledge that continuously evolves within social, cultural, technological, and environmental contexts. In this regard, it aims to educate individuals who are capable of thinking across different scales, adopting a critical perspective, engaging in research-based design, and integrating into contemporary architectural practice.
The main mission of the program is to offer a “practice-oriented and visionary graduate education in architecture that produces tomorrow’s solutions through today’s technologies.” In line with this mission, the program aims to equip its graduates with the professional competencies needed to take an active role in architectural design and practice at both national and international levels. The content of the program has been developed in alignment with the criteria of NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board). In this way, the program seeks to ensure that students receive education at international standards, are able to produce work in diverse geographical contexts, remain open to interdisciplinary collaboration, and adapt to the changing conditions of the world.
Within this international and interdisciplinary framework, the program aims not only to provide professional competence, but also to enable students to evaluate the knowledge they acquire from a critical perspective, to develop awareness of their roles within the architectural profession, and to generate solutions to professional challenges through ethical, sustainable, and innovative approaches. In this respect, the program promotes an understanding of the architect not merely as a design professional, but also as a researcher, critic, and social actor. Within an interdisciplinary approach, architecture is addressed in relation to engineering, planning, and the social sciences, thereby fostering a multidimensional understanding of space that encompasses not only its physical but also its social and experiential dimensions.
The educational content of the program covers a broad spectrum ranging from environmental scale to urban design, architectural design, building systems, material knowledge, and detail solutions. The technology-oriented learning experience, supported by BIM and artificial intelligence, is enriched through meetings with industry representatives, national and international workshops, seminars, and up-to-date examples from practice. Within this structure, students are encouraged to become familiar with the knowledge and competencies associated with different areas of expertise in architecture, to establish relationships between these areas, and to use contemporary design tools effectively.
Architectural design studios, which form the foundation of the program, are discussion- and production-oriented learning environments based on the active participation of students. These studios focus on comprehensive problem areas that do not limit the architectural profession to building design alone, but also address its environmental, social, and ethical dimensions. By working on design problems based on real-life scenarios, students gain the ability to analyze and interpret complex spatial and social relationships and to develop creative solutions accordingly.
The courses and studio work offered in the program are designed to establish a strong connection between theory and practice. Courses in areas such as architectural theory, history, criticism, building technologies, sustainability, and digital design tools support students in developing a multifaceted knowledge base. Within this framework, competence in architectural design is considered not only as an aesthetic skill, but also in relation to analytical thinking, problem-solving, critical evaluation, and ethical responsibility. While the program encourages students to view the design process as a field of research and exploration, it also places importance on developing awareness of the social and environmental impacts of that process.
Workshops and studio content focus on current issues that address architecture and the environment as an integrated whole. Topics such as user experience and data-driven design approaches, sustainability, ecological thinking, circular economy, awareness of reuse, earthquake-resistant and safe building culture, climate crisis, urban transformation, and cultural heritage constitute major axes of discussion within the design studios. Throughout this process, students not only develop original design approaches and spatial solutions, but also gain the ability to assess the social impacts of these solutions.
Historical Development of the Program
In 1978, the ITU Faculty of Architecture transitioned to a 4+2-year education system, structuring the Architectural Design Program as a thesis-based component within the Engineering-Architecture Postgraduate (MMLS) framework. In 1982, the program was restructured as the Building Science Master's and Doctoral Programs and continued its development accordingly. In 2002, as part of the restructuring of ITU's postgraduate programs, the Architectural Design Master's and Doctoral Programs were reorganized as 24-credit, thesis-based programs. During the same period, a non-thesis master's program aimed at professional practice competence also began in the Fall semester of 2002-2003. During the program's establishment, an application was submitted to the US-based NAAB accreditation system to ensure adherence to international standards, and the program was developed accordingly. The program, structured around 45-credit intensive content, was designed as an educational model aiming for universal standards, with its structure focused on professional practice. Initially, the course structure paralleled that of the thesis-based program, but over time it was adapted to enhance both theoretical and practical knowledge. With the revision in 2008, the variety and richness of the courses increased.
With another important change made in the Fall semester of 2013-2014, the course credit and hour structure of the program was re-evaluated. To increase compatibility with international student exchange programs, the course hours for architectural design studios were increased to 9 hours and their ECTS values to 12. With this arrangement, two new courses were added to the program; courses other than compulsory ones were restructured as electives; and the courses were grouped under the headings of "History-Theory", "Design Technologies", and "Building Technologies".
In the 2016-2017 academic year, in accordance with the decision taken by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the duration of all non-thesis master's programs in Turkey was reduced to 3 semesters. In this context, the program, previously structured as 4 semesters, 54 credits, and 14 courses, was restructured into a 3-semester structure comprising 36 credits and 10 courses.
For further information, please contact:
itumimarliktezsiz@gmail.com
mimarliktezsiz@itu.edu.tr
Click here for the program's website.
Active Student Count
Program Profile
The Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture aims to provide advanced knowledge and skills in the field of architecture oriented toward professional practice and practice-based research, and to train specialists who can take an active role in design and construction processes. The program addresses architectural design, building and design technologies, and theoretical knowledge in an integrated manner and focuses on the transfer of this knowledge into practice. Students develop competencies in integrating design with implementation, generating technical solutions, making decisions based on performance criteria, and analytically justifying these decisions. The program aims to graduate professionals who can assume responsibility in professional practice, manage implementation processes, and contribute to research and development activities related to the field.
Registration Requirements
Application Term : Previous Application / 2025-2026 Spring Semester
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.65/4 (68.5/100). Graduation must be Architecture. The applicants will be called to an interview. They must submit their portfolio to the designated online repository before their interview. Two recommendation letters are required.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 15
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.65/4 (68.5/100). Graduation must be Architecture. The applicants will be called to an interview. They must submit their portfolio to the designated online repository before their interview. Two recommendation letters are required.
Quota (For International Students): 5
Transfer Quota : 3
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
The learning environments of the Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture consist of design studios, classrooms, computer laboratories and model-making and fabrication ateliers. Design studios constitute the primary working environment for application-oriented project development, technical solution generation, and the evaluation of design decisions. Students participate in project development and performance analysis processes by using digital design, modeling and simulation tools and address design and implementation processes in an integrated manner. The university’s library resources, digital databases, and international collaborations complement this process by providing access to the necessary theoretical knowledge and academic support.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Accreditation
The Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture at ITU received a 6-year 'equivalency' for its undergraduate program and Non-Thesis Master's Program in Architecture from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in 2008. This equivalency was the first ever granted outside the United States to the Department of Architecture at ITU. Following a visit in 2021, the NAAB International Certification was renewed until 2027.
NAAB website
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
Achieving competence in architectural design is the program's fundamental objective. Accordingly, the program aims for students to understand the design process not merely as a formal production practice, but as an integrated field of knowledge production involving research, analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Workshop activities focus on current and complex issues that address the architectural profession and the built environment as a multi-layered whole, supporting students in becoming individuals who can think across different scales, establish interdisciplinary relationships, and develop creative solutions.
One of the program's fundamental educational objectives is to develop students' awareness of their roles within the architectural profession. In this context, students gain the understanding that an architect is not only a professional who designs, but also an active actor in social, cultural, and environmental processes. The aim is for students to become individuals who can understand current problems in architecture, develop a critical perspective on these problems, and produce solutions within a framework of ethical responsibility.
The program aims to enable students to establish strong links between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Accordingly, the program encourages the integration of knowledge in architectural theory, history, technology, and representational tools into the design process. A priority of the program is enabling students to synthesize diverse fields of knowledge to develop original design approaches and adapt them to different contexts.
Another important aim is to develop students' analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The goal is to develop an approach that can generate alternative solutions to complex design problems, evaluate these solutions, and justify them. Simultaneously, developing students' research skills, access to information, critical evaluation of information, and the ability to reproduce it are among the fundamental aims of the program.
The program encourages the adoption of an architectural approach sensitive to current issues such as sustainability, environmental awareness, and social responsibility. In this context, the aim is for students to evaluate the environmental and social impacts of design decisions and make informed choices accordingly.
Finally, the program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and equipment to participate effectively in national and international architectural environments. The program's core educational objectives are to train architects who are open to interdisciplinary collaborations, innovative, capable of critical thinking, and committed to ethical values.
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
The Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture comprises 36 credits (60 ECTS) and is designed to be completed in 3 semesters (1.5 years). To qualify for graduation, students must successfully complete 18 credits of compulsory courses and 18 credits of elective courses, corresponding to 6 elective courses worth 3 credits each. The curriculum of the Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture includes 6 elective courses, with 2 courses chosen from each of the following course groups: “Theory / History / Criticism,” “Building Technologies,” and “Design Technologies.” The program also includes the compulsory courses “Architectural Design I and II” (two 6-credit courses), “Special Topics in Architecture I and II” (two 3-credit courses), and the non-credit “Term Project.”
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Master of Science Without Thesis Title : -
Program Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Non-Thesis Master’s Program in Architecture have a wide range of employment opportunities across different scales and fields of architectural practice. The program aims to educate architects who are professionally competent and well equipped in design, implementation, coordination, and management processes.
Graduates may establish their own architectural offices and pursue independent professional practice in areas such as architectural design, project development, preparation of application projects, consultancy, interior design, renovation, and transformation projects. They may also work in private-sector architectural, interior architecture, urban design, planning, construction, and real estate development firms. In these settings, they can specialize in areas such as conceptual design, application projects, detailing, site coordination, material selection, visualization, project management, and construction supervision.
Program graduates may also be employed in public institutions. They can work in the zoning, urbanism, urban design, conservation, and project departments of municipalities, as well as in the planning, building production, project evaluation, and inspection processes of relevant ministries. In addition, they may find employment opportunities in institutions and organizations related to cultural heritage, conservation, mass housing, and public buildings.
In addition, graduates may work in building materials companies, construction and contracting firms, real estate development companies, and companies operating in the fields of furniture, lighting, façade systems, and building technologies. Contemporary areas of specialization such as digital design, BIM-based project processes, sustainability consultancy, restoration, adaptive reuse, and project management also constitute important employment opportunities for graduates.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics (Last Five Years)
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Producing operational knowledge
P.O.2 Different design approaches
P.O.3 Analytical and critical thinking
P.O.4 Interdisciplinary thinking and working
Turkish Qualifications Database
The qualification has not yet been incorporated into the TYÇ.
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Click for detailed student count.
Links