Mineral Processing Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program


The information and program qualifications related to the Mineral Processing Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Program, under the Department of Mineral Processing Engineering of the Graduate School, are summarized below.

Information About The Program

Mineral Processing Engineering together with its associated scientific domains and multi-facet structure occupies a unique place in its own discipline. Mineral processing covers the stages of utilizing natural mineral resources in various areas such as metallurgy, iron-steel, glass, ceramics, cement, detergent, paint, building materials, and energy production. In this context, mineral processing follows various technological schemes to increase the metal content of minerals to a certain level, to remove undesirable impurities from mineral based raw materials and also to bring mineral particles to a size suitable for a valuable product. Therefore, design and operation of a plant which requires engineering and technological background of the process becomes prerequisite in mineral processing.

One of the most important problems today both in Türkiye and in the world is production of cheap and clean energy. A major portion of electrical energy presently is produced from coal-fired power stations. In addition coal is also utilized in different forms of solid and gaseous fuels. The quality of coal consumed domestically and in industrial plants is important from the point of human health and environmental pollution. Mineral Processing Engineers with their expertise help in the preparation of upgraded and environmentally friendly coals with more efficient technologies and thus provide both economic and environmental advantages.

Run-of mine mineral resources with high grades and large reserves have globally depleted and have been left with low grade, mineralogically complex and difficult-to-treat deposits. Advanced technologies for precious and rare/rare earth metals (Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, In, Ge, Se, Te, Li) and nuclear energy raw materials (U, Th) have been mainly explored by foreign companies and their experts which should be replaced by our own mineral processing engineers trained and equipped with all necessary up to date knowledge and technology; this is a real challenge.

Rapid progress in developing new materials has demanded preparation of raw materials towards a value added commercial product. We can give examples of preparing products for bio-mechanic, textile, insulation, advanced ceramics, nanotechnology applications. However, development of such materials from a particular raw ore requires well equipped knowledge, experience and confirmed expertise. Also applications both in Europe and the world indicate that utilization of solid wastes including municipality garbage involving all types of solid-liquid separations fall within the expertise area of mineral processing engineers.

Preparation aggregates used as construction materials and concrete industry and production of different blended cement become important industry in our modern daily life. In this context, many aggregation and cement plants have improved their production facilities to comply with the required standards. Mineral processing engineers will definitely contribute to this vital sector with their accumulated knowledge.

All the above criteria and indicators clearly point out the necessity of educating students in İTÜ Mineral Processing Engineering Department which is the first and and only engineering department in the country.


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Program Profile

Our graduates of the doctoral program will develop their skills in analytical thinking, scientific research, R&D management, and teamwork in the fields of Ore Preparation and related engineering areas, in line with the following educational objectives:

1. To solve the problems of ore preparation and enrichment in the public and private sectors within the context of efficiency and environmental sensitivity, and to train engineers who will implement these solutions.

2. To develop, improve, or promote ore preparation technologies that enhance the quality of life for people living in areas where ore preparation activities are carried out.

3. To contribute to public education by providing information to citizens, politicians, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) about the value of processed or evaluated mineral products and their uses in society, while prioritizing engineering ethics.


Registration Requirements

Application Term : 2024-2025 Spring Semester
Application Dates : 06.12.2024 09:00:00 - 03.02.2025 17:00:00 ( UTC/GMT+3 )

Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality)
ALES Numerical must be minimum 70 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 675, new system GRE minimum 153 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.25/4 (82.5/100). Graduation must be Bioengineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Physics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Ceramics Engineering.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 10

Application Requirements (For International Students)
ALES Numerical must be minimum 70 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 675, new system GRE minimum 153 ). Graduate GPA must be minimum 3.00/4 (76.66/100). Minimum GPA from undergraduate to doctorate must be 3.25/4 (82.5/100). Graduation must be Bioengineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Physics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Ceramics Engineering.
Quota (For International Students): 10

Transfer Quota : 5

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

Education and training are carried out in the form of formal, open, or distance learning. In addition, practical training is conducted in laboratories and workshops within higher education institutions, or in industry, healthcare institutions, and workplaces as internships or on-the-job training.


English Proficiency



Regulations and Guidelines

Regulations and Guidelines


Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar


Course Plans



Course Schedules



Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures

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


Program Educational Objectives

Graduates from PhD program will perform their skills of analytical thinking, scientific work, R & D Execution and team-work following our educational objectives in line with their expertises, Mineral Processing and related engineering areas,

1. To educate engineers for solving problems of mineral processing and enrichment within the scope of productivity and environmental sensitivity in both public and private sectors.
2. The development, improvement or promotion of Mineral Processing technologies which increase the quality of life of people living in the places where the Mineral Processing activities are carried out
3. To contribute to the education of people by informing citizens, politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) about the value of processed or assessed mineral products and their use in society by holding engineering ethics in the foreground.


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

Graduation procedures are carried out by taking into account the relevant articles of Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulations and Senate resolutions.

http://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/tr/yonetmelik/lu_yonetmelik.html


The Awarded Degree and Title

Degree : Doctor of Philosophy    Title : Doctor of Philosophy


Program Employment Opportunities

Mineral Processing; coal and ore enrichment as well as industrial and ceramics raw materials to environmental problems in a wide range of activities. Mineral Engineering Engineers; iron and steel plants, solid and liquid waste storage and treatment plants, glass, paint and ceramics plants in coal and coal enrichment plants, coal-fired thermal power plants, cement factories, crushing and grinding plants, briquetting and pelletizing plants.
More specifically,
Working as an academic staff in the Mining, Mineral Processing, Chemistry, Materials and Metallurgy Engineering Departments of the universities
R & D in each of the following areas
Mineral beneficiation plants (Copper, Chromium, Zinc, Lead, Aluminium etc.)
 Beneficiation plants for Au, Ag, Pt and other precious metals
 Rare/Rare earth oxides (La, Ce, Nd) production plants
 Iron-Steel plants: beneficiation of iron ores, pelletizing and preparation of raw materials
 Ore Processing Plants Processed by Biotechnology Methods
 Coal fired power stations and their comminutions units
 Clean coal preparation plants
 Nuclear raw materials production units (Uranyum, Toryum)
 Glass and ceramics raw materials preparation plants and their applications
 Construction-aggregate materials preparation plants
 Preparation and grinding of cement raw materials
 Preparation of nanominerals for use in nanotechnology
 Production of Clay and Other Mineral Based Raw Materials in Appropriate form for use in Nanotechnology
 Development of Products for farious Sectors from Industrial Minerals
 Fertilizer and animal feed raw materials plants
 Filler and extender preparation plants
 Paints and detergent production plants
 Solid and liquid waste separation and utilization units
 Soil remediation plants
 Minerals/products sales and marketing departments
 Mineral processing equipment development, sales and marketing
 Mineral processing plant design and feasibility projects
 Computer and automation practices in mineral processing plants
 Design and sale of industrial silos
 Recycling and waste utilization plants
 Safe disposal of waste dams
 Land Reclamation Studies
 Quality Control in mineral and chemical production plants


Number of Graduates

Graduate Statistics
YearNumber of Graduates
20162
20172
20181
20191
20232


Program Outcomes

P.O.1 Developing and intensifying the current and high-level knowledge in Mining Engineering area with the use of original thinking and/or research processes and in a specialistic level, based upon the competency in M.S. level
P.O.2 Grasping the inter-disciplinary interaction related to Mining Engineering area; reaching original results by using the specialistic 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 Mining Engineering 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

Prof. Dr. Feridun Boylu
E-mail: boylu@itu.edu.tr
Business Phone : 02122856227
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/boylu


Head of the Department

Prof. Dr. Murat Olgaç Kangal
E-mail: kangal@itu.edu.tr
Business Phone : 0-212-2856886
Web: https://research.itu.edu.tr/tr/persons/kangal