FAQ - Graduate

1. Do you accept applications for the spring semester for master's or doctoral programs?

No, we only offer master's and doctoral programs for the fall semester.

 

2. My undergraduate degree is not in psychology. Can I still apply for a master's degree?

There is no fixed policy regarding this situation. Some years, applicants with non-psychology undergraduate degrees are accepted, while in other years, it may not be possible. Therefore, individuals should check the current master's program announcement on our university's application website for the relevant field.

If accepted, applicants with non-psychology undergraduate degrees are required to complete a Scientific Preparation program in psychology for one year. Successful completion of this program allows them to proceed to master's level courses.

 

3. My master's degree is not in psychology. Can I still apply for a Ph.D.?

To apply for the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, you need to have a master's degree in Clinical Psychology. The Psychological Sciences Ph.D. program is open to candidates with master's degrees in fields related to psychology, such as linguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, and more.

 

4. What are the weightings of factors in the applications? If my undergraduate GPA or ALES score is low, do I have no chance of being accepted?

Your undergraduate GPA and ALES score are not the sole determining factors. What matters most is the entirety of your application package. In other words, your overall GPA, exam scores, statement of purpose, performance in the science exam and interview, research experience, and other elements collectively influence the admission process.

 

5. Are master's and doctoral programs offered every year?

Not all of our graduate programs are available every year. Announcements for graduate program applications for the upcoming academic year, which starts in September, are typically made in February and March. To stay updated, check our website during these months.

 

6. I have taken a required exam for graduate applications (e.g., ALES) but believe I can achieve a higher score if I retake it after the application deadline. Can I send a new score after applications are complete?

If you don't provide your ALES/GRE/GMAT score during the application process, your acceptance will be conditional. You'll need to submit the relevant score to the Registrar's Office by the final registration date.

 

7. I've heard rumors that the Boğaziçi University Psychology Department only admits students from its own department to graduate programs. I come from a different department/university; do I have no chance?

We evaluate graduate applications based on the applicant's academic potential. Over the years, we have admitted many students from various departments and universities, which indicates that the mentioned rumor does not accurately reflect the reality.

 

8. After being accepted into one of your graduate programs, can I study English preparatory courses?

The availability of English preparatory courses for our graduate programs may vary from year to year. For the most accurate information, follow announcements during the application period.

To be accepted into our graduate programs, you are expected to prove your English proficiency through a language exam (such as BÜEPT or TOEFL). Additionally, the science exam and interview are conducted in English.

 

9. What does the science exam cover? How can I prepare for it? Do you have any book recommendations?

The science exam consists of two parts. One part requires you to answer questions that use research methods and statistics. The other part includes domain-specific questions related to the field you applied for (e.g., developmental psychology, social psychology, etc.). We do not provide specific book recommendations, but you can prepare for the exam using introductory-level textbooks.

 

10. What should I pay attention to when writing the research proposal for a Ph.D. application?

The research proposal should be in English and the topic should be chosen by the applicant. The proposal should be independently developed by the applicant. It should have a maximum of 3000 words, excluding references. The proposal is expected to have high originality, theoretical significance, and feasibility. It should include a detailed literature review, the purpose of the proposed project(s), the method, and the approach to data analysis. The proposal should also contain a 150-200-word summary and follow APA guidelines. It is recommended that applicants contact psy@boun.edu.tr to inquire about the format of the research proposal.

 

11. I graduated from a university with English as the language of instruction. Do I still need to take one of the specified language exams?

Even if you graduated from a university where the language of instruction is English, you are still required to submit a valid score from one of the specified exams according to the application conditions.

 

12. I graduated from a university abroad. What should I do for equivalence?

To obtain equivalence, you need to apply to the Higher Education Council (YÖK) and include the equivalence certificate among your application documents once it is approved. You can find detailed information on the process here.

 

13- Does studying abroad for a clinical master's degree create problems in terms of returning to Turkey in the future?

No, it does not. Yet, it should be confirmed whether the program has equivalence in Turkey and whether YÖK accepts the diploma received as a clinical psychology degree.

 

14- Which universities would you recommend for a clinical master's degree in Turkey?

Bilgi University, METU, Istanbul University, Hacettepe, Ege University...

 

15- What are the most desired criteria to be accepted from universities abroad?

There is no easy answer to this. The most important thing, e.g. for the USA, is to have a professor who wants to work with you, if the program you are applying for is a PhD program. Again, if the program you are applying for is specifically a PhD program, they look for the fact that you have chosen this program with something to think about and that you are a person who can make this long-term commitment.

Master's degrees in the US and the UK are generally expensive (few programs/universities offer scholarships) and may not sufficiently develop potential researcher and faculty member identity for the future.

On the other hand, master's programs in continental Europe are more valuable but scholarships are hard to find. In these master's programs, they usually look at things like the courses you have taken, of course your achievements in the courses, your research experience. In Europe, especially at the master's level, letters of reference are not as important as in the US (and UK).

 

16- Which countries or universities abroad would you recommend for a clinical master's degree?

The Netherlands would probably be the most recommended place for a master's degree. On the other hand, if you are interested in psychodynamic approaches, the Netherlands may not be the right address because its clinical programs predominantly involve cognitive-behavioral approaches.

It is important whether the programs you apply for are accredited/have equivalence or not. 1-year clinical programs (without internship and supervision) are not equivalent to programs in Turkey but are pre-doctoral preparation programs. It is ethically problematic to graduate from these programs and return to Turkey to see clients.

 

17- How is the USA an option for a PhD in clinical medicine? What are the chances of getting admission without doing a master's degree in Turkey?

There are very good clinical PhD programs in the USA. According to the professional license and law in the USA, you can only become a clinical psychologist if you do a PhD in a clinical field. On the other hand, it is not very easy to get accepted to those programs.

 

18- Do you need to graduate from a master's program with a thesis to work as a clinical psychologist? Does it change whether this program is a 1-year (60 credits) or 2-year program to graduate as a clinical psychologist?

It is not necessary to graduate from a thesis program to become a clinical psychologist, a non-thesis (but of course accredited) clinical master's degree is also sufficient. A one-year clinical master's program is by no means enough. What makes a clinical master's program good is the quality of the internships and supervision offered by that program. In the current situation (according to the regulation of YÖK), non-thesis MA graduates cannot apply to doctoral programs.

 

19- In 1-year programs, it is said that the thesis will be written in 1 semester, is 1 semester enough for thesis work, what will be the value of this thesis?

We think it is not enough.

 

20-  Is it necessary to first complete a clinical master's program to become a competent art therapist or dance-movement therapist?

Programs such as art therapy or dance-movement therapy, which are called therapy but do not actually provide their graduates with the competence to do real psychotherapy, should be evaluated carefully. In our opinion, the person who will do therapy should graduate from a clinical psychology program. These programs do not provide training on psychopathology and its treatment. As you say, these can be methods that can be used as tools in therapy. Or these methods can be applied by people who have received this training as support methods for psychotherapy, but a person who has received only these trainings cannot and should not do therapy.

 

21- How important is the Ales score for the clinical psychology program, how high should it be?

There are clinical programs that attach importance to Ales (most likely Hacettepe University) as well as programs that do not (most likely Bilgi University).

 

22- What are the Cognitive Sciences graduate programs in Turkey or abroad that you recommend and what are the general European graduate scholarship opportunities, if any?

METU CogSci, Bogazici CogSci; Abroad: Trente CogSci, Indiana Univ CogSci, Rutgers CogSci. (You can ask CogIST about this, it is a very good cognitive science student community; see also https://cognitivesciencesociety.org/programs-in-cognitive-sciences/)

 

23- Does having a dissertation instead of a thesis in the framework of the program limit PhD opportunities? I see that UK universities usually have a dissertation while other EU universities usually have a thesis, but I couldn't find any good information about the difference.

In the UK, a "dissertation" is a project written at the end of a bachelor's or master's degree; a PhD is a "thesis". In the US it is the other way around (Germany, Netherlands etc. also use the US terminology).

 

24- What alternatives can one with a bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in other fields pursue?

Social service-oriented "preventive intervention programs" would be important. It would be valuable to be educated in social policies, educational sciences, developmental psychology or clinical fields and to be involved in and develop these programs. They can work in cooperation with NGOs or other institutions. Or people who know good statistics can do very important work in all areas of psychology and society.