Department of Architecture

The Graduate Program in Restoration at METU was established in 1964, as the first program of its kind in Turkey, with the aim of training experts working in the field of conservation of cultural heritage; developing institutional and practical conservation processes based on scientific principles; and increasing public consciousness in this field. Since its foundation, the program has retained its leading position in its field with its core staff who have been contributed to its being awarded as a “Center of Excellence” by TUBITAK in 1988, while in time, it has grown stronger with the new staff joining the program. The program, recently retitled as the Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, with its current academic staff, research units and technical infrastructure, offers a curriculum based on contemporary and international norms and in accordance with national, regional and international necessities and improvements in the field of conservation.

The PhD Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage is for the person who wants to make a significant scholarly contribution to the field of conservation of built environment. The candidates are expected to enhance scholarship in the field of conservation of built environment by producing new knowledge through original research. The program also provides a gateway to future academic careers. To be eligible for admission to the PhD program, candidates are required to have successfully completed a Masters program in METU or an equivalent institution. The PhD program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage lasts a minimum of eight semesters. Requirements for the degree include formal coursework of total minimum credits of 24 / x ECTS credits (1 required course and 6 approved electives), a proficiency exam, a dissertation and a final defense. The students must select a thesis supervisor at the beginning of the third semester the latest, who aligns with their research interests. After completing the coursework and passing the proficiency exam, a thesis monitoring committee is set up for each student. The student presents a progress report to the committee once in every six months. The students who receive their PhD degree from this program will have:

• knowledge and systematic understanding of the field of conservation of built environment and its multidisciplinary nature;
• mastery of the skills and methods of research associated with the field of conservation;
• the capability of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas in the field of conservation;
• the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research in the field of conservation of built environment with scholarly integrity;
• made a scholarly contribution to the field of conservation through original research that  produces new knowledge.

Existing and Evolving Research Tracks

Due to the complex and multidisciplinary nature of the field of conservation, there are various subareas for research and contribution in PhD studies in the Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage at METU. Accordingly, some of the major research areas can be grouped as follows:

• Theory and History of Conservation: National and international aspects.
• Architectural Conservation: Singular or group of cultural properties including traditional residential architecture with emphasis on structural and material problems (physical, mechanical and chemical properties and mechanics of deterioration), documentation techniques, refunctioning and adaptation possibilities for contemporary requirements and restoration problems.
• Urban Conservation: Conservation, rehabilitation and management issues in historic urban sites. Research, survey, analysis, evaluation and decision-making processes in conservation of  historic urban/ rural sites by considering the natural, historical, architectural, visual, socio-economical, legal, administrative, financial and managerial aspects.
• Conservation of Archaeological Sites: Conservation, restoration, interpretation, presentation and management issues in/of archaeological sites.
• Research on Historic Building Materials: Properties and weathering processes of historic materials, diagnostic studies, conservation and repair treatments.
• Cultural Heritage Recording and Information Management: Theoretical and technical aspects of documentation, recording and information management for conservation of cultural heritage
• Legal, Administrative and Economical Aspects of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties.
• Architectural / Urban Design in Historic Environments.

Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage Website

If admitted by M.S. degree:

6 Approved electives
Total minimum credit: 24
Number of courses with credit (min): 7

If admitted by B.S. degree:

2 Restricted approved elective courses

For the Students with an Undergraduate Degree

- in Architecture:

- in City and Regional Planning:

- in Social Sciences:

- in Natural and Applied Sciences other than Architecture and City and Regional Planning:

Total minimum credit: 62

Number of courses with credit (min): 16