Klon Department of Civil Engineering, Master's Program in Building Materials

Information About the Program

In their designs and applications, civil engineers select the most suitable material from those available or produce a material that meets the specific need. To this end, they must consider strength, functionality, and cost-effectiveness together. “Construction Materials Science” is essential for the selection of construction materials, the development of material properties and production methods, and the diagnosis and treatment of causes leading to the degradation of material strength. What was once a body of knowledge about construction materials—comprising practical and theoretical concepts based on field experience—has today evolved into a scientific discipline with an expanding scope of research and expertise, grounded in experimentation. As a result of rapid advancements in construction technology and materials science, there is now a need for responsible, competent, and reliable civil engineers who can plan the highest-quality and most economical designs and manufacturing processes in terms of materials and workmanship, rather than merely preparing static reinforced concrete projects. The construction materials used in projects implemented in recent years—such as the Marmaray Project, the Eurasia Tunnel, and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge—could only be used in production after R&D activities were carried out. In these projects, civil engineers who had completed master’s and/or doctoral degrees in the field of construction materials were assigned to these roles, and R&D activities were carried out in the laboratories of our universities.

Candidates seeking to specialize in the field of Building Materials by 2021 have conducted their research within the Building Program, and 17 master’s theses have been completed to date. Proposed by YTÜ Senate Resolution No. 2021/05-05 dated June 10, 2021, and approved for launch by the Higher Education Executive Board on June 24, 2021, our program began accepting students in the Fall Semester of the 2021-2022-Teaching Year. The Construction Materials Research Group, which is part of the Civil Engineering undergraduate program, with a broad academic and administrative staff consisting of 5 professors, 3 assistant professors, 6 research assistants, and 1 technician, also provides services for the Master’s Program in Construction Materials. 

The Master’s Program in Construction Materials aims to train technical professionals and academics capable of addressing the needs outlined above. Graduates of the program have excellent employment prospects, particularly in academia, as well as in facilities producing construction materials—especially ready-mix concrete and precast concrete elements—in the restoration of historic structures, on major projects, at consulting and inspection firms, and in public institutions. These graduates will be experienced engineers with not only knowledge of materials but also laboratory experience, and a aptitude for research, experimental work, and quality control tasks.

Department Chair

Prof. Dr. Bilge Doran
Email: doran@yildiz.edu.tr
Work Phone: 0212-3835130

Program Director

Prof. Dr. Nabi Yüzer
Email: nyuzer@yildiz.edu.tr
Office Phone: 0212-3835240

Vision

To be a globally recognized program in the field of construction materials in terms of education, research, and innovation.

Mission

To educate individuals who can play a leading role in solving global challenges in the field of construction materials and implement original and sustainable ideas and applications tailored to the needs of society.

Educational Objectives

EA1. Works
in management or operational roles at national and international private-sector or public institutions EA2. Contributes
to scientific and technological research at national and international research and development institutions or industrial organizations EA3. Pursue
their education at the doctoral level at universities in Türkiye or abroad EA4. Serve as faculty members at state or foundation universities

Admission Requirements

The purpose of the Master’s Program in Construction Materials is to provide knowledge regarding the properties, production, quality control, and service life of construction materials. Another objective of the program is to ensure that graduate students play an active role not only in the development of existing construction materials currently in use but also in the design of new construction materials. For this reason, the proposed program encompasses disciplines within the field of Civil Engineering (In-Field) and aims to provide graduate-level education in the field of construction materials to undergraduate students who have graduated from these disciplines. Furthermore, graduates of Environmental Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Architecture, and Cultural Heritage Conservation (Outside the Field) may also enroll in the program, provided they complete the Scientific Preparation course.

For application and admission to the Master’s Program in Construction Materials, the following conditions must be met in accordance with the Yıldız Technical University Graduate Education and Teaching Regulations (2024) and the relevant Senate Principles (2024):

1. General Application Requirements:

a) Possession of a bachelor’s degree or being on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree by the application deadline,

b) To apply to the Master’s Program in Construction Materials, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and have an ALES score of at least 55 in the quantitative section. 

2. Foreign Language Proficiency:

Students admitted to the program must meet the following requirement to begin classes:

must meet the foreign language requirement (provide documentation demonstrating proficiency in English at a minimum of the B2 General Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Students who fail to meet the foreign language requirement by the end of the second semester will be dismissed from the program.

3. Other Matters:

To begin the thesis:

Students must obtain the certificate in Occupational Health and Safety coordinated by UZEM.

4. Evaluation:

Applications to the Master’s Program in Construction Materials will be evaluated based on the ALES score, undergraduate GPA, a written scientific assessment, and/or the results of an oral interview. If the scientific assessment includes both written and oral components, the written exam will account for at least 60% of the entrance exam score. Accordingly, the overall success score for all applicants is calculated by taking into account 50% of the ALES score, 25% of the undergraduate GPA, and 25% of the entrance exam score. For a candidate to be considered successful in the graduate entrance exam, their overall success score must be at least 60/100.

5. The validity periods established by the Higher Education Council (YÖK) for the documents submitted with applications shall be taken into account.

Faculty