1. Initiating the Process
The first step of the thesis submission process must be initiated by the student through the ITU Student Information System (SIS). After logging into the system, you can start the process by clicking on the "YL Thesis Submission Application" tab under the "Process Management" menu.
Important Rules and Deadlines
• Master's students can submit their thesis no earlier than the end of the 3rd semester.
• The thesis submission process must be initiated by the end of the 6th semester, which is the maximum study period.
2. LEE Eligibility Check
After initiating the process, your file is forwarded to the Graduate Education Institute (LEE) Student Affairs unit. At this stage, it is checked whether you meet the minimum requirements for graduation.
- Credit and Course Check: It is confirmed that you have completed your compulsory and elective course credits.
- Seminar Course: It is checked whether you have received a "Successful" grade in the seminar course.
3. White Cover Submission Application
Students who successfully pass the LEE eligibility check can initiate the next stage, the "MSc Thesis White Cover Submission" process, through the system.
The "White Cover" refers to the draft version of your thesis before the defense. At this stage, your thesis is considered ready for defense.
4. White Cover Data Entry
At this stage, you must upload the essential components of your thesis and the plagiarism analysis results to the Student Information System (SIS) completely:
- Abstracts: Enter both the Turkish and English abstracts of your thesis in the relevant fields.
- Plagiarism Report: Upload only the results page of the Turnitin report obtained with your advisor as a PDF.
- Similarity Rate: Enter the value from the report as a numeric figure.
5. Advisor Approval
The White Cover information you uploaded to the system is submitted for your thesis advisor's approval. Your advisor has 10 days to review the documents and either approve them or request corrections.
6. Publication Check
After advisor approval, the national/international article or proceedings file you uploaded is reviewed by the Graduate Education Institute.
7. Defense Committee Process
After publication approval, your advisor initiates the "Master's Defense Committee" process through ITU SIS to determine the jury members before whom you will defend your thesis.
8. Committee Proposal
After the process is initiated, your advisor must enter the principal and substitute jury members into the system within 7 days.
9. Committee Determination
The jury list proposed by the advisor is submitted to the Institute Executive Board (IEB). The process is completed when the decision is published.
10. Submission of Defense Minutes
After the defense examination is completed, the wet-signed minutes must be submitted to the Graduate Education Institute no later than 3 days following the examination date.
11. Defense Outcome
Following the defense examination, the jury renders one of the following decisions:
- Unsuccessful (Rejection): The student is dismissed from ITU.
- Revision: The student must complete the revisions within 3 months and the "White Cover Submission" process is restarted from the beginning. Once revisions are complete, the student must re-enter the defense within 1 month from the date the White Cover process is approved.
- Successful (Accepted): The student passes and a Research Assistant (RA) is assigned by the system for the Formal Review of the thesis.
Formal Review Process
A Research Assistant (RA) is assigned to successful students. After the assignment, you are required to contact the RA within 3 days and submit the Word/PDF version of your thesis. Do not send your thesis to the print shop without obtaining RA approval!
12. Blue Cover Printing
After the Research Assistant's formal format corrections are fully completed, the final version of your thesis is ready. Once the Master's Thesis Formal Review Form approval is obtained, your thesis is printed as 1 copy with a dark navy (blue) cloth binding conforming to ITU standards. Make sure the binding text is fully compliant with the guidelines.
13. Signature Process
The "Thesis Approval Page" inside the printed Blue Cover must be signed with wet signatures by the relevant jury members.
14. Blue Cover Form
Before making the physical submission to the Institute, the "Blue Cover Submission Form" must be filled out and signed by the thesis advisor.
15. YÖK Thesis Center Registration
To add your thesis to the National Thesis Center archive, you must fill out the "Thesis Data Entry Form".
16. Preparation of Thesis CD
For digital copy submission, the entire thesis must be saved as a PDF (named with the reference number) onto a CD.
17. Blue Cover Submission Procedures
Before the physical submission, initiate the "MSc Blue Cover Submission Procedures" process through SIS.
Critical Warning: 1-Month Time Limit
You are required to submit all your documents to the Institute within a maximum of 1 month (30 days) from the date of your defense examination. Otherwise, you will be dismissed from the university.
18. Restriction Request (If Applicable)
If your thesis contains data for which a patent application will be filed, you may postpone public access to your thesis.
19. Physical Submission of Documents
You can now personally submit your documents to the ITU Graduate Education Institute MSc (or PhD) Thesis Submission Unit.
- 1 blue cloth-bound thesis copy
- Blue Cover Submission Form
- Results page of the plagiarism report (signed by advisor)
- Master's Thesis Formal Review Form (approved by RA)
- YÖK Thesis Data Entry Form (signed)
- Thesis CD prepared according to the regulations
20. Graduation Decision
After your documents are received, your file is placed on the IEB agenda and your graduation decision is processed into the system within an average of 10 business days.
21. Diploma
Congratulations, you are now officially an ITU Master's graduate! You can collect your diploma in person from the Office of the Registrar (Student Affairs Directorate).