Masters Program in Law
Maximum graduation Time Master with Thesis : 4 semester classes + 2 semester thesis so 6 semester. Master without Thesis : 3 semester
Requirements for graduation from Program Master with Thesis: 7 classes + 1 Seminer and Thesis. Master without Thesis: 10 classes + Graduation Project.
Process of LL.M. Programme
Those candidates, who are graduates of the law faculty, who complete the postgraduate programme are given an LL.M postgraduate diploma in Law.
Lectures and seminars are preferably given in the evening during weekdays and in the afternoon on Saturdays. However, certain lectures may be given between 16.00-19.00 during weekdays. Foreign lecturers in particular may prefer to give ‘block’ lectures. Accordingly, a guest professor, who comes to İstanbul for one week, may complete a fifteen-hour class module by giving lectures for three hours every day. These lectures are given between 16.00-19.00.
A limited number of candidates are accepted to the LL.M programme. Those who are interested in applying should pre-register with Yeditepe University Law Faculty and the Social Science Institute. A bachelor degree diploma, a transcript, ALES Exam Result, a Military Service Situation document, a copy of the ID Card, a Residence Certificate and 6 headshots are required for registration. During the registration, the candidate delivers a list of selected courses to Programme Managment, following which the courses to be taken by the candidate are approved by their Academic Advisor.
The seminars and courses are attended by a limited number of participants. Those courses which are selected by at least 8 applicants are opened in the relevant academic year. The advantages of the Programme include:
• A three-dimensional approach in various fields of domestic/foreign and global law,
• Instructors with superior experience and qualifications,
• Realistic and practical course content based on a diversity of courses, case studies and contemporary judicial decisions,
• The central Library’s rich and up-to-date collection,
• Allows the development of students.
However, the success of students is also based on the following:
• The students’ learning consciousness, willingness and honesty, as well as regular attendance
• Their ability to seek a broad perspective and a comparative and analytical approach to issues,
• Their willingness/ability to transfer their knowledge, opinions and experiences to their instructors and classmates in a participatory, shared environment, either individually or jointly,
• Ultimately, students should specialise by making the necessary synthesis
According to the graduate program with thesis, the student prepares a graduation thesis which consists of a detailed examination and which should contribute to knowledge through making important innovations and evaluations. The thesis is written in Turkish or English under the supervision of the Thesis Advisors approved by the Management Board of the Institute of Social Sciences. The thesis, which is non-credit, is also reviewed by a thesis jury determined by the Board of Directors. In the case of positive evaluations, it proceeds to a verbal defence, which is evaluated as successful or, in the event of failure at the end of the additional period, as unsuccessful. According to the program without thesis, the student prepares the compulsory graduation project in English or Turkish under the direction of the Project Advisor, who gives the course. Project work is non-credit and evaluated by the Project Advisor as successful or unsuccessful.
Post-Program Facilities
For those students who receive a Yeditepe University Master of Laws LL.M. diploma with a high-grade average and who want to work in the United States, the Loyola Law School, located in New Orleans, provides an opportunity to complete the 3-years JD Programme in 2 years, and to obtain the J.D. Diploma enabling them to attend the Bar Exams.
Diploma
Students who successfully complete Yeditepe University Social Sciences Institute's " Master in Law" (LL.M.) Programme are given a “Master of Law" (LL.M.) diploma. On condition that they pass all the courses, students whose grades are between 3.65-3.74 are awarded Honours degrees and students whose grades 3.75- 4.00 are awarded High Honours degrees.
Basic Principles
The courses and instructors of an education period are determined by the Institute of Social Science after identifying the requirements. In the case of low demand during the add/drop period, courses may be cancelled or postponed by the Institute management.
The number of course that a student can take is limited to seven for both the spring and fall terms. However, the student may take one more course upon approval by the Institute as a result of assessments of the student’s success level and reasons forcing him/her to take an extra class.
While the programme with thesis consists of a minimum of 21 credits, the programme without thesis consists of 30 credits as well as the graduation project.
If the advisor approves, the student can withdraw from a course by the end of the second week after the start of the spring and fall terms. Withdrawing from a course has not been possible since 1 October 2008 ?.Except for force majeure, as accepted by the Institute Management, the student can not select another course instead of the dropped course.
Attendance to all courses is compulsory. However, absenteeism of not more than 30 percent from theoretical courses and 20 percent from applied course can be tolerated.
A student in the program, whether with or without thesis, must have a combined grade point average of 2.50/4 (GPRS), which correspond to the letter grade CB, in order to be regarded as a successful student. If the student does not achieve the required level and if she/he demands a chance to increase their average, the Institute enables the repetition of courses in which the student has got a D (letter grade)
Vision & Mission
The increasing interaction in international relations has been one of the important consequences of globalization in last decades. Thus, International Commercial Law has become crucial. On the other hand, EU Law has also become important in the period of establishment of Customs Union between Turkey and European Union. Furthermore, such developments lead establishment of new branches of law in addition to EU Law as follows: EU External Trade Law, Customs Union and Free Movement of Goods EU Law, EU Competition Law, EU Fiscal Law, EU Environmental Law, EU Company Law, EU Capital Market Law, European Intellectual and Industrial Property Law. In this case, Turkey came across with an important legal system, which should be closely monitored, whether it is a full member of the European Union or not. The European Union that will have thirty member states as expected is also becoming a political union as the world's largest trading bloc.
The extension of arbitration practice under the Turkish Grand National Assembly has increased the need for well-educated legal practitioners in international arbitration. For instance, there is a great need for legal practitioners – qualified in foreign languages and other legal systems - that will defend parties’ rights before Arbitration Committees and also there is a need for Turkish arbitrator that will serve in the Arbitration Tribunal in New York, London or Zurich. In consideration of such developments, Yeditepe University Faculty of Law offers German classes for second foreign language after one year of intensive English preparatory program and has also increased the number of English courses lectured. Courses such as International Law, European Union Law and Institutions, Human Rights Law, Conflict of Laws, Common Law of Contracts and Common Law of Torts have been provided as compulsory courses for undergraduates.
However, the four-year undergraduate program is lack of to meet up-to-date international requirements by itself. Since proposal for five-year undergraduate program was not found practicable, as the most appropriate approach, the fifth year's training is organized under the Master of Laws (LL.M) program. Since vast number of foreign professors and academics are giving lectures, considerable part of courses are lectured in English in Yeditepe University LL.M program. Hence, having a well command of English is strongly required.
For the candidates that do not speak English as a foreign language, numerous master’s degree lectures and seminars are held in Turkish. Moreover, students who take classes and seminars from the program in English can also elect courses in Turkish. Pursuant to Higher Education Board regulations, Yeditepe University offers two different Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs, with and without thesis. Thus, candidates of the LL.M. programme “without thesis” shall be awarded diplomas in case they pass at least 10 courses and Term Project course as well as seminars that amount to at least 30 credits with the grade CB (2.5). The Master’s programme with thesis consists of at least EIGHT courses that amount to 24 credits in total, a seminar course and thesis work. A diploma of Master’s Programme with Thesis shall be awarded to a candidate that has a GPA of at least 2.5 after the successful defence of the thesis that is to be prepared under the tutelage of an advisor faculty member.
Even though it is normally possible to finish a Master’s Degree Programme without thesis in a single academic year, students that cannot follow courses full-time due to their work will be able to spread their studies to three years. However, in any case, studies must be concluded in three years at most. Candidates who choose to move to doctoral studies after being awarded an LL.M. degree must have obtained a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.