Ana İçerik

Marmara University – Institute of Social Sciences
PhD Position Announcement under the MINARET Doctoral Network (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)

Position Title:
DC4 – Military Guardianship and Secular Constitutionalism

Focus:
Examine how military establishments have shaped secular constitutionalism, constitutional legitimacy and democratic governance in Egypt and Türkiye.

Project Description:
This doctoral project investigates how military establishments have historically acted as guardians of secular constitutionalism in Egypt and Türkiye. The doctoral candidate will explore the relationship between military power, constitutional reform, and democratic governance, assessing how military influence affects constitutional legitimacy, citizenship, and political transformation. The project engages with emerging debates on military constitutionalism and democratic transitions.

PhD Program

The selected candidate will be employed for 36 months and enrolled in the following doctoral program depending on eligibility and qualifications:
PhD Program in Sociology (in English)

Applications are accepted for the PhD Program in Sociology. After evaluation, one candidate will be selected and placed in the program.

Program Requirements

PhD Program in Sociology (in English)
Applicants must:

• Meet the admission requirements of the Institute of Social Sciences at Marmara University,
• Successfully pass both the written academic exam and interview conducted by the department,
• Provide a valid English proficiency certificate accepted by the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) — minimum national exam score of 70 or international equivalent,
• (For Turkish citizens only) Present a valid ALES score (minimum 65).

General Requirements

• Applicants must satisfy both the academic and admission criteria of the PhD program.
• After completing the coursework, candidates are expected to pass the doctoral qualifying examination.
• The selected researcher will be employed and financially supported under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network framework.
• In line with the eligibility criteria of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks programme, doctoral candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (i.e., work, studies) in Türkiye for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

For further information on eligibility criteria and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks in general, please refer to: Doctoral Networks - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Application deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2027, 23:59 (Istanbul time, UTC+3)

Required Application Documents

1. A cover letter in English (max. 1,000 words), including a brief presentation of yourself and your qualifications, as well as a short description of why you are interested in the doctoral programme in the Department of Sociology at Marmara University.
2. A CV in English demonstrating eligibility for doctoral studies in the Department of Sociology.
3. A research proposal of no more than 13,000 characters (including spaces and references), written in English. Please ensure that your proposed research aligns closely with the focus of the PhD project Military Guardianship and Secular Constitutionalism.
4. Two references.
5. A writing sample (e.g., master’s thesis or published paper) that demonstrates the applicant’s research and writing skills.
6. Master’s degree diploma. (The applicant’s most recently completed degree program must be recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). This will be verified by our team through the official YÖK website during the application process.)
7. Master’s transcript.
8. A copy of Passport.
9. Foreign language proficiency certificate.
10. Any other documents the applicant wishes to submit in support of the application.

Employment Type

• The position is full-time (100%) for three years, starting in September 2027.
• You are required to work on-site in Istanbul, Türkiye.
• The accepted candidate will be employed based on Marmara University’s temporary researcher employment criteria.

Contact

For questions about the doctoral programme in Sociology:
sociology@marmara.edu.tr

For questions about the recruitment process:
Prof. Dr. Nuri Tınaz – nuri.tinaz@marmara.edu.tr

For questions regarding the MINARET Doctoral Networks Programme and PhD project:
Dr. Rustamjon Urinboyev – rustamjon.urinboyev@soclaw.lu.se,
Principal Investigator of the MINARET Doctoral Networks Programme.

How to Apply

Please send your application directly to sociology@marmara.edu.tr
(Please cc Prof. Dr. Nuri Tınaz – nuri.tinaz@marmara.edu.tr)

We will send you a confirmation email once your application has been received.