From Master’s to PhD: Our Graduate Ece Deniz Ergenç Advances Her Academic Journey at Eötvös Loránd University

We congratulate our graduate Ece Deniz Ergenç on successfully completing her master’s thesis at Eötvös Loránd University and being admitted to the PhD program at the same institution. We wish her continued success on her academic journey.

Let’s hear this inspiring success story in her own words:

Hello, I'm Ece Deniz Ergenç.

After graduating from the Department of Sociology at İzmir University of Economics, I was awarded the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship and began my master's studies in the Ethnic and Minority Policy program at Eötvös Loránd University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, located in Budapest, Hungary.

My master’s program focused on topics such as minority groups, migration, identity, discrimination, and policymaking. Through these courses, I gained a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on issues such as gender, cultural diversity, identity formation, integration processes, and public policies.

For my thesis, I conducted a qualitative field study in the Gümüşpala neighborhood of İzmir. I carried out semi-structured interviews with 9 Syrian and 9 Turkish women, examining the everyday bonds of solidarity between these two groups.

Despite structural inequalities, I found that shared gendered experiences—such as motherhood, emotional support, and neighborly relations—enabled women to build meaningful connections. Spaces like schools, homes, and streets emerged as important sites where these ties were formed. My research highlights the transformative role of emotional labor in strengthening solidarity in a disadvantaged urban area.

The years I spent in Budapest were transformative both personally and academically. I was exposed to new ideas, methods, and cultural perspectives that broadened my worldview. Living in a multicultural environment taught me invaluable life stories and experiences that no book could offer. The friendships I built make me feel as if I now have a home in many parts of the world.

Over the past two years, I participated in an Erasmus project, completed an internship at a local NGO, and was selected to attend a prestigious summer school where I presented my research and had the chance to engage with renowned academics and professionals in my field. I also took part in field visits to various civil society organizations, including Roma community institutes and homeless shelters, and volunteered in several aid campaigns. I am truly grateful for all these experiences.

I always remember my professors at İzmir University of Economics with love and respect. My undergraduate years provided me with a strong academic foundation, the benefits of which I continually felt during my graduate studies. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of them.

And now, I have been accepted into the PhD program in Sociology at the same university. I will begin my doctoral journey in September. Of course, I still have the idea of going abroad again in the future—I’m excited to see where life takes me next!