Our MA degree is one of the most competitive graduate International Relations programs globally.
Every year, 10-12 students are chosen from hundreds of applications. Qualifying full-time students are eligible for tuition waivers, stipend support, university-funded private health insurance, and subsidized student housing based on availability.
We train our students for academic and professional careers in the field of International Relations, equipping students with substantive knowledge about the field, alongside rigorous methodological and analytical skills.
More than half of our MA students pursue their PhD in the leading academic institutions in North America and Europe following their graduation, and many others find very qualified jobs in government agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Read below to see application requirements and specific program details.
Application requirements: EN / Bilkent University – International Relations (MA, PhD) (15 May 2026, interviews 12-13 June 2026)
A note: This year’s ALES exam will take place on May 10, and results are scheduled to be announced by June 5.
Curriculum:
Our students take 8 courses to complete their 24 credit units course work along with program required training such as Pre-Thesis Seminar, Academic Practices and Master’s Thesis.
Among these 8 courses, they must take two program-required courses, International Relations Theory, and Issues in Turkish Foreign Policy; two courses among the method-elective cluster; three courses from department-elective cluster; and one unrestricted elective course that can be taken from any department to support the expertise of the student.
See specifics: MA Curriculum
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 must be maintained for the totality of MA level work.
In addition to coursework, an MA thesis must be submitted to and approved by the thesis defense committee by the end of the second year in the program.
For questions not covered here, please contact: dgs_ir@bilkent.edu.tr