Welcome from the Chair
A warm welcome to the website of the Department of International Relations at Bilkent University. Our department is one of the pillars of the international relations (IR) discipline in Turkey and has a highly respected international reputation. Well-known scholars such as Ali Karaosmanoğlu, Duygu Sezer, Norman Stone, Stanford Shaw, and İlber Ortaylı have all taught at Bilkent IR. Our current faculty members are internationally recognized scholars constituting a prominent IR community and representing diverse backgrounds and approaches to international politics.
Bilkent IR is known for its strength in teaching in all major areas of IR, such as IR theory, foreign policy analysis, security, international political economy, conflict studies, history, diplomacy, international law, and international organizations. We serve over 530 students at the undergraduate level, making us one of the largest programs at Bilkent. Our graduates are placed in top jobs in Turkey and abroad and are leaders in their professions.
Our 48 graduate students receive very close attention and rigorous training by our faculty. We offer a demanding MA degree whose graduates gain entrance to top PhD programs both abroad and in Turkey. Our doctoral program has produced PhDs who serve as scholars, bureaucrats and private sector employees at prestigious institutions all over the world.
On this website you will find information about the many opportunities offered in Bilkent’s IR Department. Please contact us (ir/at/bilkent.edu.tr) for any further questions.
Sincerely,
Özgür Özdamar
Department Chair