Master's in International Relations in Turkey in English

Contents

1. What is an English-taught IR master’s in Turkey?

2. Who can apply to an IR graduate program?

3. How do you apply as an international student?

4. Which documents should you prepare?

5. How long does an IR master’s take?

6. How do IR programs differ between universities?

7. Do international applicants need ALES?

8. What should you do next?

9. Real-World Examples

10. Frequently Asked Questions

11. References · Legal Notice

Introduction

A master’s in International Relations in Turkey in English is open to international students at several state and foundation universities, and admission rules for foreign nationals are set by each university’s senate under the national Regulation on Graduate Education and Training of 20 April 2016. Most English-taught IR programs ask for a bachelor’s degree, proof of English, reference letters and a statement of purpose, and many accept the GRE in place of Turkey’s ALES exam.

The questions covered here are practical ones: who is eligible, what the application involves, how thesis and non-thesis tracks differ, and where universities set their own rules. Applicants sometimes search for “masters” or “MA in IR”; both mean the same graduate degree discussed in this guide. Sources include the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Official Gazette text of the national graduate regulation, and the admissions pages of Koç University, Bilkent University, Middle East Technical University (METU), Fenerbahçe University and Social Sciences University of Ankara (ASBU).

The scale of the system matters for planning. According to YÖK’s Higher Education Statistics Bulletin of 27 March 2026, Turkey had 208 higher education institutions and 330,464 master’s students in the 2025–2026 academic year. YÖK data for 2024–2025, reported by Serbestiyet in August 2026, counted 337,119 international students, of whom 33,390 were enrolled at master’s level. Application windows, quotas and accepted exams change every semester, so each figure below carries its date. Mezun Kampüsü collects these program pages and announcements in one place for applicants comparing options.

What is an English-taught IR master’s in Turkey?

An English-taught IR master’s in Turkey is a graduate program in International Relations, or in Political Science and International Relations, where courses, exams and the thesis or term project are completed in English. It is run by a graduate school and offered as a master’s with thesis, a master’s without thesis, or both, depending on the university.

A graduate school is the academic unit within a Turkish university that runs graduate education and manages application and enrolment procedures. In Turkish university websites it appears as enstitü, and IR programs normally sit under a Graduate School of Social Sciences. Koç University, for example, lists its MA in International Relations under the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities, according to its admissions portal accessed in October 2026.

Two program types exist under the national rules. A master’s with thesis is a graduate program completed through coursework and the preparation of a thesis. A master’s without thesis is a coursework-focused graduate program completed with a term project instead of a thesis. The Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, published in the Official Gazette on 20 April 2016 (No. 29690), sets the minimum course load and duration for each.

Program titles vary. Koç University, Bilkent University and ASBU use “International Relations”, while Fenerbahçe University offers an “MA Political Science and International Relations (Thesis) (English)”. METU lists its thesis track as “MS” rather than “MA”, according to the METU Graduate School of Social Sciences program table updated on 14 May 2023. The title does not change the degree level; all of these are second-cycle degrees.

Course content usually spans international relations theory, foreign policy, security and regional studies. Fenerbahçe University describes its program as providing “an overview of the major approaches to knowledge of international affairs”.

An international student is a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and who is admitted to a higher education institution under international student status. That status matters, because several universities publish separate admission criteria for international applicants.

Who can apply to an IR graduate program?

Applicants to an IR graduate program in Turkey generally need a completed bachelor’s degree, proof of English proficiency and a satisfactory undergraduate grade point average. Some programs also expect an undergraduate background in social sciences, and many accept either Turkey’s ALES exam or an international test such as the GRE. Exact criteria differ by university and academic year.

The national framework leaves most of this to universities. Article 35(2) of the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016) states that the procedures for admitting foreign nationals, and Turkish citizens who completed their undergraduate study entirely abroad, are determined by university senates. That provision helps explain why criteria vary between institutions.

The table below compares what five universities published for their IR master’s programs. It records the type of requirement, not minimum scores, which change by intake.

Sources: Koç University admissions portal, Bilkent University Department of International Relations graduate admissions page (2026 intake), METU Graduate School of Social Sciences (19 August 2025 and 14 May 2023), Fenerbahçe University Graduate School program page, ASBU Graduate School of Social Sciences program page, all accessed October 2026.

Background requirements also vary. ASBU’s page asks for an undergraduate degree in International Relations or Political Science and International Relations. Koç University accepts entry documents in English or Turkish. Applicants from unrelated fields should check whether a program admits them directly or asks for preparatory coursework first.

How do you apply as an international student?

International students generally apply directly to the university’s graduate school, usually through an online portal, during an application period announced once or twice a year. The process typically involves creating an account, uploading documents, submitting test scores, arranging reference letters and attending an interview if shortlisted. Each university runs its own graduate admissions rather than a central placement.

METU’s Graduate School of Social Sciences states plainly that international applicants are assessed against the same baseline as other applicants:

“The criteria for applying to any graduate program do not differ for international applicants.”
— Middle East Technical University, Graduate School of Social Sciences, “Important Note for International Applicants”, last updated 19 August 2025

The same METU page notes that documents are uploaded electronically and that applications open in two periods, spring and fall, with most programs admitting students in the fall. Bilkent University’s IR department set 15 May 2026 as its application deadline for the fall 2026 intake, with interviews held on 10–11 June 2026, according to its graduate admissions page.

A typical application starts with confirming that the program is taught in English and which tracks it opens, then reading the graduate school’s announcement for the intake, including accepted exams and the deadline. English test and GRE or GMAT results need to arrive before that deadline. Referee procedures differ: Koç University asks referees to complete an online form rather than upload existing letters. The statement of purpose is written for the specific program, and interview invitations usually arrive by email, sometimes at short notice.

Selection methods differ, and each university combines test results, grades, letters and interviews in its own proportions.

Which documents should you prepare?

Most English-taught IR master’s programs in Turkey ask international applicants for a bachelor’s diploma or proof of expected graduation, official transcripts, an English test result, reference letters and a statement of purpose. Thesis-track programs often add a writing sample, and some ask for GRE or GMAT scores. Each graduate school publishes its own list for every intake.

Published document lists from three Ankara and Istanbul universities show the range. Bilkent University’s IR department asks MA applicants for a statement of purpose of up to 500 words, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, the undergraduate degree, transcripts and test scores, and states that “Incomplete applications will not be considered.” Koç University asks for at least two references, with academic referees preferred, and treats the statement of purpose as mandatory. METU asks for a letter of intention and two reference letters, and accepts transcripts in Turkish or English.

Test validity periods also matter. Bilkent University’s admissions page for the 2026 intake treats English exam scores as valid for 2 years and GRE scores as valid for 5 years, and does not accept TOEFL “Home Edition” results. Rules of this kind are institution-specific, so they should be checked for each program.

The checklist below turns those requirements into tasks:

• Request official transcripts in English or Turkish from your undergraduate university

• Obtain your bachelor’s diploma or an official letter confirming expected graduation

• Book an English proficiency test accepted by each target program

• Check whether each program asks for the GRE, GMAT or ALES, and register in time

• Contact two or three referees and share each program’s submission method

• Draft a statement of purpose tailored to each program’s research areas

• Prepare a writing sample if you are applying to a thesis track

• Ask the graduate school whether it requires a Certificate of Recognition for your diploma at application or at enrollment

Diploma recognition rules depend on the country and institution that awarded the degree. A Certificate of Recognition is a document confirming that a higher education institution abroad, and the specific program attended there, appear among the institutions recognised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK); it does not mean the diploma has been declared equivalent to a Turkish qualification. When a graduate school requests it varies by university.

How long does an IR master’s take?

A thesis-based IR master’s in Turkey normally takes four semesters and must be completed within six, while a non-thesis master’s takes two to three semesters. These limits come from the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016, No. 29690), which also sets minimum course loads. Universities may add their own requirements within those limits.

The national regulation sets the structure for both tracks. Article 6 states that a master’s with thesis consists of at least seven courses carrying at least 21 credits, a seminar and thesis work, with at least 120 ECTS in total. Article 7 sets the standard length at four semesters, with completion required within six. Article 11 requires at least ten courses and a term project for the non-thesis track, and Article 12 limits it to between two and three semesters.

Minimum requirements for thesis and non-thesis master’s tracks under Turkey’s national graduate regulation:

Source: Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, Official Gazette 20 April 2016, No. 29690, as amended on 1 March 2017 and 16 September 2017, consolidated text published by Koç University.

University practice fits inside these national limits. Koç University’s portal lists its MA in International Relations (Thesis) as a two-year, full-time program, and ASBU describes its MSc as a two-year program that “requires completion of a Master’s thesis”. Under Article 7, any scientific preparation period is not counted within the standard program length.

Article 15 of the same regulation sets at least 240 ECTS for a doctoral program entered after a master’s with thesis, and at least 300 ECTS for one entered after a bachelor’s degree. Applicants considering a PhD later should ask the doctoral program whether it accepts graduates of a non-thesis master’s. Of the five IR programs compared in this guide, Koç University, METU, Fenerbahçe University and ASBU list a thesis track, so applicants should check which tracks a university opens in a given intake.

How do IR programs differ between universities?

IR graduate programs in Turkey differ mainly in regional focus, research specialization, track options and the weight given to interviews and test scores. Some list regional tracks covering the Middle East, Eurasia, Africa and Asia, while others stress theory or socio-historical approaches. Comparing published specialization areas and admission methods is a practical way to narrow a shortlist.

The national regulation sets the frame, but each senate and department decides the content. ASBU lists migration and diaspora studies and international security and intelligence among its specialization areas. Fenerbahçe University describes “an original socio-historical approach emphasizing the role of States, society, culture and non-state actors”. Koç University’s admissions portal describes its IR program as small and highly selective.

Admission methods vary as much as content. Bilkent University held IR interviews on two fixed days, 10–11 June 2026, for its fall intake, while Fenerbahçe University gives the interview 80 percent of the weight for international applicants and the undergraduate grade point average the remaining 20 percent.

Location also shapes the experience. Bilkent University, METU and ASBU are in Ankara, the capital. Koç University and Fenerbahçe University are in Istanbul. A British Council and Studyportals report, announced through YÖK and reported by Türkiye Today on 13 December 2025, identified Istanbul and Ankara as the most in-demand cities for graduate study in Turkey.

Another difference is the distinction between state and foundation universities. METU and ASBU are state universities, while Koç University, Bilkent University and Fenerbahçe University are foundation universities. Fees, scholarship options and quotas vary by university and academic year, so they should be checked on each university’s official pages.

Do international applicants need ALES?

International applicants are not always asked for ALES. Under Article 35(2) of the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training, admission rules for foreign nationals are set by each university’s senate, and many English-taught IR programs accept the GRE or GMAT instead. Some programs list no central exam requirement at all for international applicants, so the answer depends on the university.

ALES is the centralised examination administered by the Student Selection and Placement Centre (ÖSYM) and used in applications to graduate programs and in academic staff recruitment in Turkey.

The published criteria show three different approaches. Bilkent University states that ALES applies to Turkish citizens only, and international applicants submit the GRE. Koç University lists the GRE for international applicants and ALES for Turkish applicants. METU’s Graduate School of Social Sciences lists ALES “or equivalent” for all applicants but adds: “International students, who do not have a GRE/GMAT score can still apply as a conditional student.”

Fenerbahçe University lists no ALES requirement in its admission criteria for international applicants. ASBU’s IR program page lists ALES or an equivalent GMAT score. These five examples cover state and foundation universities in two cities, and none of them follows exactly the same rule.

The confusion has a clear source. General admission clauses, such as Article 5 of Ege University’s 2024 graduate regulation, list ALES or an equivalent GRE or GMAT score as a condition for thesis-track master’s admission. Those general clauses sit alongside separate rules for foreign nationals, because Article 35(2) of the national regulation hands that decision to university senates.

The practical step is to read the graduate school’s announcement for the specific intake, not a general page, and to ask the international admissions office if the accepted tests are unclear. Rules can change between the fall and spring intakes of the same year.

What should you do next?

The next step is to build a shortlist of three to five English-taught IR programs, check each graduate school’s announcement for the coming intake, and plan tests and documents backward from the earliest deadline. Application calendars, accepted exams and quotas change each semester, so every detail should be confirmed on the official university page.

The steps below are a practical order of work:

• Note which test each shortlisted program expects from international applicants: GRE, GMAT, ALES or none.

• Mark each program’s application period in a calendar and work backward from the earliest deadline.

• Book the English test and, where needed, the GRE early enough for scores to arrive.

• Ask the graduate school when it expects a Certificate of Recognition or other diploma documents.

• Check funding routes such as Türkiye Scholarships, whose 2026 application announcement was published by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) on 29 December 2025.

After admission, administrative steps begin. A student residence permit is the residence permit granted to a foreign national studying in Turkey, allowing them to remain in the country for the duration of their studies. METU’s International Students Office page, updated 19 October 2026, asks students to complete the pre-registration form on the e-ikamet system of the Presidency of Migration Management within the legal period, and notes that the Ankara Migration Office does not process files more than 30 days after the e-ikamet application date.

YÖK statistics are published once a year, graduate school announcements are issued before each intake, and universities can update their regulations at the start of an academic year. Checking the official page shortly before applying keeps an application aligned with the latest criteria.

Real-World Examples

The examples in this section are illustrative scenarios created to explain situations applicants may encounter.

Amina, an economics graduate. Amina completed a bachelor’s in economics and wants to move into international political economy. She finds that one IR program asks for an undergraduate degree in International Relations or Political Science, while another accepts applicants from related social sciences. She contacts both graduate schools to ask whether her degree qualifies for direct admission or would require preparatory courses. Based on the replies, she focuses her applications on the programs that accept economics graduates directly, and writes a statement of purpose that links her quantitative training to the program’s research areas.

Daniel, without a GRE score. Daniel plans to apply to two IR programs in Ankara but has not taken the GRE. He reads each graduate school’s announcement and sees that one program lists the GRE for international applicants, while another allows international applicants without a GRE or GMAT score to apply as conditional students. He decides to apply to the second program in the next intake and book the GRE for a later deadline at the first. He also asks the second graduate school what conditional status involves before he submits.

Leyla, choosing between tracks. Leyla works at a non-governmental organization and wants a shorter degree to support her career. She compares a non-thesis track lasting two to three semesters with a thesis track lasting four semesters. Because she may want to pursue a PhD later, she asks a faculty member whether a non-thesis master’s would limit her doctoral options at that university. After the conversation, she chooses the thesis track and plans her research around migration studies, one of the program’s listed specializations.

Marco, missing a reference letter. Two weeks before a deadline, one of Marco’s referees has not yet responded. Marco checks the graduate school’s instructions and finds that referees complete an online form linked to his application. He sends his referee a short reminder with the form link and the deadline, and contacts a third academic who knows his work as a backup. He also emails the graduate school to confirm whether letters submitted shortly after the deadline can still be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mezun Kampüsü
Mezun Kampüsü is a platform that brings together the graduate programs, application calendars and academic announcements of universities in Turkey. Applicants interested in International Relations can compare English-taught programs through Atlas, follow graduate school application periods, track announcements about deadlines and interviews, and start a free application through the Universities section.

Legal Notice

This article provides general information about English-taught master’s programs in International Relations in Turkey and is not personal academic, legal or financial advice. The relevant rules, mainly the Regulation on Graduate Education and Training (Official Gazette, 20 April 2016, No. 29690) and each university’s own graduate regulations, can change over time. Admission criteria, accepted exams, quotas and deadlines vary between universities and between intakes. Residence permit procedures are set by the Presidency of Migration Management and may also change. Applicants should confirm every detail with the relevant university graduate school and official institution before applying.