Program Structure

Department of International Relations offers three undergraduate programs: International Relations, Political Science and European Union Studies. The department is also associated with three MA Programs such as International Relations MA program focusing on Regional Studies, International Political Economy MA Program bridging International Relations, Economy and Political Science disciplines and European Studies MA program providing an opportunity to study and specialize on the European Union, its institutions, common policies and its relations with Turkey and lastly a PhD Program in Political Science. In these respects, it is one of the leading departments both in terms of number of active students and graduate students.

International Relations undergraduate program is differentiated form other programs in different universities in terms of its academic freedom and variety of studying interests.  Curriculum and course contents are designed in line with the international standards and they provide a wide range of different subjects and areas to be specialized. Main fields of study are World Politics and Diplomatic History, Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy, Political Philosophy and Sociology, EU-Turkey Relations and Developments in the Middle East Region, Statistics and Research Techniques and International Political-Economy. Program also provides a wide range of elective courses in the curriculum from the departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities such as History, Sociology, Psychology as well as full list and general elective courses from other faculties such as Faculty of Business, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Communication. With these respects, program also provides actual opportunities to be graduated from double-major and minor programs.

International Relations undergraduate program also provides active support to the European Institute, Jean Monnet Chair, Center for Civil Society Studies, Center for Migration Research and Center for Strategic Studies. Moreover, program aims to develop new perspectives for its students through FP7 projects, German Studies, French Studies and Civil Society Dialogue and different certificate programs. 

Another distinguishing feature of the department is its particular focus on English use in education and active use of the foreign languages by the students is one of the top priorities. With the cooperation of ERASMUS programs, education of other foreign languages are also supported by the department in collaboration with the ELP, such as German, French, and Russian. In this context, more than 100 students may have apply for Erasmus exchange programs in 19 countries and 24 different universities, as well as Laureate Exchange Programs in different counties throughout the world such as Britain, Spain, Germany, Italy, USA, Mexico, Portugal, Brazil, Peru and Thailand. Moreover, bilateral Exchange programs are available within the countries such as Canada, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland. Lastly, academic cooperation process of the department continues with the University of Amsterdam and University of Westminster.