The information and program qualifications related to the Political Studies Master of Arts Program, under the Department of Political Studies of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
The Master of Arts in Political Studies Program aims to foster the ability to make theoretically sophisticated and methodologically rich analyses of contemporary local, national, regional and global politics. Its mission is to prepare nationally and internationally creative and pioneering graduates who reconcile their identities with global values, continuously develop their competence and creativity, bear deeper respect for the environment, society and ethical values. The Program aims at developing the ability to conduct distinctive, original and critical analysis for better understanding the fast-shifting political realities in our post-globalization world.
The Program supports research efforts that will contribute to the study of national and international politics, to the training of staff, and to developing and maintaining the infrastructure that is necessary for such research. The Program aims to become the locus of the kind of outstanding intellectual production that is expected in a modern research university like the İTÜ.
The Program’s interdisciplinary and multi-disciplined faculty and curricula provide its students with an environment for analytical thinking and knowledge production. Successful graduates of the MA Program in Political Studies benefit from opportunities to gain admission to outstanding doctoral programs both in Turkey and abroad.
Particular strengths of the Program faculty include political economy, social, economic and political history, critical studies of development, regionalism and the state, political ecology and environmental studies, international relations, globalization and security policies, political philosophy, political communication and discourse analyses, identity politics, politics of nationalism, theories of democracy and citizenship studies.
The Program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree in the humanities, social, natural or engineering sciences. Students commonly enroll in the Program for two years (four semesters), during which time they should successfully complete all requirements for the MA degree, including course and thesis requirements.
Click here for the program's website.
Registration Requirements
Application Term : 2024-2025 Spring Semester
Application Dates : 06.12.2024 09:00:00 - 03.02.2025 17:00:00 ( UTC/GMT+3 )
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Equally Weighted must be minimum 65 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 652, new system GRE minimum 152 , GMAT minimum , GMAT minimum 485). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.5/4 (65/100). A document showing English language proficiency accepted by ITU senate
At least 2 academic reference letters.
A statement of purpose explaining the purpose of applying for the programme or a short research proposal (1500 words, written in English).
A sample of term or research paper written in English (5000-6000 words) (must be uploaded to the system as the required document at the time of application).
Curriculum Vitae (CV).
To participate in the oral interview.
The overall candidate score will be calculated 50% of the ALES Equal Weight score, 10% of the undergraduate GPA and 40% of the oral interview score.
Note: Candidates who have completed their undergraduate degree in fields other than Political Studies, Political Science and International Relations, Philosophy or Sociology will participate in the scientific preparation programme for one or two academic semesters, depending on the decision of the programme acceptance committee.
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 8
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Equally Weighted must be minimum 65 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 652, new system GRE minimum 152 , GMAT minimum , GMAT minimum 485). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.5/4 (65/100). A document showing English language proficiency accepted by ITU senate
At least 2 academic reference letters.
A statement of purpose explaining the purpose of applying for the programme or a short research proposal (1500 words, written in English).
A sample of term or research paper written in English (5000-6000 words) (must be uploaded to the system as the required document at the time of application).
Curriculum Vitae (CV).
To participate in the oral interview.
The overall candidate score will be calculated 50% of the ALES Equal Weight score, 10% of the undergraduate GPA and 40% of the oral interview score.
Note: Candidates who have completed their undergraduate degree in fields other than Political Studies, Political Science and International Relations, Philosophy or Sociology will participate in the scientific preparation programme for one or two academic semesters, depending on the decision of the programme acceptance committee.
Quota (For International Students): 4
Application Page Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
The Political Studies M.A. program envisions becoming an internationally acclaimed teaching and research centre that is renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education, innovative scholarship, and critical focus. Within its interdisciplinary framework, the Program aims to foster individual knowledge and the ability for critical analytical thinking. It aims to equip individuals with cutting-edge scholarship and research methods. The Program seeks to develop the ability to relate different applications of politics with sensibilities to pluralism, justice and difference, and to approach contemporary problems critically. It aspires to become an independent, original and pioneering platform for engaged, creative, and socially responsible scholarship.
The Political Studies M.A. program offers an inter-disciplinary education that aims to foster cutting-edge scholarship and innovative research. One of the core missions of the Program is to provide its students with a comprehensive, up-to-date curriculum that transcends narrow disciplinary boundaries and nurtures a critical understanding of central questions pertaining to politics. It provides an intellectually stimulating environment where students can find the opportunities to develop their own potential in order to critically adjudicate and improve social relations and norms around them, take action to change them when necessary, and to achieve personal traits that harmonize democratic values with a greater sensitivity to and respect for the environment and society, be open to new developments and changes, internalize freedom and equality, and combine local values with global ones and particular values with universal values. In tandem with its commitment to excellence in education, the Political Studies M.A. program is also committed to excellence in research and encourages its faculty members to undertake pioneering scholarship. It works towards developing collaborative ties and the required academic infrastructure that will contribute to its standing as an internationally renowned platform for graduate education in political studies.
Measurement and Evaluation
Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.
ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
| Grade Description |
Grade |
Scale |
| Excellent |
AA |
4.00 |
| Very good plus |
BA+ |
3.75 |
| Very good |
BA |
3.50 |
| Good plus |
BB+ |
3.25 |
| Good |
BB |
3.00 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB+ |
2.75 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB |
2.50 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC+ |
2.25 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC |
2.00 |
| Fail |
FF |
0.00 |
| Fail(No Exam) |
VF |
0.00 |
ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.
Internship
There is no internship in this program.
Graduation Requirements
ACCOMPLISHING 24 CREDITS IN TOTAL
AT LEAST "CC" FROM EACH COURSE
100% ENGLISH COURSE ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT (AT LEAST 24 CREDITS)
AT LEAST 3.00 GPA
SYC 596 SEMİNAR COURSE SHOULD BE "BL" (SUCCESSFUL)
SYC YLT THESIS SHOULD BE "BL" (SUCCESSFUL)
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Master of Arts Title : -
Program Employment Opportunities
Can be employed in public institutions and organizations, in ministries.
In the private sector, can work as a political risk analyst.
Can work in international companies and banks.
Can work as an academic staff member in universities.
Can work as an advisor in counseling duties and can work in managerial positions for media organizations, political corporations
Can work for non-governmental organizations and for labor unions.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 To be able to comprehend and interpret the field of Political Studies and the interaction between different disciplines and to be able to create new information by using them
P.O.2 To be able to evaluate the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills gained in the field of Political Studies with a critical approach, to be able to lead, to use, to develop and deepen at the level of expertise
P.O.3 To be able to analyze problems related to Political Studies using research methods
P.O.4 To be able to conduct independent studies in the field of Political Studies, to be able to develop new strategic approaches and to be able to produce solutions by taking responsibility and to be able to lead when necessary
P.O.5 To be able to transfer the current developments and their own studies in the field of political science to the groups in the field and outside the field in a written, oral and visual manner
P.O.6 Be able to examine, develop and, if necessary, act to change the social relations and the norms that guide these relations from a critical point of view
P.O.7 Having the ability to communicate verbally and in writing on a foreign language, using the information and communication technologies required by the field of Political Studies
P.O.8 Conducting studies in the field of Political Studies in consideration of social, scientific, cultural and ethical values; use field knowledge and problem solving and / or application skills in interdisciplinary studies
P.O.9 To be able to prepare an independent and original work (graduate thesis) in the field of Political Studies
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links