FAQs

 Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many years does it take to complete graduate program?

For the M.A. program, it is suggested to be completed in two years. It can be extended at most to three years. For the Ph.D. program the students are suggested to finish their courses in their first year and finish their dissertation in four years.

2. Is it possible to get a post as research/teaching assistant?

The department employs research assistants according to criteria announced in the Official Gazette.

3. From which departments the elective courses could be taken?

The elective courses can be taken from any department within the Institute of Social Sciences.
Moreover, with the approval of the graduate advisor, students can take 4th grade Political Science and International Relations courses.

4. Do the students who have B.A.s from different disciplines have the opportunity to register for a remedial year?

There is no remedial option in the department. Yet, the students are allowed to take fourth year undergraduate courses in order to keep up to their classmates.

5. Is it disadvantageous for students who have received their B.A.s from different fields?

There are students, both in the M.A./Ph.D program and working as research assistants, who come from different fields in their bachelor degree. The answer of this question depends very much on the hardworking of student herself/himself before application and during the classes, as well as to the performance to meet the expectations of the program.

6. Where would the graduates mostly be employed?

Almost all of the graduate students in our department build their future plans on the idea of staying in the academia. And, they usually succeed to do so. Other than that, our graduates could find job opportunities in various public institutions, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

7. What is the general format of the research proposal?

Basically, in the research proposal, there has to be a research question. In addition to that in order to come up with an answer to this question the applicant is expected to provide a literature review, how her/his specific study can be situated in the existing literature on that particular topic, and a prospective methodology to conduct that research.

8. How can I prepare for the written exam?

It would be helpful to take a look at a source, which could be classified as an introductory book to political science and international relations. Furthermore, it would be helpful to follow the current political and social developments both in Turkey and around the world.

Bogazici University Department of Political Science and International Relations 34342 Bebek, Istanbul. Tel: +90 212 359 65 04
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