International Relations in Turkey
Which private universities teach International Relations as a degree in its own right, what the curriculum looks like, what it costs for 2026–27 and what the diploma can and cannot open for a foreign graduate.
The short answer
International Relations (Uluslararası İlişkiler) in Turkey is a four-year bachelor's in world politics, diplomatic history, international law and Turkish foreign policy. The 2026 YÖK Atlas catalogue lists it at 16 private universities, 15 of which teach it in English. Published 2026–27 tuition ranges from $8,000 a year at İstinye to a $25,000 standard rate at Özyeğin. One limit to know before applying: Turkey's diplomatic and civil service is open only to Turkish citizens.
The 16 are Altınbaş, Atılım, Bilkent, Doğuş, Işık, Koç, Özyeğin, Yaşar, Çağ, İstinye, Istanbul Bilgi, Beykent, Kent, Arel, Nişantaşı and Rumeli. Arel and Nişantaşı teach it in both English and Turkish; Rumeli teaches it only in Turkish. YÖK Atlas also lists English-taught International Relations at several universities in Northern Cyprus, which operate under a separate system and are not covered on this page.
International Relations or Political Science and International Relations?
They are different degrees, and many university lists mix them up. International Relations puts diplomatic history, IR theory, international law, international organisations and foreign policy at the centre. Political Science and International Relations (Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler, often shortened to PSIR) is a double major in which roughly half the courses deal with the state, parties, elections and domestic politics.
Medipol, Bahçeşehir and Kadir Has, for example, offer PSIR rather than a stand-alone International Relations degree. If diplomacy and global politics are what you want, choose International Relations; if domestic politics interests you as much, compare Political Science and International Relations.
What you study: Istanbul Bilgi's curriculum
Bilgi publishes the required courses of its English-taught International Relations degree in its ECTS catalogue. The rest of the programme is electives from department and university lists, with eight in the final year.
| Year | Required courses |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Political Science; Politics, Culture and Society; Introduction to Economics I–II; Introduction to International Relations; Analytical Techniques for Social Sciences; English for Academic Purposes; Turkish Language |
| 2 | Political Thought I–II; Social Statistics; Political and Diplomatic History I–II; Turkish Politics I–II; Research Methods; General Principles of Law; Introduction to Constitutional Law |
| 3 | Comparative Politics I–II; World Politics I–II; International Relations Theory; International Law I–II; International Organizations and Norms |
| 4 | Turkish Foreign Policy; Current Issues of Turkish Foreign Policy; eight electives |
Bilgi's department lists its research strengths as world politics and diplomatic history, Turkish politics and foreign policy, political philosophy and sociology, EU–Turkey relations, the Middle East, statistics and research methods, and international political economy. When you compare universities, count the semesters given to law, history and quantitative methods, and look at which regions the electives cover.
International Relations tuition in 2026–27
Official fees for international students before scholarships. The master's rows show a next step after the bachelor's.
| University | Programme | Degree | Language | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istinye University | International Relations | Bachelor | English | $8,000/yr (2026–27), 40 places for international students · fee source |
| Bilgi University | International Relations | Bachelor | English | $12,000/yr, VAT included (2026–27) · fee source |
| Bilkent University | International Relations | Bachelor | English | $18,400/yr including VAT for students admitted in 2026 (2026–27) |
| Ozyegin University | International Relations | Bachelor | English | $25,000/yr standard rate (2026–27) · fee source |
| Okan University | International Relations, with thesis | Master | Turkish | $4,500 for the whole programme (2026–27) · fee source |
| Okan University | International Relations, without thesis | Master | Turkish | $3,500 for the whole programme (2026–27) · fee source |
Applying to an English-taught programme
Private universities admit to International Relations on the school-leaving certificate and proof of English. Without an accepted certificate, or with a score below the threshold, you sit the university's own exam and, if you do not pass, spend a year in the English preparatory programme. At Özyeğin, for example, an accepted certificate (TOEFL iBT 80, PTE Academic 62 or Cambridge First at grade B) lets you start the degree directly, and everyone else takes the TRACE exam; IELTS is not on its list.
The preparatory year is billed separately and adds a year of living costs in Istanbul or Ankara. If your English already lets you read academic articles comfortably, it is usually cheaper to sit an accepted test before applying than to start with the preparatory year.
State universities usually admit international students through TR-YÖS. In 2026, TR-YÖS/1 took place on 12 April and TR-YÖS/2 is scheduled for 11 October; applications for both closed earlier in the year.
Careers: what the degree realistically opens for a foreign graduate
Turkey's foreign ministry and civil service are not an option: Article 48 of Civil Servants Law No. 657 makes Turkish citizenship the first general condition for entering the civil service. The degree is useful elsewhere:
- Research and analysis: think tanks, political and country-risk consulting, international relations teams in companies.
- International and non-profit organisations: project coordination and programmes on migration or development, each with its own selection rules.
- Cross-border business: export and logistics firms and Turkish partners that need languages and regional knowledge.
- Further study: master's degrees in international political economy, regional or European studies; Bilgi's department, for instance, runs master's programmes in International Relations, International Political Economy and European Studies.
If you are aiming for your own country's diplomatic service, find out before you enrol how its foreign ministry treats a foreign degree and whether recognition is required.
A good fit if you
- are interested in world politics, diplomatic history and international law
- read and write analytical texts comfortably in English
- plan analytical work, an international organisation or a master's
Compare alternatives first if you
- expect to join Turkey's diplomatic service without Turkish citizenship
- care more about elections, parties and domestic politics: look at PSIR
- want to avoid statistics and research methods
Common mistakes
- Treating PSIR and International Relations as the same degree. The curricula differ by about half.
- Forgetting the preparatory year. Without an accepted English certificate, four years become five.
- Comparing a scholarship price with a list price. The table shows prices before awards; the award appears in your offer letter.
- Expecting the diploma to open a civil-service career. In Turkey that requires citizenship, and in other countries a separate selection.
International Relations in Turkey: questions applicants ask
Answers are based on the 2026–27 fee lists, YÖK Atlas and Istanbul Bilgi's curriculum.
YÖK Atlas lists 16 for 2026: Altınbaş, Atılım, Bilkent, Doğuş, Işık, Koç, Özyeğin, Yaşar, Çağ, İstinye, Istanbul Bilgi, Beykent, Kent, Arel, Nişantaşı and Rumeli. Fifteen of them teach it in English; Rumeli teaches it only in Turkish.
International Relations centres on world politics, diplomatic history, international law and foreign policy. PSIR is a double major in which roughly half the courses cover domestic politics, parties and elections.
İstinye charges $8,000 a year, Istanbul Bilgi $12,000 including VAT, Bilkent $18,400 including VAT for students admitted in 2026, and Özyeğin a $25,000 standard rate before scholarships. A preparatory year, if needed, is paid separately.
No. Article 48 of Civil Servants Law No. 657 sets Turkish citizenship as the first general condition for entering the civil service, which includes the diplomatic service.
At Istanbul Bilgi the required courses include Political and Diplomatic History, International Relations Theory, World Politics, two semesters of International Law, International Organizations and Norms, Comparative Politics, Social Statistics and Turkish Foreign Policy.
Not everywhere. Özyeğin's exemption list names TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge exams but not IELTS; without an accepted certificate you take its TRACE exam or the preparatory year. Check the list of the university you choose before booking a test.
Yes. Okan, for example, charges $4,500 for its whole Turkish-taught International Relations master's with thesis and $3,500 without thesis in 2026–27, and Istanbul Bilgi runs master's programmes in International Relations, International Political Economy and European Studies.
Choosing between International Relations and PSIR?
A personal strategy, requirement checks, selection of agreed options, document preparation, applications, and support are provided under an agreement with StudyU; the university decides admission and any scholarship. During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Related programmes
These degrees differ in how much domestic politics, law and administration they include.
How to apply for International Relations in Turkey
The university assesses the specific school qualification, subjects, grades and teaching-language requirements for this programme. With an 11-year certificate, confirm eligibility and any exams, portfolio or other selection steps for the chosen intake. Check which language certificates or university assessments are accepted; denklik and registration requirements are separate from admission. Under an agreement with StudyU, we help prepare the agreed application and equivalence documents; the university decides admission and the competent authority decides equivalence. Start 6–9 months ahead to allow time for the university’s published procedure and document checks.