{"id":4824,"date":"2016-11-18T11:30:20","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T11:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/w3.bilkent.edu.tr\/en\/?page_id=4824"},"modified":"2026-05-12T17:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:05:23","slug":"political-science","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/w3.bilkent.edu.tr\/en\/gradstudents\/political-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Political Science (MA, Ph.D.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Program Information:<\/u><\/strong> Please follow the link<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Online Application:<\/strong><\/u> Please submit an online application here<\/a><\/strong><\/u>.<\/p>\n

Requirements:\u00a0<\/strong><\/u>These are minimum necessary scores for applying to the Political Science MA and Ph.D. programs.<\/p>\n

\n

GRE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

MA:<\/strong>\u00a0298 (Minimum required combined score: Verbal 149 + Quantitative 149)
\nPh.D. (<\/strong>with Master\u2019s degree<\/strong>):<\/strong>\u00a0298 (Minimum required combined score: Verbal 149 + Quantitative 149)<\/p>\n

GRE scores are valid for 5 years.<\/p>\n

\n

ALES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

MA:<\/strong> 55 (equally-weighted)
\nPh.D.<\/strong>\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree):<\/strong> 55 (equally weighted)<\/p>\n

ALES is required for all Turkish citizens. Applicants who are not citizens of T\u00fcrkiye should take GRE.\u00a0ALES and GRE scores are valid for 5 years.<\/p>\n

\n

English Proficiency:<\/strong><\/p>\n

MA:<\/strong> TOEFL IBT (at least 87\/120 or 4.5\/6), IELTS (at least 6.5 average and 5.5 from each section) or Bilkent English Proficiency Exam – PAE (at least C)
\nPh.D.<\/strong>\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree):<\/strong> TOEFL IBT (at least 87\/120 or 4.5\/6), IELTS (at least 6.5 average and 5.5 from each section) or Bilkent English Proficiency Exam – PAE (at least C)*<\/p>\n

Validity period for all exams: 2 years<\/p>\n

TOEFL IBT \u201cComputer-based\u201d test results will be accepted.
\nTOEFL IBT \u201cOnline test taken at home (Home Edition)\u201d and \u201cmy best score\u201d test results\u00a0will not be<\/u>\u00a0accepted.
\nIELTS Academic \u201cComputer-based and paper-based\u201d test results will be accepted.
\nIELTS Academic \u201cOSR (One Skill Retake)\u201d exam\u00a0will not be<\/u>\u00a0accepted.<\/p>\n

\n

Proof of Degree:<\/strong><\/p>\n

MA: <\/strong>undergraduate degree
\nPh.D.\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree): <\/strong>graduate degree if already obtained (application requirement: MA\/MSc thesis)<\/p>\n

\n

Transcripts:
\nMA:<\/strong> undergraduate transcripts
\nPh.D.\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree):<\/strong> undergraduate & graduate transcripts (most recent one available at the time of application)<\/p>\n

\n

Statement of Purpose:
\nMA:<\/strong> 500 words max.\u00a0(reasons for applying to M.A., research and career interests)
\nPh.D.\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree):\u00a0<\/strong>1000 words max. (reasons for applying to Ph.D., research interests)<\/p>\n

\n

Letter of Recommendation:<\/strong>
\nMA &\u00a0<\/strong>Ph.D.\u00a0(with Master\u2019s degree):<\/strong> 3\u00a0(uploaded to the system)<\/p>\n

\n

Other:<\/strong> A writing sample<\/p>\n

\n

Application Deadline:\u00a0 <\/strong>15 May 2026<\/p>\n

\n

Date of\u00a0Interview: <\/strong>12-13 June 2026<\/p>\n

\n

IMPORTANT NOTE: <\/strong>Incomplete applications will not be considered (At the time of application the applicant should upload ALES or GRE scores\/ or relevant exam application document).<\/p>\n

This year’s ALES exam will take place on May 10, and results are scheduled to be announced\u00a0by June 5. Please ensure that you take the exam and forward your official \u00d6SYM result\u00a0document to the department’s application email at polsgrad@bilkent.edu.tr<\/a> no later than\u00a0June 7. Invitations for interviews will be sent by June 9 with short notice, so we ask that you\u00a0plan your schedule accordingly to ensure your availability.<\/p>\n

\n

Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n

*If you submit IELTS or PAE results and you are applying for a Ph.D. program, you also need to satisfy the foreign language requirement as imposed by\u00a0the Inter-Universities Board (\u00dcAK) of T\u00fcrkiye. In that case, a minimum of 55 from YDS, e-YDS, Y\u00d6KD\u0130L, e-Y\u00d6KD\u0130L or its equivalents as listed by the Board, in a language other than the mother\u00a0tongue<\/a> must be submitted.<\/p>\n