Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations

Political Science and International Relations cover a large variety of diverse areas such as: how states, organisations, and institutions interact at state and international levels; channels of communication and networks that have evolved through the process of globalisation; the foreign policies of states; democratisation processes; political parties and electoral systems; state structures; national and international security; and the impacts on societies during these processes.

Who are we?

BAU's Department of Political Science and International Relations presents a unique experience for its students to hone their skills in Political Science and International Relations. The students who choose BAU will find the opportunity to be taught by a wide range of skilled scholars with long-standing research expertise and teaching experience at prominent universities abroad. What makes our department different is our expertise in a variety of fields such as quantitative and qualitative research on political parties, electoral systems, and voting behaviour; public opinion; international security; post-conflict reconstruction; legitimacy of international institutions; Turkish foreign policy; political theory; Turkish politics; gender studies; EU politics and the EU as a global actor; American politics; politics of the Middle East; international migration; and border security. Our department provides high-level teaching informed by areas of research specialization and our faculty has a strong international publication record. Our academic staff is often called upon by governments to provide policy advice on national and international matters and work with practitioners involved in advisory work in policy planning. They have regular appearances in national and international media and lead national and international projects.

The BAU difference in Politics and International Relations

Situated in the Beşiktaş Campus, a very central and picturesque area of Istanbul, the Department of Political Science and International Relations aims to provide the perfect studying environment for students with many extra-curricular activities and present the chance to study in the fields mentioned above by a highly skilled staff. The students also find the opportunity to regularly interact with politicians, experts from think tanks, NGOs, journalists, and advisors by helping out and attending many conferences and events the department organizes. In a very heterogeneous, multicultural and globally mixed student environment, with the added opportunities of travelling abroad, the department aims to enhance the learning process for prospective students.