Established in 1992 as the first of its kind in Turkey, the Institute of Middle East and Islamic Countries Studies at Marmara University in Istanbul is a prominent Higher Education institution specializing in the study of the Islamic countries with a particular focus on the Middle East. The institute promotes and encourages scholarly research on every dimension of the relevant countries. Since the institute welcomes students from a wide range of disciplines, a variety of courses taught by respected academics in history, politics, economics, social and cultural issues as well as contemporary affairs are designed to prepare them for undertaking original and independent research. The institute currently offers an MA program in the Political History and the International Relations of the Middle East within a conducive international and multidisciplinary academic environment which provides students, inside and outside of Turkey, with advanced research and learning facilities to enrich their academic studies.