Marmara University

Institute of Middle East and Islamic Countries

 

Why Choose Marmara University and the Institution?

Choosing Marmara University for your postgraduate education means you will be studying at a respected institution that offers quality academic programs, excellent research opportunities, and access to a dynamic international environment. The strategic location in Istanbul and the diverse, inclusive atmosphere further enhance the appeal of studying here. If you’re looking for an opportunity to balance academic rigor with a rich cultural and professional experience, Marmara University is a solid choice.

In addition to the University qualification, the Institute of Middle East and Islamic Countries covers almost every aspect of the middle East with internationally well-known academic staff. It is the oldest institution on the Middle East and have five different departments with Master of Arts (MA) and Philosophy of Doctorate (PhD) Degrees. For more details, please visit us online via the link here, https://oae.marmara.edu.tr/en/history  

MA and PhD Programs at the Institution

Middle Eastern Political History and International Relations,

https://stui-oae.marmara.edu.tr/en/general-information

Middle Eastern Sociology and Anthropology,

https://sosa-oae.marmara.edu.tr/en/general-information

Middle Eastern Political Economy,

https://ikt-oae.marmara.edu.tr/en

Middle Eastern Geography and Geopolitics,

https://cog-oae.marmara.edu.tr/en/general-information

Middle Eastern Legal Systems,

https://huksis-oae.marmara.edu.tr/en/program-details

All applications must be made through the University online application system and the link is here, https://basvuru.marmara.edu.tr/

2024-2025 Spring Semester MA and PhD Program Quotas

Program Name	Program	Quota
Middle Eastern Political History and International Relations (English)	MA	5 Turkish citizens, 5 Foreign nationals
Middle Eastern Political Economy	MA	5 Turkish citizens, 2 Foreign nationals
Middle Eastern Sociology and Anthropology	MA	5 Turkish citizens, 3 Foreign nationals
Middle Eastern Political History and International Relations	MA	5 Turkish citizens, 2 Foreign nationals
Middle Eastern Sociology and Anthropology	PhD	5 Turkish citizens, 3 Foreign nationals
Middle Eastern Political History and International Relations	PhD	3 Turkish citizens, 2 Foreign nationals

 

2024-2025 Spring Semester MA and PhD Application Timeline

Graduate applications for the Spring Semester 2024-2025 can be made at https://basvuru.marmara.edu.tr/ between 08.01.2025 and 23.01.2025 (until 16:30). Above is the detailed application timeline.

Process	Start Date	End Date
Application	08.01.2025	23.01.2025
Application Approval	08.01.2025	24.01.2025
Professional Knowledge Exam and Interview	27.01.2025	29.01.2025
Announcement of Results	31.01.2025	31.01.2025
Final Registration	03.02.2025	05.02.2025
Announcement of Substitute Candidates	07.02.2025	07.02.2025
Collecting Pre-Registration Petitions from Substitute Candidates	10.02.2025	11.02.2025
Announcement of Substitute Candidates Who Gained Final Registration Rights	12.02.2025	12.02.2025
Final Registration of Substitute Candidates	13.02.2025	14.02.2025

 

Preliminary Required Qualifications

• Candidates who will apply to MA programs must have a BA degree.
• Candidates who graduated/will graduate from a university abroad must have a grade point average calculated in the 4 point or 100 point system in their transcript documents (transcript). This calculation is not made by our university.
• Foreign Language Certificates, such as YDS are valid for 5 (Five) years from the date of the exam, for equivalent foreign languages.

Minimum Language Scores for MA

GRE	GMAT	YÖKDİL/YDS/E-YDS/ÜDS/KPDS	TÖMER
149	450	For Turkish Program 50  For English Program 70	B2 and Above

 

Minimum Language Scores for PhD

GRE	GMAT	YÖKDİL/YDS/ E-YDS/ÜDS/KPDS	TÖMER
151	465	For Turkish Program 60	B2 and Above

An equivalent score from an international foreign language exam is accepted as considered by ÖSYM Board of Directors is compulsory.

• Foreign applicants for PhD programs are required to submit a language certificate other than their own language.
• Applicants must attend Professional Knowledge Exam and interviews to be announced by the relevant Department. Otherwise, they will not be taken into consideration in the success evaluation. No excuse is accepted in this context.
• Education fees of Foreign National Applicants for MA and PhD Programs will be determined by our Rectorate.
• Those who do not document that they have a blue card will also pay this fee.
• At the meeting of the Executive Board of Higher Education dated 13.09.2017; it is decided that Turkish nationals and foreign nationals who would like to study at the postgraduate level in Turkey after their education in a foreign higher education institution which is recognized by our Presidency do not need to get a Diploma Equivalency Certificate if that foreign higher education is recognized by Council of Higher Education (YÖK).

 

Required Documents for Applications

Please make sure that all documents are approved and singed by relevant institutions.

Graduation Certificate (to be uploaded to the system in pdf or jpeg format); Candidates who will apply for MA programs must be graduates of BA programs or students in the last semester of their BA degree, and candidates who will apply for PhD programs must be graduates of MA programs or students in the last semester of their MA degree. Candidates who are not in graduation status will not check the “graduated” box and will not upload documents in this field. Documents taken from e-government are valid.

Transcript Document (approved), (to be uploaded to the system in pdf or jpeg format) (mandatory); (For those who have not graduated at the time of application, their transcripts must be uploaded for at least 7 semesters and calculated as “GANO (General Weighted Grade Point Average)” by the University.) (Updates are not requested in case of grade change.) (The average of 4 or 100 must be calculated.) Candidates applying for a doctorate must upload their master's transcript. Documents taken from e-government are valid.

Foreign Language Certificates

A Photograph (to be uploaded to the system in jpeg format) (mandatory); The uploaded photographs must be in the form of a passport photo that will allow the candidate to be recognized. The student ID cards of the candidates who are entitled to final registration will be sent to printing with the uploaded photos. All uploaded photos other than passport photos will be cancelled.

Equivalency Certificate (for Turkish Citizen), (to be uploaded to the system in pdf or jpeg format); Turkish Citizen candidates who completed their undergraduate education abroad; They are required to obtain a diploma equivalency certificate from the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education. The candidate who applies for the Diploma Equivalency Certificate can make his / her application, but it must be submitted after the document is received during the final registration. Foreign National candidates do not need to apply for equivalence.

For non-Turkish documents; (Turkish citizens and foreign nationals who have studied abroad); In addition to the documents listed above; Turkish citizens and foreign nationals who have studied abroad must apply by preparing the documents (graduation, transcript and other documents) that they will upload to the system at pre-registration in the language of the program they apply for or with Turkish translation. They will be uploaded to the system in pdf or jpeg format, certified and signed by a sworn translator.

TÖMER certificate (compulsory for Turkish programs) Foreign applicants) at least at B2 Level (It is not required from those who have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program whose language of instruction is Turkish in any higher education institution in Turkey or abroad.  Foreign applicants who do not have a TÖMER certificate are accepted within the quota of foreign students within the scope of preliminary admission with the condition of learning Turkish, if they meet the other application conditions. With the conditional pre-admission to learn Turkish, the candidate undertakes in writing to attend the Turkish course opened within the University for at least one academic year and to get the required score from the Turkish exam conducted by the University. The candidate who does not make a commitment or does not fulfil his/her commitment loses his/her right to be a student.

Other Relevant Information

Foreign applicants who graduated from Turkey must make a pre-application with their ID numbers starting with 99.... in order to be able to withdraw their information from YÖKSİS.

Applicants whose application has been approved must obtain the current “Exam Entrance Certificate” from the application system (basvuru.marmara.edu.tr) 1 (one) day before the exam in order to take the “Professional Assessment Exam”. All written and exams

Student Admission Evaluation Criteria

	Foreign Applicants  (Percent)
Transcript Grade	10
Professional Assessment Exam (Written Exam)	40
Interview	50
Total	100

 

After all evaluations, foreign applicants must have 65 score in total for MA and 75 score in total for PhD Programs to be considered as success. Written exam and interviews will take place in person at the Institution.

 

Address:

 

Marmara Üniversitesi, Ortadoğu ve İslam Ülkeleri Araştırmaları Enstitüsü, İktisat Fakültesi 4. Kat, Göztepe Kampüsü / Kadıköy / İSTANBUL

 

Final Registration Process

Final Registrations are held between 03-05 February 2025 at the Institute of Middle East and Islamic Countries Institute on the 4th floor of the Faculty of Economics, Göztepe Campus.

Requested Documents for Final Registration

• Graduation Certificate: Applicants for MA program should submit a BA degree and for PhD program must submit a certified MA degree.
• Transcript Document: Approved transcripts must be submitted at the time of final registration (4 point or 100 point average must be calculated).
• Foreign Language Certificate (YÖKDİL, YDS, e-YDS or equivalent) NOTE: At least 50 points for MA Programs and 60 points or equivalent for PhD Programs.
• Photograph (2 Pieces)
• Certificate of Equivalence: Foreign applicants who will apply for MA or PhD do not need to apply for equivalency. After the final registration, they will be sent to YÖK (Higher Education Council Presidency Equivalency Unit) and it will be questioned whether it is recognized by YÖK. The registration of the candidate whose school is not recognized will be deleted.
• Foreign National Applicants: Foreign National candidates are required to submit the documents requested above in the language of the program they apply for or Turkish translations and submit them to the relevant institute at the time of final registration.

• Those who are Blue Card holders can only apply from one of their nationalities.
• Photocopy of the passport: The original of the passport must be shown and the photocopy will be approved by the relevant institute. It must be in the language of the program applied for or a Turkish translation must be made.
• TÖMER Certificate for Turkish Language: Those who got their graduate education in Turkey do not need to submit this document.

• In the final registration, registration is made with the originals of all documents:
  • The photocopy of the relevant document can be made “as original” by the institute where the application is made by showing the original document.
  • Candidates who cannot bring the original graduation certificate will be able to register with a “like original” photocopy approved by the University where the document is located.
  • Applications will be cancelled in cases where there is a discrepancy between the pre-registration statements and the documents after final registration.

 

NOTE: Dear candidates, if the documents you need to upload to the system are missing or incorrect, your application will not be approved, and you will be sent an e-mail by the system to correct them. For this reason, it is very important that your contact information you enter into the system is up-to-date and that you constantly check your e-mail addresses.