Middle Eastern Studies Master's Program (Non-Thesis)

The Middle East, one of the world’s most contested regions, has always been at the center of academic, political, and everyday discussions. The region's history dates back to ancient times and has hosted diverse peoples, cultures, religions, and civilizations. Today, leaders of established democracies, decision-makers, and major powers like Russia and China feel the need to engage with Middle Eastern politics for their future interests. Researchers and policymakers from around the world strive to understand ongoing developments in Syria and Iraq and assess how the West's agreement with Iran may shape future peace and regional dynamics. The Arab uprisings and subsequent developments in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya have demonstrated to the world that the Middle East is and will continue to be a major center of global politics.

The Middle Eastern Studies Master's Program at Işık University aims to provide students with a critical perspective on the political, economic, and cultural dynamics shaping the region. The program is interdisciplinary, designed to offer a broad and multi-faceted perspective covering economics, international politics, history, anthropology, and political science.

The Middle Eastern Studies Master's Program is a non-thesis program, and students must complete 30 credits of coursework and submit a term project to graduate. One of the program’s strengths is its introductory-level language training in Arabic and Hebrew.

Courses are scheduled in the evenings or on weekends and are conducted entirely in English. The program is located at our Maslak Campus, which is easily accessible via public transportation and close to Istanbul’s business hubs.