The aim of the program is to analyze international and global system, approach critical international issues, accumulation of knowledge and skills. The students will develop a comprehensive understanding of international relations and its relationship to politics.

The Department of International Relations aims to train students with the ability to analyse events, issues and phenomena, looking at a range of scenarios, from economic, political and social developments to the historical processes of diplomatic relations. Any analysis is undertaken according to the basic principles of political science, with the ability of comprehension and evaluation, based on an interdisciplinary approach.

The aim of the Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations Program is to provide its graduates with the fundamental principles of international relations, and the skill set to evalute international relations from multiple viewpoints and the academic competence to develop in-depth analyses in the field. The program, thus, targets training graduate students who are competent both in domestic and foreign policy, masterful in conceptual and theoretical perspectives, specialized in their field, capable of analytical thinking and adapting to the dynamics of globalization processes, and equipped with the necessary academic tools to compete in the international arena.

It is globalization that has left its mark on the 21st century, and two basic qualities of globalization are uncertainty and integration. The youth of the 21st century can make decisions within the uncertainties for their near and far futures and make relational comments about the integrated events. The young can only be successful by overcoming the difficulties and problems of the future with these qualities of theirs. The purpose of the Department of International Relations is to prepare the individuals of these qualities for the real life, to train and equip them with permanent qualities to overcome these obstacles, and to train the young demanded and required by the 21st century.

The doctoral program at Bilkent IR is a highly specialized program. Its purpose is to develop the skills of doctoral candidates in international political analysis and to increase their capacity to conduct research on theoretical issues, international security studies, strategic studies, comparative foreign policy, international political economy, regional integration, global environmental problems, international law, peacekeeping and conflict resolution as well as area studies such as the European Union, the Balkans, Russia, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus