Dear prospective applicant, we are happy to see your interest in our graduate programs!

Here, you will be given step-by-step information about the programs and applications. This page is only to inform you about applications in general. As a prospective applicant, you are also required to visit other websites for specific information such as

• Graduate School website (for information about the application procedure, program criteria and interview dates): https://sbe.metu.edu.tr/en/application
• *For interview dates, please make sure that you check both the department website and the Graduate School website
• International Students Office website (for information about tuition fees, accommodation etc.): http://iso.metu.edu.tr/en

Before Deciding to Apply

As the Graduate School of Social Sciences, we provide more than 30 graduate programs including MA/M.Sc. (both thesis and non-thesis) and PhD. The applications for programs are open 2 times during a year (spring and fall).  However, please note that not all programs prefer to accept students every semester. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you make sure your program will be accepting students for the specific semester. Graduate School of Social Sciences announces the programs that will accept students on the website before the application dates. The information about those programs that will accept students can be gathered from the interview dates announced or through the application criteria section on the website.

Just a quick note: Usually, most of the programs accept students for the fall semester while it is less likely for a program to accept student for the spring semester.

After Deciding to Apply

Now that you have decided to apply, it is time for you to check some highly important points!

When will you apply?

The dates for graduate applications are announced on METU’s academic calendar, which can be reached through this link.

Which documents do I need to submit?

The required documents for applications are listed on the website, where you can also find specific information about the documents.

Application Fee Receipt, English Proficiency Exams, Graduate Exams, Reference Letters, Transcript and Letter of Intention are required for all applicants (both for Turkish citizens and foreigners). 

Application Criteria for Programs

The criteria for applying to any graduate program do not differ for international applicants.  All applicants, Turkish citizen or international, have to meet the ALES or equivalent, English Proficiency (METU EPE or equivalent) and cGPA criteria along with the reference letters and letter of intention requirements stated on our website

Though there are two exceptions;

GRE/GMAT or ALES: International students, who do not have a GRE/GMAT score can still apply as a conditional student. Please refer to http://sbe.metu.edu.tr/conditional-application for more information. If you will apply conditionally, please check “not required” box on the online application system.

English Proficiency: If a native speaker (who is a citizen of a country where English is the official language) has received his/her bachelor's degree from a university where the language of instruction is English, then, he or she is exempt from submitting a valid English language score. Therefore, only holding a passport from an English-speaking country does not mean you are a native speaker. At the same time, holding a degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English without having a passport from an English-speaking country does not make you a native speaker.

If you meet both criteria mentioned above, you can check “I’m a native speaker” box on the online application system and upload a scanned version of your passport and an official documents that states that your undergraduate education was fully in English. You can also use your official transcriptions if there is such statement or indicator in them.

cGPA: We are aware that some higher education institutions have different grading systems than what we use in METU (out of 4,00). In that case, try other options provided by the online application system. If not provided, please state an approximate grade for one of the options.

For Equivalency Table of 4.00 and 100 Grading System please check http://oidb.metu.edu.tr/en/equivalency-table-400-and-100-grading-system

How to Apply

In order to apply to the program, you will use the online application system on our website https://oibs2.metu.edu.tr/Ms_Phd_Applications/.

You do not have to submit any document in person. You will upload the scanned version of the documents to the system.

Please pay attention to these issues while applying;

• Make sure that your transcriptions are translated in Turkish or English.

• You do not have to send your GRE results to the Graduate School. You will upload the scanned version of your result to the system.

• If you click on native speaker option, please upload a picture of your passport as well.

• You cannot upload any reference letters on the system. You are required to state your referee’s name and email address. A link of the reference form (which is activated for only 48 hours) is sent to your referee. When it is filled, you will be able to see it once your login to the system again. If the form is not filled within 48 hours, you can type the name and the email again so that another link will be sent.

• If you don’t have an ID number from the Turkish government, you just use the passport number instead.

 More information regarding the online application process is provided here https://sbe.metu.edu.tr/en/application