Upcoming Events

  • Island and Empire: How Civil War in Crete Mobilized the Ottoman World by Uğur Zekeriya Peçe, Lehigh University December 12, 2024 at 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm A-130
  • Bilkent History Graduate Symposium Call for Paper Deadline February 14, 2025 For more information please refer to: history.bilkent.edu.tr/bilkent-history-graduate-symposium-2025
  • Bilkent History Graduate Symposium 2025 Accepted Abstracts Announcement March 1, 2025 via e-mail.

Degree Requirements

M.A. PROGRAM

After preparatory year courses as specified by the adviser and the departmental chair, the completion of at least 21 graduate-level units of credit in the History program is required. Students of Ottoman History must demonstrate competence in Ottoman Turkish, and students of European History must demonstrate competence in Latin. All MA students including those of American History must, before graduation, be able to demonstrate competence in at least one Modern European language apart from English and Turkish. Likewise, all MA students must submit and have accepted a Master’s thesis.

Ph.D. PROGRAM

Among the degree requirements is a minimum of 21 credits of graduate level course work beyond the Master’s level. These courses are to be determined by the adviser and the departmental chair for each doctoral candidate. If necessary, graduate level courses from other departments can be taken. Partial or full credit can be granted by the graduate school (the institute of social sciences) for those who have taken graduate courses elsewhere. All PhD students must, before graduation, be able to demonstrate competence in at least two Modern European languages apart from English and Turkish. The candidate may also take other language courses as recommended by his/her supervisor. After completing the minimum 21 credits of course work, the candidates take written and oral comprehensive exams. Following the comprehensive exams, the student’s progress will be assessed every six months by a thesis supervision committee and within the first six months after the comprehensive exams, the student must present a formal thesis proposal. Finally, the candidate must prepare and successfully defend before a jury a doctoral dissertation embodying original research and a substantial contribution to historical knowledge in the particular field of study.