The Master of Arts program in Media and Visual Studies provides continuing students with the analytical and practical skills required to pursue a career in media industries or continue their academic study. 

Covering a range of national and global media platforms, including film, television, print, and new media, the M.A. program at Bilkent offers a curriculum that builds a conceptual and cultural framework for effective intellectual engagement with a variety of media forms and content. Using theoretical, interdisciplinary, and comparative approaches to Turkish and global media, M.A. students pursue original research, analysis, interpretation, and criticism of a particular aspect of media that meets their personal and professional interests. Graduates of the program are thus prepared to use these capabilities to help raise the profile of media, visual and cultural studies in Turkey, whether through employment in media industries or continued academic study.

Prerequisites for admission:

• GRE: 298 (Minimum required combined score: Verbal 149 + Quantitative 149) 
• ALES: 55 (equally-weighted)
  ALES is required from resident Turkish citizens who are applying for the program. Foreign candidates and citizens of the Republic of Turkey who have completed their entire undergraduate education abroad can also apply with Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
• English Proficiency: TOEFL IBT (at least 87), IELTS (at least 6.5 average and 5.5 from each section) or Bilkent English Proficiency Exam – PAE (at least C) (Validity period for all exams: 2 years)

TOEFL IBT “Computer-based” test results will be accepted.
TOEFL IBT “Online test taken at home (Home Edition)” and “my best score” test results will not be accepted.
IELTS Academic “Computer-based and paper-based” test results will be accepted.
IELTS Academic “OSR (One Skill Retake)” exam will not be accepted.

• Proof of Degree: Yes (if already obtained)
  
• Transcripts: Yes (most recent one available at the time of application)
  
• Statement of Purpose: A letter in English describing academic achievements, research interests, faculty members you are interested in working with, and motivations for applying to the program (Word limit: 600 to 800 words, double–spaced).
  
• Letter of Recommendation: 2
• Other: CV and a sample essay between 2000 and 3000 words written in English 

Application Start: 9 March 2026
Application Deadline: 15 May 2026

Date of Interview: 15 – 16 June 2026

IMPORTANT NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered. At the time of application, the applicant should upload ALES or GRE scores/ or a relevant exam application document. This year’s ALES exam will take place on May 10, and results are scheduled to be announced by June 5. Please ensure that you take the exam and forward your official ÖSYM result document to the Director of Graduate Studies, Özen Baş (ozen.bas@bilkent.edu.tr), no later than June 6. Interview invitations will be sent on short notice by June 11, so we ask that you plan your schedule accordingly to ensure your availability.

More detailed information about admission requirements can be found on the Graduate School of Economics and Social Sciences page. Application materials, including the recommendation form, can be downloaded from the Bilkent University Graduate Application website. (https://w3.bilkent.edu.tr/bilkent/gradstudents/media-and-visual-studies/)

Degree Requirements: Candidates must complete 24 credit hours of coursework, plus two seminars in a specific area of interest. Candidates must also write a thesis that makes an original contribution to scholarship in media and visual studies.

Click to download MA GRADUATE HANDBOOK.

The Graduate School of Economics and Social Sciences administers the master’s programs Media and Design and Media and Visual Studies in the department. More information can be found under the following link – http://esbe.bilkent.edu.tr/

Application Link: https://stars.bilkent.edu.tr/gradapp

Contact:

Assistant Professor Özen Baş
ozen.bas@bilkent.edu.tr
+90 312 290 1538