The opening event for the “National Geographic on Campus!” series will take place at Sabancı University in association with the Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center and National Geographic. 

The event will be held with IPM 2017/18 fellow Barış Karapınar, who is conducting a study on "Climate change and soil: Balancing synergies of adaptation and mitigation in Turkey through sustainable soil management", and National Geographic photographer Reza Deghati. 

Barış Karapınar, a contributor to the "İklim Meselesi" program on National Geographic TV, will discuss the impact and fragility caused by food, migration and poverty in connection with climate change, the possible steps for a solution, and recent positive developments in the quest for permanent solutions. 

Meanwhile, Reza Deghati will draw upon his 30-year experience with National Geographic to present images from the Middle East. He will share the pictures and stories of people forced to migrate as a result of climate change. 

Deghati worked with the leading publications of the world, including Newsweek, Time and Life. He published an interview titled “Turkey Struggles for Balance” for National Geographic in 1994, and photographed the aftermath of the August 17 and November 12 earthquakes in Turkey in 1999. As a storyteller with photographs and videos, Deghati received the Légion d'honneur in 2005.  

The first in the “National Geographic on Campus!” series will be held at the Cinema Hall on Tuesday, April 17. The event is open to all students and employees. 

The event will be in English and no interpretation will be available. 

IPC becomes one of Turkey's most influential and fastest-growing think tanks 

Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) revealed its 2016-17 Activity Report to the public. Discussing the report on the summary of programs, projects, events and publications in the institution's three research areas, IPC Director Fuat Keyman said that IPC had become one of the most influential, prestigious and fast-growing think tanks of Turkey in the recent years. 

Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) published its 2016-17 Activity Report. The report summarized programs, projects, events and publications in the institution's three research areas.

 Discussing the 2016-17 Activity Report, IPC Director Fuat Keyman said that IPC had become one of the most influential, prestigious and fast-growing think tanks of Turkey in the recent years. Professor Keyman said that 2016 and 2017 were difficult and important years from many aspects, continuing, "First and foremost, we are proud to have made IPC even stronger in these trying times. As the visibility and influence of IPC improved with endeavors from research to events, publications and conferences, its perception in the society also developed." 

IPC DERIVES STRENGTH FROM ACADEMIC THOROUGHNESS AND TEAMWORK 

Saying that IPC derived strength from academic thoroughness, creativity, being up to date with current events, teamwork, and a happy oıffice environment, Professor Keyman explained that IPC had become one of the fastest-growing and most influential think tanks in Turkey thanks to its activities in the three research areas, and its successful team. Professor Keyman said the following about IPC's three main areas of focus: 

“IPC's first research area, the “IPC Sabancı University - Stiftung Mercator Initiative”, was established in 2011. The initiative exceeded our expectations and became a point of reference in EU/Germany - Turkey relationships and Climate Change. We hope to bring new impetus to the EU/Germany - Turkey partnership in particular. Our second area, Democratization and Institutional Reform, contributes to democratization and good governance in Turkey. The third area of Conflict Resolution and Mediation provides significant input into the national and international visibility of our center." 

IPC'S WORK AND FOCUS AREAS 

• With 45 fellows and administrative employees, three main areas of research and 15 current and active research programs, IPC held more than 250 panel discussions, conferences, workshops and book launches in Turkey and abroad.
• IPC published nearly 150 reports, policy notes and articles that were shared with key stakeholders around the world.
• As part of the Initiative, IPC hosted 37 fellows and 12 senior fellows in the past six years, including leading researchers, journalists and professionals in their respective fields.
• IPC worked with over 30 national and international institutions and published hundreds of articles and academic papers in various media.
• Since 2015, IPC has been the official representative of Sabancı University in the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties.
• The SHURA Energy Transformation Center was established in partnership with Agora Energiwende and the European Climate Foundation in 2018 to provide a sustainable and prestigious platform for discussion around the transformation of the energy system in Turkey spearheaded by renewable resources.
• IPC founded the Checks and Balances Network, the first of its kind in Turkey, with the assistance and participation of a number of nongovernmental organizations.
• IPC's work in the democratization and institutional reform field includes governance and urban studies.
• Under the governance chapter, IPC offers policy recommendations in local governments, decentralization, and regional administration.
• Urban studies include the impact of globalization on the economic and democratic development of larger provinces in Anatolia.
• In addition, IPC launched Asian studies in 2016. IPC coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, nongovernmental organizations on humanitarian aid, and various other actors. Its latest efforts were on the rebuilding of the state and inclusive growth in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt. The program focuses on the Middle East and Arabian Spring, the building of peace, migration and refugees, mediation, the Kurdish issue, and the role of conflict resolution in the democratization of Turkey.

The entire report is available at:
http://ipc.sabanciuniv.edu/publication/istanbul-politikalar-merkezi-2016-17-aktivite-raporu/

Sabancı University Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design graduates were featured in Istanbul Art News.

Didem Erk:

Our graduate Didem Erk is now being represented by Istanbul- and Berlin- based Zilberman Gallery. Didem Erk is a 2009 graduate of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design bachelor's program, and 2012 graduate of the master's program. Using performance, video, installation and text as her tools, Didem Erk explores the poetic side of concepts like language, memory and borders when interacting with places.

Dila Yumurtacı

A 2017 graduate of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design master's program. Dila Yumurtacı is also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2008, she joined dadans, an ensemble that pursues interdisciplinary creations using dance, film, drama and performance.

Halil Atasever

A 2014 graduate of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design master's program. Performance artist and actor. He continued to perform at Sabancı University during his degree. Having worked as visual communication designer in various Istanbul companies from 2014 to 2017, Atasever currently lives in London.  

Batu Bozoğlu

A 2010 graduate of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design master's program. Performance artist. One of the 10 artists who performed at Perform Istanbul in March. Batu Bozoğlu’s performances explore participatory policies and the resulting power plays and ownership issues. Batu has performed in a number of artistic events in Turkey and abroad.

Sabancı University Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center (SU-IMC) Director Mehmet Yıldız was appointed Deputy Chair to the Kordsa Board of Directors.

Currently a Member of the Kordsa Board of Directors, SU-IMC Director Mehmet Yıldız assumed his duty of Deputy Chair as of April 4, 2018

Sabancı University School of Management faculty member Professor Özgür Demirtaş was appointed to the Akbank Board of Directors. Professor Demirtaş will work in close collaboration with Akbank's top management to shape the future of banking.

In addition to his position as the Head of the Finance Chair at the Sabancı University School of Management, Professor Özgür Demirtaş is also the founding director of the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) founded in 2016 with the support of Akbank

The Academy of Science announced the winners of the 2018 Young Scientist Awards Program (BAGEP). Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences members İnci Gümüş and Mert Moral won awards.

Faculty Member İnci Gümüş will receive her award in the field of Economics while Mert Moral will receive his award in Political Science.

The objective of the Academy of Science Young Scientists Awards (BAGEP) is to identify and reward outstanding young academics, support them in their future research, encourage young individuals to undertake scientific studies, and to reward exemplary individuals.

The BAGEP Awards by the Academy of Science are given to academics under the age of 40 and entail a cash prize of TL 15,000 per year for a duration of two years to support research.

İnci Gümüş and Mert Moral will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held on Friday, April 27.

We celebrate 98. Anniversary of The Grand National Assembly of Turkey’s opening and April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

The following programs leading to MA and PhD degrees are accepting applications for 2018-2019 academic year Fall semester. Contact names for each program have been provided for academic inquiries only. For administrative or procedure related questions, please contact Student Resources Office.

Conflict Analysis and Resolution (MA) 

Contact: professor Kerim Can Kavaklı, (216) 483 92 58, kkavakli@sabanciuniv.edu

Cultural Studies (MA) 

Contact: professor Sibel Irzık, (216) 483 93 32, sibeli@sabanciuniv.edu

Economics (MA/PhD)

Contact: Professor Abdurrahman Aydemir, (216) 483 93 44, aaydemir@sabanciuniv.edu
             Professor Remzi Kaygusuz, (216) 483 92 44, rkaygusuz@sabanciuniv.edu

European Studies (MA) 

Contact: professor Meltem Müftüler Baç, (216) 483 92 47, muftuler@sabanciuniv.edu

Gender Studies (PhD)

Contact: professor Hülya Adak, (216) 482 92 87, hadak@sabanciuniv.edu

History (MA/PhD)                                                                               

Contact: professor Tülay Artan, (216) 483 92 38, tulay@sabanciuniv.edu

Political Science (MA/PhD) 

Contact: professor Nedim Nomer, (216) 483 93 27, nnomer@sabanciuniv.edu

Turkish Studies (MA) 

Contact: professor Ayşe Ozil, (216) 483 92 88, ayseozil@sabanciuniv.edu

Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design (MA) 

Contact: professor Selçuk Artut, (216) 483 93 19, sartut@sabanciuniv.edu

Applicants must have completed their previous degree programs by August 29, 2018 at the latest.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for Graduate School of Social Sciences

IMPORTANT WARNING: All REQUIRED documents must be submitted during applications. Applications with incomplete documentation will not be taken into consideration. RECOMMENDED documents are not obligatory, but will be influential in the review process. (Please see the table for required and recommended documents from the link above.)

• The applicant must submit ALES, e-ALES, GRE or GAT result during application. Applications without a valid exam result will not be taken into consideration.
• Candidates are required to submit their English proficiency exam scores (TOEFL IBT, e-YDS, YDS, KPDS, ÜDS, PTE Academic, CAE or CPE) during the application. Applicants who are unable to provide a valid English Proficiency Exam score can only be admitted to graduate study upon obtaining a satisfactory grade in Sabancı University English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE) offered following the application deadline. Those candidates who fail to attend or get a satisfactory grade in ELAE exam are obliged to attend and successfully complete English Language Preparation course(s) in order to enroll in a graduate program. Scholarships do not apply to the English Language Preparation courses.

ELAE exam is not substituted for language exam in PhD applications. For PhD candidates exam results must be submitted during application; applications without these documents will not be taken into consideration.

Graduates of Sabancı University are exempt from submitting an English Proficiency Exam score provided that they apply within two years of their graduation. For PhD applications, SU graduates are required to submit language certificate as well.

Financial Support

A limited number of scholarships based on academic achievement are available in the form of partial or full tuition waivers and/or stipends.

Click for SU Graduate Scholarships.

Click for Graduate Funding, Other Opportunities and Awards

Please note that those candidates who fail to submit a sufficient English proficiency exam score and thus attend the course of English Language Preparation will receive no scholarship until they successfully complete the course.

Deadline

April 20th, 2018 is the deadline for the applications.

Applicants may be invited for written exams and/or interviews via e-mail. All written exams and interviews are held in English. For Turkish and international applicants who are abroad and unable to attend written exams and/or interviews, will be interviewed through Skype.

The Graduate Admissions Calendar

Conflict Analysis and Resolution (MA) 

Interview*: May 21, 2018, Monday,  FASS 2054

Cultural Studies (MA) 

Interview*: May 24-25, 2018, Monday-Tuesday, FASS 2054

Economics (MA/PhD)

Interview*: May 18, 2018, Friday, FASS 2054

European Studies (MA) 

Interview*: May 23, 2018, Wednesday, FASS 2054

Gender Studies (PhD)

Interview*: May 14, 2018, Monday, FASS 2054

History (MA/PhD)                                                                               

Written exam: May 17, 2018, Thursday, 11.40, FASS 1103

Interview*: May 25, 2018, Friday, FASS 2056

Political Science (MA/PhD) 

Written exam: May 14, 2018, Monday, 10.00, FASS 2023-2031

Interview*: May 28-29, 2018, Monday-Tuesday, FASS 2054

Turkish Studies (MA) 

Interview*: May 17, 2018, Thursday, FASS 2054

Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design (MA) 

Written exam: May 21, 2018, Monday, 10.30, FASS 1102

Interview*: May 22, 2018, Tuesday, 2054

 
 * Candidates are going to be invited for the interview via e-mail.

Applications:

Online applications are accepted via http://admission.sabanciuniv.edu/. Application documents (official exam results, transcript, etc.) should be uploaded on the online system and application packages must be submitted either in person or posted to the address below. Please note that printout of the completed application form should also be added to the application package. The packages sent via mail must arrive at the department by the application deadline. Applications sent via e-mail are not accepted.

Warning! All the application documents become property of Sabancı University. It is suggested to keep the original reports of TOEFL, GRE, and ALES scores and apply with the copies of those test scores. However, please note that the originals must be produced at the time of registration to Sabancı University.

Student Resources Office
Sabancı University, Orhanlı
34956, Tuzla/ İstanbul-Turkey
www.sabanciuniv.edu
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9361
Facsimile: +90 (216) 483 90 73
E-mail: studentinfo@sabanciuniv.edu

Sakıp Sabancı Remembered with the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” in the 14th Year of His Passing. This year's Jury Prize in the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards was given to New York University Faculty Member Adam Przeworski.

Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı: 

• We need to prioritize knowledge generation, research, scientific thinking and discussion to enable Turkey to become effective, capable and consistent in finding solutions to regional and global problems. All three areas require that we stand together and act together with the world. 

• Sabancı University Honorary Chairman Sakıp Sabancı believed that social sciences deserved the same level of support as natural sciences. Being the visionary he was, he endowed Turkey's only academic prize in social sciences with an international outreach. 

• The Columbia University Sakıp Sabancı Center for Turkish Studies opens on May 4th. We believe that the Center will be a crucial reference point for Turkish Studies.

In honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Sakıp Sabancı Family and Sabancı University on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the Sabancı Center. 

"We need to prioritize knowledge generation, research, scientific thinking and discussion to enable Turkey to become effective, capable and consistent in finding solutions to regional and global problems."

Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı began by saying, "Sabancı University Honorary Chairman Sakıp Sabancı believed that social sciences deserved the same level of support as natural sciences. Being the visionary he was, he endowed Turkey's only academic prize in social sciences with an international outreach." 

Güler Sabancı continued, “Turkey has been a bridge between the West and East on the geopolitical and cultural levels, acting as a regional power and global player for world peace since the Ottoman Empire. We need to prioritize knowledge generation, research, scientific thinking and discussion to enable Turkey to become effective, capable and consistent in finding solutions to regional and global problems." Sabancı stated that all three areas required that Turkey stood together and acted together with the world. Güler Sabancı explained that both Sabancı University and the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards were based on this fundamental philosophy, saying "This universal perspective is a clear embodiment of the late Sakıp Bey’s vision.” 

"The Columbia University Sakıp Sabancı Center for Turkish Studies opens on May 4th. We believe that the Center will be a crucial reference point for Turkish Studies." 

Reminding the audience that Sakıp Sabancı thought for Turkey but his thoughts were not limited to Turkey's borders, Güler Sabancı said, “The international aspect of everything he did was very dear to him. The same line of thinking culminated in Sabancı University. We wanted to build an academic organization that commanded international respect and recognition. We set out on this path to become a 'global university' and today we are an organization that is consistently on international rankings." 

Güler Sabancı stated that Sabancı University would celebrate its 20th year in 2019, continuing, "We would also like to announce a bold initiative that our young university found the courage to undertake thanks to its international recognition. The Columbia University Sakıp Sabancı Center for Turkish Studies, the perfect place to make the Sakıp Sabancı name eternal, will open in New York on May 4th." Güler Sabancı said that Sabancı University's efforts in social sciences would leap to the next level with this forthcoming international cooperation, adding that the support of Ayşe Kadıoğlu and the entire Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences would make the Center a point of reference for Turkish Studies across the world. 

In conclusion, Güler Sabancı said that the theme for the 2019 Awards would be “The Future of Multipartisanism in Global Disorder: Rethinking Security, Economy and Democracy.” 

"We share transnational problems which require international efforts to solve."

The winner of the Jury Prize was Adam Przeworski, a veteran of political science who has been working on democracies for over 50 years, and has inspired many younger political scientists in Turkey and the world. Adam Przeworski, the Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Politics at New York University, won the Jury Prize with his outstanding work on democratic regimes and markets. Adam Przeworski worked in the most prestigious universities of different continents, trained a vast number of political scientists, and played a key role in shaping the field of comparative politics.  He was an advisor to the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, the UN Development Program, and the Organization of American States. 

Speaking in the award ceremony, Adam Przeworski said that we shared transnational problems which require international efforts to solve. He noted that the prize was especially relevant to young scientists for continuing their global efforts. 

Adam Przeworski continued: "All my life, I tried to find answers to two questions. First: How can people divided by values, norms and interests live together? And second: How can democracy coexist with economic and social inequality? Considering that losing parties have a chance to win in the future, political actors and groups will prefer to stay within the system. The balance between economy and democracy is critical. Research suggests that countries which have attained certain levels of economic development were then able to improve their democracies. Democracy is under threat in all countries. For the first time in two hundred years, many parents believe that their children will be worse off than they are.  In the longer term, economic consequences will influence the decision of political actors and groups to remain within the boundaries of democracy." 

The three equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to:  

• Selim Erdem Aytaç for the essay The Appeal of Populism and the Role of Elite Discourse: Evidence from Turkey

• İpek Çınar for the essay Democracy Dismantled: Strategic Choices of Would-be Autocrats
• Berk Esen” for the essay Elective Affinities between Democratic Backsliding and Populism: the Cases of Turkey and Hungary in Comparative Perspective. 

Introductory remarks to the ceremony were delivered by Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı. Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Özge Kemahlıoğlu, the president of this year's jury panel, explained the reasoning behind the jury's selection. Kemahlıoğlu said that Adam Przeworski, the winner of the Jury Prize, made great contributions to defining democracy as a political regime, focusing on elections and ambiguity. Accordingly, democracy is a political system where the results of any election is a mere probability for citizens who are unaware of each other's political preferences. 

Özge Kemahlıoğlu said that Przeworski's work played a critical part in developing the literature in this field, and noted that countries which have attained certain levels of economic development were then able to improve their democracies, and prevented any subsequent collapse of their democracies. 

Following the speeches, Adam Przeworski received his prize from Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Sabancı University President Professor Zehra Sayers.  Essay Award winners received their prizes from Sabancı University Board of Trustees Member Sevil Sabancı, Melisa Tapan, and Sabancı University President Professor Zehra Sayers. 

More than 370 submissions from 31 countries over 13 years

Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards were established 13 years ago to honor the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, and are given by Sabancı University in fields including Turkish and Islamic art, and the history, economy and sociology of Turkey. The award program is led by the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Istanbul Policy Center. Submissions are reviewed by an international panel of independent jury members. In the last 13 years, Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards have been given in subjects ranging from Turkey's economy to foreign policy, history, and social dynamics. More than 370 submissions were received from 31 countries for the 13 Awards given so far.

Starting in 2015, the Board of Trustees and Sakıp Sabancı Family resolved to give the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards as part of the Remembrance Ceremony.  Award themes in previous years were other pressing issues such as “Checks and Balances in Democracy: the Turkish Case from a Comparative Perspective,” “Gender Equality in Turkey,” "Coexisting in Turkey: Diversity, Dialog and Cooperation", and "New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Arts and Peace in Cities”. The 2017 Awards were given in “Europeans with Legacies from Turkey in Everyday Life”, and this year's theme was “Democratic Governance and Threats against Coexistence in Turkey and the World.” 

In the tradition of the previous awards, the 2019 Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards will seek to support scholars, particularly young social scientists, discussing a current issue on an academic level. The theme for the 2019 Awards will be “The Future of Multipartisanism in Global Disorder: Rethinking Security, Economy and Democracy.” 

Jury Panel

The president of this year's Jury Panel was Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Özge Kemahlıoğlu. The international jury panel consisted of Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center Director Fuat Keyman, Sabancı University Faculty Member Ayşe Kadıoğlu, John D. Huber from Columbia University, Milan Svolik from Yale University, Dr. Dimitar Bechev from The University of North Carolina, and Ellen Lust from Gothenburg University.

 About Adam Przeworski

Adam Przeworski is Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Politics at New York University. 

After graduating from the Philosophy and Sociology Department at University of Warsaw, he received PhD degrees in Political Science from Northwestern University and Sociology from Polish Academy of Sciences. He previously taught at University of Chicago and Washington University. Among others Professor Przeworski is the recipient of the Johan Skytte Prize and Woodrow Wilson Book Prize.   

Professor Przeworski contributed to the studies on democracy by analyzing the empirical relationship between economic factors and political regimes, economic outcomes under democratic rule, the theoretical definition of political regimes, and the strategic choices of political actors who are involved in the transition process. 

His books include Capitalism And Social Democracy, Democracy And The Market: Political And Economic Reforms In Eastern Europe And Latin America, Democracy And Development: Political Regimes And Material Well-Being In The World, 1950-1990, Capital Democracy and the Limits of Self-Government, Why Bother with Elections?