FAQ

Prospective Applicants forthe M.A. Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the dates regarding the application process ? 

A: The exact dates are announced in the graduate application webpage. 

Q: How will the applicationsbe processed and admission decisions reached?

A: Based on the ALES/GRE scores, undergraduate performance, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose students are conditionally accepted to the program. Applicants may be interviewed if necessary. Conditional acceptance decisions are made in early June. After conditional acceptance to the program (prior to registration) there willbe a preparatory course offered during summer school (EC489). The course willcover topics in mathematics for economics with applications in intermediate level macroeconomics and microeconomics, and statistics/econometrics. Students who are not able to attend this course due to a valid excuse (the excuse of the student is evaluated by the graduate committee) will have to take a waiver exam during the first week of August to be admitted to the program.The final decision for acceptance is made by the graduate committee by evaluating the performances of the applicants in this course.

Q: Is it possible to start the program at the Spring term?

A: No.

Q: Is it possible to make a transfer to the program?

A: No.

Q: Do you make differentiation among universities and undergraduate degrees earned in the admission decision?

A: No, we don't. Our graduate students have a diverse educational background. Around half of the students enrolled have an undergraduate degreein economics and, again, around half of them have completed an undergraduate program at Boğaziçi University.

Q: Do you consider foreign applicants?

A: Our program is open to international students andwe welcome them, but we have not had international students in ourgraduate programs in Economics in recent years. Unfortunately, our department is not able to provide financial assistance to international students due to governmental regulations. 

Q: Do I need to prove my proficiency in English?

A: Yes. The Boğaziçi University proficiency requirement equally applies for our Program. For detailed information, see the web page http://www.boun.edu.tr/graduate/organization/admission_grad.html. Official test scores haveto be submitted until the registration deadline set by Boğaziçi University. Forthis year's YADYOK exam please refer to: http://www.yadyok.boun.edu.tr. You need to directly contact the related offices of the university mentioned above.

Q: What prerequisite knowledge is required?

A: An intermediate level of calculus and introductory levels of microeconomics and macroeconomics knowledge is highly recommended.

Q: How about the class size?

A: The average class size is around 25.

Q: How long will it take to complete the program?

A: The curriculum is designed to be completed in two full years (4 semesters not including Summer terms). During the first year students take the required courses and the elective courses are taken during the second year. The maximum time allowed to complete the program is 6 academic semesters (not including the Summer terms).

Q: What are the academic rules that I have to follow?

A: Like other programs, we have a list of academic rules that wehave to follow. For detailed information: http://www.boun.edu.tr/Default.aspx?SectionID=276

Q: How about assistantships and financial aid?

A: The Department has 14 assistantships positions available. These positions are almost equally shared by the first and second year students. Eachyear an announcement for application is made to students enrolled in ourgraduate programs. Graduate students employed as assistants serve as research assistants to faculty members and as teaching assistants to undergraduate and graduate courses. Additionally, faculty members may hire graduate students fortheir projects (through BAP, TUBİTAK, etc.), however these hiring decisions aremade by the faculty members themselves. For the first year students it ispossible to apply for assistantships after the EC489 course. Students planning to apply for an assistantship must takethe ALES exam as well as part of the state employment requirement. Offered assistantships will be re-evaluated each year based on academic performance.  First year assistantships are generally extended to the second year. There is no extension for the secondyear assistantships.  

Q: Can I register at undergraduate courses?

A: Upon the approval of the graduate advisor, limited number of upperlevel undergraduate courses can be taken as electives.

Q: Can I transfer undergraduate courses to the graduate degree?

A: No, it is not possible.

Q: Is it possible to transfergraduate courses taken at other universities?

A: The required courses of the first year must be taken at Boğaziçi University. Elective courses can only be transferred upon the approval of the graduate advisor.

Q: Will the program follow Boğaziçi University's calendar?

A: Yes. The academic calendar is available at: http://www.boun.edu.tr/tr-TR/Content/Default.aspx?SectionID=780

Q: Where are the recent graduates placed?

A: Among the recent graduates of the M.A. program, about half ofthem are continuing with their studies at prestigious Ph.D. programs in US and Europe. A list of the recent placements in graduate schools is available hereRemaining graduates are either employed in organizations such as the Central Bank of Turkey, the Turkish Treasury, or other financial institutions andprivate sector companies. 

Q: What is the registration fee for the courses I need to register (including EC 489)

A: Please contact registrar's office. (tel: 212-359-44-08 or 212-359-70-88). The fee for EC489 is significantly lower then compared to other summer classes offered by the summer school at Boğaziçi University.

Q: Are classes held during the days or evenings?

A: Classes are held duringday-time. They generally start at 9:00 AM. There is an Executive Masters Program in Economics and Finance which holds classes in the evenings. For details, please visit http://www.econfin.boun.edu.tr

Q: Can I have a part-time or a full-time job outside the department?

A: No, since it is a full-time program,we do not allow masters student to work.

Q: What are the contents of EC 489 and when will it start?

A: EC 489 will follow thes chedule of the summer school. Please visit http://www.summer.boun.edu.tr  for details. The contents of the course will generally be geared towards mathematical preparation for the masters program.

Q: I ama Boğaziçi University student. Do I need to prove my English proficiency?

A: No.

Q: I am currently a student at the Department of Economics at Boğaziçi University. Do I need a reference letter?

A: No, but you need to provide the name of two faculty members in our department that would write you such areference letter.

Q:  Do you offer housing for masters students?

A: Please contact the Housing Office for availability. 212-359-45-44

Q: Do you accept references by email?

A: No.

Q: When is the official registration?

A: It is in September. See theacademic schedule. You need to provide your English sufficiency until thattime.

Q: I will get support from TÜBİTAK. Can I be a graduate assistant as well? Do you guarantee that I will finish the program with a thesis as required by theTUBITAK support?

A: Yes, you can apply for assistantships. However, we do not guarantee under any circumstances that you will write a thesis in our department. Writing a thesis will depend on your individual effort (having a GPA of at least 3.0 by the end of the first year)in the program and finding a thesis supervisor for your thesis. Please be careful about this issue when applying for TUBITAK support.

Q: Is there a specific format for thereference letter? Can it be in Turkish?

A: No there is no specific format for English letters. They can be in Turkish or English.

Q: Is there a specific format for the statement of purpose? Can it be in Turkish?

A: Statement of Purpose must be written in English and should be less than two A4 pages long.