There are four different master's programs offered within the Department of Political Science and Public Administration: Public Policy, Governance and Non-Governmental Organizations, Administrative Sciences and Politics, and Politics, Institutions and Crisis Management.
Applications to the programs are made through the Marmara University application system, and information regarding application requirements and evaluation, application calendar, quotas, registration process, and tuition fees can be accessed via the website of the Institute of Social Sciences.
Master's Program in Public Policy (With and Without Thesis)
From local to national, national to regional, and regional to global levels, the interactions among public authorities, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations in managing various public policies, as well as the policies resulting from these interactions, are drawing increasing attention and becoming a subject of study. Public policies are among the most important tools used to analyze how contemporary societies are governed, questioning what governments do and for what purposes, how and why they design specific policies, and what changes these policies bring about. Public policy can be briefly defined as the "formulation and implementation of decisions by governments that affect communities."
The program aims to develop students' potential to take roles in institutions that design public policies (national government, local governments, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, universities, independent boards, agencies, etc.) and to equip them with the background required to conduct analyses related to public policy.
The Public Policy Master's Program is intended for both those wishing to conduct academic research on public policies and considering a career in academia, as well as those working in institutions directly involved in the formulation, implementation, and development processes of public policy.
Master's Program in Governance and Non-Governmental Organizations (With and Without Thesis)
It is well-known from various examples that non-governmental organizations play a massive role in developed democracies in the sustainable development of democratic governance and political participation. NGOs are also expected to take an active role in this process in our country. However, it is observed that an NGO structure and mindset capable of producing services in this direction have not yet fully taken root. The primary reason for this is that NGOs in our country cannot organize around strategically defined goals or be managed efficiently on an institutional level. The Master's Program in Governance and Non-Governmental Organizations aims to fill this gap in the field and train support teams or managers who will take part in NGO structures and work project-oriented.
Strategic management, just like in the private sector, provides managerial techniques and skills that are essential to develop institutional capacity and effectively implement institutional goals in the public sector and in NGOs, which are referred to as the third sector. Indeed, with the New Public Management Model, applying strategic management techniques successfully used in the private sector to public administration has been envisaged, and significant success has been achieved in this direction. However, remarkable steps have not yet been taken to increase the institutional capacity and ensure the effective management of NGOs with the support of these management techniques. Through the Governance and Non-Governmental Organizations Master's Program, the university aims to bring an important social responsibility project to life in this field.
Considering the existence of financial and administrative problems in NGOs—referred to as the third sector—just as in the public and private sectors, it is becoming increasingly important for administrative units to carry out their activities in a planned manner. It is clearly visible that the reforms undertaken in the modern world and in our country over the past 10–15 years in the name of democratization and localization aim for public administrations and NGOs that can provide services that are more accountable, transparent, effective, and efficient. However, studies on how to achieve this are still insufficient. The most significant operational problem in practice is the inadequacy of managers or teams equipped with strategic management skills.
NGOs, which are of vital importance for the solid establishment of democracy and democratic traditions, can only succeed if they can clearly define their strategic goals and objectives and turn them into practice. Within this framework, the curriculum of the Governance and Non-Governmental Organizations Master's Program has been meticulously prepared to meet this exact need.
Master's Program in Politics, Institutions and Crisis Management (in French) (With and Without Thesis):
Master's Program in Administrative Sciences (With and Without Thesis):
This page updated by Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümü on 10.09.2026 12:42:06
