I had dreamed of studying law ever since I started high school. However, during my exam year, when I realized that most law-related professions are practiced primarily at a local level, International Relations began to attract my interest as a different and broadening alternative. The institution that resolved this dilemma as I was making my university preferences in 2015 was Istanbul Kültür University — a university I have always been proud to graduate from.
After completing one year of English preparatory education, I began my studies in the Department of International Relations. Based on my first-year GPA and my university entrance exam score, I earned the right to pursue a double major in the Faculty of Law. This opportunity enabled me not only to gain qualifications for working in the international arena but also to develop an in-depth understanding of the legal system of my own country. Additionally, thanks to the Erasmus agreements I had researched while making my university choices, I had the chance to study for six months in Barcelona — the city I had always dreamed of living in.
Istanbul Kültür University will always hold a special place in my life, as it played a pivotal role in transforming the dreams I had at the beginning of my university journey into goals — and eventually into reality. I sincerely thank all my professors, especially my academic advisors, who continuously guided me, generously shared their knowledge, and continued to support me even after graduation. Graduating with honors from the Department of International Relations not only helped me better understand the world but also shaped my current academic journey in Public Law at Istanbul University. The knowledge I gained in both fields during my undergraduate years allowed me to discover the areas of law that have influenced me most profoundly.
Today, as I practice law in my own law office, I continue to engage with politics and law both academically and professionally. The role of Istanbul Kültür University in shaping who I am today is undeniable. I am deeply grateful to my alma mater for everything it has contributed to my journey.
Attorney Nur Şevval YILDIRIM
Istanbul Kültür University
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Class of 2020
Founder Attorney, Yıldırım Legal
I graduated from the English-taught Department of International Relations at Istanbul Kültür University in 2019. Since 2020, I have been serving as a Career Diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.
The academic and intellectual foundation I acquired during my university education has made an undeniable contribution to the diplomatic duties I carry out today. Working in a profession that requires close monitoring of multidimensional global processes, the education I received at Istanbul Kültür University equipped me with analytical thinking, the ability to make multifaceted assessments, and effective communication skills — all of which prepared me for this field.
As the program was conducted entirely in English, it significantly enhanced my foreign language proficiency. This enabled me to strengthen my written and verbal communication skills in international platforms and has provided a considerable advantage in my professional career.
Our department’s dynamic and student-centered academic staff offered guidance not only in coursework but also in career planning and personal development, allowing students to realize their full potential. The strong student–faculty relationships, the effectiveness of academic advising processes, and the international perspective presented to us hold a valuable place in my educational journey.
Today, I look back on my years at Istanbul Kültür University with great satisfaction. Thanks to its strong academic foundation and visionary approach, I have always felt privileged to have been a student of this institution. I have always been proud — and continue to be proud — to belong to a university from which I graduated with honor.
Can Berk ATASOY
Istanbul Kültür University
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Class of 2019
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Career Diplomat
My academic journey, which began in 2015 in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Kültür University, was not merely enrollment in an undergraduate program; it was also a transformative process through which I developed interdisciplinary thinking, critical inquiry, and a research-oriented perspective. My intellectual interest in understanding global politics evolved into a dedicated academic path thanks to the theoretical and methodological foundation I acquired in this department.
My undergraduate education, which enabled me to analyze the historical, economic, and political layers of the international system from a multidimensional perspective, provided a solid basis for my academic career — both through its comprehensive curriculum and through my engagement with distinguished scholars in their respective fields. Today, as I pursue my doctoral studies as a Stipendium Hungaricum scholar at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), I continue to feel the impact of the perspective and academic self-confidence that Istanbul Kültür University instilled in me at every stage of my work.
I believe that being a graduate of Istanbul Kültür University signifies more than simply receiving a diploma; it represents a true privilege in terms of intellectual foundation, research discipline, and scholarly sensitivity. I sincerely extend my gratitude to all the esteemed academics who guided me throughout this journey, especially the faculty members of the Department of International Relations.
Ece YAZICI
Istanbul Kültür University
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Class of 2020
PhD Candidate
