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Study in China
beijing - chinese language + culture

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paris - critical studies

Study in Nicaragua
managua - liberal arts

Study in the Czech Republic
prague - film studies

Study in Italy
naples - liberal arts

Study in Italy
naples - classical studies

Study in Germany
berlin - language + culture

Study in Thailand
khon kaen - community public health

Study in Australia
perth - sustainability + the environment

Is this program right for you?

This program is designed for students with a range of academic interests–archaeology, sociology, and history to engineering, business, and science. Students also have the opportunity to study Turkish language. Students enroll directly in courses alongside local students at one of Turkey’s premier private universities while participating in CIEE program activities and excursions designed to introduce them to the multicultural realities of this ancient and dynamic country.

Program Snapshot

  • Study in a country that offers a unique blend of East and West—rich in history and tradition, yet undergoing rapid social transformation
  • Live in an amazing multi-cultural city that spans two continents, and study on a beautiful campus overlooking the Black Sea and the Bosphorus
  • Take Turkish language courses—all levels offered; Peer Language Tutors
  • Participate in the community through volunteer work
  • Partake in excursions to such places as Cappadocia, Konya, and Eastern Turkey

Subject Areas

  • Archaeology
  • Art History
  • Biological Sciences
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Literature Criticism/Comparative Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Turkish Language

About Istanbul

The city of Istanbul has over 3,000 years of history. Once the seat of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is now the cultural and economic capital of Turkey. It is also the country’s largest city, with an estimated population of 15 million. Istanbul has seen the rise and fall of great empires and the ongoing transformations wrought by rapid migration and urbanization. The CIEE Study Center at Koç University provides students many opportunities to experience how the influences of the past and present—along with the potential of the future—have and will shape the physical and cultural landscapes of Turkey.

Where You'll Study

Koç University

Founded in 1993, Koç University is a private university located on a beautiful hillside
campus overlooking the Black Sea, near the Sariyer district of Istanbul and approximately 45 minutes from the central part of the city. A liberal arts university, courses are taught in English, and most of the faculty received their graduate degrees from universities in North America and Western Europe. The campus includes facilities consistent with those found on U.S. campuses, and there is a vibrant student campus life offering numerous clubs and special activities.

Thoughts From Abroad

Your hands will be warmed by endless cups of çay; your ears will become attuned to the sounds of the call to prayer, arabesk, and pop alaturca; your feet will get used to walking on marble ruins, ancient pathways, and the uneven and crowded pavement of city streets; your mouth will become accustomed to the phrase “Inshallah” and the sweet taste of baklava; your eyes will be delighted by the striking variety and beauty of the country and its historical and cultural sites; your mind will be challenged by the contradictions experienced in your daily encounters with Turkish people and society.

Istanbul is a microcosm of Turkey, reflecting the diversity and complexity of the nation’s ethnic, religious, and cultural identities. The forces of rapid urbanization, gentrification, and globalization are clearly visible in the city’s public spaces and in the lifestyles of its inhabitants. From its skyline dominated by the minarets of the Blue Mosque, the dome of Haghia Sophia,
and modern skyscrapers, to the synthesis of middle eastern and western motifs in the music and clothing sold on the city’s famed Istiklal Caddesi, Istanbul offers a feast for the senses and the opportunity to explore a nation trying to balance tradition with modernity in an age of rapid social transformation.

— Kathryn Bourgeois, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Originally from California, Kathryn Bourgeois has been a resident of Turkey since 1997. She comes to CIEE with many years experience in the study abroad field and is particularly adept with issues surrounding cross-cultural communications. Kathryn has served in study abroad capacities with Pitzer and Scripps Colleges in the U.S. and in Turkey. She also has experience both as a classroom teacher and program administrator. Kathryn is currently completing the requirements for an M.A. in Sociology from Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Scripps College and is a Certified Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (CTEFL).

Recommended Credit

semester: 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours
academic year: 30 semester/45 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75

Program Dates

Fall 20099/21/2009 - 1/9/2010
Academic Year 2009-109/21/2009 - 6/11/2010
Spring 20102/8/2010 - 6/11/2010

Application Deadlines

Fall 20094/1/2009
Academic Year 2009-104/1/2009
Spring 201011/1/2009

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Fall 200919 weeks
early September – mid-January
Academic Year 2009-1038 weeks
early September – late May
Spring 201019 weeks
early February - early June

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Fall 2009 $15,500
    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$13,076
    Housing$2,350
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$15,500

    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,700
    Personal Expenses$2,100
    Meals$1,500
    Books and Supplies$200
    Local Transportation$600
    Visa Fee$130
    Total$6,230


  • Academic Year 2009-10 $27,900
    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$23,126
    Housing$4,700
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$27,900

    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,700
    Personal Expenses$4,200
    Meals$3,000
    Books and Supplies$400
    Local Transportation$1,200
    Visa Fee$130
    Total$10,630


  • Spring 2010 $15,500
    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee) $13,076
    Housing$2,350
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$15,500

    The CIEE program fee includes tuition, housing, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, host institution identity card, Peer Language Tutors, comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which includes insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Local Transportation$500
    Personal Expenses$2,100
    Meals$1,900
    Books and Supplies$250
    Visa Fee$130
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure) $1,350
    Total$6,230


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.