University of California Education Abroad Program

• Opportunities to study the archaeology of Anatolia, the Ancient Near East, the Mediterranean, as well as the history of art from the Byzantine period to the 20th century through courses offered in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art; practical work complements lectures and students have the opportunity to participate in excavations

• Courses relating to current political and security issues in the Middle East, the Balkans, and the Central Asian Republics for students in international relations and political science
  Engineering courses that focus on artificial intelligence, database management, graphics, parallel processing, computer networks, software engineering, materials science and engineering, and thermodynamics

• Beginning Turkish for study abroad students with little or no prior study of the language; a course in Turkish culture and literature is available for students with an intermediate knowledge of Turkish

Start the first day of your orientation right with a traditional Turkish breakfast and campus tour.

• Welcome by the Rector
• Workshops on campus life, Turkish customs, Anatolian archaeology
• City tour and visit to Ataturk's mausoleum
• Meet and bond with other international students
• Receive guidance on how to register your courses with both the host university and UC, to make sure you receive UC credit for courses taken abroad
• Gain "survival" Turkish language skills
• Lunches and dinners showcasing the famous Turkish hospitality
• Visit nearby towns
• Learn what to do in matters of health, safety, emergencies

Participation in orientation sessions and events is mandatory; missing them could result in dismissal from the program.

​Courses are taught in English if there are English speakers in the class, with the exception of music courses at Bilkent, which are taught only in Turkish. These classes are Western, classical music; they are not ethnic or folk music.

NEW beginning Fall 2013:  UCEAP students will receive FREE housing (double room in dormitory) if applying by the housing application deadline and subject to availability. Students who prefer a single dormitory room would pay only the difference in cost between single and double rooms.

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Half of Bilkent's students live in dormitories on campus while others locate apartments for themselves in Ankara, about 30 minutes away. Most UCEAP students select on-campus housing because the campus offers almost everything students want to purchase, it is a secure campus with restricted entry, and students do not have to arrange daily transportation to class. Dormitory life also offers the best opportunity to meet and interact with Turkish and other international students.

You are responsible to reserve and pay for your own housing, either on- or off-campus, directly to the housing provider. Bilkent will send you a housing form along with the acceptance letter and other materials. Complete and return the form as soon as you receive it. Payment is made upon arrival.

Bilkent offers several dorm options for international students, including single, double, and four-person rooms. The range of on-campus housing is vast; dorm options and costs vary much more than they typically do at UC. UCEAP students recommend that you avoid the temptation to save money by choosing the least expensive option. Dorms designated as private or “special” (with suites and studios) generally offer a high level of comfort, while the least expensive options may include worn furniture and bedding and communal bathrooms. Privacy, water, and heating can be problematic. Generally, the mid-range to expensive options offer conditions that would be comparable to what is found on a UC campus, with the most expensive offering the best conditions. The lowest priced dorms have one kitchen per building, while the higher-priced dorms have one kitchen per floor. Common to all dorms are access to full kitchens, study and computer rooms, laundry facilities, cafés, housekeeping, phone service, and in-room Internet connections. Bed linens are provided in the dorms, but UCEAP recommends that you take a sleeping bag for the early fall—before the heat is turned on—and for travel. Pack your own towels or purchase them after arrival.

While the dorms are convenient and provide an excellent opportunity to meet Turkish students, all dorms have strict regulations that you will be required to follow. These regulations include curfews, which are usually midnight. All dorms are segregated by gender and visitors of the opposite sex are allowed in common rooms only; no visitors of the opposite sex are allowed in your room. All students and visitors are required to check in with the front desk every time they enter, and must be “buzzed in” to the dorms. If you plan to spend the night away from the dorm, you must inform the dorm director in advance. Alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the dorms.

Dorm #50 has received a positive evaluation from past UCEAP students.

​EAP students are supported by UC's network of EAP offices at every UC campus and partnerships with EAP host universities throughout the world. Local staff abroad help students integrate into the culture of their host country and provide assistance with academics, housing, safety, and other issues.

• Bilkent University

Bilkent University, Ankara

Bilkent University enrolls over 12,000 students from 72 countries. As a major center for research and teaching, the university is home to nine faculties including Business Administration, Humanities, and Letters and Science. Instruction is in English. Founded in 1984, Bilkent is a private institution distinguished by high-quality education and research. The university’s name comes from the Turkish phrase bilim kenti, or city of knowledge. Its three campuses are located about 12 kilometers from central Ankara.

 

Visit the Bilkent University website

• EAP Program Search provides information on general areas of study.
• Host institution online catalogs or course listings:
  • Bilkent University
• MyEAP Course Catalog lists courses previously taken by UC students. Additional courses may be available and not all courses may still be offered. Since courses in new programs have not yet been taken for credit, they may not appear in the MyEAP Course Catalog.

​You are required to take a full-time course of study while abroad. Students enroll in five courses for a total of 22.5 UC quarter units per semester.

​Independent study and internships for academic credit may be possible in this program. Arrangements are generally made at the Study Center after arrival at the host institution. Pre-departure preparation may be required.

• Predeparture expenses (health clearance, student visa, etc.)
• Round-trip airfare
• UC fees
• Cost of attending Bilkent University
• Accident and medical insurance
• On-site orientation
• Intensive Language Program
• Room and Board
• Local transportation
• Optional excursions
• Books and other incidental expenses
• Automatic transfer of credits and grades to your UC transcript