Overview

EAP students are fully integrated into Bilkent University classes and have access to all fields of instruction. Bilkent University is Turkey’s first private university and was founded with the goal of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research. All courses are in English, but students can increase their ability to interact socially with Turkish students outside of classes if they study some Turkish.

Academic highlights include:

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

Course Opportunities

Regular university courses in a wide variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Archaeology and art history are particularly strong.

Use the following resources to learn about courses on EAP:

• 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.

Units

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.

Language of Instruction

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.

If a class is being taught in Turkish, you may request the instructor to teach in English (he or she may not be aware non-Turkish students are in the class) or you may ask the Exchange Program Coordinator to request instruction in English on your behalf.

Language Study

Two weeks of Turkish language instruction precede the fall term. Turkish language study is required for fall and year students during the fall term and for spring students during the spring term.

Internships, Research, and Independent Study

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.

Duration

Go to the Participants section to see current or past calendars.

Fall: late August to mid-January
Spring: late January to late May
Year: late August to late May

Extension is possible from the fall to the year.

Housing

Half of Bilkent's students live in dormitories on campus while others locate apartments for themselves in Ankara, about 30 minutes away. Almost all dorms have kitchenettes, laundry facilities, TV lounges, study halls, and recreation areas. Most EAP 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.

On-site Support

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.

See the EAP Program Guide (PDF) for program-specific details about host institutions, program structure, and courses; academic culture and conduct; internships, research, & independent study; units, exams, and grades; orientation; housing; and information about the intensive language program (if applicable).

Host Institutions

• Bilkent University

Estimated Cost

Participation in EAP is a great value! The cost of EAP programs is typically less than that of non-UC study abroad programs. The dollar figures listed in the chart represent: 1) the amount of the fees that are paid directly to EAP in the current year, and 2) an estimate of the amount needed to cover personal living expenses in this location. Personal travel and entertainment are not included here.

Don't forget that you take your financial aid with you and the amount of your financial aid package will be based on the estimated TOTAL COST of this experience, as it is estimated below.

These expenses are estimated for 2009-10. Amounts will vary for 2010-11 participation due to proposed changes to UC fees, exchange rate fluctuation, etc. For a more detailed breakdown of 2009-10 payment information, visit the Participants Portal and select the appropriate program.

Here’s what is included in the estimate:

• 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

Estimated EAP Costs*

Option	Cost
* Based on most recent costs for 2009-2010 to the nearest $100.
Fall	$12,100
Spring	$11,700
Year	$21,100

Application Requirements

Class Level

Junior, senior, graduate

Language Prerequisite

None

GPA

2.85 cumulative GPA at time of application and maintained through the end of the last term prior to departure.

Minimum Criteria

All applicants must also have:

• Serious academic goals and a clear plan for integrating EAP studies into the student’s UC degree program
• Social and cross-cultural sensitivity; maturity; ability to adapt successfully to a different environment and a new education system; ability to assess and exhibit appropriate behavior in a variety of situations
• A willingness to abide by program regulations
• An endorsement by the Campus EAP Selection Committee and completion of all campus-specific requirements (an interview may be required)

These are minimum program requirements only and do not guarantee selection. The Campus EAP Office determines selection. The final admission decision is made by Bilkent University.

Deadlines

Application deadlines and information on the application process are available through your Campus EAP Office. Supplemental predeparture materials will be required for many programs, including, but not limited to, host institution applications, visa and housing applications, medical clearances, etc.

For participation in the program, you must meet all deadlines and submit complete application materials.

Visit your Campus EAP Office for more information:

• UC Berkeley
• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC Los Angeles
• UC Merced
• UC Riverside
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Cruz