Intensive Turkish Summer Program
Discover Turkiye: Where Continents, Cultures, and Centuries meet.
Step into a summer like no other in Turkiye, a country where every street corner holds a story and every conversation opens a window into a rich and dynamic world. In the Intensive Turkish Summer Program, you’ll do more than study a language, you’ll live it! Through daily interaction with your host family, local peers, and the vibrant life of Ankara, you’ll immerse yourself in the rhythms, flavors, and perspectives that define modern Turkiye.
From ancient ruins to sleek modern cafés, Turkiye bridges East and West, history and modernity, tradition and innovation. Based in Ankara, the nation’s political and cultural heart, you’ll experience the best of both worlds: a city steeped in the legacy of empires yet pulsing with the energy of a modern European metropolis.
Whether you’re interested in international relations, global business, history, or cultural studies, studying Turkish opens doors to new academic and career possibilities—and a deeper understanding of one of the most strategically and culturally significant countries in the world.
Program Features
Available during the
Summer term.
20 hours per week of in-class Turkish language study in small groups taught by highly experienced Ankara University TOMER (Türkçe Ögretim Merkezi, or Turkish and Foreign Languages Application and Research Center) faculty.
Turkish language
conversation partners selected by American Councils and TOMER staff for two hours per week.
Housing with
carefully-selected, experienced, Turkish-speaking host families who provide two meals per day.
One day per week set aside for structured
cultural programming led by the Resident Director in collaboration with faculty. Activities include guided visits to historical sites, museums, and cultural landmarks; workshops in Turkish cuisine, music, or traditional arts; and opportunities to engage with local communities. While destinations vary from year to year,
weekly excursions typically include:
- Ankara Castle;
- Anitkabir (Mausoleum of Atatürk);
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations;
- Ethnography Museum of Ankara;
- The historic neighborhoods of Ulus and Hamamönü.
The Resident Director also leads a
five-day trip, during which participants explore some of Turkiye’s most intriguing places and attractions, including such locations as Cappadocia and Istanbul.
Participants earn
8-10 U.S. academic credits per summer through Bryn Mawr College.
Comprehensive health, accident, and evacuation insurance for all participants abroad.
Financial Aid
Financial aid from American Councils is available for the Intensive Turkish Summer Program. Please visit our
Financial Aid page to learn more about available scholarships.
Eligibility Requirements
Minimum 2.7 GPA
At least 18 years old by application deadline
Application Deadline
Summer programs:
February 15
Interested in learning more?
Complete program information, including an online application, is available on the
Intensive Turkish Summer Program (ITSP) website.
Check out our
Facebook and
Instagram for photos and stories from program participants!
Questions?
Contact American Councils at
outbound@americancouncils.org.
