Middle East Technical University (METU) is located near the Turkish capital of Ankara. METU is located in the vibrant district of Çankaya, which is the home to many government buildings and foreign embassies. Students studying in Ankara have the opportunity to visit the museums, castles, and theaters located there. Past participants have traveled throughout Turkey and Europe in their free time while abroad.

METU is one of Turkey’s premier state-financed institutions of higher education. METU has a very strong emphasis in research and education in engineering and the natural sciences. While a wide range of subjects are offered at this prestigious University, it is best known for its excellence in science education. It is considered one of the very best Universities in Turkey and in Europe, and has partnerships with entities such as NATO, NASA, the United Nations, World Bank, and Erasmus. Founded in 1956, METU has grown to serve a student population of more than 26,000. It adopted English as its language of instruction, so the vast majority of courses are taught in English. In Turkish, METU is Orta DouTeknik Üniversitesi ODTÜ.

This program is ideal for more independent students and for students who are interested in Middle East Studies. Students will be expected to function quite independently during their time at METU, but there is a very robust Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organization that provides a lot of support to new international students. 

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GVSU's partner universities are largely independent programs; prospective participants should carefully consider if this form of study abroad suits their needs before registering. These partnerships allow students to experience a more independent international study abroad, but also require students to have a high level of flexibility and the ability to navigate much of the program independently. Those who prefer additional support may wish to consider other study abroad options such as external study abroad providers and our faculty-led options.