Syracuse University

Welcome to SU Abroad in Istanbul

Chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2010, Istanbul literally straddles the continents of Europe and Asia. Similar to New York or London in its energy, diversity of peoples and distinct neighborhoods, this cosmopolitan mega-city will amaze and delight. Here you will find every kind of cuisine, a café culture buzzing at all hours of the day or night, and music in the streets as well as in clubs and concert halls. The city has been a veritable melting pot of cultures, traditions and lifestyles stretching back over 2000 years. So there is always something new (or something ancient and grand) to explore.      

Istanbul also provides a double dose of perspective and experience you can’t quite get anywhere else. Situated at the edge of Europe, Turkey serves as a gateway into Asia and opens a window onto the Middle East. You will see the interconnectedness of the world with new eyes. Your journey as a truly global citizen begins here.  

>> View all courses for SU Istanbul

What You Need to Know

This unique program combines SU Abroad signature seminars and internships with the opportunity to take coursework in English alongside Turkish students and your international peers. Through a special partnership with Bahçeşehir University, one of Turkey’s most progressive private institutions, you will be immersed within a dynamic academic community that includes an active social and cultural agenda. Program students live in modern dormitory suites an easy commute to campus—another opportunity to make new friends from all over the world, including other cities in Turkey.

The SU Istanbul director will be there to advise and guide you from the moment you arrive. By the time you finish the pre-semester “Istanbul the City” signature seminar, you will be prepared to make the most of the many resources your new host city has to offer. The SU interdisciplinary seminar, “Contemporary Issues in Turkey” will further serve to focus and inform the rest of your coursework.   

Your Campus in Istanbul

The SU Istanbul Center is located at Bahçeşehir University. It’s an ideal location for enjoying the best the city has to offer. Built directly on the waterfront of the European shore in the district of Beşiktas, the University backs up onto streets bustling with trendy and traditional shops, restaurants, coffee houses, bars, and fresh food markets. The Beşiktas ferry station is a 5-minute walk from campus. With this and other public transit readily accessible (buses, metro, trams, ferries, taxis), your campus “home base” serves as a jumping-off point to the many other city neighborhoods—the historic district, Istanbul’s “SoHo” district, or to neighborhoods across the Bosporus, a short (but exhilarating) 10-minute ferry ride.  

Bahçeşehir’s International Relations director and multicultural staff work closely with all international students, the majority from across Europe, to coordinate special activities and events.  The International Student Handbook also highlights the great opportunities the campus offers for all students. Check out the 50 student clubs—everything from Nature Sports to Solar Cars, Sailing, Paintball, and Humor. If you don’t find your interest, you can create a new club!

Academic Program

The SU Istanbul program has both an undergraduate and a graduate component.

There are two required courses in the SU Istanbul undergraduate program:

HUM 300—Istanbul the City (2-3 credits)

IRP/PSC 400/600—Contemporary Issues in Turkey (3 credits)

This interdisciplinary course provides an opportunity to examine 21^st century challenges at the interface between modernity and history:  democracy and traditionalism; human rights and strategic security; development and sustainability; gender and minority issues; secularism and religious fundamentalism. The course will give you a nuanced understanding about Turkey’s complex and increasingly pivotal role in the region, and insights about Turkey that will serve you well in your other courses.     

 In addition to the two required courses, most students will enroll in three Bahçeşehir University courses, taken in English alongside Turkish students and other international peers. Many of the courses offered are ideally suited for students with an interdisciplinary focus or major in European Studies, Middle East Studies, and International Relations. Other disciplines include communications, economics, management, political science, religion, sociology, transmedia, and Turkish language. You may also apply for a part-time internship (3 credits) to complete your academic program. The minimum number of credits during the semester is 12, and the maximum is 19.

Students in science and engineering disciplines have the option to take courses at Boğazıçı

University and should contact SU Abroad for more information.