Discover a nation where the ancient world meets the future and where every day offers a new way to see, taste, and experience life.
Step into the crossroads of civilizations and explore Turkiye, a country that has inspired travelers, artists, and thinkers for centuries. From the bustling streets of Ankara, the country’s vibrant capital, you’ll experience the rhythm of daily life in a society that bridges Europe and Asia, tradition and innovation, the past and the future.
During your time in Turkiye, you’ll do more than visit landmarks - you’ll live the culture. Share meals and stories with your Turkish host family, join local university peers for cultural events and city outings, and gain new perspectives on history, politics, and identity through immersive coursework taught by top Ankara University faculty. Along the way, you’ll explore the forces shaping Turkiye today, from its dynamic democracy and artistic movements to its role in global affairs, while learning the basics (or deepening your knowledge) of the Turkish language.
Turkiye Today is an eight-week, English-language academic and cultural immersion program that brings together classroom learning, hands-on experience, and personal discovery.
Hosted by Ankara University’s TOMER Language Center, in collaboration with American Councils, the program blends academic study with real-world engagement to help students gain a nuanced understanding of Turkiye’s history, culture, and modern identity.
You’ll take interactive courses (taught in English) exploring Turkish history, society, and contemporary issues, while also participating in Turkish language instruction at all levels. No prior experience is required. Classes are small and discussion-based, encouraging you to connect ideas with lived experiences in your host community.
Outside of class, you’ll dive into Turkish life through weekly excursions and cultural activities, from exploring historic mosques and lively bazaars to sampling regional cuisines, visiting art galleries, and engaging in traditional crafts. Living with a local host family gives you a front-row seat to the rhythms of Turkish daily life, language, and hospitality.
A highlight of the program is a week-long excursion beyond Ankara, where participants travel together to discover Cappadocia’s surreal landscapes, Istanbul’s iconic skyline, and other unforgettable destinations that bring centuries of Turkish history to life.
Live the culture, not just study it, through host family stays, cultural immersion, and local friendships.
Engage with the real Türkiye, exploring its art, politics, religion, and innovation through firsthand experience.
Learn Turkish your way, whether you’re a beginner or ready to take your skills further.
Travel through time and place, from modern Ankara to the timeless beauty of Cappadocia and the cultural heart of Istanbul.
Build skills that matter, global awareness, communication, adaptability, and cross-cultural understanding.
With a population of over five million, Turkiye’s vibrant capital blends ancient history with the energy, excitement, and variety of a modern European metropolis. The city’s historic center features winding streets, centuries old Ottoman houses, cobblestone alleys, and sweeping views of the cityscape. In addition to such historic sites as the Roman Baths, the Temple of Augustus, and the Ankara Castle, the city is filled with cafés, tea gardens, and restaurants where locals and U.S. students gather over strong coffee or sweet tea. The nightlife is energetic but laid-back, with a thriving music scene and student-friendly clubs. Getting around is simple thanks to an efficient public transportation system that includes metro, buses, and affordable taxis, making it easy to explore both the historic neighborhoods and the more contemporary districts dotted with boutiques, bookstores, and art spaces.
(4 credits) This course is designed to provide students with a greater understanding of contemporary society in Turkiye, with particular attention to politics, religion, economics, education, and mass media. What are the major issues in Turkiye today? What pressures does the average person have to face? What are the driving sources of Turkiye’s economy? How has migration, particularly from Syria, impacted Turkiye’s political and economic systems? How have the roles of men and women in society changed over the past decades? What are the major historical trends that have shaped the modern Turkish state? What are the critical issues and concerns for Turkiye’s future?
(4 credits) This course combines three hours per week of Turkish language instruction with three hours per week of course lectures and discussions in English exploring Turkiye’s major intellectual and artistic movements in the 20th and 21st centuries with particular attention to literature, film, art, and music. Readings, lectures, and discussion in English examine the following questions: How have the country’s artists and thinkers responded to the major events of recent history, including such issues as immigration and the growing influence of religious conservatism globally? How have intellectuals and artists helped to shape Turkish society since World War Two more broadly? What are the ‘keys’ to understanding Turkish artistic and intellectual trends in the 20th and 21st centuries? What makes a work of art, literature, music, or cuisine truly Turkish? What role do artists and intellectuals play in Turkiye today? How have the country’s artists and intellectuals influenced western thought and global culture more broadly? Students study Turkish language in small groups based on proficiency levels. No prior language study is required for the program. Delivered by highly experienced TOMER faculty, Turkish classes are conducted to maximize language gain in all modalities, with particular emphasis on real world communication with native speakers. For beginners, language classes focus on comprehension and speech production to help participants successfully navigate daily life in-country.
Participants live with specially selected host families who provide breakfast and dinner seven days per week. Participants reside in fully furnished, private rooms. In addition to invaluable logistical support, host families offer unique insight into Turkish daily life; ongoing language practice in a warm, supportive environment; and regular advice and assistance. Students with no prior knowledge of Turkish are placed with English-speaking families.
One day per week is 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, Anıtkabir (Mausoleum of Atatürk), the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Ethnography Museum of Ankara, and the historic neighborhoods of Ulus and Hamamönü. The Resident Director also leads a five-day trip, during which participants explore some of Türkiye’s most intriguing places and attractions, including such locations as Cappadocia and Istanbul. Travel, excursions, and cultural activities are closely integrated into classroom studies to provide participants with a rich context for each outin
Participants are paired with Turkish university students who serve as both conversation partners and cultural guides. Conversation partners not only provide additional support with conversation practice and comprehension but also help U.S. participants form meaningful friendships and social connections within the Turkish student community. (Students with no prior knowledge of Turkish are matched with conversation partners who speak English.) Language partners are selected by American Councils and TOMER staff. Many students report that their conversation partners provide invaluable opportunities for them to find new social networks.
The University of Ankara enrolls almost 90,000 students and is the leading academic institution of Turkiye. Faculty from the departments of political science, law, and literature teach specially designed courses in English for participants in Turkiye Today. Based at the University of Ankara, TOMER (Türkçe Öğretim Merkezi) has been a leading center for the study of Turkish for more than 40 years. The Center’s faculty specializes in the teaching of Turkish to foreign students through interactive, student-centered instruction designed to maximize language gain in all modalities.
Multiple sources of funding are available to support participants in paying for programs abroad. Participants are encouraged to apply for private scholarships, federal aid and grants, college/university scholarships, and American Councils fellowships and scholarships.
Summer participants attend a two-day orientation program on site immediately upon arrival in Almaty (where they are met at the airport by AC Staff). Orientation sessions cover health and safety, academic culture, host-family life, cultural adjustment, onsite support, and strategies for maximizing language learning. Lodging and meals are provided.
While abroad, participants have access to full-time in-country staff who offer academic, administrative, and personal support, as well as 24/7 emergency assistance. The AC Study Abroad team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact with students, host institutions, and families throughout the program.
All participants are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides up to $250,000 in medical coverage per accident or illness and full emergency medical evacuation coverage.
American Councils provides visa support for participants for the duration of the program in the host country, if applicable. Students are responsible for obtaining any additional visas required by their travel plans. Visa instructions and forms are provided after acceptance.
