Middle East Technical University
University Information:
http://www.metu.edu.tr/
Faculty of Engineering: http://www.eng.metu.edu.tr/
International Cooperations Office: http://www.ico.metu..edu.tr/
Languages: All courses are taught in English except for translation and language courses.
Introduction
The mission of the Middle East Technical University is to reach, produce, apply and
promote knowledge, and to educate individuals with that knowledge for the social, cultural,
economic, scientific and technological development of our society and humanity. This is to be
done by bringing teaching, research and social services up to universal standards.
Middle East Technical University (METU), a state university founded in 1956. METU is
one of Turkey's most competitive universities. Each year, among the students taking the National
University Entrance Examination, over 1/3 of the 1000 applicants with the highest scores attend
METU. Due to the high demand towards METU is so great, most of our departments accept only
the top 1% of the approximately 1.5 million applicants taking the National University Entrance
Examination.
METU currently has about 23,000 students of which 4,500 are in masters and 2,700 are
in doctorate programs. METU has 40 undergraduate programs within 5 faculties. Additionally,
there are 5 Graduate Schools with 97 masters and 62 doctorate programs and a "School of
Foreign Languages" which includes the English Preparatory Department. 13 undergraduate
programs (including 1 international program) are offered in connection with METU Northern
Cyprus Campus.
METU hosts over 1,600 international students from nearly 70 different countries studying
toward myriad of academic degrees. METU, with 170 Erasmus agreements and over 180
bilateral exchange and cooperation agreements with universities in third countries annually sends
350 students and hosts 300 students and 50 teaching staff/researchers.
Terms of Exchange
Study Level: METU except exchange students both undergraduate and graduate levels as long
as the concerned instructor approves.
Period: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Application Deadline
Deadline for international exchange students:
Full Academic Year: End of May
Autumn Semester: End of May
Spring Semester: November 15th
Application Procedures
English Proficiency:
TOEFL scores are required for incoming international exchange students.
Minimum required TOEFL scores:
 Paper-based Test (PBT) - 550
 Computer-based Test – 213
 Internet-based Test (IBT) - 80
Disciplines Available
Faculties/ departments at which our students can take courses:
Faculties: Engineering, Architecture, Education, Arts and Sciences, Economics and
Administrative Sciences
Departments of Faculty of Engineering:
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Department of Aerospace Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
Department of Computer Engineering
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Department of Engineering Sciences
Department of Environmental Engineering
Department of Food Engineering
Department of Geological Engineering
Department of Industrial Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Department of Mining Engineering
Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Application materials:
All forms are listed online:
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http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/node/30
Application Form
Accommodation Form
One copy of Official Transcript
At least one Recommendation Letter
A Letter of Intension
Health Insurance Valid in Turkey
Copy of Passport
When will students receive their acceptance package?
Students receive the admissions documents 4-5 weeks after the application is received.
Course Registration and Academic Information
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Recommended Arrival Date:
September 12/13, 2010 for Fall and February 6/7, 2011
for Spring
Orientations Dates and Details: September 13-19, 2010 for Fall and February 7-13,
2011 for Spring
Class registration details:
September 20-22, 2010 for Fall and February 14-16,
2011 for Spring
First day of Semester:
September 23 for Fall and February 17 for Spring
Last day of Semester:
January 7, 2011 for Fall and May 27, 2011 for Spring
Date on which Course schedule will be available: September 13 for Fall and February
7 for Spring
Academic Calendar: http://www.oidb.metu.edu.tr/acadcal.html
Relevant URL for course schedule:
https://oibs2.metu.edu.tr/View_Program_Course_Details_64/
Workload per semester:
It is required you to be enrolled in a full-time program of study. You must register for at least
three or four classes totaling at least 9 credits if you are graduate student at your home
institution, or at least 12 credits if you are an undergraduate at your home institution.
Grading System
Letter Grade
Grade Point
AA
BA
BB
4.0
3.5
3.0
CB
CC
DC
DD
2.5
2.0
1,5
1.0
FD
FF
0.5
0.0
Academic Transcripts
One copy of the official transcripts will be sent to the students’ home institutions upon
completion of the semester(s).
Accommodations
Is on-campus accommodation available to exchange students?
On-campus accommodation is available to exchange students. There are three different types of
dormitories as state, semi-private and private. They have different prices according to their room
types. There is no off-campus accommodation help for the students.
About housing application procedure and deadlines please see the accommodation form at the
website, http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/node/30
When can exchange students move-in to the on-campus dormitories?
Students can typically move into the on-campus dormitories two weeks before classes begin.
Pre-Arrival
Entry Visa:
Everyone who is not a Turkish Citizen, a student visa is required to register as a student
in Turkey. Exceptions are those who are legal dependents of someone in Turkey on a diplomatic
mission or with a valid permit. Please do not come to Turkey without your student visa.
Student visas must be obtained from a Turkish Consulate, generally the one nearest your
place of residence. Student visas cannot be obtained within Turkey. You must take, or mail, a
copy of your "Letter of Acceptance" from METU and a completed visa application form to the
Turkish Consulate. The Consulate will provide you an application form upon request. Generally,
you must also pay application fee. Please try to apply to the Turkish Consulate as soon as you get
a copy of your acceptance letter. The process of issuing a student visa to Turkey generally varies
depending on your country of residence and in some countries it may take up to 6 weeks.
Information on obtaining a visa, please visit http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/node/27
Health & Safety
Health insurance is required for international students studying at METU. METU’s
medical insurance does not cover Exchange/Visiting students. You must have
emergency/hospital insurance when you come to Turkey. For more information, please visit the
Student Health Insurance Program website. http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/node/28
Arrival and Orientation
When should the students arrive?
Students should arrive in time to participate in International Student Orientation
activities, which changes due to the beginning date of semester. Recommended arrival dates
are 2nd week of September for Fall and 1st week of February for Spring.
Is airport reception available?
METU International Cooperation Office does not have an airport reception service but
host students can welcome international students at the airport. Ankara International Airport
(Esenboğa) is about 35 km away from METU campus. If you go through customs in Istanbul,
you will need to transfer from International Flights Terminal to Domestic Flights Terminal.
Responsible personnel will direct you to the domestic flights terminal; check the direction signs
as well.
You may need to exchange some of your foreign currency for Turkish Lira as soon as you
arrive in Turkey. Bank windows are available in both airports immediately before or after
passport control. Exchanging money also can be done at the PTT, open 24 hours, at both airports.
It is advisable to have at least US$ 200-300 in cash for your first few days in Ankara.
From Ankara airport to city center, you may want to take a taxi or use shuttle buses
(called HAVAS). If you wish to take a taxi, metered taxis are also available from the airport to
the city. Taxi fares to central locations within city are approximately US$ 50-70 depending on
your arrival time (arrivals after 11:30 p.m. means you pay night fare to the taxi you take, so the
taxi fare increases). By law, all taxis in Turkey are metered. You pay what is on the meter;
tipping is not customary. Taxi fare from HAVAS City Terminal (Ulus area) to METU campus or
to most hotels will be US$ 10-15. As drivers usually do not speak English, you should have your
destination address on a paper to show the driver.
Airport Shuttle-Buses (HAVAS Buses)
Services between airport and the city terminal will be scheduled according to the arrival
times of domestic and international flights.
Route: Ankara Esenboğa Airport, Çubuk, Pursaklar, Hasköy, Keçiören, Etlik, Havaş City
Terminal, ASTI (Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal-Coach Station)
Note: Even if there is one passenger going to the coach station, the coaches set off to ASTI just
afterwards the other passengers are dropped in HAVAS City Terminal.
Passenger Dropping Spots: HAVAS shuttles drop passengers at Çubuk intersection, Pursaklar,
Hasköy, Aydınlıkevler, Keçiören Bridge and Etlik Intersection on the way to city center.
Arrival time: Approximately 30 minutes to HAVAS City Terminal and 45 minutes to ASTI
Coach Station
Ticket fee: 10, 00 TL (VAT incl.), around US $8
If you want to take HAVAS shuttle buses to the city center, we suggest you to drop in
ASTI Coach Station if you are coming to METU directly since ASTI is just 5 km to our campus.
If you arrive after midnight and/or want to stay in a hotel for one night, you may also get off at
HAVAS City Terminal in Ulus area which is just adjacent to Ankara’s main football stadium (19
Mayıs Stadyumu) where there are many cheap hotels.
If you get off at ASTI Coach Station, you may want to take a taxi to METU campus. Our
campus is about 5 km away from ASTI towards west-side of the city. Each time you enter
METU campus, you will be asked to show your METU ID card. Since you will not have your
card with you for the first time you enter the campus, please have your letter of acceptance ready
to show the guards when entering the campus.
Banks on campus:
There are six banks available within METU Campus;
The branches of the banks within the campus are located in and around Çarşı Shopping
Center and they are İş Bankası, Akbank, Vakıflar Bankası, Ziraat Bankası, Garanti Bankası and
Yapı Kredi Bankası. These branches have ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) as well.
At the entrances of Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Civil
Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Department of Chemistry and
Library, there are ATMs of those banks which have a branch within campus boundaries and
ATM of HSBC, Oyakbank, Finansbank which do not have a branch in the campus.
For information about local banking institutions, please see
http://www.metu.edu.tr/clife/bankpost.php
Estimated Cost of Living
Cost of Living:
$ 150- $ 200 Books and supplies, a semester
$ 300 Meals (on Campus), minimal monthly cost
$ 600 Incidental and personal expenses, a semester
Students should also budget extra for travel.
Food/meals - information on dining options and meal plans:
http://www.metu.edu.tr/clife/fooddrink.php
Accommodation - Cost of accommodation per month depends on room and dorm. Cheapest one
for international students is around US $ 100 monthly. Most expensive is $ 2500 per semester
(single room, private wc and shower).
For more information please see the accommodation form from:
http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/node/30
Local transportation - METU is located about 7 kilometers from the center of the city at
Kızılay. Transportation to and from METU campus is frequent and convenient. City buses (EGO
buses), HALK buses, double-decker buses and private minibuses (Dolmuş) have regular services
from Kızılay (Güvenpark), Ulus (opposite the Radisson SAS Hotel and across from Gençlik
Park) and Ayrancı (Portakalçiçeği Sokak) to the METU campus.
More information on local transportation: http://www.metu.edu.tr/clife/transport.php
Contact
International Cooperations Office
Website: http://www.ico.metu.edu.tr/
E-mail: ico@metu.edu.tr
City Info
For information about the city please visit the website of ‘Republic of Turkey Ministry of
Culture and Tourism’:
http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D3137EE1F1486EE5030
EDA0F7D5833632EE9