DATES:
Fall:
September - January
Spring:
January - May
Program Fee
Paid to Mason: Email Daria Stepanova or call (703) 993-2154
--
$125 Application Fee
--
$350 Administrative Fee ($550 for year long)
-- George Mason Tuition
Paid to Okan University:
-- Housing (~$2800)
Not Included in Cost:
-- International Airfare
-- Passport Fees
-- Visa Fees (~$60)
-- Personal Expenses
Financial aid should apply, but you are recommended to discuss aid with your financial aid counselor when planning your study abroad.
NOTE:
If a student applies and is accepted into a direct exchange program and then drops out of the program,the $350 administrative fee is non-refundable. In addition, program fees are subject to change.
ELIGIBILITY:
This program is open to Mason students ONLY. Students must have completed at least 45 credits at the time of departure and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students should not study abroad the last semester of senior year if they plan to graduate on time.
CREDITS:
Students may enroll in a variety of courses and may transfer between 12-16 credits per semester back to Mason, provided the letter grade received is equivalent to a "C" or above. The courses are transfer credit, and therefore will not factor into the GPA of the participant.
Students can choose from a wide range of courses including:
-- Applied Sciences
-- Arts & Sciences
-- Business & Economics
-- Engineering & Architecture
-- Fine Arts
--
Turkish Language
HOUSING:
Students attending Okan will live on the Tuzla Campus in residence halls. They must apply for housing online through the Okan housing website.
Contact
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Now accepting online applications!
Fall Semester: March 8
Spring Semester: October 1

HOUSING INFO
DEPARTMENTS AND COURSES
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Come and study in one of the most significant cities in history and the only city that spans two continents, creating a unique blend between European and Asian culture.
Okan University is one of the newest and most dynamic universities in Turkey. The campus features some of the best contemporary architecture in Turkey and campus amenities are equal to American universities. Exchange students are able to experience the history, culture and local life of Turkey, while also enjoying a serene and modern campus environment.

The Grand Baazar in Istabul
Students attending Okan will take courses in English and are able to study in the heart of Turkey’s economic and cultural life. Residence halls are located on Okan’s Tuzla Campus. Single, double or four person rooms are available. Within each dorm there is a study area, TV room, laundry room and medical center. There are also many restaurants and cafeterias available to students throughout the day on campus and all dorm rooms are equipped with wireless Internet. Okan University welcomes students from all over the world and students are able to participate in an international minded atmosphere. Students are invited to join several student organizations in order to become immersed in the Turkish university experience.

Typical student dorm room
Located in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, there is never a dull moment at Okan University. Students will be able to participate in many local cultural events and see many local historical attractions. Sultanahmet Square is Istanbul’s most famous historical and cultural attraction where students can walk around and visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the Archaeological Museum, the Egyptian Obelisk and many other attractions. The famous Grand Baazar is a shopper’s dream. It boasts over 6,000 shops and covers 60 streets. There are many other sites and museums to visit as well as a varied and hip nightlife.

Local spice shop

Turkish food
VISA INFORMATION:
Once accepted into a program, it will be your responsibility to apply for a student visa and/or residence permit (if required, based on your citizenship). You will receive details on this with your acceptance letter. Do not apply for a visa until after you have been officially accepted. Visit the Embassy of Turkey's website for further information.
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
Virtual Tour of Okan University
Istanbul City Guide
Istanbul - The Guide
U.S. State Department Travel Information
Okan International Student Facebook Page
Follow Okan on Twitter @okanedu
HOW TO APPLY:
Consult the How to Apply section first and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for a direct exchange program. Next, attend a Direct Exchange program information session. Do this prior to starting an application to ensure that you understand how to choose the right program and what is expected of you during the application process.
Check the course offerings at the school you are interested in applying to and check to ensure that they match your course requirements. See “Choosing Courses Abroad” section below.
Once you’ve selected an appropriate program that offers courses that match your major, complete the online application and pay the $125 application fee. Please note that all supplemental documents are also required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please contact the program officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.
CHOOSING COURSES ABROAD:
There is no list of pre-approved classes for you to take on a direct exchange program. It is your responsibility to select courses and get them approved for transfer credit. Please refer to the “Departments and Courses” link on the left-hand side of this page for a list of course options on this program. You must then complete a Petition for Transfer of Credits Form to ensure that your courses will transfer back to Mason. Download a petition form here.
Download petition form instructions for Okan here.
You can fill out the petition form prior to acceptance into a specific study abroad program and in fact, you should begin this process when you first consider applying. Identify courses at the host institution that are similar to those at Mason that you need to take. This will increase your chances of receiving transfer credit approval from the Departmental Advisors who must sign your petition form. Follow complete instructions from the link above and contact your program officer if you have questions.
**Note: Make sure you find plenty of primary AND alternate course options before deciding on a specific program. Schedules are subject to change and registration in your preferred classes is not guaranteed, so you should have sufficient alternate course options. Also, please keep in mind that you must enroll in the equivalency of at least 12 U.S. credits per semester.
*CGE reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.

