Türkiye
Dates
May 11 – May 26, 2026
Subjects
Business, Marketing, Photography & New Media, International Affairs, Political Science, Honors
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The Türkiye program aims to immerse students in the rich cultural, historical, and social fabric of Türkiye while enhancing their understanding of the country’s geopolitical significance, economic practices, and cultural heritage. The 2-week program will begin in İzmir, where students will have the opportunity to explore Ephesus, the beaches of Çeşme, and work alongside Turkish students on course projects in cooperation with a local university, İzmir University of Economics. From İzmir, the program will travel to Cappadocia, famous for fairy chimneys, underground cities, and Göreme, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The program will end in İstanbul, with excursions to sites like the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and Galata Tower. This program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary educational experience, catering to various academic majors with a focus on international marketing and regional studies. Note: Students should be aware that some excursions are physically strenuous and involve hiking over rocky terrain.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Şirince is a quaint village in Türkiye's İzmir Province, renowned for its well-preserved 19th-century white houses and charming cobblestone streets. The village is famous for its fruit wines, organic produce, and homemade crafts. Nestled in the hills near Ephesus, Şirince offers a serene escape with stunning views where students will be able to dine and relax after a long day of exploring Ephesus.
Göreme is a captivating town in the heart of Türkiye's Cappadocia region, famous for its unique rock formations and ancient cave dwellings. The Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features beautifully preserved rock-cut churches with stunning frescoes. Students will take a turn at the pottery wheel, visit Derinkuyu underground city, take a hike in Ihlara valley, and witness traditional Turkish dancing including belly dancing and whirling dervishes.
Alaçatı is a charming beach town on the western coast of Türkiye, famous for its beautifully preserved stone houses, vibrant flora, and windsurfing. Students will have the opportunity to walk down the town's narrow streets which are lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, and take a dip in the turquoise Aegean Sea.
Ephesus is an ancient city in Türkiye renowned for its well-preserved ruins, including the grand Library of Celsus and the majestic Great Theatre. As a major Roman port city, it played a crucial role in trade and culture, evident in its sophisticated infrastructure and stunning architecture. Students will be able to walk along the Marble Road, feeling the echoes of history in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower in İstanbul, offering a panoramic view of the city's historic peninsula and the Bosphorus. Originally built by the Genoese in 1348, it has served various purposes, from a watchtower to a prison. After visiting the tower, we will walk around Karaköy, a neighborhood home to Ottoman-era buildings splashed with street art and home to funky cafes, art studios, and boutiques.
Hagia Sophia, located in İstanbul, is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, originally built as a cathedral in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I. This iconic structure has served as a church, then a mosque, and now as a museum, showcasing a fusion of Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy.
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,395 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), personal expenses (approx. $400-$750 depending on your spending habits/optional independent travel preferences), any class readings/materials, and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,750 – $1,850
The Türkiye program offers a group flight option where you can travel U.S. to Izmir / from Istanbul to U.S. with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a roundtrip (multi-city) flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“Studying abroad with KIIS Turkey was totally transformative. I loved being part of a small group, and the student-professor ratio was low. The courses were fantastic, and so much of the learning happened outside of the classroom. We traveled around Turkey together and were able to see the places we were learning about. I still keep in touch with friends from that summer, fifteen years later. ”
– Amy, Turkey
“I decided to study in Turkey with KIIS in 2009 and again attended the trip as a grad-student Intern in 2011. While on both trips, I studied Ottoman History and International Business – the credit I earned was through Western Kentucky University and counted towards my graduation. The importance of decisions I made to study in Turkey, ended up changing my life and becoming some of the most important decisions I ever made.
– Joe, Turkey
Take Your Education Further
Description
Dates
May 11 – May 26, 2026
Subjects
Business, Marketing, Photography & New Media, International Affairs, Political Science, Honors
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
The Türkiye program aims to immerse students in the rich cultural, historical, and social fabric of Türkiye while enhancing their understanding of the country’s geopolitical significance, economic practices, and cultural heritage. The 2-week program will begin in İzmir, where students will have the opportunity to explore Ephesus, the beaches of Çeşme, and work alongside Turkish students on course projects in cooperation with a local university, İzmir University of Economics. From İzmir, the program will travel to Cappadocia, famous for fairy chimneys, underground cities, and Göreme, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The program will end in İstanbul, with excursions to sites like the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and Galata Tower. This program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary educational experience, catering to various academic majors with a focus on international marketing and regional studies. Note: Students should be aware that some excursions are physically strenuous and involve hiking over rocky terrain.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Şirince is a quaint village in Türkiye's İzmir Province, renowned for its well-preserved 19th-century white houses and charming cobblestone streets. The village is famous for its fruit wines, organic produce, and homemade crafts. Nestled in the hills near Ephesus, Şirince offers a serene escape with stunning views where students will be able to dine and relax after a long day of exploring Ephesus.
Göreme is a captivating town in the heart of Türkiye's Cappadocia region, famous for its unique rock formations and ancient cave dwellings. The Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features beautifully preserved rock-cut churches with stunning frescoes. Students will take a turn at the pottery wheel, visit Derinkuyu underground city, take a hike in Ihlara valley, and witness traditional Turkish dancing including belly dancing and whirling dervishes.
Alaçatı is a charming beach town on the western coast of Türkiye, famous for its beautifully preserved stone houses, vibrant flora, and windsurfing. Students will have the opportunity to walk down the town's narrow streets which are lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants, and take a dip in the turquoise Aegean Sea.
Ephesus is an ancient city in Türkiye renowned for its well-preserved ruins, including the grand Library of Celsus and the majestic Great Theatre. As a major Roman port city, it played a crucial role in trade and culture, evident in its sophisticated infrastructure and stunning architecture. Students will be able to walk along the Marble Road, feeling the echoes of history in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower in İstanbul, offering a panoramic view of the city's historic peninsula and the Bosphorus. Originally built by the Genoese in 1348, it has served various purposes, from a watchtower to a prison. After visiting the tower, we will walk around Karaköy, a neighborhood home to Ottoman-era buildings splashed with street art and home to funky cafes, art studios, and boutiques.
Hagia Sophia, located in İstanbul, is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, originally built as a cathedral in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I. This iconic structure has served as a church, then a mosque, and now as a museum, showcasing a fusion of Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy.
What's Included
Program Cost: $3,395 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), personal expenses (approx. $400-$750 depending on your spending habits/optional independent travel preferences), any class readings/materials, and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Group Flight
Estimated Cost: $1,750 – $1,850
The Türkiye program offers a group flight option where you can travel U.S. to Izmir / from Istanbul to U.S. with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a roundtrip (multi-city) flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville.
Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.
Student Voices
“Studying abroad with KIIS Turkey was totally transformative. I loved being part of a small group, and the student-professor ratio was low. The courses were fantastic, and so much of the learning happened outside of the classroom. We traveled around Turkey together and were able to see the places we were learning about. I still keep in touch with friends from that summer, fifteen years later. ”
– Amy, Turkey
“I decided to study in Turkey with KIIS in 2009 and again attended the trip as a grad-student Intern in 2011. While on both trips, I studied Ottoman History and International Business – the credit I earned was through Western Kentucky University and counted towards my graduation. The importance of decisions I made to study in Turkey, ended up changing my life and becoming some of the most important decisions I ever made.
– Joe, Turkey
Take Your Education Further
Additional information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Term | |
| Subject | Business, Honors, International Affairs, International Marketing, Marketing, Photography & New Media, Political Science, Turkish Politics |
| Program Dates |
