For all enquiries please contact the Exchange Office at exchange@otago.ac.nz.
Last updated April, 2023
Academic Information
Middle East Technical University is among the most successful and favored universities in Turkey. METU is a state university founded in 1956.
Graduate School of Social Sciences
Course Information
The language of instruction at METU is English.
Semester Dates
Semester 1 (Fall): September - January
Semester 2 (Spring): February - June
Accommodation & the Cost of Living
Accommodation
There are 18 modern dormitories within the University Campus. The İsa Demiray Dormitory, one of the blocks of Refika Aksoy Dormitory and the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th dormitories are for male students and the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th dormitories, The Faika Demiray Dormitory and one of the blocks of Refika Aksoy Dormitory are for female students. There is also Osman Yazıcı Girls' Guest House and METU Guest House which are for female students. For male students, there is Faik Hızıroğlu Guest House. Also, in the 2 dormitories operated by EBİ, both female and male students can accommodate. Dormitories are open to exchange students starting from a week before the orientation program.
Further information on accommodation at METU
Estimated Cost of Living
Compared to Western Europe, Ankara is a cheaper city. Transportation expenses, food and accommodation are considerably less than in most of the other European countries. It is recommended that you budget between USD$500-600 per month.
Additional Information
Student Visa & Insurance
Information on Student Visas & Insurance for students going on exchange can be found elsewhere on this website.
The University, City & Region
The University
Middle East Technical University is founded under the name of "Orta Doğu Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü" (Middle East High Technology Institute) on November 15th, 1956 to contribute to the development of Turkey and Middle East countries and especially to train people so as to create a skilled workforce in the fields of natural and social sciences. The language of instruction at METU is English. Owing to the quality academic education that emphasizes merit and excellence in scientific, cultural and intellectual studies as well as owing to the accomplished and qualified METU graduates, the University has become one of the distinguished and respectable institutions of Turkey.
METU hosts over 1,500 international students from nearly 80 different countries studying toward several academic degrees.
The METU Campus is located on the Ankara-Eskişehir highway and has been forested entirely through the efforts of the University employees and students since the early 1960's. The Campus includes Lake Eymir. The lake is available to METU students for rowing, fishing and general recreational activities. There are dormitories, apartments for assistants and instructors, a post office, a health center, a shopping center, three sport centers, an olympic pool, banks, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers, a tailor, a library and a convention center in the campus.
The City and Region
Ankara is the capital of the Republic of Turkey. With over 5 million inhabitants it is Turkey's second largest city after Istanbul. Ankara is a very old city with various Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman archaeological sites. There are about 50 museums in the city.
After Ankara became the capital of the newly founded Republic of Turkey, new development divided the city into an old section, called Ulus, and a new section, called Yenişehir. The new section, now centered on Kızılay Square, has the trappings of a more modern city: wide streets, hotels, theaters, shopping malls, and high-rises. Government offices and foreign embassies are also located in the new section. Ankara has experienced a phenomenal growth since it was made Turkey's capital in 1923.
Further Information
For further information about Otago Global Student Exchange please email exchange@otago.ac.nz