🌍 ATHENS (Advanced Technology Higher Education Network / SOCRATES)
🔍 What is the ATHENS Program?
The ATHENS Program is a short-term student exchange program operated under the ATHENS Network, which consists of Europe’s leading technical universities. The program aims to strengthen academic and cultural cooperation and provide students with international experience.
During the annual "ATHENS Week" held in March and November, students participate in academic courses and social activities for one week at a selected European university.
🏛 ATHENS Network and Participating Universities
The ATHENS Program is conducted by a strong academic network of 15 member universities from Europe’s most prestigious technical institutions. Below is the full list of these universities:
Full Member Universities:
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Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Greece
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Budapest University of Technology and Economics – Hungary
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Czech Technical University in Prague – Czech Republic
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Delft University of Technology – Netherlands
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Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa) – Portugal
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Istanbul Technical University (ITU) – Turkey
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) – Belgium
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National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest – Romania
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Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) – Norway
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Politecnico di Milano – Italy
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Technische Universität München (TUM) – Germany
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Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien) – Austria
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Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – Spain
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Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) – Belgium
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Warsaw University of Technology – Poland
ParisTech Consortium – France:
🔹 Istanbul Technical University (ITU) is the only Turkish university in this prestigious network.
👥 Who Can Participate?
All undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students registered at ITU can apply.
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Participation is free of charge.
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Students are responsible for their travel, accommodation, and personal expenses.
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The program operates on a reciprocity basis, meaning ITU can send as many students as there are available spots in the courses offered.
📌 For the November 2025 session, ITU plans to offer 4 courses, with a capacity to accommodate 160 students for mobility.
📝 Application Process and Evaluation
Applications are taken online 2-3 months prior to each session. Students complete their applications by selecting their preferred university and courses.
The application process consists of two stages:
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Pre-evaluation – Conducted by ITU ATHENS Coordinators.
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Final evaluation and placement – Conducted by the General Coordination of the ATHENS Network.
Placement results are announced via the online system.
⚠️ Application conditions may change periodically. Please refer to the latest ATHENS Student Guide for updated details.
🎓 Academic and Social Benefits
The ATHENS Program provides an intense international academic education. The courses offered in this program are typically focused on technical and engineering subjects and may include:
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Applied projects
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Laboratory work
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Technical excursions
An equally important aspect of the program is the social and cultural interaction. Host universities organize:
Participants receive a certificate of participation at the end of the program.
🌐 ITU and Visiting Students
ITU not only accepts its own students but also welcomes exchange students from partner universities in Europe.
Visiting students:
Through this reciprocal exchange, ITU’s campus becomes a multicultural environment.
🎯 WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?
✅ Opportunity to study at Europe’s most prestigious technical universities
✅ Build international friendships and professional connections
✅ Personal development through experiencing different cultures
✅ Gain a prestigious international experience to boost your CV
✅ Discover new perspectives in your field