Apply for The Balkans Semester

Qualifications

The Balkans Semester welcomes applications from students with a desire to learn first-hand about the challenges of justice and forgiveness, and who want to explore the problem of how societies recover from generations of conflict and violence to establish lasting peace.

The Balkans Semester considers applications from students from any college who:

• Agree to abide by the College's behavioral standards
• Satisfy criteria set by the Global Education Office
• Have sophomore standing or above
• Have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Make the statement of Christian faith expected of students at Gordon College

In addition to the general qualifications above, the following are requirements that must be met, with or without reasonable accommodation, in order to complete all essential elements of the program in the Balkans. All participants must be able to:

• Participate in regular communal meals based on a local diet and with limited control over food choices.
• Navigate multiple irregular surfaces and walk/travel up to 10 miles in a day independently. (Extensive walking, as well as travel throughout ancient cities and towns with narrow passageways and many stairs, are part of the regular life of the semester.)
• Anticipate having sufficient emotional wellness to fully participate in the program safely and successfully despite the limited availability of frequent access to psychological services.

Application Process

This application requests information that will be used to evaluate your eligibility for the program. The Balkans Semester reserves the right to grant admission to these programs based on academic performance, moral maturity and personal motivation.

The following supporting items must be received by the Global Education Office by the application deadlines below:

1. Apply Online: The application is currently under construction. When live, a link to the new VIA application system will be posted here. 
2. Faculty Reference: Requested and completed in VIA.
3. Student Affairs Reference: Requested and completed in VIA by Student Life staff, an RD (not an RA), coach, or staff member well acquainted with the student outside of class who can comment on life and character.
4. Transcript from home institution (Gordon students may submit unofficial transcripts).
5. $40 non-refundable application fee made payable to Gordon College or paid via Transact (Transact is accessible to Gordon students only), or payable by link. 
6. Non-Gordon students only: Visiting Student Certification Form (PDF download - new form will be available in VIA).
7. Non-Gordon students only: Student Life Disciplinary Report/Record (PDF) to be filled out by your home institution's Student Life office (new form will be available in VIA).
8. Interview: When your application is complete, the program directors will contact you to schedule a meeting.

Please note: Gordon students are required to attend a pre-departure seminar during the semester before studying abroad. Dates and times for the meetings will be communicated to you at the start of the semester prior to study abroad. Attendance is mandatory in order to study abroad. You can plan on a Welcome Back dinner the evening prior to classes start, the semester you return to Gordon.

Applications will not be considered complete until all materials have been received.

Send application fee and all additional forms to [email protected] and/or:

Gordon College
Global Education Office
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA 01984

Deadlines

This application requests information that will be used to evaluate your eligibility for a Gordon-sponsored program. Gordon College reserves the right to grant admission to these programs based on academic performance, moral maturity, and personal motivation.

Fall Semester:

• Gordon students must submit a Gordon study abroad approval application by February 15th. Following approval, you will receive an additional form for your application to the Balkans semester. The second application is due March 15th.
• Non-Gordon applicants must submit their online application along with all supporting materials by March 15.

Spring Semester:

• Gordon students must submit a Gordon study abroad approval application by April 15th. Following approval, you will receive an additional form for your application to the Balkans semester. The second application is due September 30th. 
• Non-Gordon applicants must submit their online application and all supporting materials by September 30th.