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:

• Make the statement of Christian faith expected of students at Gordon College
• 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

Gordon College Life and Conduct Statement ➔ 

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

Overview
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. 

It is the student's responsibility to print off the reference forms below and request those of faculty and student affairs references in a timely manner.

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

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  1. Apply Online: Follow application instructions in Horizons, the GEO's online application management system.
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  2. Faculty Reference: Requested and completed in Horizons.
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  3. Student Affairs Reference: Requested and completed in Horizons 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.
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  4. Transcript from home institution (Gordon students may submit unofficial transcripts).
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  5. $35 non-refundable application fee made payable to Gordon College or paid via Transact (Transact is accessible to Gordon students only).
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  6. Non-Gordon students only: Visiting Student Certification Form (PDF download - also available in Horizons).
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  7. Non-Gordon students only: Student Life Disciplinary Report/Record (PDF) to be filled out by your home institution's Student Life office (also available in Horizons).
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  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 safety and security meeting, a half-day pre-departure seminar, and a half-day re-entry seminar during the semesters before and after studying abroad. Dates and times for the pre-abroad meetings can be found in the online Balkans application on Horizons, and the re-entry seminar date will be shared with you as early as possible before you return to campus. Attendance is mandatory in order to study abroad.

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 their online seat applications for the Balkans Semester by March 1. All other supporting materials must be received by March 5.
• Non-Gordon applicants must submit their online application and all supporting materials by March 15.

Spring Semester:

• Gordon students must submit their online seat applications for the Balkans Semester by September 30. All other supporting materials must be received by October 5.
• Non-Gordon applicants must submit their online application and all supporting materials by October 15.

If you have questions about the application process, please email [email protected] or call 978.867.4399.