SIUE and the School of Engineering enjoy a vibrant international student population. Find out how you can study engineering at SIUE. You'll love it here! Visit SIUE International Student Services for more information. Learn more about transferring to SIUE.
The SIUE-ITU Dual Diploma Program, a collaborative effort between SIUE and Istanbul Technical University (ITU), offers you the opportunity to earn two bachelors of science in industrial engineering—one from each university. You can choose to extend your studies by one semester to pursue a bachelor of science in manufacturing engineering. You will spend your freshman and junior years at ITU, and study at SIUE your sophomore and senior years.
The opportunity to spend two years studying in the United States is a chance to gain a competitive advantage in the job market. In today’s global economy, students who have international exposure have a significant advantage in terms of educational and life experience. This one-of-a-kind program does more than offer you a chance to earl dual diplomas; it gives you a chance to experience a different culture and learn how things function in other countries. You will have the chance to improve everyday skills, such as language, know-how and social skills.
One year of English as a second language prepatory education is required. Students with adequate English language skills or who scored 550 or higher in TOEFL are exempt.
Hear from recent graduates of the SIUE-ITU Dual Diploma Program
| Burcu Biricik | Yusufcan Ozdogan |
| Ecem Kulaksiz | Betul Akyuz |
Here what some of our international students have to say about their experiences at SIUE.
 | "In such a competitive world, it is important to know what is going on around the globe. Companies are not satisfied with 'good' anymore; they want the best. SIUE is providing me with a broad perspective of the world and a much-needed competitive edge." Junior engineering student Duygu Sagiroglu is from Istanbul, Turkey. Through a dual diploma program, the SIUE School of Engineering and Istanbul Technical University (ITU) are providing Turkish students the opportunity to earn two diplomas while gaining international exposure. Duygu spent her sophomore year studying at SIUE and will return for her senior year. |
 | “My experiences at SIUE helped me become more confident and responsible and develop my own sense of individuality.” “I never felt like an international student at SIUE. The enriching environment allowed me to develop confidence. I was comfortable enough to have a voice.” |
A Welcome Connection
Melanie Rodrigues and Jyoti Dharna traveled thousands of miles from vastly different continents to become next door neighbors and co-workers. The two School of Engineering alumnae occasionally work on the same agricultural-based project team at Monsanto in St. Louis. Jyoti is a functional architect, a role that encompasses project management, software and user interface design, testing and analysis. A network technician, Melanie is involved in the monitoring, maintenance and analysis of the Monsanto networks.
Although they’ve only known each other a few years, their educational and career paths are remarkably similar. Both Melanie and Jyoti came to the SIUE School of Engineering as international students. Born and raised in Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Melanie earned a bachelor’s in computer engineering in 2006 and a master’s in electrical engineering in 2007. “My experiences at SIUE helped me become more confident and responsible and develop my own sense of individuality,” she said.
A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Jyoti decided to come to SIUE based on advice from her cousin who was already attending the University. She earned a bachelor’s in computer science in 2004. “I never felt like an international student,” Jyoti said. “The enriching environment allowed me to develop confidence. I was comfortable enough to have a voice.”
Melanie and Jyoti both thrived in the School of Engineering’s welcoming environment. Everything they needed was in the state-of-the-art Engineering Building and faculty members were very accessible. Students studied in groups, often working together to develop solutions to various problems. “This is exactly what we do at work. My SIUE education fully prepared me for a successful career,” Jyoti said. Jyoti was chosen among the St. Louis Business Journal’s Top 30 Under 30 for the class of 2008. The list recognizes young professionals who are already making names for themselves in the business world.
Both alumnae are members of Monsanto’s SIUE recruitment team, attending career fairs, giving presentations and conducting interviews. “SIUE offers the total college experience—a focused education that is extremely cost effective and many opportunities to become involved and develop friendships,” Melanie said.
