Mobility specification

Country:Türkiye

Institution:Istanbul Bilgi University

City:

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?How some of the facts were presented differently and there was a sense of distaste for the EU in a lot of subjects.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The university not so much, although the sanhy was there. But there are a lot of eramus ofice in the city which are very cool.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?FB and whatsapp groups.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?VISION! Some of them cost tens of thousands of CZK.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?cook for yourself, take medicines and sunscreen from home!, take advantage of student discounts - transport, take membership cards to supermarkets on the first day - big discounts, get a Turkish number - free wifi (cards linked to this number) etc.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Google maps helped. But realistically most and almost always those buses were not on time :( Metro and trams run on time. Everything else is pretty messy.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?A lot of things :d for me bazaars! But Istanbul really has a lot of stuff.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?The Prince's Islands! it's public transportation and it doesn't even cost that much to get there and it's worth it.

Share your best experience:The best experiences I have are from trips from the Erasmus office - Fetiye etc.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?All the way there, but it's hell.

What is needed?School certificate, Turkish insurance, tax payment, proof of residence, special photo format.

How long does it take approximately?2 months approx.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Both airports are quite a distance away but there is a metro to both!

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Sunscreen, my meds, diarrhea meds, maybe earplugs. Also warm clothes, sometimes it's very windy :) so the weather can be quite deceiving.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Great ride, lots of experience and life lessons that come in handy, and also as a great story over a beer/wine.