Mobility specification

Country:Türkiye

Institution:Bilkent University

City:Ankara

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of Psychology

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓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?they have tons

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Compulsory attendance.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Orientation week, student international events.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:6000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Insurance for a residency permit, but it's only 500 CZK, it can be arranged on the spot, anyway, I found that out there. When I tried to arrange it in the Czech Republic before I left, it would have been about ten times more expensive.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Dormitories are free for international students at Erasmus (at least some of them, there is a surcharge for separate better dormitories).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?terrible

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Nobody knows, we always asked the other more experienced students in the group, you can't really rely on google maps.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?perfect

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Anitkabir, Ankara castle, Atakule, kugulu park

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Antalya, Amasra, Istanbul, Cyprus

Share your best experience:The best experience was diving in Antalya, as the school also offers a lot of student clubs that organize events and trips themselves, so for me a diving license at a discounted student price was a must.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Upon arrival, ESN members will help you with everything and guide you step by step.

What is needed?Insurance, four identical passport photos, money in cash (I don't remember exactly how much, but definitely in the smaller thousands of tl).

How long does it take approximately?1 hour of administration on the computer, then a long wait for fingerprints, gradual printing of papers, etc.

How did you get to the place?Plane
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?It is better to follow the arrival time as arranged by the ESN students who pick up the Erasmus students from the airport twice a day during the arrival days (at 12 noon and 5 pm). Otherwise it's quite difficult to get directly to campus, taxis are not the cheapest and public transport is a nightmare

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Swimming cap if you plan to go to the school pool (all sports facilities on campus are absolutely free for students).

🥳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?Life changing experience, even for someone who has lived abroad several times, Turkey is a special affair.