Hi, I'm Omar and I've been living in Ankara for the past two years. I would like to share my experience with the new students.

Why did you choose to go to Ankara, Turkey?

I've chosen Ankara as it has the top ranking universities in Turkey and it's the most peaceful and convenient city for students.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

Firstly, I don't have any scholarship so I'm depending on the money coming from my father. So basically I'm receiving between 1000 and 1200 Turkish Liras a month, but it differs from one person to another.

What is the student lifestyle like in Ankara?

Well, It's all about the student him/her self they are the one who makes their own lifestyle. Ankara is a big city with many places to go and activities to do, so every student has the freedom to create his/her kind of lifestyle they desire and make friends who they like.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Ankara to other students?

I would highly recommend Ankara and it's universities to any coming students as it has many advantages other major cities don't have.

What is the food like?

Well, to be honest, I'm the kind of man who loves eating and like any type of food. I found the Turkish food tasty and delicious, but in the end everyone has their own taste of food. Turkish food is famous for it's organic and original taste, also Turkey is popular for its dessert.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Ankara?

The living expenses in Ankara is not high compared to other cities and countries. My accommodation here in Ankara didn't cost a lot as they make sure to take care of students here.

How much does it cost to live in Ankara?

As I said Ankara is among the cheapest cities in Turkey for living cost especially for students as they take care of them here. The average cost is between 1000 and 1500 Turkish Liras a month.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The Turkish language is really easy to learn. It's not necessary to take a course to learn the language as the best way to learn it is by making a lot of Turkish friends and they will teach you. Also, most of the universities in Turkey provide courses for foreign students to learn Turkish if they want.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Ankara from your city?

Well, transportation here in Turkey isn't expensive and comfortable to use. For me I've been living in Kuwait before coming here so I traveled by plan to Istanbul then I came by train to Ankara.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Ankara?

I recommend going to any of the parks here as Ankara famous for its many parks. Also, cafes here is so good at night as they bring singers, especially on weekend nights.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Ankara?

I recommend trying restaurants providing Turkish food like shawarma and kebab. Aspava, oncu and koftaci yusuf are among the famous restaurants with a convenient cost.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The first place everyone should visit here in Ankara is the Anitikabir which is the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic and its first president. The second one is the castle of Ankara as its a real ancient site with a view of the whole Ankara. The third site is Atakule, it's the tallest tower here in Ankara with the best view over Ankara as you can see the beauty of it from the top of the tower.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Ankara in the future?

Studying abroad is a great chance to discover a new city, meet new people and try different things, so make sure to make the most of this experience. Also, try to make friends as you can visit a new place every weekend, enjoy your time and never forget about your studies as its the main purpose you came here.