Erasmus Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Ghita

Why did you choose to go to Istanbul, Turkey?

I chose to study at university in Istanbul because it is cheapier , also they have a good departments and areas of study with a good quality, the life expenses are also cheap here compared to other countries.

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

The scholarship for international students , is during all the time needed to get your diploma , and the money you need depends on each one and his needs but i would say that life here is cheap.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Here in istanbul there are a lot of students, knowing that there are a lot of universities so people get to know each other and you can easily make friends and hang out .

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

Yes the city is really good and so big so you can not stop discovering it , but i don’t know much about the university of Istanbul except that it is a high ranked university with a good level of study.

What is the food like?

Turkish food are very varying, i personnally like the kebap and there are also some syrian sweets that are really nice . And then you know you can find all the food that you might like as mexican, italian , fast food ...

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Istanbul?

Of course , because when you come to a city you don’t know in it anything you can get lost but then you get used to it, and you can find some other strategies so you can not pay much.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

I dont know much but i would say for just living costs like transportation and food maybe 1000 tl to 1500 tl is enough.

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

I think that the language is pretty easy if you want to learn it as any other one but after spending some time here you can already speak a little bit . And yes of course the language classes are available i think in every university.

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

I am actually in Istanbul, so i just use the transportation to go to a place or another.

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

There are plenty of bars and nightclubs but unfortunately with the actual situation of covid19 , everything is closed.
Then the coty is full of restaurants or even the streets where you can hang out. With friends.

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

I mean here in Istanbul wherever you go there are restaurants, so you can come visit and try every single one of them.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are a lot of monuments, old places , and if you know a little bit about the ottomans you will be amazed by the places.

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

It is a good city to discover and live in , and with friends it is much better so if you have any question or something you can ask and i will help with pleasure.