Erasmus Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Mahmoud

Why did you choose to go to Istanbul, Turkey?

The options i had were moscow or istanbul and i ended up choosing istanbul because its a really cheap country

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

I usually get 300$ per month

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Its an awesome experience and i can guarantee that you won't regret it if you try studying in this beautiful country

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

Honestly i would recommend bilgi university in Eyüp

What is the food like?

In my personal opinion, the only thing i don't like in this country is the food

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Istanbul?

No

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

In general you can find an apartment for like 200-300$ per month and you might find one cheaper
And how much you spend per month basically depends on your lifestyle but for me i get 200 to 300$ for food and groceries and transportation

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

Most of the courses are taught in english, turkish is an easy language.
It may seem hard at first but its not hard at all. Yes the university has a variety of language courses (french, russian,spanish, italian...)

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

Bus

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

Beşiktaş

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

Nusret steak house is a place you must visit when you come to istanbul

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Sultanahmet, bosphorus, topkapi palace...

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

The only thing i can tell the students reading this is that you should enjoy the opportunity of being able to study in a beautiful country like this and just have fun ;)