Erasmus Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by Nicki

Why did you choose to go to Istanbul, Türkiye?

Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city. I wanted to experience that. I wanted to experience Turkish culture in a modern way, and also meet people from all over the world.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

Students are the most active people in Istanbul (after tourists) so a lot of things are designed to make life more comfortable. Examples are, the Istanbul student card and priority at hospitals. Also there are lots of entertainment services for students

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

I would definitely recommend the city to other students, it's a one in a life time experience. Though some might have challenges at first, the University system is quite different, you will not regret it.

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What is the food like?

Amazing! It's an assortment from traditional Turkish food, to street food and popular foods from different countries as well.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

Istanbul is a bit expensive. But as you live here you learn to live like a student, you have many things you can do to cut down on costs. Students are given discounts on many services, all you need is your student ID.

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

Turkish is difficult. It took me a while to learn. But you can communicate without it, people here do know a bit of English though they aren't fluent. And there are language courses offered by the University.