Yaşar University
The university in question is made up of several buildings, and classes are held in amphitheatres. For tutorials, we have smaller, dedicated rooms. Access to the school is by card: you need to scan your card to get in.
There’s a metro station just opposite the university, at “Bolge”.
The teachers are very friendly. Classes are in English, but sometimes students ask questions in Turkish, which can be a bit tricky. However, the teacher usually answers in English, even if the question was asked in Turkish.
As far as the students are concerned, on arrival we all have a “mentor” (similar to the godparents at EILCO) who is there to help us if we have any problems.
It’s advisable to have some cash on you. You can exchange your euros into Turkish lira on the spot (don’t exchange in France, it’s a scam! In my experience, I had exchanged €100 in Turkish lira and in fact only received the equivalent of €60).
You can of course use a bank card for shopping.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you have a SIM or eSIM card. For an eSIM, I recommend Revolut. Account creation is totally free, and this online bank offers eSIMs at a lower price than other applications.
Don’t hesitate to download the Getir application, which replaces Uber Eats in Turkey.
If you have a French passport, you don’t need a visa. For other nationalities, it’s best to check the requirements before departure.
The procedure for obtaining a residence permit will be explained at the Erasmus student reception. Be sure to bring biometric photos with you.
Food prices are very affordable! In general, for €7 to €8, you can enjoy an excellent 45 cm doner 😃
The university has dormitories, but we rented an apartment for a total of €650, including utilities.
For transport, you can obtain a student transport card, which entitles you to reduced fares. The procedure for obtaining one will be explained to you once you arrive at the university.
You can also use your bank card to pay for your journeys. For our part, we use Apple Pay to pass the metro kiosks.
Here, ESN offers a wide range of activities such as outings and trips, as well as evening events. The university has a building for sports activities, such as basketball, soccer and weight training.
Forget pedestrian priority – there are no traffic regulations here !
Be very careful when crossing a road without a crosswalk. I advise you to always look for a crosswalk with a traffic light to cross safely.
As far as the language barrier is concerned, in non-touristy areas, it’s best to have a translation application ready to use.
