Let's start a new Turkish life !

Meet Erasmus students

First of all, I thought that when I arrived in a city I did't know with a different language it would be complicated. But this thought didn't stay for a long time in my mind. Because during the summer before my arrival I received emails from my university and another one from my first Turkish friend: my buddy. A buddy is a student from your university who will be like a big brother and help with any difficulties.

Moreover, there are many ways to get in contact with Erasmus students before your arrival. There are Facebook and Whatsapp groups for all Erasmus students from BILGI University. Thanks to that, I could meet some students before the first day of school, which reassured me. When I arrived in Istanbul I was part of this huge community of Erasmus students. In Istanbul there are about ten international Universities, so it is easy to meet new friends during parties and travels.

Find a home

I can’t deny that it was difficult… When you just arrive and you know that you have to decide quickly where and with whom you’re going to live for a year. Fortunately everyone is in the same situation. That is why, on the first day of school, this is the principal subject of conversation! I can say that I was lucky, because a friend invited me to show me her flat, and during the visit I met the owner who told me that a room in the building was free! So I immediately took it! I live in an Erasmus building that has two floors. Five students are living downstairs, and we are four upstairs. The diversity of my flatmates is so enriching, there are two Polish guys, one German girl, one Spanish boy, one Belgian girl, one Pakistani boy, two Syrians and I a one of two French students. Everyone shares their culture around paella, narguile, shawarma and lasagnes.

Discover a new university

BILGI is a huge University, it has five campuses and there are many shuttles connecting the campuses.

In BILGI University there is no pressure to choose your courses. You have one week to select which one you want to try and another week to drop or change the courses you don’t want. I had to validate thirty credits per semester. For the fall semester I chose Marketing Communication, Business and Administration, Brand Management, Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses, Turkish Language and Fashion Photography. For the spring semester I chose Advertising, Behavioural Organisation, E-Commerce, Innovation and Public Relations. All the lectures are in English. At the beginning of the year it was a little bit hard to follow everything but with the time and the practice I understand everything now and can participate easily. Furthermore, we speak English all the time because we live with other international students and it is the best way to progress in English. Thanks to that I am proud to watch my television series in English without subtitles!

Differences between French and Turkish education

During my first week of school I was very surprised about the students’ behaviour in class. In France, we are used to coming to class on time or early, we respect the teacher, we wait the end of the class before leaving and it is absolutely forbidden to eat during the lesson. Here it is absolutely different! Students arrive when they want in the class without knocking the door, they don’t take notes because the course is delivered on Bilgi System, they eat or drink during the lesson, leave the class to answer a phone call… I was very surprised!

But the courses are very interesting, and the teacher so passionate. For instance my professor for “Fashion Photography” was a photographer for Vogue Magazine in New York few years ago and now he teach us everything in his studio with all his materials. Furthermore we have some conferences with famous Turkish businessman and entrepreneurs.

- Map of Istanbul -

Pink : My house, Tarlabaşı

Green : My school, Bilgi Univeristy