Welcome Guide for International Exchange Students
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WELCOME GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE STUDENTS 2015-2016 International Center Eski Silahtarağa Elektrik Santralistanbulı Kazım Karabekir Cad. No: 2/13 Room: Z – 108 34060 Eyüp İstanbul TURKEY Phone: +90 212 311 5497/ 5203/ 7520 (Laureate Programs) +90 212 311 52 19/ 51 17/ 52 17/ 52 18/ 65 14 (Erasmus Programs) [email protected] [email protected] 1 CONTENTS Introduction 3 Travel Arrangements 4 - How to Get to Turkey? - Facebook Group - Obtaining a Visa Arrival 7 - Be Present on the Orientation Day Step by step what you need to do 8 İstanbul Bilgi University 14 - BİLGİ International - Studying at BİLGİ - ECTS Credit Allocation - Life at BİLGİ Accommodation 21 Life in Turkey 21 Life in İstanbul 24 - Transportation - Entertainment Useful Contact Information & Links 26 2 INTRODUCTION There is nothing like an international exchange experience to learn more about another country, language, or culture. Perhaps most important is that, students learn more about themselves as they gain confidence, independence, understanding, and respect for other people and cultures around the world. We hope that your experience will enrich you, both academically and personally, during your stay in İstanbul, Turkey. We highly recommend you to follow this “Welcome Guide” in order to learn significant information that will help you before and during your exchange period at BİLGİ. It is a great pleasure to welcome you at İstanbul Bilgi University. International Center 3 TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS How to Get to Turkey? Most of the airlines have direct flights to İstanbul from different parts of the world. Also, connecting flights is another option for you. There are two main international airports which are located in İstanbul. These are: - Atatürk International Airport (at the European Side) RECOMMENDED You can find information about the airport, transportation to/from airport by clicking: http://www.ataturkairport.com/tr-TR/Pages/Main.aspx - Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (at the Asian Side) You can find information about the airport, transportation to/from airport by clicking: http://www.sgairport.com/ Facebook Group Please, like our Facebook page which will help you to get in touch with the other exchange students. https://www.facebook.com/groups/801638809945455/ Obtaining a Visa Before your departure to Turkey: According to new regulations, you do not need to get a student visa in order to study in Turkey as an Exchange student. We list the visa requirements based on different citizenships below. You can also check the visa requirements on the following website https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ . In order to stay in Turkey more than 90 days, you need to apply for the Residence Permit. We will inform you in detail about the Residence Permit Procedure during the Orientation Day. Citizenship Visa Requirement Austria https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ Belgium https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Bulgaria entry date. China https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ 4 You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Czech, Republic of entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Denmark entry date. England https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first France entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Germany entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Greece entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Italy entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first entry date. Requirements for visa exemption: Valid for touristic purposes not exceeding 30 days per entry. Kazakhstan Unfortunately, nationals of the country that you selected are not eligible for e-Visa. Kindly visit the nearest Turkish mission to apply for a visa application. Please, visit http://www.konsolosluk.gov.tr for the full list of Korea, Republic Of the Turkish Embassies and Consulates. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Lithuania entry date. Netherlands https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ 5 Norway https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ Poland https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ Portugal https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Slovakia entry date. Spain https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Sweden entry date. You are exempt from visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first Switzerland entry date. Turkey No need for visa United States https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/ 6 ARRIVAL Be Present on the Orientation Day! We advise to arrive to İstanbul one week before the course registration. After your arrival, please, visit International Center as soon as possible. In addition, be present on the Orientation day. We recommend you to arrive a few days before it so that you get acquainted with the city and settle into your accommodation. The Orientation day will be held on 26th of January, 2016 at 09:45 in the morning and will end on the same day at 5 pm. The orientation will take place at santralistanbul campus (in the CSM Building). Your participation is MANDATORY! The address of the santralistanbul Campus is; Eski Silahtaraga Elektrik Santralistanbuli, Kazim Karabekir Cad. No: 2 /13, Eyup / Istanbul A volunteer mentor / buddy who is a student at BİLGİ will assist you. Remember, you can always communicate with International Center about your concerns, as well. NOTE: you will be receiving the orientation day agenda in a separate e-mail soon in early December, 2016. 7 STEP BY STEP WHAT YOU NEED TO DO! 1- Enrol to İstanbul BİLGİ University International Center will help you during your enrolment. Please, have the documents ready on your enrolment day. In order to be an official exchange student of BİLGİ, you must enroll as an exchange student through Student Information System (SIS). The enrolment to SIS is going to take place on January 27th and January 28th, 2016 at the Student Affairs Office of santralistanbul campus. 2 photographs Original passport Copy of your passport – visa and other pages After that, you will be provided: BİLGİ Student ID Card Personal user name and password for the access of BİLGİ Online Student Page, BİLGİ E-mail, BİLGİ Online Library Pages, and other online facilities. Academic Regulations - Please, click on the following link to see BİLGİ Academic Regulations: http://www.BİLGİ.edu.tr/en/university/rules-and-regulations/ Academic Calendar - Please, click on the following links to see Academic Calendars: Undergraduate Programs http://step.BİLGİ.edu.tr/en/academic-calendar/undergraduate/2015-2016/ Graduate Programs http://step.BİLGİ.edu.tr/en/academic-calendar/grad/ 2- Course Selection After enrolling to our system at the Student Affairs Office, you will be selecting your courses on the SIS. The dates for course selections will be between 01 and 05 February, 2016 for both undergraduate and post-graduate students. After choosing your courses through your student page on SIS, you must print out your course schedule. There, you will see a digit number, which must be approved on the system by your advisor. IF NOT your course schedule never will be valid!!! 8 Here is the link for recommended courses for Exchange students; http://international.BİLGİ.edu.tr/en/international-center/incoming/erasmus- exchange/courses/ Sample SIS Main Page Exchange Departmental Coordinators: As soon as you complete your course selection, you need to get approval from your Department Coordinator/Advisor here, at BİLGİ. Please, find the Coordinator/Advisor of your department on the website at the following link: http://international.BİLGİ.edu.tr/en/international-center/incoming/erasmusl- exchange/coordinators/ Classes: The classes of spring semester begin on February 8th, 2016 and the last day of examinations is on June 11th, 2016. 3- Residence Permit Within one month of your arrival, you have to apply for your residence permit ONLINE. It is not of high importance the date of the appointment for your residence permit in the Migration Office, as long you apply for it online during the first month of your stay in Turkey. Please, immediately make your appointment at this link upon your arrival to İstanbul; https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ 9 A Residence Permit is an official document stating registration with the Directorate General of Migration Management (İçişleri Bakanlığı Göç İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü). Important Notes! *Once you complete and submit your online form, you cannot make any changes on it, so, please, be sure about the information you provide on the system. If you need any assistance, please, contact your advisor at BİLGİ International Center. *When you fill up the online application form, please, use only English keyboard/alphabet. *After you complete the form, please, print it in colour, as black-white print form is not accepted by the Directorate General of Migration Management. *In case you complete the form and you cannot print it out, please, take a note of your application’s reference number.