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 2023-2024 Academic Year Erasmus+ Outgoing Students' Testimonials

 2022-2023 Academic Year Erasmus+ Outgoing Students' Testimonials

Serra Naz Yıldızbaş
2023-2024 Bahar, Erasmus+ 
IE University - Madrid, İspanya

"It honestly has been an absolute amazing experience on my part. Can totally say it expanded my horizons, helped me grow myself as a person and was beneficial for me. Though it has been challenging at times I’m glad that I did the exchange. Firstly, my Erasmus experience was not like the traditional ones because my school was in a 30-story skyscraper in the financial district of Madrid. However, I believe this had both pros and cons. My school provided a very innovative and up-to-date education. The full-time students were mostly international rather than local, giving it a somewhat Swiss boarding school atmosphere and providing an extensive global network opportunity. You need to choose your campus based on the courses you will take, either Madrid or Segovia, and I chose the Madrid campus. However, as I mentioned, since my school was in a skyscraper, it did not fully create a campus environment, let alone your usual Erasmus bonding ambiance. It felt as if like you came in for a work shift if you had a class and left if you didn’t. Still, if you participate in various events organised periodically, you can find opportunities to blend in with school folks, of course. As a business student, the fact that this school ranks 26th worldwide in the QS ranking for business and management studies and holds 1st and 2nd places in qs and the Financial Times rankings for its master’s programs were my main considerations in choosing this school. Additionally, the school is very sensitive about sustainability, and you can truly feel this in most of their initiatives. Furthermore, the teachers are very attentive, free from any whims you can think of, student-friendly, and value students. In this respect, it is very easy to talk to them, ask for suggestions, or voice your problems. The course registration is a bit different from our school. To ensure the first-come, first-served principle, they have implemented a software system for accessing the course registration site, and you are queued based on your priority in clicking the link, and until your turn comes, you are kept in a waiting portal without accessing the site. (I thought this process would be active exactly at the course selection time, but it turns out that if you click the link on the course selection day, the software prioritizes you in the queue). However, there is an issue with the course registration system. Before accessing this system, you cannot see which days and times the courses are offered, as you can at Özyeğin, meaning that you can’t plan your potential timetable beforehand. This might lead you having many course conflicts during enrolment -since you are an exchange student and take random courses- as it happened to me. Additionally, your timetable resembles the rotating schedule system in the UK; you can have a different schedule each week. Therefore, you need to pay attention to where your classes are and at what times they are each week, and some of your courses may start in January while others may start in February. Naturally, the end dates also vary. Although the number of students in your classes may vary based on the courses you take, they generally have a small number of students, ranging from 30 to 50. Some of the assignments are different from what we are used to, but you easily adapt to them with the syllabus and the teachers’ explanations. And since the school caters to an international audience, most of the courses are taught in English, but there are still some Spanish courses available for students who want to take them. Also the school started on 8th of Jan for me so I had to begin my exchange term before the fall term in OzU had even finished."

Buse İnç
2023-2024 Bahar, Erasmus+ 
Hochschule Pforzheim, Almanya
"Birçok yeri gezerek yeni kültürlerle tanışabilirsiniz ve güzel arkadaşlıklar kurabilirsiniz. Yalnız başına bambaşka bir ülkede yaşamanın insanın kendine olan güvenini artıracağını düşünüyorum."

 Ali Türken
2023-2024 Bahar, Erasmus+ 
Estonian Business School, Estonya
"I went to Estonia as an exchange student, asking myself questions anxiously if I could fit in, if I could find people to talk to, if I would have any problems with the education system. I came back knowing well that these questions were so pointless, simply because the amazing reality and the inclusivity of the Erasmus experience. I met countless people from all over the globe coming to this small city. I never would have guessed how much this exchange program would change how I perceived my life and my future. Even though northern European countries are seen as less social, Estonia was a warm welcoming country full of happy people and lots of international students. What I would recommend to people that go on the exchange program is to meet as many people as they can and go to the local Erasmus Student Network events where you will get to meet many international students in the exact same position as you. Not only can you meet new students, you can also meet your own people too! The picture was taken in the Old town of Tallinn, Estonia, with other Turkish students going for the Erasmus program in Lithuania when they came over to visit Estonia. Whatever you do, if you have the chance or feel like its a risk you could take, take it and it will probably give you a life changing experience."                  

Pelin Uzun
2023-2024 Güz, Erasmus+ 
University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", İtalya
"The best decision ever! Im really proud of myself about this decision even if I went in my last year especially before graduation but it worth it. Every student has to go and experience this special six months. I will never forget!"                

A. Bilhan Karaaslan
2020-2021 Bahar, Erasmus+
Maastricht University , Hollanda

"It was surprising to see how a small city can offer wide experiences thanks to the people inside of it. Being together with people who are as ready as you to experience new things was a priceless opportunity Erasmus+ project provided."

Ahmet Taş
2020-2021 Güz, Global Exchange
University of Texas at Dallas, ABD

"If you are thinking to join Global Exchange, keep your motivation whatever it takes. Yes, it’s all about challenges, but this is the thing that will make you stronger."

Nilgün Çetin
2019-2020 Bahar, Erasmus+
Turku University of Applied Science, Finlandiya

"Erasmus Değişim Programı’yla birlikte 2019-2020 bahar döneminde, 3. sınıfın ikinci dönemi Finlandiya’nın Turku şehrine bir dönem eğitim görmeye gittim. Okuldan Finlandiya’ya giden tek kişi bendim, giderken tanıdığım hiç kimse yoktu. Gitmeden önce kafamda binlerce soru, başarısızlık korkusu, bilinmeyenin kaygısı… Hiç bilmediğim bir ülkeye, hiç bilmediğim bir kültüre, hiç kimseyi tanımadan gidiyordum. “Acaba arkadaş edinebilir miyim?”, “Yabancı dilim yetersiz kalır mı?”, “Paramı nasıl idare ettirebilirim?”, “Ya beni dışlarlarsa ve yalnız kalırsam?” gibi birçok cevapsız soru ve uykusuz geçen gecelerle birlikte Finlandiya’ya vardım. 2 ay sonra çekilen bu fotoğrafla birlikte anladım ki tüm kaygılarım yersizmiş. Fotoğrafta gördüğünüz insanlar benim gibi kafasında “Yalnız kalır mıyız?” sorusuyla gelen, ama sonrasında kocaman bir aile olduğumuz insanlar. İki Alman, iki Çinli, bir Meksikalı, bir Şilili, bir Çek, bir Belçikalı, bir Hollandalı, bir Rus ve bendeniz bir Türk….. Erasmus programıyla fark ettim ki biz gençler hangi ülkeden olduğundan bağımsız, birlikte çok güzel işler başarabiliriz. Hepimiz gelecekte dünyayı daha iyi bir yer haline getirmek istiyoruz, bunun için de birlikte çalışacağız. Bu fotoğrafa sığdıramadığım, ama Finlandiya’dayken eğitim gördüğüm Turku University of Applied Science’ta da farklı ülkelerden insanlarla grup projeleri yönetmek kendime ve arkadaşlarıma olan inancımı güçlendirdi. Özyeğin’de aldığım eğitim de Finlandiya’daki eğitim düzenine hızlı bir şekilde ayak uydurmamı sağladı. Tüm bunları düşündüğümde Erasmus’u birkaç kelimeyle özetleyecek olsaydım “konfor alanından çıkmak” derdim. Çoğu zaman yapabileceklerimizin farkında değilizdir ve konfor alanımızdan çıkmak için gerekli cesareti kendimizde bulamayız. Erasmus, o güven çemberinden dışarıya attığım belki de en güzel adımlardan biriydi. Kendimi hem akademik olarak hem de kişisel olarak geliştirme imkanı bulduğum bir yolculuktu. Vizyonumun daha genişlediği, yapabileceklerimin daha farkında olduğum bir dönemin ön izlemesiydi. Bunların hepsini de Erasmus’a borçluyum. Erasmus sayesinde başarabileceklerimin sınırsız olduğunu, kendi ayaklarım üzerinde durabileceğimi ve dünyanın çeşitli yerlerinden yaşıtlarımla bir araya gelip güzel projeler çıkarabileceğimi görmüş oldum. Erasmus’la birlikte bir yeni lisan, bir yeni kültür ve onlarca iyi arkadaş biriktirdim."

 Tuğba Gürsoy
2019-2020 Güz, Erasmus+
Sapienza Universita di Roma, İtalya

"Erasmus programi ile birlikte Roma, Sapienza Üniversitesinde 6 aylık bir deşiğim fırsatı yakaladım. Roma’nin güzelliği bir yana, bir Endüstriyel Tasarım ögrencisi olarak Italyada kısa süre de olsa eğitim almak güzel bir şanstı. Erasmus deneyimim boyunca yeni seyler denemediğim bir hafta olmadı. Bu programa sadece akademik eğitim acısından kesinlikle bakmamak gerek. Italyada geçirdiğim dönem; özgüvenimi arttıran, bana yeni bakış acilari katan ve farklı ülkelerden bir çok bağlantı kurmamı saglayan bir dönemdi. Italya’dan dönüşümün 2 yıl ardından, Erasmus sırasında tanistigim bir bağlantı sayesinde Almanya’da staj fırsatı yakaladım ve Erasmus Traineeship ile Almanya’da 6 ay staj yaptım. Almanya uzun süredir yasamak istediğim bir ülkeydi ve Traineeship programi bana bu kapıyı acmis oldu. Su an hala staj yaptıgım şirkette calisiyorum ve Almanya’da yüksek lisans eğitimime baslamak üzereyim. Toplamda geçirdiğim 12 aylık Erasmus serüvenini hic unutmayacağım! Tanistigim insanlar, gördüğüm manzaralar, yeni bir yabancı dil ve bir çok fırsat! Tüm ekibe teşekkür ederim."

Nagihan Özman
2019-2020 Güz, Erasmus+
Tilburg University, Hollanda

"My name is Nagihan Özman and I was an exchange student at Tilburg University, Netherlands within the scope of the Erasmus+ Study Mobility Programme in the 2019-2020 fall semester. My Erasmus adventure has a very special place in my life. It has been my dream since I started at Ozyegin University. I can describe my Erasmus+ experience as a process in which I rediscovered myself and realized what I can succeed. During my Erasmus+, I was more social, energetic, and productive than ever. I traveled to many cities and countries in Europe, made great friends from all over the world, and explored different cultures. As I learned and experienced more, my horizon was widened. Moreover, I had a lot of fun in the events of I*ESN Tilburg and our friends gathering. Also, I learned a lot from my professors and my friends at Tilburg University. On my way to the Netherlands, I was hoping that I would return as a different person 6 months later, and it happened. I turned back to Turkey as someone who is a more social and better English speaker and who has higher self-confidence and has great memories. I was lucky because both Ozyegin University and Tilburg university supported me from the beginning till the end. I experienced the best 6 months in my life ever during my Erasmus+ journey. What makes it special is that it was my first trip with my Spanish and Turkish friends all together. The best photo that represents my Erasmus days is a photo of me and my friends from a day full of good memories."

Berkin Çolpan
2018-2019 Bahar, Erasmus+
Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Mosbach, Almanya

"I had an opportunity to spend a great semester at DHBW with 29 engineering students from 7 countries. It was a special international engineering program that was well designed with different social and cultural events, factory tours, and a trip to Hannover for one of the most important industry fairs. This picture was from outside of the hostel we stayed in Hannover for a trip in the first week of the semester, as the first activity of the orientation program, I was trying to explain different keywords on the poster which was prepared by 6 German students according to the most known things of Turkey and some stereotypes about Turkey. It was a spectacular experience to represent my country by breaking down stereotypes. I believe each student in this special program is still feeling the gains of the program as a game-changer in their life."

Berna Bolsoy
2018-2019 Güz, Erasmus+
Turku University of Applied Science, Finlandiya

Erasmus+ days... The days I recall as the milestone of my life. The days made me meet with my great hidden potential. The days lighting the fire of continuous exploring and learning inside me. Imagine that you are a person who hates uncertainty and does anything to avoid it. And then, you decide to study abroad for a couple of months and dive into uncertainty itself. Afterwards, all you need is to trust yourself and go with the flow. I exactly did these, spent 4 full months in Finland. Joined culture-sharing clubs, did outdoor activities, worked voluntarily in entrepreneurship society, run a project with a multinational team and presented to the company's CEO. This photo could be a nice snapshot of my Erasmus+ experience describing boundaries are only illusions in human's mind."

Ecem Ergün
2018-2019 Güz, Erasmus+
ESDES Lyon Business School, Fransa

"If anyone asks me "If you have the chance to go back to your university life, which semester would it be?" Without hesitation, it would be the semester that I made amazing, long-lasting friendships all over the world; discovered the local streets in France and learned how to be Lyonnaise, tasted different traditional and famous foods, and even sometimes questioned why they are famous =), got full of pasta and pizza when I was in Milan, mesmerized by the view in Florence that I missed the bus to Bologna, had a boat trip in St. Tropez, woke up to a very cold and snowy but heartwarming morning in Montblanc, experiencing the panoramic view of Bordeaux from the very top of the city: on a rollercoaster, going to secret parties organized by the uni that you never know the venue and more countless memories with my sisters and my brothers in the international student club's event. I could never know this would be the best time of my life without giving it a chance. Cycling in the rain, having croissants very early in the morning, not understanding the French accent, not understanding French... and the Global Village Event that I was a part of. These were unforgettable experiences showing that how we became family in just 4 months. Now I know, I have a door in almost every country, I have friends who live so far away but just by me whenever I need. Sometimes it all begins by a hello and sometimes by saying YES."

Hüseyin Erkan Koç
2018-2019 Güz, Erasmus+
Lodz University of Technology, Polonya

"Through the Erasmus+ Student Mobility Programme, I have studied in the architectural engineering program at the Technical University of Lodz in the winter semester of 18/19. The Erasmus experience was an amazing opportunity to foster openness to other cultures in a place like containing a marvelous mixture of nationalities and it made me feel like a global citizen. Afterward, living alone in unfamiliar territory was a big chance which taught me to be brave and trust myself more than ever. This experience was not only inspiring me for my own design style and skills but also had an impact on the perception of myself as an architect, a Turkish citizen, a young person, and so on through various environments, people and study practices. This eye-opening exchange programme also corroborated the idea of starting a master’s degree abroad and resulted in an MSc degree at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany."

Hazal Bozdağ
2017-2018, Bahar, Erasmus+
University of Lodz, Polonya

"I feel that I have new lenses to see and understand the world after my Erasmus experience in Poland and it was the time I have realized meeting new people and learning about their way of life makes me feel alive."

Sedat Onur Çakırlar
2010-2011 Bahar, Erasmus
Pforzheim University, Almanya 

“Erasmus, dünya gençliğinin buluşma noktasıdır. O fotoğraftaki yerini mutlaka al!”

Mine Özer
2011-2012 Güz , Erasmus
ISM, Litvanya

“Uluslararası bir grubun parçası olmak isteyen herkese Erasmus Değişim Programı’nı tavsiye ediyorum. Kesinlikle buna değer!”

Dasa Stanimirovic
2012-2013 Güz, Erasmus
University of Bologna, İtalya

“Kendinizi keşfetmek, kişisel gelişim ve çevrenize yeni bir gözle bakabilmek; birkaç dakika içinde hayat boyu sürecek, sizi zenginleştiren dostluklar kurabilmek, kimilerinin hayatı boyunca başaramadığını birkaç ay içinde başarmak için heyecan verici ve macera dolu bir yolculuğa çıkın.”

İrem Demircioğlu
2012-2013 Güz, Erasmus
Pforzheim University, Almanya 

“Eğer bu şansı yakalamışsanız ya da yakalamak istiyorsanız hiç durmayın derim. Erasmus bu hayatta verdiğim en iyi kararlardan bir tanesi oldu. Siz de benim gibi gezmeyi, yeni insanlarla tanışmayı ve yeni diller öğrenmeyi seven biriyseniz Erasmus sizin için doğru tercih.”

Burcu Özonat
2012-2013 Güz, Erasmus
European Business School, Almanya 

"Erasmus sayesinde değişik bir kültürü tanımış oldum, yeni yerler gördüm, yeni arkadaşlar edindim, herkese bu deneyimi yaşamayı tavsiye ederim!"