Bogazici University, Istanbul.

Table of Contents
Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 2
How to get there ................................................................................................................................. 3
Train ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Air .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Bus ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Transport............................................................................................................................................. 9
Bus ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Basic Istanbul public transit fares ................................................................................................. 11
New arrivals ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Residence Permit .............................................................................................................................. 13
Accommodation ................................................................................................................................ 13
Apply for Housing.............................................................................................................................. 14
Rates for the 2013-2014 ................................................................................................................... 14
Sending paper work ...................................................................................................................... 15
Moving in : .................................................................................................................................... 16
Moving out : .................................................................................................................................. 16
Things to bring .............................................................................................................................. 16
Things to Leave at Home............................................................................................................... 16
How to get to the Superdorm ....................................................................................................... 17
Public Transportation : .................................................................................................................. 17
Credit and Grading Systems at Boğaziçi............................................................................................ 18
Boğaziçi University Health Center..................................................................................................... 19
Services & Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 20
Supermarkets ................................................................................................................................ 21
Bogazici University, Istanbul.
Istanbul is really one of the most multicultural cities in the world and when you arrive you will
instantly feel the mix of western and eastern culture. Bogazici University is one of the best
universities in Turkey and it overlooks the famous Bosphorous. There are many campuses but mostly
students will be on north and south campus and one thing many foreign students don’t realise at
first is that there is a free shuttle bus that leaves from both campuses so take advantage of it. At the
start of the year get what is known as an akbil from the university because you need it to eat at the
canteens. A meal costs 1.50 tl with this akbil but without it, it costs 10tl. Definitely take the Turkish
classes available for foreign students as you will need to have some basic Turkish outside of the
university and a few words go a long way.
Don’t limit yourself to Erasmus students if you want to make the most of your year abroad. Turkish
student’s are very friendly but they can be shy at first talking in English with a foreign student so
don’t let this put you off. Make friends with as much Turkish students because it is from them you
will get the best tips about living in Istanbul.
There are many types of transport to get around Istanbul and because of the size of the population it
may feel a challenge at first compared to Ireland as life seems quite busy and the city is crowded but
as there are many places to see don’t spend most of your time in the campus area. The university
provides an application form at the beginning of the semester for the Istanbul transport card and its
best to get it if you want to save money. Many students take the opportunity to travel around
Turkey during the holidays and there are many UNESCO world heritage sites to see including
Cappadocia. It is quite easy to take a trip to Greece also. Even in Istanbul there are a lot of historical
sites from the Roman and Ottoman Empires. The Princes Islands are also a very popular place to
visit. Istanbul is a place where you really won’t get bored.
For accommodation, it isn’t necessary to live in the same area as the campus. Some students even
live in Kadikoy which is on the Asian side and use the taxi boat to get to the European side. Most
students however opt to live in Besiktas. A member of the international office has a blog also which
provides tips on university life and it is very handy so make sure to take a look:
http://boun101.blogspot.com/
Overall, Bogazici University and Istanbul is the place for the student who wants to feel what it is like
to live between the east and west of the world.
Charlene Kane, BA in International Relations
Climate
Istanbul has a temperate oceanic climate which is influenced by a continental climate, with hot and
humid summers and cold, wet and occasionally snowy winters.
Istanbul has a high annual average rainfall of 844 mm (which is more than that of London, Dublin or
Brussels, whose negative reputation Istanbul does not suffer), with late autumn and winter being
the wettest, and late spring and summer being the driest. Although late spring and summer are
relatively dry when compared to the other seasons, rainfall is significant during these seasons, and
there is no dry season as a result.
If there is a negative reputation that Istanbul does suffer from, it is the high annual relative humidity,
especially during winter and summer with the accompanying wind chill and concrete-island effect
during each respective season.
Summer is generally hot with averages around 27ºC during the day and 18ºC at night. High relative
humidity levels and the ‘concrete-island effect’ only make things worse. Expect temperatures of up
to 35° C for the hottest days of the year. Summer is also the driest season, but it does infrequently
rain. Showers tend to last for 15-30 minutes with the sun usually reappearing again on the same day.
Flash floods are a common occurrence after heavy rainfalls (especially during summer), due to the
city's hilly topography and inadequate sewage systems.
Winter is cold and wet, averaging 2ºC at night and 7ºC during the day. Although rarely below
freezing during the day, high relative humidity levels and the wind chill makes it feel bitterly cold and
very unpleasant.
Snowfall, which occurs almost annually, is common between the months of December and March,
with an annual total snow cover of almost three weeks, but average winter snowfall varies
considerably from year to year, and snow cover usually remains only for a few days after each
snowfall, even under intense snow conditions.
Late spring (late May to early June) and early autumn (late September to early October) are very
pleasant and therefore the best times to visit the city. During these periods it is neither cold nor hot,
and still sunny, though the nights can be chilly and rain is common.
For visitors an umbrella is recommended during spring, autumn and winter, and during the summer
to avoid the sun and occasionally the rain. However, it’s not such a big problem, since streets of
Istanbul are suddenly filled by umbrella sellers as soon as it starts raining. Although the umbrellas
they provide are a little shoddy, going rate is only TL 5 –about US$ 3- per umbrella (though you can
find much better umbrellas for that price at shops if you look around a bit).
Light clothing is recommended during summer and a light jacket and/or light sweater if the summer
evenings do become chilly, warm clothing is essential during winter and a mixture of the two during
spring and autumn.
Also take note that due to its huge size, topography and maritime influences, Istanbul exhibits a
multitude of distinct microclimates. Thus, different sections of Istanbul can experience different
weather conditions at the same time. For example, at the same moment, it can be heavily raining in
Sarıyer in the north, mildly raining in Levent (northern terminus of metro line), while Taksim, the
southern terminus of metro line, is having a perfectly sunny day.
How to get there
Train
Attention: Due to construction of the Bosporus Rail Tunnel and new high-speed lines between
Istanbul and Ankara all long-distance train services are suspended until 2015. Trains from Europe
terminate at the border where designated buses are avalible for the rest of the journey. On the
Asian side, trains from south (Konya and Adana amongst others) will have their terminus in Eskişehir.
Trains from eastern Turkey and Iran terminates in Ankara. The sole exception of this are the trains
from Gebze, a suburb 45km east of Istanbul.
International trains from across Europe arrive at the station in Sirkeci, close to Sultanahmet. Asian
trains arrive at Haydarpasa station. To get between the two, catch a ferry across the Bosphorus.
Marmaray, the Rail Tube Tunnel and Commuter Rail Mass Transit System is being built, and is
projected to be one of the most challenging infrastructure projects in Turkey.
International trains to Sirkeci

Daily overnight train Balkan Express from Belgrade (Serbia) via Sofia (Bulgaria).

Daily overnight Bosphorus Express from Bucharest (Romania) (departure at 12:16PM
from Bucharest, arrival at 8:30AM in Istanbul, but expect about 2 hours delay) Cost: 170
RON (about 40 euro) for a second class sleeper, plus an additional fee if you wish a sleeping
compartment (77 euro for a single-bed cabin or 10 to 33 euro for twin/up to six beds/cabin).
No restaurant.
Trains from Budapest and Thessaloniki are cancelled since 2011.
International trains to Haydarpasa

Schedule and price list of railway trips can be gathered from TCDD (Turkish Republic State
Railways). Weekly trains to Aleppo (Syria) - taken out of service in 2008; it is unknown
whether and when this service will resume.

Weekly train to Teheran (Iran) (from Haydarpasa station) every Wednesday 10:55PM,
costing 105 Turkish lira. It is also a good way to drive in the Eastern part of Turkey. You
change trains on Friday at Lake Van which requires a four hour ferry ride to get across. Both
the Turkish and Iranian trains are comfortable and clean. Waggon restaurants are rather
cheap. Arrival in Tehran on Saturday at 6:45PM (but expect up to 10 hours delay…).
When arriving at the Turkish border from Europe, you may need to buy a visa before getting your
passport stamp. This counter accepts only Euros or USD, not Turkish Lira. You need to go to the visa
counter first to purchase your visa, then to passport control to get it stamped.
Air
Atatürk Airport
Most planes arrive at Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IATA: IST), 20 km west of the city centre. From the
airport, there are various options for getting into Istanbul: you can take a taxi (about 35-40 TL
to Taksim. There is no night fare in Istanbul anymore - the price would be the same at midnight or
midday. About the same to Sultanahmet), the express bus service run by the local airport service
called "Havataş", which departs half-hourly between 4AM-midnight and costs 10 TL to Taksim and
Aksaray and Kozyatağı), the public bus (line №96T) run by İETT costing 5 TL (3.5 with İstanbulKart),
which has fewer departure times now, due to Havatas, which is also a municipality engaged bus
service.
Then, there is the metro (6:00 - midnight) (signposted "light rail" in the airport, when you get outside
the baggage claim its about a 10 minute walk in the airport to the metro line. Just follow the signs),
which will take you directly to the Otogar (bus station) or to numerous stops within Istanbul (Aksaray
in the city centre is the last stop, transfer stations for tram heading for deeper into old city is
available at Zeytinburnu and Aksaray). It costs 3 TL, by token (+an extra 3 TL when boarding the
tram) and getting to Aksaray takes around 45 minutes. It is possible to be at your bus departing
from Otogar within less than one hour after landing by taking the metro.
When entering the metro station, you need to buy a jeton (token) for 3 lira. Just hand the cashier 3
lira and he'll give you a token, or use the automatic dispenser (Jetonmatik), which accepts banknotes
(5 TL, 10 TL) as well as coins. Use 'select' to choose the number of jetons and then push 'ok'. They
don't accept credit card or foreign currency here. This will get you on the red metro line (towards
Aksaray). From this line, if you are going to Sultanahmet, you can transfer at Zeytinburnu and buy
another jeton (3 lira) - see the section on "Istanbulkart" if further travel within Istanbul's metro
system will be undertaken. Note that the jeton token here is different than the first one. From
Zeytinburnu, take the blue tram line T1, towards Kabataş which passes by: Sultanahmet, Eminönu
and Tophane. The trip from the airport to Sultanahmet takes about 45 min.
Other Notes: Note that people are working on commission at the airport trying to make you use
special shuttle buses for very high fees (30+ TL), so for people who wish to travel more economically
the Metro/tram-combination is easy and fairly quick, and offers very good value. Travel by
metro/tram cost 1 token per trip which is equal to 3 TL. No matter how long you travel, it cost 1
token per trip.
Visa: Depending on nationality, foreigners arriving in Istanbul may need to purchase tourist visas
(USA and some EU citizens, depending on exact nationality, do). This must be done upon arrival
before queuing for passport control. The windows for purchasing the visa are located immediately to
the left of the main passport control booths. You must pay in cash US dollars, Euros, or British
pounds. Turkish lira is NOT taken or you can pay by Mastercard/Visa at the visa desk.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Istanbul also has a second airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (IATA: SAW), located in
the Anatolian side of the city.
The cheapest way to arrive from Sabiha Gökçen in the European side of Istanbul is by bus (E10 line,
from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadiköy) + ferry(from Kadiköy to many ferry stations, including some in the
Sultanahmet area). It costs no more than 7TL for the bus ride and then you pay only 2TL for the ferry
ride (which is linked to the public transport system, meaning you can also use akbil or electronic
transport prepaid cards to pay for the ferry). That's less than €4 in total. Every other option priced at
€10 and above ( 23 lira and above-by Feb 2013 rates) makes sense ONLY if you can't use this. And
BEWARE of the company running the "HOTEL INFORMATION" office in the Sabiha Gökçen airport,
see below.
A Havatas bus connects this airport with Taksim in the city centre for 12 TL (March 2013) and takes
about an hour (closer to two or more in heavy traffic). There is also a Havatas service to Kozyatağı, a
transportation hub of Asian Side, which costs 10 TL. If you arrive in the middle of the night, you can
move to the departure hall after passing customs and rest on very comfortable seats — you will
even find coin-operated Japanese massage chairs. Then, at 05:00 the first Havatas bus will take you
to town. The Havatas bus schedule is sometimes linked to the arrival/departure times of planes.
A cheaper option is to take public bus line #E9 to Kaynarca (get off at Tersane Lojmanlari) in (30 min,
2 TL); see timetables. From Kaynarca, you can take a suburban train (Banliyö Treni) to Haydarpasa
(50 min, 2 TL), from where you can take a ferry to Karaköy (2 TL). Total travel time is approx. 1 h 40
min and the cost 6 TL.
Various private operators offer internet bookable shared minibuses to central locations — a good
choice when arriving late. A typical price being EUR 90 for 4 people to a hotel in Laleli. A taxi to
Sabiha Gökçen airport from Taksim, which lies around 50 km from the airport, takes ~35 minutes at
3:30am with no traffic. The meter will show ~65 lira, plus there is ~6 lira in tolls. Note the security
screening is before the check-in counters, so add some extra time to make the cutoff times (45
minutes for international, 30 for domestic).
Beware of the company running the "Hotel Information" office in the Sabiha Gökçen airport which
offers "shuttle-to-hotel" services from €15 (they pretend to make a discount based on your group
size, you can get it as low as €12.5 for 4 people) because their drivers are totally uninformed about
any hotel address and they may get lost/the trip may take 2-3 times more than normal because of
their lack of knowledge with hotel addresses.
When arriving at Sabiha Gökçen airport, there are people offering shuttle services to the European
side of the city, most costing €10, which is much cheaper than booking a taxi with your hotel/hostel
(about €50-60). It is the best option after the Havatas airport buses. For the return journey, officers
are quite zealous with luggage checks and they systematically remove the cap from bottled water
once at the gate. It is recommended not to buy water before the flight although you can take the
open bottle on board. Another surprising feature of Sabiha Gökçen airport is the luggage check at
the main entrance, but fortunately you are allowed to take drinks in the airport at this point.
Bus
Most buses and coaches terminate at the colossal Esenler district named Otogar in Turkish the main
intercity bus station, about 10 km west of the city centre, located on the European side. The station
can be easily reached via the Otogar stop on the M1. Companies may also have courtesy minibuses
or taxis which will allow you to easily access the centre of the city.
Buses depart/arrive for all regions of Turkey as well as for international destinations including cities
in Bulgaria, Greece, Republic of Macedonia and Romania. The terminal is huge and each company
has a separate office. The area can be a tourist trap with people wanting to help get you to the right
office -- for a fee. It is easiest if you know who you want to travel with when you arrive.
With 168 ticket offices and gates, shops, restaurants, hotel, police station, clinic and mosque, the
Büyük Otogar is a town in itself. From/To Thessaloniki (Greece): ticket prices are around
approximately €45 (one way), €80 with return . From/To Sofia and Varna (Bulgaria): ~25€ (one way).
From/To Skopje (Macedonia): ~40€ (one way)
"Harem" is the major hub for the buses on the Anatolian (Asian) side, which can be reached easily
from the European side with a Ferryboat.
Transport
The most efficient and cheap way to get from a to b in Istanbul by public transportation is
undoubtedly by metro, tram, funicular and/or ferry. These means of public transportation are very
efficient, quick and punctual. Not in the least because they don’t suffer from Istanbul’s constantly
clogged streets. In this article I focus on the vehicles with steel wheels and cover what lines you can
take, how and where to catch them, their operating hours and fares.
Istanbul has 2 metro lines, 5 tram lines and 2 funiculars. For an overview, check this map of the
Istanbul rail systems, which will open in a new window for your convenience. General Information
To get on a metro, tram or funicular you have to pass the turnstiles in order to reach the platform.
To pass the turnstiles, you either need to buy a token (jeton) or use your pre-loaded akbil or İstanbul
Kart. The price for all railway systems is TL 1,5. The vehicles are modern and air-conditioned.
Metro Sign
Some lines:
The Aksaray-Airport (Havalimanı) Metro Line (M1)

First Train: 06:00

Last Train: 00:30

Frequency: every 5 minutes; every 7,5 minutes on Sundays
The Şişhane-Atatürk Oto Sanayii Metro Line (M2)
This is the only real metro in Istanbul. It is a work in progress, with new stops being added regularly.
Currently there are 10 stops. Get off in Osmanbey to reach Nişantası, in Şişli to visit
theCevahir and Profilo shopping centers or in Levent to browse around in
theMetrocity & Akmerkez shopping centers.

First Train: 06:15; 06:30 on Sundays

Last Train: 00:30

Frequency: every 4,5 minutes; every 7 minutes on Sundays
The Zeytinburnu-Kabataş Tram Line (T1)
It has stops like Laleli Üniversitesi (to reach the Süleymaniye Mosque),Beyazıt and Cemberlitaş (gates
of the Grand Bazaar and famous hamam),Sultanahmet , Eminönü (Spice Market, New Mosque
and Scenic Bosphorus Cruise & Kadıköy ferry dock), Karaköy(with connection
to Tünel), Tophane (Istanbul Modern) and Kabataş(connection to Taksim via F1 or quick ferry or seabus dock for a visit to the Princes’ Islands).

First Train: 06:00

Last Train: 23:50

Frequency: every 5 minutes
The Taksim-Kabataş Funicular (F1)
Furnicular connecting Taksim & Kabataş
This funicular, inaugurated in 2006, has been long-awaited and takes you up the steep hill from
Kabataş to Taksim in only 150 seconds.

First Train: 06:15; 06:30 on Sundays

Last Train: 00:50; 01:20 on Fridays and Saturdays

Frequency: every 5 minutes
Bus
Though you'll probably use the tram, Metro and ferryboats more, Istanbul's IETT city buses are
useful for some major sights and longer trips in and out of the city.
They tend to be slow and crowded, especially during the city's morning and evening commuter
rushes.
Buy your tokens before boarding the bus. (You can't pay fares on the bus.)
Besides the IETT buses operated by the city government, Istanbul has private buses owned and
operated by private individuals and companies in accordance with city regulations.
Called Özel Halk Otobüsü ("Private Peoples' Bus"), these buses run on some of the busier routes,
charging the same fares as municipal buses, but may allow you to pay your fare in cash (as well as
by token or transit pass) on the bus. Otherwise, there's little difference.
If you're packed into the mid-section of the bus when your stop comes, say İnecek var! (een-eh-JEHK
vahr, "Someone wants to get out!") so the driver will stop and wait for you to make your way out.
Basic Istanbul public transit fares are:
City bus, Metro, tram, funicular, Tünel, ferry: TL3.00
(with Akbil or Istanbulkart: TL1.95)
Children 7 years and older must pay a fare; those six years and younger do not.
These are the fares for most short rides on most means of transport (Metro, bus, tram, funicular,
ferryboat). Longer or special journeys may require higher fares.
The way you pay the fare can affect how much you pay:
Biletmatik Fare Cards (Elektronikkart)
Electronic fare cards for a pre-determined number of trips:
Name
Fares
Price
Cost per ride
BIRGeç
1
TL4
TL4.00
İKİGeç
2
TL7
TL3.50
ÜÇGeç
3
TL10
TL3.33
BEŞGeç
5
TL15
TL3.00
ONGeç
10
TL28
TL2.80
You can buy disposable fare cards from Biletmatik machines:
Istanbulkart
A plastic RFID chip card that you purchase, load money onto it, then use it to pay transit fares. It's
the cheapest and most convenient way to travel on public transit in Istanbul.
Jeton (Token)
You buy single-fare tokens at Jetonmatik machines or snack/newspaper kiosks in
or near busy Istanbul Metro stations, bus stops and ferry docks. Eminönü is a good
place to look.
(If, like the one pictured on the right, the Jetonmatik has a sign
reading Arızalıdır, orHizmet dışı,it's out of order.)
beşiBiryerde Card
This unwieldy name designates a disposable, paper 5-fare RFID transit card that costs five times the
normal fare and saves you from the trouble of buying five tokens at a time. It is being phased
out. More...
Fare machines and Jetonmatik token machines located at major bus stops, Metro and tram stations,
ferry docks, etc. allow you to buy jetons and fare cards, and to reload credit onto
your Istanbulkart or Akbil with coins, Turkish lira notes, or credit card.
Instructions are in Turkish, English and German.
If the machine bears a sign saying Arızalıdır or Hizmet dışı, it's out of order. if they're in working
order. (The ones in Metro stations usually work, the ones outdoors sometimes don't work.)
New arrivals
The Office of International Relations is responsible for the registration of all the exchange students
upon their arrival. The Office provides a series of orientation sessions and will be your contact for
any questions related to visa matters and regulations.
The Office guides students to the appropriate academic advisors, who help them select courses
relevant to their study program. Please check the Academic Calendar for registration and add/drop
periods.
Due to timetabling and quota changes, we can not guarantee that a student will be able to register
for all desired courses. We advise students to consult their home institute advisors before
departure, and to bring with them a list of courses which have been approved by their advisors.
Descriptions of the courses offered at Boğaziçi University are available on the corresponding
departmental pages. To learn more about the academic units and their web pages, click here.
Definitive course list to be offered by academic units in each semester is always announced here.
Residence Permit
Before leaving for Turkey, exchange students should pick up their letter of acceptance from their
home institution offices and obtain a multi-entry student visa from the nearest Turkish embassy or
consulate.
Upon your arrival you need to apply for a residence permit within 30 days. This will allow you to
travel in and out of Turkey without re-applying for the visa.
Make an online appointment to apply for a residence permit !
The following are needed in order to apply for a Residence Permit:

The cost of the Residence Permit booklet is 172 TL (fee for 2012).

Pick up your "Student Certification" from the Office approximately three weeks after the
registration.
Following application, the residence permit is processed within several days. The authorities will
need to keep your passport in the meantime. It will then be returned to you along with your
residence permit booklet. Kindly hand our office a copy of this booklet to be filed along with your
other documents. Take the booklet with you if you leave the country; you will need it to re-enter.
Accommodation
Boğaziçi University offers various dormitories for its students. Currently the Superdorm is the only
available option for the incoming exchange and special students.
Superdorm is operated under a private management. Please see its web page for accommodation
types and prices. Note that applying to the dorm well before the fall academic term is always a good
practice.
Office of International Relations and Boğaziçi University do not provide housing services.
Superdorm offers coed housing options where you can choose between 2,3,or 4-bedroom suites.
Superdorm is established on the campus of “Uçaksavar Culture and Sports Facilities” of Bogaziçi
Universitesi in the highly upgrade residential area of Istanbul called Etiler. It is about 2,5 kms or a
15-minute walk from the main campus, called “South Campus”.
The dormitory, consisting of 5-floored 5 blocks under the same roof and built mainly with generous
donations from alumni and friends, has a covered area of 22.000 square meters.
The building has a capacity of 130 suites and a total of 486 rooms available for students’ use. Suites
vary in size and price depending on the number of individual rooms in each. Some suites even have
an extra storage room for luggage. This feature, along with daily cleaning services, hot-water, central
heating, free internet access through the University’s network, laundry, cafeteria and beauty
parlor/barber shop and office store makes Superdorm the top choice of students. Heavy fixtures in
the suites consist of sofas, a coffee table, a dining table and chairs, a TV table, built-in wardrobe,
refrigerator and the kitchen fan. The individual bedrooms are furnished with a twin-bed, a table, an
office chair and built-in shelves and cupboards. Each room is wired for telephones.
Apply for Housing
Once you send in your academic application to Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, please also fill in the Superdorm
Application Form and send it as word document attachment to superdorm@boun.edu.tr right away.
It is important to apply early to increase your chances of getting a room and of your preferences.
Late applicants may have to wait for a room assignment. When the assignment process begins
,assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date your application is
received and the order of your preference.
For the Fall term, assignments will begin around the second week of July of the same year.
Assignments for the Spring term will start around the third week of the previous December.
Following the room assignment, you will receive an e-mail confirmation also giving you the payment
deadline as well as the Superdorm check-in dates and hours . At this stage, you are required to
download the “Contract” from the web page, sign and send the hard copy together with 2 passport
size (2”x2”) photographs, through the postoffice in priority mail or by special courier services like
DHL, UPS, or FedEx.
Rates for the 2013-2014 Academic year (Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semester) are:
2-single-bedroom flat EURO 2.850,- Per Person/per semester
3-single-bedroom flat EURO 2.450,- Per Person/per semester
4-single-bedroom flat EURO 2.250,- Per Person/per semester
Security deposit of EURO 200,- should be added to the above amounts.
Full payment must be made by the deadline to keep your room.
- Prices are net cash; all bank charges at both ends at the expense of the payee.
Since international money transfers may take up to several weeks to reflect in our accounts you are
required to send a copy of the bank transfer document via fax or e-mail. In the absence of actual
payment or information of transfer details by the payment deadlne, the room assignment will be
cancelled and your name will be put on the wait list.
IMPORTANT NOTE : The student’s name MUST APPEAR on the wire transfer document.
Payment Deadline : Please refer to the calendar!
Name of Beneficiary : Butek Bogazici Egitim Turizm Teknopark Uygulama ve Danismanlik Hizmetleri
Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (BUTEK A.S. for short)
Beneficiary’s Address : Bogazici Universitesi, Guney Kampus
7 Numarali lojman, 2.Kat
Bebek – Besiktas 34342
Istanbul - TURKIYE
Bank Name : T.Garanti Bankasi A.S.
Swift Code : TGBATRIS
Branch : Rumeli Hisarustu
Branch Code : 1295
Bank Address : Nispetiye Caddesi No. 73 / B
Rumeli Hisarustu - Sariyer 34470
Istanbul - TURKIYE
EURO Account Number : 9090475
IBAN Number : TR94 0006 2001 2950 0009 0904 75
Sending paper work
Delivery should be made through postal services and as priority mail OR through Courier services like
FedEx, DHL, UPS to:
Attn. Superdorm Yonetim Ofisi
Bogazici Universitesi
Ucaksavar Kultur ve Spor Tesisleri
Cengiz Topel Caddesi
Etiler, Besiktas 34337
Istanbul, TURKIYE
Moving in :
Please report to Superdorm on the dates and during the time given to you. No check-in or check-out
is possible outside normal office hours, over the weekend or on holidays.
Moving out :
Before you vacate your room at the end of your stay, make sure you have completed the form
available at the reception desk, latest 3 work days prior to departure;
1. to give your bank information details for refunding of the security deposit,
2. to specify your departure date and time if you want to be present during room inspection.
The result of the end-of-semester room inspection will be checked against "the room check form"
you have completed and turned in at the time of moving in. If no damage is found you will receive a
full refund.
No room inspection will be carried out beyond normal office hours, over the weekend or on
holidays.
Once you check out, you have to leave Superdorm. You cannot check-in as a visitor.
Luggage or other personal belongings cannot and will not be stored for you before you check-in or
after you check-out of the Superdorm.
Things to bring
-Pillow
- Blanket
- a set of linens (preferably 2) you can also buy it here.
- rain-wear and umbrella
- laptop
- kitchen utensils* (kettle, toaster, pots and pans, silverware, mugs, glasses)
(Your roommates may already have these so you can share)
Things to Leave at Home
Below list is not comprehensive. The Dorm Manager reserves the right to ask students to remove
items that are considered unsafe.
- electric oven
- microwave oven
- waffle irons
- portable heaters
- fans
- any appliance with an open flame heating element
- candles
- incense
- water pipe /hookah
- halogen lamps
- amplified equipment such as electric guitars
- pets
- standard lamps
How to get to the Superdorm
There are two ways to get to Superdorm.
First one would be to use the shuttle bus (HAVAS) to TAKSIM and take a taxi from there Superdorm.
The other method would be to take a taxi from the airport to Superdorm.
Our address which you can give to the taxi driver is :
Bogazici Universitesi - SUPERDORM
Ucaksavar Kultur ve Spor Tesisleri
Cengiz Topel Caddesi
Etiler
A brief instruction for the driver :
“E5 uzerinden Zincirlikuyu’ya gelin. Etiler ayrimindan saga sapin. AKMERKEZ’i gectikten sonra
Nispetiye Caddesi uzerinde devam edin. Etiler merkezi gecince sol tarafta SGK Dinlenme Evi ve
sonra Canakkale Seramik Sitesi, devamında sağda, Bogazici Pastanesi ve bundan sonra FSM
koprusu icin sola donus yapacagınız göbek var. Kopruye gider gibi donun. Orasi Cengiz Topel
Caddesidir. Sag tarafta Universitenin futbol sahasini goreceksiniz. Onun bittigi yerde sagda
Superdorm kampüsüne giriş var. "
Public Transportation :
There are two main directions to go from the Superdorm :
1- Taksim – Downtown/ European side.
You should take Bus Route No. “ 559C R.Hisarüstü – Taksim”
2- Eminonu – Old city Istanbul
You should take Bus Route No. “ 43R R.Hisarustu – Kabatas”. Kabatas being the last stop by bus,
you must transfer to the trolley to go to Eminonu.
For details on other routes and schedules please visitwww.iett.gov.tr/en/index.php , the website for
City Public Transportation.
You can also take any of the buses headed downtown, get off at “Levent” and transfer to the
Subway for a 15-minute-ride to Taksim.
Private transportation :
Taxi fare is comparatively low in İstanbul. You can ask the reception desk for a taxi. They will call one
of the two cab companies that we work with and give you the last digits of the license plate no. so
you will know which one is yours. You should always check the taxi-meter and have small change
ready for payment.
Intercity Bus Transportation :
Below is a list of recommended bus companies for your travels in Turkey.
Intercity Bus Companies:
Varan Tourism
http://www.varan.com.tr/
212-551 50 00
Ulusoy Tourism
http://www.ulusoy.com.tr/
444 1 888 Call Center
Pamukkale Tourism
http://www.pamukkaleturizm.com.tr/
444 35 35 Call Center
Credit and Grading Systems at Boğaziçi
Traditionally the credit system used at Boğaziçi University is a credit-hour system based on contact
hours, similar to most North American HEIs. A 3-credit course means three hours of weekly lectures
or two hours of lectures and two hours of laboratory work every week.
The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) system is also being used in parallel, with 60 ECTS
corresponding to the workload in an academic year for a total of 1500 hours. First-cycle studies
require 240 ECTS, second-cycle studies require 120 ECTS and third-cycle studies require 240 ECTS for
completion.
The transfer of credits obtained by Boğaziçi University at partner HEIs requires a detailed Learning
Agreement signed by the student, the academic advisor/departmental coordinator and the
institutional coordinator. Such Learning Agreements must include details of the courses to be taken
abroad and also details of the local courses of the curriculum which the student will be exempted
from (i.e. the credits of which will be deemed completed) upon successful completion of courses
taken abroad. Boğaziçi University seeks fair recognition based on learning outcomes as per
stipulated in theECTS Users' Guide of 2009.
Incoming students are highly encouraged to discuss the courses they intend to register to at Boğaziçi
University with the academic advisors assigned to them by their host departments well in advance of
their arrival and most certainly prior to the registration period specified in the academic calender.
The grading system used at Boğaziçi University is also similar to those used in North-American
HEIs. After evaluating all the exams, assignments and other requirements, an instructor assesses the
success of students in terms of the grades below:
Grade
Weight
AA
Excellent
4.0
BA
Good-Excellent
3.5
BB
Good
3.0
CB
Passing-Good
2.5
CC
Passing
2.0
DC
Passing-Poor
1.5
DD
Poor
1.0
F
Failed
0.0
P
Pass
A first-cycle student is required to complete the curiculum with a grade point average of at least 2.0.
In the academic year 2011-2012, about 18% of the first-cycle students have obtained AAs, 14% BAs,
14% BBs, 11% CBs, 10% CCs, 7% DCs, 6% DDs, 17% Fs and 4% Ps.
Boğaziçi University Health Center
BU’s main Health Center (in turkish “mediko” or “revir”), is located on the Main or “South” Campus.
It provides health services to all students, university workers and faculty members. All services at the
center are provided free of charge to all graduate and undergraduate students, including all
international students.
Health Center Contact Information
4440 – 6696 (at all hours)
BU Health Center is open 24/7.
(except when it is closed for a short window after the Summer Term)
E-mail: mediko@boun.edu.tr
Web page: http://mediko.boun.edu.tr/
In addition to the care provided by general practitioners and family physicians, BU Health Center
provides several additional services, by appointment only, in dentistry and internal medicine. Its
laboratories are equipped for various medical tests. In case of emergencies, there is an ambulance
on duty 24 hours a day to take patients to local hospitals. There are no pharmacies on campus, they
could be located just outside the campus.
Please note, the emergency care needs are said to be free everywhere for everyone in Turkey, but
there could be significant additional costs for surgical fees, tests and physician fees, especially at
private hospitals. Health insurance is not yet an official requirement for your arrival at Bogazici
University, but it is strongly recommended. Foreign students could be responsible for the full cost of
hospitalization, medical treatment or services outside the BU Health Center. Students are strongly
encouraged to get a private health insurance on their own.
In addition to the health centre on the main campus, there is a health office at Kilyos Campus with
nurses and doctors on duty 24/7, with listed office hours during the daytime.
Services & Facilities
Banks
South Campus:
Branches: Garanti Bankası and Finansbank
ATMS: Akbank,Garanti, HSBC, İş Bankası, Ziraat
North Campus:
Branch: Akbank
ATMS: Garanti, Akbank, İş Bankası
At Kilyos and Kandilli Campuses there are ATMS of Garanti
Food Services
North Campus
The main dining hall on the North Campus is the cafeteria, which is open for lunch between noon
and 2 p.m. and for dinner between 18.00-19.30, for students, faculty and staff.
South Campus
The cafeteria on South Campus is open for lunch between noon and 2 p.m, and serves
administrative staff and faculty members.
Kennedy Lodge
At the ground level, there is a self service restaurant for faculty and administrative staff. An a la carte
restaurant is located on the first floor for faculty. Kennedy Lodge is open between noon and 2 pm.
Canteens
There are canteens on South Campus, located in the basement of the Student Activities Building and
the basement of the Men's Dormitory ( Hamlin Hall). These facilities sell a variety of food and nonalcoholic drinks. Also, there are canteens on North Campus, Hisar Campus, Kilyos and Kandilli where
a variety of food and soft drinks are sold.
Laundry
Laundry service is located in Superdorm ( Uçaksavar Campus ) and in Kilyos Campus. Washing and
drying machines ( Laundromats ) that can be used by students are located at the basement of
Womens Dorm on South Campus and at the basement of the 3. North Dorm on North Campus.
Post Office
There is a Post Office on the North Campus, at the first floor of the Science and Technology Building (
Kare Blok ) where phonecards, tokens and stamps are sold from 9.00- 16:00, weekdays. A central
Post Office with more services is located in Levent.
Sports Facilities
The University provides a comprehensive sports program in addition to the extra - curricular
activities listed above. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis and rowing are extremely popular.
Matches and exhibitions are held throughout the academic year. An out-doors swimming pool is
open to all students, located on the South Campus. Table tennis, handball, wrestling, tracking and
cross-country are also included in the sports program of the University. A sports complex including a
soccer and track field and a gymnasium with all the training equipment exists on the Ucaksavar
Campus. The Sports Corrdinator will be glad to provide more information on the sports program at
the University to interested students.
Barber and Hair Stylist
In the basement of the Men's Dormitory on South Campus and in Superdorm, there are hair stylists
and barber shops.
Supermarkets
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Migros
Tansas
Gima
Carrefour
Sampiyon
Macrocentre