Istanbul

You will have access to a Bilgi shuttle that connects both campuses to housing, which will be your quickest form of transportation. Like many İstanbullus (residents of Istanbul), you will walk, ride the Metro (the subway system), ride the funicular, and take a local bus. When we provide specific information about your housing prior to departure, we will list details about Metro stops convenient to your residence and details of which mode of public transport to take to get to your classes.  Classes are held on both the Dolapadere and the Santral campus.  Both campuses are within a 45 minute commute of your housing via public transport. Please note that while the Metro is convenient and easy to use, many lines can be crowded, especially during rush hour.

When you first arrive, a CAPA representative will take you on a walking tour of the neighborhood around your housing and explain the easiest way to reach the CAPA office and the two campuses. This information will also be printed in your “Landing Gear,” which will be in your housing upon arrival.

Most İstanbullus pass their transportation time reading a book or newspaper or chatting with one another – the journey will be more enjoyable if you have something to keep you occupied. The CAPA Istanbul Program includes a transportation pass which will be pre-loaded to provide up to 200 journeys per month. Please check your program inclusions if you are on a program.

CAPA housing is located in a student residence within a 45 minute commute by public transportation of both the Dolapadere and Santal campuses of Istanbul Bilgi where classes are held. The rooms are dorm-style: mostly two-bedded rooms (may be some four-bedded rooms) with en suite bathrooms and a refrigerator and a shared kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, burners and a small plugged in oven on each floor. Free pastries are provided in the shared kitchen each morning. The rooms are cleaned on a daily basis; bed linen is provided changed every ten days.  Students need to bring their own towels.
Wireless internet is freely available and there is a computer lab with printers.  There is also a quiet study room, vending machines and a canteen.  The bedrooms do not have TVs but there are TVs in the kitchens and in the lounge area on the ground floor.

Given the mix of European and Asian cultures, neighborhoods in Istanbul can vary in culture and flavor as though they were different countries. Take advantage of this, and get to know both your own neighborhood and the nearby Golden Horn and Taksim Square areas, where the CAPA office is located.

There is security at the entrance and CCTV throughout. Entrance to the residence is by swipe card. No smoking or alcohol is allowed in the dorms. Guests are only allowed in the residence between noon and 10:00 pm.

We will provide specific information about your housing including the address approximately two weeks prior to departure. Please contact your program coordinator for specific details about your housing arrangement.

The student residence has phone in each room for incoming calls only. 

We suggest that you have mail and packages sent directly to the CAPA office with your name and school name clearly listed. The address will appear in your pre-departure packet. Senders must assume all associated shipping charges, including customs fees. Failure to do so could delay or cancel delivery, and/or result in a large customs bill you will need to pay on site!

The voltage level in Turkey is 220 V; Plugs C & F. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use appliances from the U.S. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. Alternatively, items such as hair driers, electric razors, and other small appliances can be purchased cheaply in Istanbul.

A good pair of walking shoes is essential. Remember that you will most likely walk more than you do at home. A warm waterproof jacket is important in the late autumn and winter, but a lighter waterproof jacket is useful on early autumn evenings. Even though Istanbul is a very cosmopolitan and progressive city, be mindful the majority of the population is Muslim and thus wearing more conservative dress than what you are used to in the U.S. is recommended. Remember that this is one of the world’s fashion capitals and you will most likely want to buy clothes in Istanbul, so don't over-pack!

Diversify, diversify, diversify. You’ll find that contemporary ATM cards (with a credit option) will cover almost everything. But remember: should your wallet get lost or stolen, you have few options until you replace the card, so we recommend bringing a modest amount in traveler’s checks (approximately $150) to set this aside for emergencies when you arrive. You’ll need a photo ID to cash traveler’s checks at most locations, but they are not accepted everywhere. If you bring your ATM card overseas, talk to a bank representative to ensure your card has international capabilities and to learn any other idiosyncrasies.

Almost all ATMs will add a fee for international transactions. Consider using a credit card with a low credit line before going abroad; to better track of your spending, we recommend using it in case of an emergency ONLY. Because many airports do not offer the best exchange rate, you could acquire Turkish Lira (100 – 150 TRY) from a domestic bank before leaving; this might come in handy for a taxi to the CAPA office or your housing.

If you take prescription medication you should bring enough for your stay. Remember to keep any medication in its original packaging in your carry-on luggage. We recommend that you get a doctor’s note explaining the medication, as well as the drug’s generic name. Keep this information handy if you have any issues with your prescription or need to obtain more; it can be difficult to ship medications overseas. If you are currently in counseling, you may want to set up weekly phone calls with your counselor. CAPA can provide a list of local counselors and psychologists, or your own psychologist may have local connections.

Yes, there are extensive library facilities on both the Dolpadere and Santral campuses.  You will have full access to both. The library collections include books in English, e-books, journals, DVDs, CDs, video cassetts, note sheets and academic Internet resources. Additional you will have 24/7 access to the Bilgi virtual library which includes more than 29,500 electronic journals, 56,000 e-books, and 100 electronic databases and encyclopedias.

Semester students will take classes alongside Bilgi students, providing many opportunities to engage with and befriend İstanbullus. There are all campus clubs which you may join during the semesters.

CAPA’s MyEducation program will also provide you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, and the CAPA International Programs Team can recommend many individual opportunities with which you can become involved, such as volunteering or local sports clubs. Ultimately, the study abroad experience is as rich as you make it: the more you put in the more you will take away.

Students should be aware that it is their own responsibility to obtain all passports, visas and required travel documents in order to enter each of the countries on their itinerary. If students are unable to obtain the necessary travel documents, or do not have them with them at the time of travel, they will not be entitled to a refund as described in the agreement. Although CAPA does advise in broad terms for the visa requirement/process for US citizens, we cannot stipulate all requirements as they might vary based on country of citizenship, or current legal standing. Students are responsible, in these cases, to research any additional requirements to which they might be held. Students should be aware that in some locations, certain passport holders could automatically be denied entry due to lack of diplomatic relationships, or other similar circumstances. Completing this research before committing to the program is strongly advised, as participation is then at one’s own risk.

Students studying in Turkey for a semester are required to apply for a student visa prior to departure. A visa is a sticker or stamp in your passport that grants you entry to your country for the duration of the program. For summer program students, a student visa is not required and students may enter on a tourist visa which can be purchased at the airport on arrival in Turkey.

It is an easy process to get a student visa pre-departure – Bilgi will provide a signed, stamped acceptance letter. After one month in Istanbul, you must apply for a residence permit. CAPA will accompany you to the police station to assist with the process.

You will find that one of the requirements is a letter of acceptance given by the school in Turkey. CAPA will obtain this from Bilgi and will mail it to you before the start of the program. Please start the application process as soon as you receive this letter.

As part of your visa application, the Turkish Embassy will require you to submit your actual passport. You cannot submit a photocopy of your passport in lieu of the original. The visa must be put in your passport by a consular official and cannot be mailed separately to you.

When downloading the visa application it’s best to type in your answers and then print out the form.

Below are answers to frequently asked visa application questions. Please refer to these responses if you have any questions completing the form.
Profession: Student.
Business Address: Leave blank.
Approximate date of your entry to Turkey (dd/mm/yy): Put the program start date here, unless you know that you will be arriving in Turkey early.
How long do you intend to stay in Turkey? Enter the length of your program.
What kind of visa do you require? Single entry.

Be sure to photocopy all documents for your records (including the front page of your passport that has your photograph) before submitting them to the consulate. It is always best to make sure that you have a copy of everything just in case the unexpected occurs.

There are five Turkish Consulates in the U.S. (Washington, D.C.; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; and Chicago, IL) and each one has jurisdiction for different states. For example, if your permanent address is in California, you may not apply to the consulate in New York. For complete consular contact information, please click the following link:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkish-representations.en.mfa

In most cases, you may either submit your application in person or by mail. Please double-check with the appropriate Consulate to verify whether or not they may receive applications by mail. If you decide to apply by mail or by courier service, you need to send a pre-paid or self stamped return envelope. Note that neither the visa officer nor the Turkish Consulates are responsible for lost documents.

If applying by mail, please note that it is best to mail important documents, such as your passport, via DHL, FedEx, or UPS. Certified mail can take longer than regular mail and is not easily traced until up to six weeks after mailing. Please do not fold any documents and never mail your passport via regular USPS mail.

Once the consulate receives your application, it should only take 48 HOURS to process. Once the process is complete, they will send your passport and visa to you via FedEx. Please do NOT wait until the last moment to apply for your visa. It is best to apply as soon as possible.

Upon your arrival you need to apply for a residence permit within 30 days. The CAPA office will assist you to do this. This permit will allow you to travel in and out of Turkey without re-applying for the visa. 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.

To follow are the official guidelines from http://www.washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/ConsularServices.aspx?ID=6.