ESN Selcuk 
Konya is a major city in south-central Turkey, on the south-western edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, and is the seventh-most-populous city in Turkey with a metropolitan population of over 2.2 million. Konya is a large and industrially developed city. The Konya region has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC and was ruled by various civilizations such as Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman ones. Konya was known as Iconium during classical antiquity.
In the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks conquered the area from the Byzantines, and Konya then became the capital of the Sultanate of Rum. Under the Seljuks, the city reached the height of its wealth and influence. Following the demise of Rum, Konya came under the rule of the Karamanids, before being taken over by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. After the Turkish War of Independence, the city became part of the modern Republic of Turkey. A beautiful place that is religiously inspired and a busy university city including Selcuk University.
Selcuk University is a state-owned higher educational institution, which was founded in 1975 in Konya. Selcuk University is now among Turkey’s largest educational institutions with its 23 faculties, 6 graduate schools, 6 colleges, 22 vocational schools, 1 state conservatory, and over 70.000 students. There is a casual mini-mall called Rainbow Mall (Gökkuşağı); where students can meet their needs and there are good restaurants to eat there.
The campus also has an Olympic swimming pool, riding facility, and gym saloons for the students. In addition, there is a market where you can find organic products produced by the Faculty of Agriculture. Selcuk University is a green campus to relax around, offers a great environment to spend time with your friends sitting around. In addition, by becoming a member of student clubs, you can make new friends, participate in trips, and contribute to your career.
Who We Are?
ESN Selcuk helps exchange students coming to our university from abroad to adapt to the university, Konya, and Turkey. We inform the incoming exchange students about anything about Konya and also the outgoing students about anything they may experience. Also, we are here for our students who have participated in the Erasmus program and returned, to help them adapt again. In the end, we are here for anyone who needs fun or help.
Our official e-mail address: esnselcuk@esnturkey.org
Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/esn-selçuk
Instagram: instagram.com/esnselcuk
1. Ideal Erasmus Term and General Weather Conditions of the City
It is better to go Erasmus in the spring semester. Even though Konya is really beautiful with the snow It is extremely cold in winter. It’s difficult to travel or go outside in winter because of the cold, snow, and rain.
In the spring term, the view of campus gets lovely. There are more concerts and events that have been organized due to the healing of the weather. You can travel comfortably and Konya becomes a more cheerful city!
2. The Location of the University
- The campus is quite close to the city center.
- The campus is one of the biggest campuses in Turkey. You can find most of the things that you’re looking for, there is a shopping mall, market, Olympic pool, stadium, theatre, dorms, hospital and beautiful gardens.
- You can take the tramway, minibus or bus from bus station. It will take 30 minutes from bus station to the campus. There a airport in Konya too, however you need to take minibus to bus station from airport then you need to go campus by tramway, bus or minibus from bus station. It may take 45-60 minutes.
- The university is located in the Aleaddin Keykubat Campus in the Bosna Hersek neighborhood of the Selcuklu province. Mostly students live in this neighborhood and it is quite large. If you live in this neighborhood, access to the university will be easy with minibus and will take only 10 minutes.
- There are 2 shopping centers in the Campus. You can find stationery, restaurants and shops.
- The campus environment is quite fun. You can find a lot of cafes. Nightlife is partly alive.
3. Where To Accommodate?
There are various places where you can stay in Konya. The first of these is the Erasmus House, which only Erasmus students can accommodate in this dormitory. If you do not want to stay at Erasmus House, you can benefit from private dormitories. In addition to this, it is possible to find houses with or without furniture on a cheap budget. You can choose the most suitable accommodation method for you and stay with peace of mind.
4. In City Transportation
Urban transportation in Konya is provided by buses, minibusses, and trams. Having two separate lines, 25 km, the trams is one of the most preferred options for urban transportation. The first line starts from Selcuk University and ends in Alaaddin, while the second line starts from Zafer and ends at the Adliye stop.
The first line, which runs between the campus and Alaadddin serves between 05:40-00:35, while the second tram line between Alaaddin – Adliye carries possesses between 06:00-00:25. An electronic card called ‘Elkart’ is used in public transportation. For students tram tickets are 1,55 Turkish Lira but you need to register Municipality of Konya with your student document and student card (Student card will be given to you by the International office and it is free. However, If you lose it you need to pay 10 Turkish Lira to get a new one.) Later on, your student card will be activated. Otherwise, an adult ticket is around 2,50 Turkish Lira. These prices are also the same as the buses. You can get tickets in the offices next to tram stations, they can easily be found.
If you do not want to choose the tram, another transportation method is minibusses. It is possible to find a minibus that can take you anywhere from the campus to the city center. For this, it will be enough to pay a 3 or 3,5 Turkish Lira. There are no student discounts in minibusses.
5. Cost of Living/Suggested Budget
The average total monthly cost is below;
Accommodation costs
Average rents for private flats are 1500-2000 Turkish Lira in the private flats that are close to Selcuk University, monthly fees for the dorm are 500-800 Turkish Lira, or room sharing costs are up to 500-600 Turkish Lira per person.
Cost of food
Eating out, fast food, shopping for food from the market. Eating a good dish in a restaurant will be around 50 Turkish Lira. However, there are a lot of fast food stores in and around the campus. A kebab is around 15 Turkish Lira, a medium-sized pizza is 35 Turkish Lira, çiğköfte (Turkish fast food ) is around 10 Turkish Lira. If you would like to shop from a market, essential foods for a week will cost 150-200 Turkish Lira.
It is not possible to drink alcohol inside of the campus but near to campus, there are a lot of cafes, bars, and nightclubs. In bars, alcohol is more expensive. A glass of beer is 35 Turkish Lira and one glass of wine is 35-40 Turkish Lira. The entrance to a nightclub is around 40 Turkish Lira. If you would like to buy it cheaper, there is a supermarket called Migros where you can buy wine and beer.
Other expenses
Such as going out, nightlife, cleaning stuff, bills, and other expenses you can imagine.
There is no room cleaning service in dormitories, but If you are living in a flat you can hire a cleaning person, you need to pay 200-300 Turkish Lira monthly. For a single person, electricity bills will cost 100 Turkish Lira, water bills 100 Turkish Lira, and in winter natural gas will cost 300 Turkish Lira and 100 Turkish Lira in summer as maximum. The cost of essential food will be around 100-200 Turkish Lira weekly. If you take a minibus a ticket is 3,5 Turkish Lira (There is no student discount) and If you would like to use the tramway an adult ticket costs 2,55 Turkish Lira but if you have a student card tramway tickets are 1,55 Turkish Lira.
If you live in a dormitory, you will not be paying any bills and If you want to you can eat meals in a canteen ( refectory building) which is on campus, each meal is 2,75 Turkish Lira. However, you need to register 2 days before with your student card. Shortly, we can say that If you stay in a dormitory you will need 1000-1500 Turkish lira monthly, if you stay in a flat you will need 2500-3000 Turkish lira monthly.
6. Quick Facts About Konya
Is the city more student-based or local-based?
Konya is one of the biggest and crowded cities in Turkey. It is difficult to say if It is local-based or student-based. We can say that Bosna Hersek, which is a town close to Selcuk University, is really a student-based and modern neighborhood. You can participate in parties, you can go out all night. Most of the people you see on the street will be students as well as you. If you go to the city center which is Zafer (Also known as Alaaddin Tepesi) is more locally based and more traditional. You can see traditional cafes and experience traditional music in the city center. You can meet local people from Konya there.
Do locals speak English? How is their manner to students in general?
Local people of Konya do not speak English, but locals are kind and always willing to help foreigners. Younger generations in Konya know how to speak English. Most of the students of Selcuk University speak English. Turkish people love foreigners! You will feel their interest and love when you come to Turkey. They will ask you everything!
Is it a touristic city? Is it close to the other touristic regions that you can have some touristic travels?
It is a tourist city, there are a lot of people who come from Europe, Asia or Africa to see the historical side of Konya. Konya is a city south of Ankara in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region. The Konya region has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC and was ruled by various civilizations such as Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman ones. Konya was known as Iconium during classical antiquity.
In the 11th century, the Selcuk Turks conquered the area from the Byzantines, and Konya then became the capital of the Sultanate of Rum. It’s also a pilgrimage destination for Sufis, focused on the tomb of the founder of the Mevlana order, Celaleddin Rumi, in the Mevlana Museum. Sema whirling dervish ceremonies take place at the Mevlana Cultural Center, east of the museum. As you can see, Konya is a really important and holy city for both Christianity and Islam religion.
You can travel easily to Antalya by Konya. Antalya is a beautıful seaside city and just 3 hours away from Konya by car. Ankara, the capital of Turkey is just 1.5 hours away from Konya by train. Eskişehir (A city that is famous for its flowers and rivers) is just 2 hours away from Konya by car.
How is the local food? And how’s eating out opportunities?
Local food is really delicious and famous around Turkey. Meat with bread (etli ekmek) is the first meal that comes to the minds of people who visit the city. Etliekmek, which is called “pide” in other cities, has earned its contemporary fame because it is produced more elaborately in Konya. Trade caravans added colorful food culture to Konya’s cuisine as Konya was one of the crossing points of trade caravans.
Food culture traditions that started in the Seljuk period in Konya are still in use. In Konya, cuisine using fewer spices is preferred in order to allow the taste of the main food ingredient to dominate. For example, when cooking the famous Konya oven lamb kebab, lamb meat is cooked for eight hours in its own fat in a copper boiler without adding spices. Besides okra soup and oven kebab, tastes particular to Konya such as meat with bread, yogurt soup, stuffed vine leaves, and minced meat with water pastry can be easily found in long-established restaurants in Konya. The present article attempts to introduce the most famous dishes of Konya’s cuisine, extending to the Seljuk Empire and consumed even today.
How is the shopping in the city? Is it easy to access markets?
There are a lot of big shopping malls all around Konya. The biggest ones are “Kentplaza, Forum, Novaland, and Kulesite”. Kentplaza and Kulesite shopping malls are closer to the city center and you can go there easily by using minibus or tramway from campus (You need to get in tramway that goes to “Zafer” ). You can easily find markets on campus that is open until 22.00 in winter and open until 23.00 in summer. There is a small shopping mall on campus called “Gökkuşağı AVM” (Rainbow Mall) where you can buy clothes or essential needs. There are a lot of markets in the Bosna Hersek neighborhood too, such as A101, BİM, Migros, etc. You can go to Bosna Hersek in 5-10 minutes by minibus from campus.
How are the residential procedural things to do in general?
If you would like to stay in a dorm, you need to pay the first-semester payment and a deposit. You need to contact them at the beginning of the semester. After that, you will sign the documents. If you are an Erasmus Student, Selcuk University has a special dorm that is only for Erasmus students. To stay in Erasmus House you need to contact the Erasmus coordination office a couple of weeks before your arrival ( erasmus.incoming@selcuk.edu.tr ) and after you arrive you need to sign some documents and you only need to pay first rent and give a deposit. If you would like to stay in a flat, you need to reach a land agent. We recommend you to contact ESN Selcuk by email ( esnselcuk@esnturkey.org ). Because most of the land agents are locals and do not know how to speak English. You can find land agents in Facebook groups.
How is the nighlife in the city or around the university?
It is not allowed to drink alcohol on campus. However, near campus, there is a really nice nightclub for colorful nights. Under the Grand Hotel, just 10 minutes far away from campus by walking, there are a lot of pubs and bars under the Hotel which are “ cafe extra blast, frog bar” and a nightclub named “Inferno”. You can drink and party all night. If you take a minibus to the neighborhood called “Meram”, there are a lot of pubs too. But It is an hour away from campus by minibus.
7. Quick Facts About the Selcuk University
How is the atmosphere of the university?
Selcuk University has a really fun and friendly atmosphere. In a year, students participate a lot of lovely events and you would have a really good relationship easily with the other students, professors, and service staff. If anyone ever has any questions or issues, the lecturers, the services, and students are always happy to help and give advice. If you walk on the campus on a sunny day, you can see students doing yoga on the grass. After lectures, you can see students play football, basketball, or volleyball and chilling. Since the library of the University is open on 7/24, It has become a place where students socialize and study. It is clear that It is really fun to be a student at Selcuk University!
How is the education system and quality of the university?
In the university, especially some faculties and departments are at the forefront of their success. The lecturers’ approach to Erasmus students is good, helpful, and frugal. Lecturers adjust their lectures and behaviors according to foreign students, without letting Erasmus students feel that they are foreigners. They are always helpful with lessons and are considerate about grades. In some departments, the main lectures are in the Turkish language. However, lecturers give private lessons to Erasmus Students in English to avoid this language problem.
Are there any social events? How is socializing with other local students and ESNers?
Football, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis tournaments are organized between faculties. Under the leadership of various student groups, paragliding is done, bicycle tours are organized in the city, archery training is given and archery competitions are organized. There is also a horse farm. Riding is possible. Conferences, seminars, congresses, training are organized by choosing certain topics. Various visits and excursions are made. Painting events, theater performances, film festivals, and film analyses, poetry recitals, reading clubs are organized. Small concerts are also held in conservatories. Generally, local students are eligible to participate in these activities. Likewise, ESN’ers can participate in such social events. In this way, socialization is experienced in culture, language, tradition, and many other subjects.
What kind of activites are done? (Sport, Art, Tech)
Sports competitions are organized in the form of regional and leagues. Football, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis tournaments are organized between faculties. Under the leadership of various student societies, paragliding is done, bicycle tours are organized in the city, archery is taken care of. At the same time, there is an Ikonyum Swimming Pool on the campus, it is possible to take care of this sport individually.
Training and events are organized in Teknokent, which is operated by Selcuk University Technology Development Zone.
Various activities in the field of painting are held throughout the year, especially in cooperation with the Faculty of Fine Arts. And in the same way, theater performances, film festivals, poetry recitals, reading clubs, which are other branches of art, are active.
Any special event during a year?
Various special events take place during the year. In particular, it is possible to consider these special events as traditional events. For the first of these, Seb-i Arus events are held in the weeks that coincide with the anniversary of Mevlana’s death (Mevlana is a really famous Islamic philosopher), to commemorate the death of Mevlana and he is also one of the symbols of Konya. Another special event is Sivlilik. In Konya, there is a tradition of “Sivlilik” in Laylat Al- Raghaib, the beginning of the three months. Sivlilik activities continue at the university, and lokma (pisi) are distributed. On sivlilik, Turkish people make a wish around a big fire and sings songs all night.
In addition to these, Newroz events celebrated on March 21 are held every year. Newroz is a non-Islamic tradition of Turkish people. Turkish people make a wish and they tie a ribbon to the trees and hope that their wish will come true. In the evening they surrender around a big fire and jump over this big fire. This is seen as a brave act by the Turkish people and they believe that It will bring luck. Of course, nowadays no one makes a big fire in Newroz events, however, students still make a small fire and jump on it. After that everyone sings and dances all night. Also, It is traditional to have dinner on that day with your close friends.
Are there any discounts/facilities for Erasmus students offered by the University?
Although the university has provided some discounts and facilities for Erasmus students in the past, this situation does not continue for now. For now, only a dorm called Erasmus House can be seen as a facility and it is quite affordable comparing with the other private dorms.
Available Student Jobs
The university itself does provide some paid internships and employment programs. For example, it is possible to work in the library of the University or in the labs as a part-time job. However, you need to apply for it at the beginning of October. The students are chosen by the officers of the University according to their needs and grades for a year. Each year students have to apply again. They are paid between 800 -1000 Turkish Lira per month. Also, students can find jobs and can work at markets, cafes, or bars close to the campus. There are part-time jobs for students in the city.
8. Warnings, Tips and Tricks
In the first month of school, people who often stand in front of ATMs will try to sell you books. Try not to listen to them as much as possible, because they won’t stop asking you questions. Once they learn it’s your first year in college, they will trick and try to sell you those books at a high price.
You will come across credit card sellers in every part of campus. They will try to convince you with such words; “when your card comes, break it so you will not have any problem.” It will be better if you do not believe them otherwise you are very likely to find yourself in a bad financial situation.
Rampalı Centre is a winding building where you can find any book, photocopy, translation offices, or books at a really low price. You can go to Rampalı Center, which is in the city center (Zafer), by tramway.
Trams are free inside of the campus and it begins with Campus Entrance so, you do not have to walk to your faculty or station to arrive where you go.
To Sum Up
To sum up, paying attention to the above-mentioned items will not only make your university life easier, but will also benefit you in your daily life. Also, send a message or mail to ESN Selcuk to have fun! We will be happy to meet with you!
