As a new student, managing daily life in a new country can feel challenging at first—from keeping up with your residence permit to navigating busy city streets and ordering a quick meal after a long study day. This guide is designed just for you: it brings together the most important mobile apps every international student in Türkiye needs to make study and daily life smoother.
The most useful apps for students in Türkiye are the digital tools that simplify everyday tasks—government and health services, transportation, banking, and more. Here are the key ones:
- e-Devlet: to handle all your government transactions.
- MHRS: to book appointments at public hospitals.
- Transportation apps: to get around your city with ease.
- Banking apps: to manage your money securely.
- Food-delivery apps: for everyday convenience.
- ChatGPT: to support your studies and time management.
Why does every student in Türkiye need these apps?
Moving to Türkiye to study marks a new phase full of opportunity—but it also brings day-to-day challenges. Student life in Türkiye requires dealing with government procedures, a public-transport network that can be confusing at first, and everyday financial management. These apps aren’t luxuries; they’re essential for saving time and effort and avoiding getting lost or making procedural mistakes. Using these student-friendly apps in Türkiye will boost your confidence and independence and help you adapt faster and more smoothly.
1. The e-Government app (e-Devlet): your digital identity in Türkiye
The e-Devlet app (the national e-government portal) is the most important app to activate as soon as you receive your student residence permit. It is your digital gateway to almost all government services, and having it on your phone will save you many trips to government offices.
What can you do with it as a student?
- Track your residence file: check the status and validity dates of your student residence permit. This is essential—see also the comprehensive guide to the student residence permit in Türkiye.
- Obtain a Student Certificate (Öğrenci Belgesi): a basic document needed for many procedures, such as applying for a discounted student transport card.
- Obtain a Criminal Record Certificate (Adli Sicil Kaydı): sometimes required by official bodies or for housing applications.
- Register your phone line: confirm that your mobile line is registered in your name and linked to your Turkish ID number (TC Kimlik).
- Access many other services: over time you’ll discover dozens of helpful services on one of Türkiye’s most important government platforms.
To activate the app, obtain an e-government password (şifre) from the nearest PTT (Turkish Post) branch using your residence card.
2. MHRS app: your gateway to booking public-health appointments
Your health comes first. MHRS (Merkezi Hekim Randevu Sistemi) is the Turkish Ministry of Health’s official system. It’s essential for booking appointments at public hospitals or a Family Health Center (Aile Sağlığı Merkezi) and gives you easy access to healthcare services.
Top benefits for students:
- Avoid waiting: instead of going to the hospital and standing in long lines, book your appointment in advance.
- Choose your doctor and hospital: select the hospital, department, and even the physician you prefer, subject to availability.
- Manage appointments: view upcoming appointments or cancel them directly from your phone.
You can register in the app using your Turkish ID number (TC Kimlik), which you receive with your residence permit.
3. Transportation apps (e.g., Otobüsüm Nerede): your guide to getting around Turkish cities
Major Turkish cities have extensive public-transport networks, which can be confusing at first. Transportation apps in Türkiye are the best way to see bus, metro, and ferry routes and accurate arrival times.
Each major city has its own official app. Here are the best-known:
- Istanbul: the Otobüsüm Nerede app is the best tool to check bus times accurately.
- Ankara: the EGO CEP’te app.
- Izmir: the ESHOT app.
With these apps, you can search by bus number or stop name, see the bus’s current location on the map, and view the estimated arrival time. You can also use the İstanbulkart app (or your city’s equivalent) to top up your transport card balance and pay fares.
Don’t forget to apply for the student transport card to get a substantial discount on fares.
4. Banking apps (Ziraat / Kuveyt Türk, etc.): manage your money securely
A Turkish bank account is essential for paying rent, bills, tuition, and everyday purchases. After you open a bank account at a Turkish bank, your very next step should be to install the bank’s official app.
Banking apps in Türkiye are very secure and offer comprehensive services, including:
- Transfers (Havale/EFT): send and receive money easily to and from any account in Türkiye.
- Bill payments: pay electricity, water, internet, and phone bills directly in the app.
- Top-ups: add credit to your mobile line and transport card in most banking apps.
- Expense tracking: monitor all transactions and get instant account statements.
The most popular banks offering strong services for students include Ziraat Bankası, Kuveyt Türk, İş Bankası, and Albaraka. Their apps (Ziraat Mobil, Kuveyt Türk Mobil, İşCep) are easy to use and available in English—and sometimes in Arabic.
5. Food-delivery apps (Yemeksepeti / Trendyol Go): order meals with ease
After a long day of classes—or while preparing for exams—you might not have the time or energy to cook. Food-delivery apps in Türkiye can be a lifesaver.
The two most popular options are:
- Yemeksepeti: the oldest and most comprehensive platform, featuring thousands of restaurants with a wide range of cuisines and frequent deals.
- Trendyol Go / GetirYemek: offer very fast delivery not only for ready-to-eat meals but also groceries—great for urgent daily needs.
These apps are easy to use, support online payment or cash on delivery, and let you track your order in real time.
6. AI apps (ChatGPT): your smart study assistant
AI apps have become indispensable, and they’re among the most important tools for today’s university students. An app like ChatGPT can be your personal study assistant.
How can it help you study?
- Explain complex concepts: ask it to simplify a difficult theory or clarify a term you don’t understand.
- Summarize and review: paste a long text and ask for key-point summaries for faster revision.
- Idea generation: use it as a brainstorming partner for projects and research.
- Language support: draft academic emails or improve your writing in Turkish or English.
Using AI responsibly in your studies boosts productivity and deepens understanding. See the comprehensive guide to the best ways to use ChatGPT for studying.
Other useful apps
- Google Translate: essential for day-to-day communication and reading signs and menus—especially in your first months. The camera-translation feature is a lifesaver in supermarkets. (You can also use ChatGPT as a smart translation helper.)
- BiTaksi / Uber: request taxis easily and safely, and see the estimated fare in advance.
- Duolingo / Tureng: helpful for learning Turkish—practice the language and improve your daily vocabulary.
FAQs about student apps in Türkiye
What’s the most important app every international student should download upon arrival?
The e-Devlet e-government app is the most important. You’ll need it to manage your student residence-permit file, obtain a Student Certificate (Öğrenci Belgesi), and access many other essential government services throughout your studies.
Do public-transport apps work in every Turkish city?
Most major cities—such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir—have their own apps (for example, Otobüsüm Nerede for Istanbul). It’s recommended to search your city name followed by “ulaşım” (transport) or “otobüs” (bus) in your app store to find the local app for your city.
Can I open a bank account as a student directly through a banking app?
No. Opening an account for the first time requires visiting a branch in person with your documents (passport, residence card, Student Certificate). After opening the account, you can manage almost everything through the official banking app—such as Ziraat Mobil or İşCep.
Are these apps free?
Yes. All the apps mentioned in this guide are free to download and use for basic functions. Some food-delivery or shopping services may charge delivery fees on orders, but installing the app itself does not cost anything.