The Erasmus student exchange program is a golden opportunity for students, enabling them to experience enrolling for one or two semesters at a university abroad, which provides them with new experiences and enhances their communication skills.
Learn more in this article about what this program is, its requirements, and the documents needed for admission, in addition to distinguishing between its two types and understanding its most important advantages. Finally, you will find an overview of some similar student exchange programs offered by Turkish universities.
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Overview of the Erasmus Student Exchange Program:
The Erasmus program was established by the European Union, and Turkey joined it in 2003-2004, along with 33 European countries.
The program operates by facilitating student exchange for one or two semesters at a foreign university offering the same specialization, provided that there is a valid exchange agreement between the institutions or the respective country.
All students at Turkish universities—whether foreign or Turkish—can apply for the program as long as they have completed at least one semester in a bachelor’s program or one of the graduate programs.
Admission Requirements for the Erasmus Program:
Admission to this program requires a cumulative GPA of 2.20 out of 4.00 for undergraduate students and 2.50 out of 4.00 for graduate students, in addition to the student passing an English language test. Selection is based on the highest scores.
Program Registration Fees:
In this program, students do not pay tuition fees at the host universities, as these are covered by the program. Additionally, each student receives a monthly travel allowance—which varies from country to country and from university to university—but the student is responsible for visa fees, travel tickets, and accommodation costs.
It is worth noting that Turkey receives 10,000 applications annually, making it the country with the highest demand for the Erasmus program, according to information issued by the Ministry of the European Union in Turkey and published by Anadolu Agency.
What Are the Types of the Erasmus Student Exchange Program in Turkey?
The Erasmus student exchange program in Turkey is divided into two types:
Type One:
- This type is an exchange for the purpose of study, allowing any student to enroll for one or more semesters at a university abroad, provided that there is a valid exchange agreement between that university and their home institution.
- Students apply for this type of program through their university and are selected based on academic excellence and proficiency in English (or any other required language), after which each university nominates the successful candidates to the partner institution abroad.
- The student is required to achieve at least a 70% success rate in all the courses taken at the foreign university, which are then credited to their home institution in Turkey.
- If the student participating in the Erasmus program is a master's or doctoral candidate, they are entitled to conduct research instead of attending courses. This research period is considered part of their practical thesis work, as agreed upon between the primary supervisor in Turkey and the foreign supervisor.
Type Two:
- In this type, the exchange is for the purpose of internship or training, allowing students to travel to any educational or non-educational institution—such as hospitals for medical students, magazines for media students, or automobile factories for mechanical engineering students—for a period of no less than two months and no more than one year.
- The admission requirements for this type are the same as for Type One, but additionally, the student must obtain an acceptance letter from an academic supervisor willing to oversee them during the training period.
- Students in this Erasmus exchange type can choose the internship period to take place during the summer or during the academic year, provided that it does not disrupt their studies at their home university.
- The grant covers travel expenses along with a monthly stipend ranging between 400 and 600 euros, depending on the cost of living in the host country.
What Documents Are Required to Join the Erasmus Student Exchange Program?
To apply for this program, you will need a set of documents, which include:
- A personal photograph.
- A copy of your passport.
- A copy of your Turkish identity card or residence permit.
- Your university transcript.
- Two recommendation letters from your university.
What Are the Best Turkish Universities Participating in the Erasmus Student Exchange Program?
Regarding the Erasmus student exchange program, the most prominent universities offering this program are Aydın University, Istanbul Technical University, Middle East Technical University, Bilkent University, Istanbul Okan University, Boğaziçi University, Bilgi University, Gazi University, Sabancı University, Medipol University, Çukurova University, Ege University, Anadolu University, Estinye University, and others.
What Are the Advantages of the Erasmus Student Exchange Program?
There are many advantages to this program in Turkish universities, but the most important include:
- Enhancing communication skills and establishing an international network of contacts.
- The possibility of easily learning the Turkish language.
- The development of students' personalities.
- Discovering new customs, values, and cultures.
- Providing an opportunity for openness between Arab and European countries.
This concludes our discussion on everything related to the Erasmus student exchange program. Now, let us move on to discuss other similar exchange programs in Turkish universities.
What Is the Most Important Erasmus Student Exchange Program in Turkey?
Turkish universities strive to encourage exchange programs between themselves and global institutions, making Turkey one of the first countries with the highest number of student participants—not only in the Erasmus program but also in other key programs, among which are:
1- The Molana Cultural Program:
This is a program established by the Turkish Ministry of Education, through which students are received and sent to and from Turkey in collaboration with many Arab and Asian countries, as well as some European countries.
The program requires the student to pass a foreign language test with a specified minimum score, and, similar to Erasmus, it includes a grant that provides a monthly stipend throughout the program period, ranging between 750 and 900 Turkish Lira.
2- The Farabi Program:
This is an internal Turkish student exchange program, in which students are exchanged from one university to another within Turkey for one semester, with all expenses covered.
This program requires a cumulative GPA as defined by its admission criteria, and it does not require the student to pass an English language test.
This concludes our article on the Erasmus student exchange program, in which we have provided the essential information a student might need about this program—including its requirements, registration fees, advantages, the top participating universities, and similar programs.