Türkiye has a lot more to offer than delicious kebab and the gorgeous beaches of the Turkish Riviera. Did you know that you can go skiing near one of our partner cities, that ancient Troy lies in western Türkiye, or that the success story of coffee began here? Between rural conservatism and cosmopolitan cities, and between the two continents of Europe and Asia, Türkiye is sure to be a great destination for expanding for view. Let’s discover Türkiye and the various exchange opportunities for TUD students.

With the campaign "Partner Country of the Month", we shine a spotlight on the countries, regions and partner universities of TU Dresden that might not be the first to come to our students' minds when thinking about a semester abroad. 

© Julia Paternoster / privat

General facts and figures about Türkiye

Capital: Ankara
Population: 85.4 million
Official language: Turkish
National holiday: October 29 - proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Currency: (TL / ₺), 1€ = 37,13 ₺

You can find further facts, figures and information on Wikipedia, on the website of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, or e.g. on Wikivoyage and GoTürkiye.

Small language course

• Hello – Merhaba
• Excuse me (formal)– Affedersin(iz)
• I don’t understand – Anlamıyorum
• Yes / No – Evet / Hayır
• Please – Lütfen
• Thank you – Teşekkürler
• See you – Güle güle

Turkish is the most widely spoken Turkic language. This language family spreads over a large area from Siberia to the Balkan countries, and is especially important in Central Asia (e.g. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.). The closest relatives to Turkish are Azerbaijani and Turkmen.

The spelling of the Turkish language is strictly phonetic. This applies to loanwords as well – if you speak a little French, you might recognize sürpriz (surprise) or müze (musée, museum). Ü and ö sound like they do in German, and that is no coincidence. They were borrowed when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, father of the modern Turkish state, ordered the switch from Arabic script to the Latin alphabet in 1928 as part of an extensive language reform.

Turkish is full of well-wishing phrases for specific occasions – why not impress your new Turkish friends by learning some? As an example: When someone has cooked a delicious meal for you, wish them Ellerine sağlık („health to your hands“). And when you see that someone bought something new, wish them Güle güle kullan („use it while laughing / with joy“).

At our partner universities, you can attend courses in Turkish, English or a mix of both. Studying completely in English during your exchange is entirely possible. However, please check the requirements at your partner university of choice. Usually, B1 level skills are the required minimum of language proficiency.

In larger cities or touristic places and among younger Turks, you will have few problems communicating in English. So don’t fear the language barrier! However, speaking a little Turkish will put a smile on people’s faces and help you immerse yourself in Turkish culture. In Dresden, VHS offers courses (starting from German). Online, try turkishteatime.com.

© Julia Paternoster / privat

Did you know that ....?

• the first manned flight is said to have taken place in 17^th century Istanbul? According to a traveller’s report, polymath Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi jumped from the Galata Tower and flew across the Bosporus Strait in a glider contraption he had invented. His brother is said to have achieved (and survived) an even more incredible feat: The first manned rocket flight, powered by gunpowder.
• in Türkiye, birds get their own mansions and palaces? The world’s most fancy birdhouses can be found in sunny spots that are well-protected from the wind and from predators. They were built during the Ottoman Empire and in the architectural styles of the times, featuring intricate towers, windows and balconies. Caring for animals was seen as pleasing to god, and many bird palaces still grace the walls of mosques and mausoleums.

• the country's name was officially changed from Turkey to Türkiye before the United Nations in 2022? The old name’s unfortunate double meaning in English was an important motivator. Search results sometimes show the country and sometimes the bird, and machine translation mixes them up frequently.

• Turks hold the world record in per-capita consumption of bread, shaming Germans everywhere? Almost every Turkish meal is served with bread, amounting to about 200 kg per person and year.

• Oil wrestling is the Turkish national sport? The wrestlers, naked except for a pair of leather trousers, douse themselves in olive oil before competing. The slick oil makes grabbing hold of the opponent more challenging, levelling the playing field so that speed and skill matter more than raw strength. Oil wrestling has a long history. The famous Kırkpınar tournament has been held since 1360, and oil wrestling in general can be traced back thousand of years to ancient Mesopotamia.

• a 1.100-year-old viking graffiti can be found in Hagia Sophia? Humanity never changes fundamentally – the runes carved into Türkiye’s most iconic building, symbol of Istanbul’s varied and ancient history, read “Halfdan was here”.

• Istanbul may be the most cat-friendly city in the world? Thousands of street cats live here, but many Turks see them less as bothersome strays than as communal pets. They feed them, set up cat houses and even take them to vet. Cats can be found everywhere, from university classrooms to subway carriages. Some have even become famous, like Gli, resident of the Hagia Sophia, or Sarper Duman’s cats.

© Julia Paternoster / privat

Cooperations with Universities in Türkiye

You can find all cooperations of TU Dresden in our database. Under Questionnaires, the experiences of previous exchange students can help you with impressions of our partner universities. Asking professors in your own faculty who might have direct contacts to your partner university of choice is also a good idea. Here you can find the contact persons and application deadlines for your faculty.

Our Turkish partner universities via Erasmus+

Universities in Istanbul

• Istanbul, the city that spans continents, may not be modern Türkiye’s capital, but used to be the seat of power for centuries. This rich history is reflected in its diversity and wealth of cultural heritage. There is always more to see and do and explore in Türkiye’s biggest city, and many of its universities have an excellent reputation.
• Bahçeşehir University - Architecture
• Doğuş Üniversitesi - Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
• Istanbul Kültür Üniversitesi - International Relations           
• Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi
  • Civil Engineering
  • Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology
  • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Landscape Architecture            
  • Architecture    
• İstanbul Arel Üniversitesi - Architecture
• Marmara Üniversitesi - Business Administration and Economics
• Piri Reis University - Business Administration and Economics
• Yıldız Technical University
  • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Mathematics

Universities in Ankara

• Türkiye’s capital Ankara is the administrative center and an important seat of industry. As such, it’s known for a more professional, well-organized atmosphere and has excellent universities. Ankara is a good choice if you’d rather spend your exchange away from the tourist masses.  
• Ankara Üniversitesi - German as a Foreign Language
• Orta Dogu Teknik Üniversitesi - Civil Engineering
• University of Turkish Aeronautical Association - Aerospace Engineering

Other locations

• Akdeniz Üniversitesi in Antalya
  • History
  • Antalya lies directly on the Turquoise Coast of southern Türkiye, an area full of natural beauty. Our partner city is surrounded by coastal cliffs and beautiful beaches, mediterranean mountains and ancient historical sites.
• Ege Üniversitesi in Izmir
  • Communication Science
  • İzmir, a city on the Aegean coast in west Türkiye, is said to be very liberal and open-minded. Even more than Istanbul, it’s considered to be the most “western” of Turkish cities and a stronghold of the secular opposition party.
• Işık Üniversitesi in Şile
  • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
  • Şile, a laid-back town with beautiful sandy beaches at the Black Sea, is officially a part of Istanbul. In practice, the hustle and bustle of the city are a few hours away, but close enough to enjoy some wild weekends.  
• Uludağ Üniversitesi in Bursa
  • German as a Foreign Language
  • Located between the mountains and the sea and close to Istanbul, Bursa is regarded as more conservative than other cities, with less nightlife. However, there are many interesting historical sites to see and on the local mountain, you can even go skiing and snowboarding.

Don't miss...

© © Bildagentur PantherMedia  / mazzzur

Yanartaş, the Burning Stones. In the coastal mountains near our partner city of Antalya, you can find a very special natural phenomenon. Methane fires flicker between the rocks and have been doing so for millennia, inspiring the Ancient Greek legend of the fire-breathing Chimaera. In the past, seafarers used the fires for orientation, while nowadays, they are a great spot for brewing tea or roasting marshmallows. Yanartaş lies within Olympos Beydağları National Park, a short hike from the village of Çıralı. If you are looking for more challenging hikes, try the beautiful Lycian Way, which passes by Yanartaş.

© © Bildagentur PantherMedia / prescott10

Art in the Sunken Palace. Underneath present-day Istanbul lie hundreds of ancient cisterns. The largest of them, Yerebatan Sarayı, used to supply the Byzantine imperial palace and its surroundings and was still used by locals for water and fishing until the 16^th century. Today, it impresses visitors with its mystical atmosphere. It’s especially worth seeing during one of the many cultural events, from concerts and art exhibitions to dance performances.

© © Bildagentur PantherMedia / Toniflap

Topkapı Palace. Sitting atop a promotory with a magnificent view of Istanbul and the sea, the former residence of Sultans resembles a separate town in size. From the 15^th to the 19^th century, it was the seat of government of the Ottoman Empire. There is much to see: Splendidly decorated rooms and pavilions, collections of weapons and jewels, and even the sacred relics of Islam. Don’t forget to visit the Harem with its fascinating insights into Ottoman court life.

© © Bildagentur PantherMedia / Cornfield

Pamukkale. The unique landscape of Pamukkale is a UNESCO world heritage site. Calcite-rich thermal springs have formed brilliant white travertine terraces, with the water flowing downhill through a series of infinity pools. To protect the fragile formations, visitors may only climb barefoot alongside the terraces. Overlooking this natural wonder are the ruins of the Roman spa town Hierapolis – the hot springs and beautiful landscape attracted visitors even then.

Let's get cooking...

Turkish food equals döner kebab? In the Turkish original, meat is clearly the star of the show, while the typical German version with a lot of salad was invented in Berlin. Kebab – grilled meat – is very popular in Türkiye and served in a variety of ways, such as Adana kebab (spicy meat skewers) or Iskender kebab (served with yoghurt, grilled vegetables and melted butter).

Through its multicultural Ottoman heritage, Turkish cuisine combines many influences from Central Asia, the Middle East and the Balkans. Yoghurt, olive oil, tahini, nuts, tomatoes and legumes are among the typical ingredients. There is much to discover – delicious dumplings, rice in pastry shape, wet burgers and even ice cream that you eat with a knife and fork.

Coffee has a strong connection to Turkish history – travellers from around the world first tasted it in Ottoman coffee houses. However, sweet black tea is Türkiye’s most popular drink. Turks are the world champions of per-capita tea consumption, and offering tea shows hospitality. Rakı, an anise-flavoured liqueur, and the yoghurt drink ayran are also popular.

Recipe: İmam bayıldı

“The imam fainted” is the name of this classic aubergine (eggplant) dish. Just why he fainted is subject to speculation: The sheer deliciousness of the dish may have overwhelmed him, or made him eat far too much. Maybe the poor man fainted when he was told the price of the dish, which uses a lot of precious olive oil. In one version of the story, the imam’s new wife prepared the dish every evening, using the fine olive oil that was her dowry as an oil merchant’s daughter. When she had used it up after 12 days and could not prepare the dish, the imam fainted in shock.

İmam bayıldı is typically served cold as a snack or appetizer (meze), but it’s also delicious when served warm with a side of rice.

© © Bildagentur PantherMedia / Bernd Jürgens

Ingredients: 

• 2 aubergines (eggplants)
• salt
• olive oil
• 1 heaped tsp tomato paste
• 300 ml boiling water
• ½ tsp sugar
• 2 medium onions cut into half-moons
• 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes cut into wedges
• fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp Aleppo pepper or paprika flakes

Preparation:

• Peel half the skin off the aubergines, so they resemble a zebra pattern. Salt generously and set aside for half an hour.

• Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and fry the onion until softened, but not browned, 8-10 minutes. Stir regularly.
• Add the garlic and fry for another minute, stirring constantly, taking care not to burn the garlic.
• Add the tomatoes and Aleppo pepper or paprika flakes. Keep frying until the tomatoes collapse and the liquid starts to thicken, 5-6 minutes. Stir every once in a while to ensure nothing catches at the bottom.
• Add the flat-leaf parsley and some salt and pepper. Take off the heat.
• Brush the salt off the aubergines. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and fry the aubergines until they start to soften, turning regularly. Alternatively, roast them in a preheated oven at 200℃ until they start to soften, around 20 minutes.
• Make a lengthwise incision in the aubergines, as if opening a baguette, leaving 2 cm at either end. The incision should not pierce through the bottom of the aubergines.
• Add the stuffing into the aubergines and place them, stuffed side up, in a pan for which you have a lid. Add 5 Tbsp olive oil to the pan. Mix the tomato paste, sugar and boiling water with a little salt and pepper. Add enough of the liquid to the pan to go about halfway up the side of the aubergines.
• Bring to a boil, put on a lid and turn the heat down to low. Leave to simmer until the aubergines are completely soft, around 45 minutes. Add extra liquid if it's starting to look a little dry. Scatter a little flat-leaf parsley over before serving. Afiyet olsun!

(Many thanks to beryl.nyc!)

Contact

Have you had a great time in Türkiye? Do you have tips for places and experiences that are not to be missed? We would be happy to share your experiences here, on social media or, if you want, in information events for other TUD students. Get in touch with us:

© Sven Ellger/TUD

Advice on studying abroad

Name

Ms Federica Serra

Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America

Send email

Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).

Contact Information

Organization Name

International Office

International Office

Address work

Visiting address:

Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6

01069 Dresden

Show map of this location.

Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office

01062 Dresden

work Tel.

Office hours:

Tuesday:

09:30 - 11:30

12:30 - 14:30

Thursday:

09:30 - 11:30

Please register at the SCS (FOE, floor 0).

Office hours by phone:

Keine Sprechzeit zwischen 20. - 28.02.2025

Looking for first-hand information?

Our alumni ambassadors are active in many countries around the world and can give you information and advice for your stay abroad. You can find them on this interactive world map. There is a short profile with contact information for each ambassador.

Would you like to know more about Türkiye? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our alumni ambassador Müslüm Kaplan, who was awarded TUD graduate of the month in March 2024. Contacting him is especially useful if you are looking for a research stay, as he can help you get connected to relevant institutions.

Partner Countries Archive

Have you missed a partner country? No worries! Here you can read up on all articles.