Housing for Erasmus, Exchange, Mevlana and Visitor Students

Erasmus, Exchange, Mevlana and Visitor Students attending Boğaziçi University have the options of staying in the Superdorm or finding housing off-campus.
 

The Superdorm

Boğaziçi University Superdorm is a student residence located on the Boğaziçi University campus in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the largest student residences in Turkey, housing around 1,600 students in total.

The Superdorm is comprised of several separate buildings, each with its own set of amenities such as laundry facilities, study rooms, and common areas. The dormitory also has a cafeteria, a fitness center, and a medical center.

The Superdorm is known for its modern and comfortable accommodations, as well as its proximity to the university's academic buildings and facilities. It offers single and double rooms, as well as suites for families or groups of students. The dormitory also has 24/7 security and surveillance, ensuring the safety of its residents.

Superdorm website

Space is limited, so apply to the Superdorm at the same time as you apply for the academic program. Once you have received word that you have been accepted to the academic program, confirm your place in the Superdorm by making the full payment for the semester for which you have registered.

Superdorm Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Uçaksavar Kültür ve Spor Tesisleri,
Cengiz Topel Caddesi,
Etiler 34337 İstanbul

E-mail: superdorm@boun.edu.tr
Tel.: (90) 212 359-7700

Off-Campus options

Istanbul is a city of apartments, so it is possible to find a place to call your own somewhere in the city. Students often like to find places near Taksim because of the vibrant student nightlife, but there are plenty of options in quieter areas that are near the metro or bus lines. There are two things to keep in mind when looking for an apartment:

  1. Apartments in Turkey come with absolutely nothing in them. You will need to rent a furnished apartment. 
  2.  When considering where to live, keep in mind that when you travel by metro, the short branch that goes to Boğaziçi University from 1. Levent requires an additional fare. Also, you will pay full fare until your Student Dİscount Istanbul Card arrives, which typically takes a few weeks following registration for classes and application for the card.

Where to Look
Neighborhoods along the water are often overlooked, which is a shame because they provide direct access to the heart of the city, the Bosporus. The city can be overwhelming at times; taking a walk along the Bosporus can clear your mind and calm your nerves. Many students find places in Taksim or Beyoğlu. There are some other alternatives:

Neighborhoods worth considering:

The European Side

Neighborhoods running from Boğaziçi University along the ridge towards the city.

Hısarüstü
Just outside the campus gates. This neighborhood began as a service community to the university and the wealthy neighborhoods along the Bosporus.
Etiler
An upscale neighborhood within walking distance to campus. Major shopping center (Akmerkez) and a branch office of Acıbadem Hospital. Metro access.
Levent
An upscale neighborhood of white-collar workers and families. Close to the main metro hub

Bosporus villages

There are several beautiful towns along the Bosporus that have been continually inhabited for thousands of years. I think these are overlooked by students because of the hill between them and the university. This can be managed, however, by taking a free shuttle bus that leaves every morning from Bebek at 9:00 that goes up the hill to campus. Free to university personnel and students.

Bebek

Luxury district, so it would be difficult to find a place here, but not impossible.
Arnavutköy
A neighborhood full of charming, old wooden homes. A half hour walk from Boğaziçi University.
Ortaköy
Lively waterside social area with quiet backstreets of small apartment buildings. Not within walking distance, but only a bus ride to the bottom of the Boğaziçi hill.
Beşiktaş
Not within walking distance, but has direct buses to Boğaziçi, and vibrant student culture.

The Asian Side
The Asian side of the city is worth considering for its slower pace and more conservative, family-oriented lifestyle. You would need to take a ferry to Beşiktaş and then either a bus to the University that goes up along the ridge or a bus that goes to Bebek where you could then take the 9:00 minibus up to the hill to the campus. It takes more effort, but the rents are lower and some people have said they love taking the ferries and being in less Westernized neighborhoods.

Kadıköy
Quite liberal, major ferry hub, reliable ferry to Beşiktaş
Üsküdar
More conservative culture, reliable ferry to Beşiktaş

Where to look online

Please note that listing these companies here does not signify endorsement by Boğaziçi University in any way. Unlike the Superdorm, we have no dialog with them and simply list them as a means of helping students find suitable housing. As a public university, we are unable to list private companies on our website. Please search the Internet using the terms like "Istanbul Erasmus apartments," "Istanbul student housing," and options with English will come up.

  • Facebook has many pages for student housing in the city.
  • Airbnb offers some arrangements appropriate for students here for the short-term.
  • Independent companies advertise rental units for Exchange and Erasmus students.