General Information for Students | Kocaeli University
Practical Information for Mobile Students General Information for Students
How to Apply to Kocaeli University?
So as to be an Erasmus Exchange student at Kocaeli University, you should first check if there is a Bilateral Agreement between the faculty/department of your home university and the relevant faculty/department at Kocaeli University.
For academic matters such as; selecting the courses offered at the relevant department at Kocaeli University during the semester you would like to study or preparing your Learning Agreement, please contact with your faculty/department coordinator at Kocaeli University.
The faculty/department coordinator at Kocaeli University will provide you with information about the list of the courses offered in English. In many of the faculties/ departments at Kocaeli University, there are courses offered in English for our exchange students. As of 2019-2020 academic year, 30 % of courses in most degree programmes at Kocaeli University have been offered in English.
Required Documents:
- Erasmus Application Form -- Download
- Transcript of Records
- A Confirmation Letter From Your Home University
- ECTS Learning Agreement -- Download
- A certificate of language competence
Location
Kocaeli, lies on the Catalca-Kocaeli region of the Marmara Area, between 29°22' - 30°21' E latitudes, 40°31' - 41°13' N latitudes. Surrounded by Sakarya from its East and SouthEast, Bursa on the South, The Izmit Gulf, Yalova and The Marmara Sea and Istanbul on the west, and the Black Sea on the North. The Provincial Center is located on the 30° Eastern Longtitude which is accepted as a base for Turkey's time zone. The surface of the province of Kocaeli is 3.505 km2. It is located on an important crossroad binding Asia to Europe. The Izmit Gulf which is a natural harbour is a busy maritime line. The Istanbul boarder to the NorthWest of the province passes to the East of Kemiklidere. On the SouthEast the Istanbul-Kocaeli boarder ends at the opposite shores of the İzmit Gulf with the soils of Yalova. The Bursa frontier is formed by the line passing through the Samanli Heights. On the SouthEast this boarder leans on to Sakarya which is on the shores of the Sapanca Lake close to Masukiye.
Transportation
Public transportation is convenient and relatively cheap. Umuttepe Campus is easily accessible from all parts of Kocaeli. The inner-city transportation to and from the Campus is provided by buses of Municipality and by private buses. There is special discount for students.
Climate
The Gulf coasts and the Black Sea coasts are mild and the higher regions have a harsher climate. It can be said that the climate of Izmit is a transition betwen Mediterranean and Black Sea climate. Summers are hot and with scarce rainfalls and winters are rainy and occasionally cold and snowy. Differences are obvious between the Marmara and Black Sea coasts of Kocaeli. While tha gulf coasts can be too hot sometimes the Black Sea coast is cooler. Highest ever temperature recorded in city center is 41.6°C (11 August 1970), Coldest ever temperature is -8.7°C (4 February 1960), average annual temperature is 14,8°C. Average rainfall on the Black Sea coast exceeds 1.000 mm. average. This amount decreases as we go Southward, falls under 800mm s at Izmit.(784.6mm). On the shoulders of the Samanli Heights facing the gulf climate resembles the Black Sea climate. Rainfall is different in this area as well. Winds blow from North on winter and NorthEast on summers.
Language
In Turkey, the official language is Turkish. The Turkish language belongs to the Ural-Altaic group and has an affinity with the Finno-Hungarian languages. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and is read exactly the way it is written
Arriving in KOCAELI
By Air:
There are two international airports in Istanbul, which is a city located approximately 90 kilometres west of Kocaeli.
İstanbul Airport: Istanbul Airport is located on the European side in Arnavutköy, on the Black Sea coast. To reach Kocaeli from Istanbul Airport, you can go to Sabiha Gokcen Airport by HAVAIST vehicles and then you can reach Izmit bus terminal by using Izmit Municipality intercity bus (HAT 250) or various shuttle buses provided by Sabiha Gokcen Airport (İzmit is the center of Kocaeli province).
Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Sabiha Gökcen International Airport is located on the Asian side of Istanbul which is closer to Kocaeli. From Sabiha Gökçen Airport, you can take a shuttle bus to Izmit Bus Terminal.
Both domestic and international flights are periodically available from Ataturk Airport (140 km west) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (60 km west) every day. There are also regular flights from many European cities.
For detailed information
https://www.istanbulhavalimani.com/
http://www.sabihagokcen.aero/akmis_travel
By Road
It is possible to arrive in İstanbul, Turkey by coach from most destinations around Europe. Coaches arrive in İstanbul, Esenler Main Coach Station and it is required to take a domestic coach to arrive in İzmit Central Coach Station. There are coaches from İstanbul to İzmit almost every half hour. The trip takes approximately 2 hours. İzmit, the center of Kocaeli, is connected to all parts and cities around Turkey. Domestic coaches are frequently available and there is discount for students. Since it is cheaper and more frequent, road transport is a preferable way of transport among students.
By Rail
There is a High Speed ??Train station in Kocaeli. The station is located at the west entrance of the city.
http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/
Visa and Residence Permit
For registration, exchange students have to secure an official approval from the Turkish Consulate of their home country in a document showing the period of study in Turkey. With this consent entered on their passport and an invitation letter from Kocaeli University, they are granted an education visa. In two weeks after the arrival, students have to register at the Kocaeli Police Station and receive "a residence permit" in return for € 70. Required documents are as follows.
- 5 photos and € 70 (ca.138 TL)
- Original Passport and a copy
- Residence Permit Form (to be supplied by International Relations Unit)
Should you have any questions regarding "Residence Permit", International Relations Office will guide you.
Kocaeli Province Police Station:
Address: Körfez Mahallesi Rıza Paşa Sokak No: 4, 41100 Kırkikievler, İzmit, Kocaeli
Phone: +90 262 315 72 72
e-mail: kocaeliyabancilar@egm.gov.tr
Registration at Kocaeli University
In order to make your registration as an Erasmus exchange student at Kocaeli University, you should visit Registrar's Office of the Student Affairs Department located at Kocaeli University Umuttepe Campus (Registrar's Office operates within the Informatics Building which is "Bilgi İşlem Daire Başkanlığı" in Turkish). There, you will be asked to fill and submit the required documents.
Required documents:
An official student certificate (issued by the our International Relations Office)
ID Details
One passport-size photograph
After your registration is processed, the Registrar's Office will submit you a student number and a password. With this number, you can have your student ID Card issued by the Office of General Student Affairs. For the registration dates at Kocaeli University, please refer to the academic calendar.
Orientation Program
International Relations Office organizes an orientation program to help the exchange students adapt to living in a new environment and culture.
Communication Services
Turkey has an active telephone network. Türk Telekom provides all kinds of national and international telecommunication services in Turkey. After the separation of post and telecommunication services in 1995 Türk Telekom has taken over the mission of maintaining the position of Turkey as the region's communication hub.
Any number within the country or around the world can be called by entering the required codes. Telephone numbers are composed of two parts, the three digit area code and the seven digit telephone number.
Public phones are public service telephones operating by magnetic card, credit card and smart card. These phones are installed freely by Türk Telekom at public function places such as squares, hospitals, bus terminals, train terminals, seaports, airports, underground stations, military units and mass housing sites. There are many public phones in Kocaeli University campus. Cards used in public phones are sold by Türk Telekom dealers at the current tariff rates.
TTcard is a prepaid system which you can use for both domestic and international calls via not only public phones but also from home and office phones. The system operates in 2 languages as; Turkish and English. International students are allowed to bring one mobile phone into Turkey within one calendar year for use during their stay in Turkey. A personal mobile phone brought in to Turkey in this manner is exempt from tax and duty. You can use your mobile telephone line if it is enabled for international roaming.
It is necessary to register the mobile phones in order to use them with SIM card bought from a Turkish network operator. (In order to use such a mobile phone with a SIM card bought in Turkey from a Turkish network operator, the mobile phone number assigned to the SIM card needs to be correlated with the IMEI number of the mobile phone). Phones not registered in this way will be blocked and unable to receive or make calls. There is no charge levied for such a registration.
Post-Cargo-Courier Services
Post, cargo and courier services are provided both by the state and the private sector in Turkey. PTT is state institution and offers postal services, money order services, collection of credit card payments, collection of electricity bill, collection of water bills, pension payments, units and telephone card sales, effective transactions, exchange foreign currency, insurance transactions, internet packages, ticket sale, catalogue sales, product sales and electronic certificate. The PTT has a widespread service network and its offices can easily be found on almost every corner of the city. Both international and domestic companies provide service for your domestic and international cargo and courier requirements.
Banking Services and Credit Cards
The banking sector forms a great part of the Turkish financial system in its dynamic economy. There are approximately 50 investment, development and commercial banks operating in Turkey. You can cash your traveler cheques in banks, exchange foreign currency, pay your credit card bills, send and receive online money orders.
International credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express are valid in almost all locations in the city. There are bank branches and various ATMs located on the University campus for the use of students, academic and administrative staff.
Local Time
GMT + 2 hrs. (Summer)
Electricity
220 volts AC, all over Turkey. The voltage is clearly marked on all hotel outlets.
Tap Water
It has been chlorinated but we recommend you to prefer bottled water for drinking which is sold across the city markets and newsagents.
Weights and Measures
Metric system.