Handbook for Incoming Mobilities

Isparta University of Applied Sciences (IUAS) was established in 2018, when it separated from Süleyman Demirel University (SDU). Its roots go back to the Isparta Vocational School, founded in 1976. The two universities share infrastructure and the same main campus in Isparta, and IUAS also runs vocational schools in districts across the province. Teaching at IUAS is student-centred and focused on practical, performance-based training that prepares students for working life.

The 7+1 and 3+1 model

To strengthen employability, IUAS applies a 7+1 model in bachelor's programmes and a 3+1 model in associate degree programmes. Students complete seven (or three) semesters of coursework and spend the final semester entirely in an internship or workplace training in their field, building practical skills and links with industry.

Faculties 4-year bachelor's degrees

• Büyükkutlu Faculty of Applied Sciences (Yalvaç)
• Eğirdir Faculty of Fisheries
• Faculty of Forestry
• Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Agriculture

Graduate Education Institute master's and PhD

• Graduate Education Institute

Vocational Schools 2-year associate degrees

• Aksu Mehmet Süreyya Demiraslan Vocational School
• Atabey Vocational School
• Distance Education Vocational School
• Eğirdir Vocational School
• Gelendost Vocational School
• Gönen Vocational School
• Information Technologies Vocational School
• Isparta Vocational School
• Isparta OSB Vocational School
• Keçiborlu Vocational School
• Senirkent Vocational School
• Sütçüler Prof. Dr. Hasan Gürbüz Vocational School
• Şarkikaraağaç Vocational School
• Şarkikaraağaç Tourism Vocational School
• Technical Sciences Vocational School
• Uluborlu Selahattin Karasoy Vocational School
• Yalvaç Vocational School
• Yalvaç Technical Sciences Vocational School
• Yenişarbademli Vocational School

Schools

• School of Foreign Languages

Associate degree (Önlisans)

Two-year programmes focused on practical skills, offered by the vocational schools across Isparta Province.

Bachelor's degree (Lisans)

Programmes of normally four years, offered by the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Tourism, Eğirdir Faculty of Fisheries and Büyükkutlu Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Graduate degrees (Lisansüstü)

The Graduate Education Institute runs master's programmes (2 years) and PhD programmes (at least 4 years) in the following fields:

IUAS uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) at all levels. Course credits reflect the student workload, and a full academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits.

After your exams, the Erasmus Office issues a Transcript of Records listing your courses and grades, together with the conversion table below, so that your home university can recognise your results.

Grade conversion (associate and bachelor's level)

The full IUAS Education and Examination Regulations are available on the International Relations Office website.

Incoming Erasmus+ students can browse the courses offered in English, by unit and department, on the Erasmus+ Courses in English list. Detailed course descriptions (learning outcomes, weekly content, assessment and ECTS workload) are available in the IUAS ECTS Course Catalogue.

Every faculty, vocational school and the Graduate Education Institute has its own Erasmus+ unit coordinator, and most departments have a departmental coordinator who signs the Learning Agreement and helps with course selection. The full contact list is on the Erasmus+ Unit and Departmental Coordinators page.

IUAS has a lively range of student communities offering social, cultural, sports and professional activities — a good way to meet local students and settle in quickly.

Culture and arts

Technology and innovation

Sports and outdoors

Society and career

More information: Student Communities and Campus Life.

Nomination

Incoming students must be nominated by the Erasmus Office of their home university by e-mail to erasmus@isparta.edu.tr before the deadline. After nomination, both the student and the sending institution receive an e-mail with instructions for the application.

Deadlines

Application documents

• (Online) Learning Agreement or Learning Agreement for Traineeships, signed by the student and the departmental coordinator
• Official Transcript of Records
• Certificate of Erasmus+ student status issued by the home institution
• Scanned copy of passport and a recent photo
• English or Turkish language certificate (optional)
• CV in Europass format (optional)

The detailed Checklist for Incoming Students is available on the IUAS Erasmus website.

Traineeship mobility

IUAS also welcomes students for Erasmus+ traineeships. Please write to erasmus@isparta.edu.tr; the office will explain the procedure and put you in touch with the relevant departmental coordinator. Current traineeship opportunities at IUAS are listed on the Erasmus website.

Once your home university has sent its selection results and nominations, please complete the following steps:

1. 1
   Information e-mail — You receive an information e-mail from the IUAS Erasmus Office.
2. 2
   Application form — Fill in the “Erasmus Application Form for Students (KA131/KA171)” in the Documents section of the IUAS Erasmus website.
3. 3
   Learning Agreement — Prepare the Learning Agreement for studies or for traineeships. Choose your courses from the Erasmus+ Courses in English list and contact the departmental coordinator if you have questions.
4. 4
   Insurance — Take out travel health insurance valid for your whole stay.
5. 5
   Transcript — Submit your official Transcript of Records.
6. 6
   Language certificate — Submit an English language proficiency certificate.
7. 7
   Student certificate — Submit a certificate of enrolment showing your current student status.
8. 8
   Passport — Submit a scan of the photo page of your passport.
9. 9
   Visa — If you need a visa to enter Türkiye, apply in good time and send a copy.
10. 10
    CV (optional) — Submit a CV in Europass format.

First steps after arrival

1. 1
   SIM card — Get a Turkish SIM card (Türk Telekom, Turkcell or Vodafone). You will need a Turkish phone number for banking and for the residence permit.
2. 2
   Grant Agreement (KA171 students only) — Sign your Grant Agreement at the Erasmus Office.
3. 3
   Bank account — Open Turkish lira (TRY) and euro (EUR) accounts at Ziraat Bankası, Gülkent Branch and activate online banking.

Residence permit stays longer than 90 days

If you stay in Türkiye for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi). The Erasmus Office helps you with the application; please bring the following documents to the office before your appointment date:

1. 4
   Health insurance covering your entire stay in Türkiye.
2. 5
   4 biometric photos.
3. 6
   Proof of address (see the table below).
4. 7
   Fee receipt for the residence permit card.
5. 8
   Application form printed after completing the online application on e-İkamet, signed by hand.
6. 9
   Applicants under 18 entering without a student visa: a document showing parent/guardian details (e.g. birth certificate) and a notarised letter of consent. Students with a student visa are exempt.

Proof of address by type of accommodation

Health insurance in Türkiye

Exchange students (Erasmus, Mevlana, Farabi, etc.) receive a residence permit for the length of their programme. Students who apply for Turkish general health insurance (GSS) within three months of their first registration do not need separate private insurance; otherwise private health insurance is required. Source: Presidency of Migration Management — residence permit types. More information: en.goc.gov.tr.

When your semester at IUAS is over, please complete these steps before you leave:

1. 1
   Transcript of Records — Collect your official transcript from the student affairs office of your faculty or school and submit it to the Erasmus Office.
2. Traineeship students: complete the “After the Mobility” section of your Learning Agreement for Traineeships and submit it to the Erasmus Office.
3. 2
   Certificate of Attendance — After your transcript has been submitted, collect your Certificate of Attendance from the Erasmus Office.
4. 3
   Final grant payment (KA171 students only) — Once the transcript and Certificate of Attendance are complete, the remaining 20% of your grant is paid into your bank account. Please plan to stay in Isparta long enough to withdraw it before you leave.

State dormitories (KYK)

Run by the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK), state dormitories are affordable and usually close to the campus; some include meals. See the list of KYK dormitories in Isparta (in Turkish).

Private dormitories

More facilities (study rooms, gyms, different room types) at a higher price.

Flats

Many students share or rent a flat within walking distance of the campus. Prices depend on location, size and furnishing. Listings can be found on sahibinden.com.

Isparta lies in the Lakes Region of south-western Türkiye, surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes. The city is famous for its roses, rose products, cherries and apples, and is well connected to the rest of the country by road and rail.

Getting to Isparta

Via Istanbul: Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport, about 30 km from the city, with a shuttle bus to the centre. If you land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side, ask the Erasmus Office for advice on transferring. Overnight buses from Istanbul take about 11 hours.

Via Antalya: Antalya Airport is a convenient alternative, about two hours from Isparta by bus, with frequent departures. Current timetables and prices are on Obilet.

Climate

Continental with a Mediterranean influence: hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters — bring warm clothes for the winter months.

Nature and outdoor activities

Lake Eğirdir, one of Türkiye's largest freshwater lakes, is ideal for swimming, sailing and fishing. In winter, the Davraz Ski Centre is just outside the city, and the Kızıldağ National Park, the St Paul Trail and paragliding sites invite you outdoors all year round.

History

The ancient city of Sagalassos, with its well-preserved theatre, baths and fountains, is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Anatolia. The Ertokuş Caravanserai and the Firdevs Pasha Mosque are other landmarks.

Local food

Try rose jam, Isparta kebabı (tandır) slow-cooked in a clay oven, and fresh fish from Lake Eğirdir.

Cost of living

Living costs in Isparta are considerably lower than in Türkiye's large cities. See Numbeo for current averages.

Useful links

• Isparta Governorship
• Isparta Municipality
• Isparta Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
• Museum Card (MüzeKart)

• Type of mobility: Please state clearly in every nomination whether the mobility is for studies or for a traineeship.
• Promoting the opportunity: Please announce IUAS mobility opportunities to your students through your website, social media, internal channels and posters.
• Listing IUAS as a partner: Please add IUAS to the list of partner institutions on your website, on the home page or in the Erasmus+ section.
• Regular communication: Please join the shared WhatsApp group for partners, reply to e-mails promptly and keep in touch by phone when needed.
• Aligned calls: Calls for applications for the same project year should be published at the same time, or as close together as possible, at both institutions.