What were the main reasons that encouraged you to choose England and Kingston?
I can’t really mention a specific reason. My father wanted me to choose Kingston so much, and just not to reject his request, I put Kingston on my preference list as my last choice. Because my grades weren’t the highest, I was placed at my last choice.
In addition, Kingston is one of a handful of schools in Europe having the same system as Bilkent for the CS department.
How was life at Kingston in terms of cultural and social activities?
Actually, the reason why I chose to go in the fall semester was to be there during Christmas. The festivities arranged in Hyde Park were really worth seeing. However, in terms of social activities, to be honest, Kingston is not very good. It doesn’t have an ESN team. It was my good fortune that Wiz Khalifa and Jeremih came to my neighborhood when I was there. Sometimes, parties were arranged in pubs for international students, but they weren’t better than the ones at Bilkent.
What is the average cost of living in London for a student?
The cost of living is really high. I rented an apartment with a friend (in a building that was going to be pulled down after we left), and it cost £475 per person, not including utility bills. I remember that we paid £150 for a 3-month gas bill. The daily transportation cost was £12. The cost of going to an average nightclub ranged between £5 and £25 after discounts. Everything consumed was fixed at £2 in clubs, and £5 was enough to buy a hamburger and a beer. Although prices at the supermarkets seemed very high at first, after I started cooking at home, I saw that this was much more economical. In short, on the average £1,050 per month may be enough.
Was it easy to find an accommodation? Does the school offer dormitories or not?
It was hard, because neither the school nor the real estate agencies were helpful since I was a short-term student. We looked for an apartment all over the Kingston area. As a last resort, we asked for help from Turkish kebab restaurants, and they helped us find a place in a home that was going to be demolished after our stay.
How were the courses, projects and exams at Kingston compared to those at Bilkent?
Courses were divided into two modules, and they were really easy compared to Bilkent. By studying for a total of two hours before a midterm, I got an A+. All of the courses’ finals were at the end of the spring term, and midterms were at the middle and end of each semester. The projects were a bit harder, because they required more time, and I didn’t want to spend too much of my time on them when I was on Erasmus.
Did Kingston University provide language courses other than English?
I suppose that there were basic German and basic French elective courses. Actually, no one I knew took them.
What was the most memorable thing about your Erasmus experience?
The most memorable thing was the West Ham match I went to. I was a big fan of West Ham even before that. They have one of the best supporter groups you can find anywhere, and being with them was the highlight of my time in England.
What were the biggest challenges you had to deal with during your Erasmus semester?
One of the biggest challenges for me was learning not to behave in a “Turkish” manner. Real estate agencies in England are clear about their policies on renting houses. When looking for a house, you can’t say, “Let me look some more, and then I’ll come back.” They take a stricter approach; also, real estate agencies don’t accept incomplete documents. Another challenge was to find delicious döner. However, finding Turkish food isn’t difficult. The final challenge might be the traffic, because they drive on the opposite side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car. However, I got accustomed to the difference in traffic in a day.
What special tips can you give prospective Erasmus students who choose Kingston?
• Don’t fill your suitcase with a lot of clothes; take only what you need. There are lots of options for shopping, like Primark, which is suitable for students; also, Boxing Day and Black Friday are great times to shop.
• Arrange your accommodation three months before you go.
• Find someone going to Kingston after you, which will enable you to sign a one-year rental agreement for an apartment and make it easier to find a place to live.
• Go to London as much as possible. Run along the riverside in Kingston.
• Make a list of places you want to go. Try to complete at least half of the list. Go to matches and travel to Scotland, in particular Edinburgh.
• Drink pubs’ own special beers.
If you were given another chance to do an Erasmus exchange, would you take it? Would you choose Kingston again?
Absolutely, I would. It was an incredible experience for me. Even though I missed my family, I enjoyed the unlimited freedom. I would choose Kingston again, because the area is calm, peaceful and the safest neighborhood in London.
Interviewers: Eda Ertan (MAN/II)
Cansu Ateş (MAN/II)
Halenur Öztekin (MAN/II)