How did you end up in Estonia? Was it a random choice or did you already have some contact with Estonia?
I think I’ve loved Estonia since high school! Back then I enjoyed listening to music charts from different countries and was a dedicated Eurovision fan. Around that time I gradually fell in love with Estonia. I initially started my law studies in Turkey but later realized that studying abroad would make me happier. Without a doubt Estonia was one of the first countries that came to mind! I often watched videos of Erasmus students at TalTech on social media and was eager to be there. During my second year in Turkey, I applied for the Law programme at TalTech School of Business and Governance (SBG) and got accepted in May 2023.

Where did the idea of studying law come from? Why did you decide to study abroad for your Bachelor's degree?
To be honest when I was preparing for university exams in Turkey, my dream was to study International Relations and Political Science. However I later realized that while  studying law I could combine international relations, law and politics. But the law education I studied in Turkey was heavily focused on Turkish law, which didn’t align with my goals. During my second year, I discovered that I could get the kind of education I wanted abroad. While researching countries which are offering undergraduate law programmes in English I found that many universities in Estonia provided this opportunity. Without hesitation I applied to TalTech SBG

How do you like the TalTech School of Business and Governance (SBG)? Are you involved in any student organisations?
In our programme we are taking international relations and law classes but we also take business and startup-related courses. I see this as a huge advantage. We live in a startup paradise like Estonia, and if I ever have a good startup idea, I'll definitely know how to get started.

During my first year I tried to attend almost every event organized by ESN TalTech to meet new people and Erasmus students. Over time I saw how hard the community worked and I was really impressed. I also believe Estonia is one of the best (maybe the best) countries for an Erasmus experience. The community starts working even before the semester begins to help international students integrate. Recently I’ve also been following the activities of Startup Garage and I’ll most likely join the community when I return to Tallinn. I’ll be graduating soon and I think networking within the community will be valuable for making new connections and career opportunities. After all, as they say “Do not work, just network!” 

How satisfied are you with the curriculum and quality of your studies at TalTech? Have you been particularly inspired by a particular subject or lecturer?
My biggest fear was struggling with the language barrier in classes. Since this was my first time studying in English I was incredibly nervous. Speaking in classes during the first semester felt like a nightmare for me. But over time, thanks to my professors, I overcame this issue. In one of our business courses, we had to develop a project, and I was hesitant to speak up. My professor, Basel Hammoda, must have noticed my struggle and he told me that this was completely normal for a first-year student and I can always reach out if I needed help. I think that conversation gave me more confidence to participate in class. I’m still grateful to him! After the first semester I fully adapted to the system and by the spring semester of my first year I felt much more confident and comfortable which definitely reflected in my grades.

Are there any major differences between the Estonian and Turkish education systems? Is studying here different from your previous study experiences?
I think the biggest difference between the two systems is that in Estonia, we learn the main concepts in class and then we explore the details ourselves through presentations and assignments.However in Turkey everything, both the main themes and the details, is covered in class.The lessons would get so long and exhausting that I would lose interest after a while. Since the content was so detailed our class hours were incredibly long. We had to attend classes almost every weekday from 9 AM to 4 PM, and on some days they lasted until 6 PM. I find Estonia’s system much more effective for me. The Turkish system was overwhelmingly intense and at one point I barely had any time for socializing. In Estonia, I’ve been able to maintain a good balance between academic life and social life. Also I absolutely love our library! Sometimes I go there just to read books or write something.

What are the biggest cultural differences you have noticed between Estonia and Turkey? Is there anything that surprised you at first?
I think we, as Turks, are typical Mediterranean people. For us, nothing is better than a good coffee or drink, a nice dinner table and warm weather! We also care for our family a lot and spend most of our free time with family or friends. Personal space isn’t really a thing in our culture. When I came to Estonia, I noticed that people here prioritize personal space even over family and friends. Also in public transport, for example if the bus isn’t too crowded nobody sits next to another person.That felt very strange to me because in Turkey we sometimes even chat with strangers while waiting for the bus! 
And I saved the best for the end! One day I saw a classmate at a supermarket and I was pretty sure he saw me too. I was about to go say hi but he completely ignored me! The next day I immediately asked him why and he was genuinely surprised. He explained that in Estonia there’s no small talk culture. Now when I’m back in Turkey, I also pretend not to see people I know on the street.

What do you like most about living in Estonia? Is there anything that was more difficult to get used to (e.g. the weather, the language)?

Unlike most people my favorite thing about Estonia is Estonians themselves!  Last summer I joined a short-term Erasmus project in Tartu as part of the Estonian team. The Estonian friends I met there made me feel like I am at home and we still keep in touch. Sometimes I even find myself joking around with border officers at the airport. I believe the idea that Estonians are cold people is just a myth.
Since I had been listening to Estonian songs for a long time before moving I was already familiar with the language and I knew some basic words. Also since our languages(Estonian and Turkish) belong to different groups of the same language family I believe any Turkish could learn Estonian easily. The only thing I still haven’t gotten used to is the cold in January and February. I experienced -20°C temperatures for the first time in Estonia. But spring and summer here are so magical that enduring the cold is definitely worth it!

How have you adapted to the Estonian way of life? Is it affordable for students?
There are many international students in Estonia so to be honest I had no difficulty adapting! During my first year I met many people through ESN TalTech and our university’s events. Additionally my university invited me for a guidance session (this applies to all first year students) to ensure that I had no issues with my residence permit or any other concerns. I still remember feeling very touched when I saw the invitation email! 
Accommodation in Tallinn, whether in dorms or shared apartments, is relatively affordable compared to other countries. The university offers both shared and private dorm rooms and having them located on campus is a huge advantage. On top of that I believe Tallinn is a very student-friendly city. Public transportation is free, there are supermarkets in almost every neighborhood, students get discounts at many bars and restaurants and the city is incredibly safe.

Right now, I’m doing Erasmus in Spain, and I know people won’t believe me but I really miss Estonia! Everything in Estonia runs incredibly fast, especially bureaucracy. It took me only about a month to get my residence permit and my visa was issued in almost a week!

Lastly, I want to mention that there is a large Turkish community in Tallinn. I’ve met many people who came here to start their own businesses and there are also many Turkish students at my university. The Turkish Embassy keeps its phone lines open 24/7 for emergencies and during my first year, the ambassador even organized an event just for students to check on us individually and took our contact details.
Additionally, there are direct flights from Antalya and Istanbul to Tallinn every day so I can go to Turkey whenever I want which is a huge plus for me.

Do you have any favourite places or activities here? What do you do in your spare time?
One of my favorite activities is going for a walk whenever I want, especially during the spring and summer! From May, everyone lies on the grass and tanning. The city feels like a fairytale story. In summer the weather is warm, the sun barely sets, the campus turns green and the beaches are full of people.I particularly love Telliskivi in the summer although it’s beautiful in every season. In winter, the lights make everything look magical and every place feels so warm and cozy. I also love walking from Telliskivi to the Old Town. It feels like stepping into ancient times.

I'm also a huge football fan! I’d say football is the most important sport for us in Turkey. During my time in Estonia, I had the chance to watch two matches at the stadium and I had so much fun. Later I realized that Estonia is actually really successful in basketball so I started watching all national basketball games in Unibet Arena for the past 1.5 years! In addition,TalTech has a basketball team that competes in the Latvia-Estonia League and they’re pretty good. Home games are free for students and one of my favorite activities is watching TalTech’s basketball matches! The TalTech-Tartu derby is probably the most exciting game of the season.

What advice would you give to other international students considering studying in Estonia? Is there anything you wish you had known before coming to Estonia?
I would strongly encourage international students to apply to TalTech SBG without hesitation! I am extremely happy with the education I receive. I always wanted to pursue a well-rounded education beyond just law and now I feel that if I decide to do a master’s degree in the future, I will have many options due to my broad knowledge base.

I would advise future students to prepare themselves for lots of presentations and assignments. Also keep in mind that writing a thesis is mandatory for graduation! I don’t want to scare anyone and I must say that our professors are incredibly understanding. I am pretty sure that they will help you if you ever struggle.

What are your plans for the future? Are you considering working in Estonia after graduation or are you planning to move elsewhere?
After finishing my bachelor’s degree I plan to do an internship and then pursue a master’s degree. Most likely I will continue my master's studies in Estonia. My goal is to gain more experience by interning while studying for my master’s. If I can find a job after graduation I would love to stay in Estonia and learn more Estonian. I’m really excited about graduating!

I hope my experience inspires others and maybe we’ll cross paths in Estonia! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 😊

Admissions for Law and other programmes is open from 1 March.
Explore the programme and apply now: taltech.ee/en/bachelors-programmes/law