Konya is Türkiye's largest city in terms of geographical area, located in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye, surrounded by the cities that include Ankara, Eskişehir, Afyon, Isparta, Antalya, Karaman, Mersin, Niğde and Aksaray. Based on 2022 statistics, approximately 2,250,000 people live in Konya and Konya is the sixth most populous city in Türkiye. Konya is an excellent intersection point with its highway connections extending in the east-west and north-south directions, which provide the main transport of our country. Thanks to the High-Speed Train (YHT) and the airport, Konya has advanced transport facilities to all cities of our country. Konya, which has countless historical, cultural and natural treasures, is almost like a modern museum city. Since Konya was the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk State, there are countless numbers of Islamic artefacts in Konya. The Mevlana Museum, in which the Mevlana Tomb is located, has a major role in the worldwide recognition of the city, which has inns, caravanserais, mosques, madrasahs and kumbets dating back to the Seljuk period, and has become a center for religious tourism by attracting tourists from a wide range of countries from the USA to Korea. The Mevlana Museum, which draws a large number of tourists from all over the world, is the most popular museum in Türkiye with 1.5 million visitors per year. The Karatay Madrasa, which our university is named after, was built in Konya during the Anatolian Seljuk period in 1251 by the Seljuk vizier, Emir Celaleddin Karatay. The Karatay Madrasa continued its educational and training activities for six hundred and sixty-three (663) years, until 1914, and became a center of science in Anatolia. Today, the honorable duty to keep the name of this great institution alive and to continue its immortal legacy belongs to KTO Karatay University. In this sense, the transfer of the Karatay-Madrassa historical heritage to Karatay University signifies the restoration of a bridge to our history. In this sense, setting the founding date of KTO Karatay University at 1251 is also very wise and represents a loyalty to our history. Why choose Konya for higher education? Having five universities, Konya is a home for more than 130 thousand students. These students have all the right reasons to choose Konya. When we look these reasons closely, seven major factors come to the forefront. Safe and Sound City: People of Konya are so friendly and welcoming. It is a common habit of local passengers to pay students’ dolmush (public bus) fee. New friends and neighbors may invite them to dinner with great kindness and surprise them with random and sweet gestures. The habit of honoring students with gifts stems from a deep-rooted Islamic tradition of valuing and encouraging those who study knowledge and wisdom. Moreover, the crime rate in the city is very low compared to other major cities in Türkiye. Hundreds of Academic Major Opportunities: Five universities in Konya offer study opportunities in hundreds of fields, from shoe design and manufacturing to international trade, logistics and pilot training. Affordable Education Opportunities: Rents in Konya are on average 60% lower than in Istanbul. There are dozens of public and private student residences close to the universities. Students can also rent a flat with friends with great ease. The student menu at universities is a maximum of 40 TL, and in a restaurant, students can have a hearty meal for 80-100 TL. Transportation: Konya also has numerous means of transport, including public buses, trams and minibuses. The student card, which can be purchased for about 145 TL, allows students to travel in the city by bus and tram for one month. One of the most enjoyable aspects of transport in Konya is cycling. Students can buy or rent a bicycle to enjoy this beautiful city with the smoothest pavements. Location: In the fullest sense of the word, all roads lead to Konya. Konya is a nationwide transportation hub. Students can reach Ankara in less than 2 hours and Istanbul in less than 5 hours by high-speed train. Konya is only a 3-hour drive from the most beautiful beaches of Antalya. Eskişehir, another university town in Türkiye, is only 2 hours away by high-speed train. Exquisite Palace Cuisine: As the capital of the Seljuks and Sufism, the city has inherited a culturally rich and sophisticated cuisine. Students in Konya enjoy the privilege of eating like a great sultan. The Rising Business and Industry Center of Anatolia: Konya is one of the most significant centers for employment with advanced and improving industry. Thanks to the diversity in manufacturing and other industry fields, there are countless numbers of employment opportunities. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to see factories that manufacture F1 racing simulators or sugar-free biscuits in Konya. Students in Konya are very lucky to have the opportunity to do internship in hundreds of companies and gain professional experience. Konya offers students of journalism, television and communication a wide range of local newspapers, television and radio. Sights to See: In Konya, there are a large variety of places for students to visit. The Seljuk madrasas and mosques, the Karatay madrasa, the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the Alaaddin hill on which the Seljuk palace is located, Sille, the valley of butterflies, the scientific centre, the Salt Lake which hosts thousands of flamingos every year and the ancient Christian town of Kilistra are just some of the sights to see. For further information: https://gokonya.com/
