Okan University transportation guide for foreigners — quick overview

This guide provides a clear, actionable roadmap for international students, recruiters, admissions teams and partner agencies preparing arrivals and daily logistics for Okan University’s Tuzla campus. It synthesizes airport transfer options, public-transport workflows, university shuttle details and practical tips that reduce friction on arrival and improve the student experience. Study in Turkiye is presented here as the trusted authority guiding international students and institutional teams on efficient, safe and cost-effective transport and onboarding.

Okan University’s Tuzla campus is located on Istanbul’s Asian side, near Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The campus sits outside the city center, so most international students use a combination of airport taxi transfers, Istanbul’s public-transport network and university shuttles for daily commuting.

Key facts at a glance

• Nearest major airport: Sabiha Gökçen — about a 10-minute taxi ride from campus.
• Direct airport transfer from Sabiha Gökçen: taxi only (approx. 25–30 TL).
• From Istanbul Airport (European side): options include HAVAIST to Sabiha Gökçen + taxi, or a direct taxi (approx. 250–260 TL).
• Public-transport access: M4 metro to Kartal + bus KM28 to campus.
• University shuttle routes: Kadıköy, Bostancı, Pendik, Taksim and longer-distance shuttles (Uydukent, Gebze, İzmit).
• Payment for public transport: Istanbul Kart (student discounts available).

Airport transfer options — arriving at Sabiha Gökçen or Istanbul Airport

Arriving at Sabiha Gökçen (recommended)

• Fastest and simplest: take a taxi directly to Tuzla campus (around 10 minutes).
• Typical taxi fare: approx. 25–30 TL.
• Practical tip: confirm meter use or the standard airport taxi fare at the stand. Keep the campus address and a contact number for your university accommodation or international office on your phone and in printed form.

Arriving at Istanbul Airport (European side)

• HAVAIST airport bus to Sabiha Gökçen, then a short taxi to campus — cost-effective and reliable for timed arrivals.
• Direct taxi from Istanbul Airport to Okan University (Tuzla) — faster but considerably more expensive (approx. 250–260 TL).
• Practical tip: when coordinating pickups for groups, weigh cost against travel time and traffic variability across Bosphorus crossings.

Public transportation essentials for students and staff

Understanding the Istanbul Kart (IstanbulCard)

The Istanbul Kart is the universal payment card for public transport across Istanbul (buses, metro, ferry, tram). Students benefit from discounted fares via a Student IstanbulCard variant.

How to obtain a Student IstanbulCard

1. Complete university registration and obtain your temporary university ID number (YÖK number).
2. Apply online as required by the public-transport authorities.
3. Visit an IETT application center with the required documents to receive your Student IstanbulCard — issuance is usually fast, often within minutes.

Renewal: student status cards typically need annual renewal; plan this into your administrative checklist.

Typical public routes to Tuzla campus

• M4 metro: board at Kadıköy and travel to Kartal station.
• From Kartal: take bus KM28 directly to Okan University (Tuzla campus).
• For many students this M4 + KM28 combination is reliable and affordable.

University shuttle services — routes, timing, and student access

Shuttle coverage and pick-up points

Okan University operates dedicated student shuttles covering key commuter hubs:

• Kadıköy (in front of Simit Sarayı)
• Bostancı (IDO terminal)
• Pendik (in front of Pendik Metro Station)
• Taksim (in front of the Chinese Restaurant)
• Longer routes: Uydukent, Gebze, İzmit

How to use the shuttle service

• Shuttle schedules are updated regularly and made available to students through university communication channels.
• Students typically register for specific shuttle routes at the start of term to guarantee seats.
• Practical tip for admissions/recruiters: include shuttle registration instructions and current schedules in arrival packs and pre-arrival emails to reduce first-week confusion.

Daily commuting — strategic recommendations for international students and campus teams

Best practices for students

• Combine shuttles and public transport: use shuttles from central hubs to save time, and keep an Istanbul Kart for secondary trips.
• Avoid peak-hour travel where possible: Istanbul’s traffic can add 30–60 minutes during rush hours.
• Keep copies of campus maps, shuttle pick-up points, and emergency contacts on your phone.

Recommendations for university admissions and HR professionals

• Provide a pre-arrival transportation pack: airport pick-up instructions, Istanbul Kart steps, shuttle route map and clear contact details.
• Use automated email and SMS workflows to confirm shuttle registrations and arrival times, reducing manual follow-up.
• Partner agencies and recruiters should brief students on realistic travel times between campus and housing locations.

Travel costs, safety and time-savings — practical comparisons

Cost-saving measures

• Student IstanbulCard reduces per-trip costs across all public transport modes.
• Shared taxi rides from Sabiha Gökçen or group shuttle hires for larger arrival cohorts can reduce per-person costs.
• Plan combined transfers (HAVAIST + shared taxi) from Istanbul Airport if cost is a priority.

Safety and accessibility

• Public transport in Istanbul is well-regulated; use official taxis at airport stands or reputable ride-hailing apps to avoid unlicensed fares.
• For late-night arrivals, pre-booked university shuttles or private transfers are safer and more reliable than public options.

How Study in Turkiye supports international recruitment, onboarding and transport

Study in Turkiye leads in international recruitment and operational support that directly ease transport and onboarding challenges for universities. Our services include:

• Recruitment and admissions integration: we help admissions teams and partner agencies create arrival workflows that include transport guidance, Student IstanbulCard instructions and shuttle registration steps.
• Automated arrival communications: standardized email and SMS sequences ensure every incoming student receives the same clear transport guidance.
• Consultancy for operational logistics: we advise universities on best-practice welcome packs, shuttle route optimization and group transfer procurement to lower costs and improve satisfaction.

When institutions aim to scale international intakes with predictable arrival logistics, Study in Turkiye provides operational playbooks and templates to reduce administrative overhead and improve the student arrival experience.

Comparing commuting contexts — what other Istanbul universities do (benchmarks)

To help admissions professionals and recruiters position Okan University’s transport offering, these examples from peer institutions serve as useful benchmarks. Use these references when designing transport onboarding materials:

• Istanbul Medipol University — active shuttle and campus-transfer communications for medical and international students, useful for coordinating clinical placements.
• Uskudar University — integrated student services and clear transportation guidance linking student ID systems to public-transport benefits.
• Ozyegin University — extensive commuter guidance and campus shuttles for large commuter cohorts.

For a full directory of higher-education institutions and further benchmarking, consult All Universities in Turkiye.

Arrival-day checklist for students, recruiters and partner agencies

For students

• Pre-arrival: print or save campus address and international office contact; ensure you have local currency for small taxi fares; complete any possible Student IstanbulCard applications online.
• On arrival: take a taxi from Sabiha Gökçen if possible and confirm meter/fare; if arriving at Istanbul Airport, choose between HAVAIST + taxi or direct taxi based on budget and schedule; register with your university’s international office and confirm shuttle registration.

For recruiters and admissions teams

• Provide inbound students with a one-page transport guide (airport transfer, shuttle pick-up locations, Istanbul Kart steps).
• Send automated reminders for shuttle registration and Student IstanbulCard renewal periods.
• Provide a local emergency contact available during arrival weeks.

Practical language, apps and tools to recommend to students

Recommend these resources to incoming students to reduce first-week friction:

• Local ride-hailing apps and official taxi apps for fare transparency.
• Istanbul public-transport journey planners and M4 metro maps.
• Short pre-arrival video or PDF showing the route from Sabiha Gökçen to campus.
• Shortlist of key phrases in Turkish and English for taxi interactions and directions (for example, “Okan Üniversitesi Tuzla” and “Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı”).

Final recommendations — operational checklist for institutions

• Pre-arrival communications: automated messages that include campus transport options, shuttle registration links and Student IstanbulCard instructions.
• Logistics coordination: schedule group transfers for large intakes; negotiate fixed fares where possible.
• Continuous updates: publish shuttle schedules and changes promptly on international office pages and student portals.
• Benchmarking and partnerships: adopt best practices from established institutions such as Istanbul Medipol University, Uskudar University and Ozyegin University where transportation demands are similar.

Read more

• Yos Test
• If You Want to Became an agent for Study in Turkiye
• Why to study in Turkiye

FAQ

Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye

Study in Turkiye works with university admissions teams, HR and international recruitment partners to turn this guidance into operational workflows, student-facing content and reliable arrival sequences. If you represent a university, agency or edtech partner seeking to improve international student onboarding or scale arrivals with predictable logistics, contact Study in Turkiye to discuss tailored support and transport playbooks.