The purpose of this research was to examine the Turkish Erasmus exchange students' academic lives and their views on the contributions of the program using qualitative method. The data of this research were collected with the use of a semistructured questionnaire that was administered by direct interviews. A total of 30 students, 15 from state and 15 from private universities in jstanbul, were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Results of the research revealed that although the wish to gain academic experience in another country does not have the strongest influence on their decision to study abroad, students find studying abroad academically important and advantageous, and they put much emphasis on the social, personal, linguistic and cultural benefits they gain in addition to professional ones. It is understood that almost all students were affected by the learning environments and the student-centered teaching method they witnessed. According to these findings, the value and necessity  of creating learning environments and teaching methods promoting student participation and an education system based on questioning, researching and practice gain importance. The results of this research also showed that students' initial aims such as getting the chance to see abroad, meeting new cultures or gaining personal benefits later changed direction by embracing academic and professional aims. Finally, in the light of these findings, suggestions for institutions, foture exchange students and researchers were presented.