Why Turkey?
Istanbul is a lively city with a rich cultural heritage, thanks to its geographical location. With more than 8000 years of glamorous history, the city has always been an important metropolis as the former capital of many empires, including Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empire. Istanbul fascinates visitors with the precious ancient monuments and its unique beauty with the Bosphorus passing across the city to separate Europe and Asia. High standards of education, internationally recognized degrees and modern campuses with outstanding facilities are also the reasons why many students from all around the world are attracted to Turkey and Istanbul. The city owns cultural phenomena of centuries. Some of the wonderful sites of Istanbul are Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Mosque, Maiden’s Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Princes’ Islands, and many more.
Why Koç University?
Koç University was founded in 1993 as a non-profit foundation university in Istanbul, Turkey. Since its establishment, Koç University has become a leading university in Turkey, distinguished by notable contributions to the elevation of education, knowledge, and service, domestically and beyond. Koç University ranks among the top research universities in Turkey in terms of number of articles per academic member, which indicates the importance attached to research, and success of academic members and research programs. Koç University College of Administrative Sciences and Economics and Graduate School of Business have been granted accreditation by the global accreditation institution AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Having previously attained Association of MBAs (AMBA) and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditations, they are now the first and only academic institution in Turkey to achieve the “Triple Crown” of the three most prestigious accreditations in this field.
Disclaimer:
Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, applicants should be aware that changes to academic calendars may occur with little or no notice. Students are encouraged to either wait to book travel or book travel that allows for changes with no financial penalty.
Applicants should also be aware that processing of visas may be impacted or halted by specific countries. Failure to secure the necessary visa may result in inability to participate in this program.
Participants on this program may be required to self-quarantine prior to the start of their program for a specified period of time. Students are responsible for arranging (logistics and financial) their travel appropriately to ensure self-quarantine is completed prior to the start of the program.
Academics
Academic Areas
College of Engineering (CE)
- Chemical & Biological Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
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College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH)
- Archaeology & History of Art
- Comparative Literature
- History
- Media and Visual Arts
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Sociology
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College of Sciences (CS)
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Molecular Biology & Genetics
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College of Administrative Sciences and Economics (CASE)
- Business Administration
- Economics
- International Relations
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| Law School
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School of Medicine (SOM)
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| School of Nursing (SON)
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Languages
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Italian
- Spanish
- Turkish
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Academic Calendar
The academic calendar at Koç University is the following:
- Fall semester: Early September to mid-January
- Spring semester: Early February to early June
Courses
The language of instruction at Koç University is English. Exchange students can take courses from any discipline as long as they meet the prerequisites or the instructor of the course gives consent. KU students usually take five courses per semester (an average course is 3 KU credits which is equal to 3 UM credits). Exchange students can take maximum 6 courses per semester at Koç University. Courses are selected on our online platform KUSIS. Course list is subject to change each semester, however, to have an idea about the courses open to exchange students each semester, you may refer to the Koç University course listing. Students are assessed by examination or coursework, which is set by the instructor of the course.
Course Enrollment: Course planning is an online procedure by which the students plan their schedules before the actual course enrollment date which will be one day during the Orientation Week!
Academic Advisors
Each exchange student is assigned to an academic advisor to assist them with course issues and provide academic support. Academic advisors can also serve as liaisons between students and faculty members or present academic opportunities on campus such as research positions and special programs/projects.
Grading Scale
| Koç University Grade |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
F |
| University of Miami Grade |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
F |
Credit Equivalency
1 Koç University Credit = 1 UM credit
Research Assistantship/Internship Opportunities
Koç University offers the opportunity for exchange students to work alongside academics as research assistants on a voluntary basis. All available positions are announced on the OIP website before the semester.
Life at Koç University
Located on the hills of Sariyer, Istanbul, Koç University is twenty minutes away from the Black Sea beaches, surrounded by charming villages and natural landscapes, and connected to the city center through many convenient transportation options. Koç University has seven other campus locations : West Campus, Istinye Campus, ANAMED (Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations), VEKAM (Vehbi Koç and Ankara Research Center), Health and Sciences Campus, KWorks (Entrepreneurship Research Center), AKMED (Suna & Inan Kiraç Research Center for Mediterranean Civilizations). Koç University’s main campus consists of academic colleges, administrative offices, laboratories, library, social and sports facilities, health center, student dormitories and faculty residences. The classrooms and laboratories are equipped with the latest technological infrastructure and support systems.
Room and Board
Many Koç University students choose to live on campus and a lot of them stay on campus until they graduate. Dormitories are located on the University’s main Campus (Rumelifeneri) and West Campus. Students on both campuses have access to facilities and services such as swimming pools, sports center, game rooms, dance hall, billiard table, hairdresser, post-office, supermarket, food halls and parking garage. On-campus accommodation is not guaranteed, but their housing application is first come first serve so for every exchange student who applies for it and pays the fee on time it is more likely to obtain a spot on-campus. Undergraduate and graduate exchange students are assigned to triple bedrooms on West Campus. Students can also choose to stay off-campus but they need to make necessary arrangements themselves. * Due to COVID-19 measures, there might be changes regarding room types or various limitations. In such case, students and our partners will be informed. For additional information, students can visit the Koç University housing website, and you can view their their comprehensive “Off-Campus Housing Guide” for Istanbul housing.
Koç University offers students and staff healthy, hygienic and high-quality dining options in a comfortable and spacious atmosphere. Dining halls at Koç University offer a variety of cuisines with Yemekhane (main dining hall), Cafe Nero, Divan Sports Cafe, Divan Bakery and many more.
Health Insurance/Health
As per immigration laws in Turkey, it is MANDATORY that all students have valid insurance that covers the total duration of their enrollment at Koç University. The insurance should take effect from the day the student enters Turkey and cover the complete duration of stay. Students can visit the Koç University website for more information on health insurance. Koç University has Health Centers both on Main and the West Campus open to all exchange students. The center is equipped with 24-hour care and English-speaking doctors. It has 5 physicians, 1 nurse and 8 medical assistants operating 24/7. Students can obtain medical health and medicine here.
Student Clubs
Koç University has more than 80 student clubs that are formed and run by students. They continue their activities in coordination with the Extracurricular Activities Office, and those clubs cover a wide range of topics and interests for students such as dancing, mountain climbing or diving. Students who participate in these clubs can improve themselves in social and academic sense, hasten their adaptation to the university environment and take part in important events, learning how to be a team player. Clubs regularly engage in on campus and off campus activities.
Sport Center
Koç University offers many sports and exercise facilities including fully equipped gyms, swimming pools, an ice-skating rink, dance studios, tennis courts, basketball court and squash courts, and all of them are free of charge for all student and staff.
KURES (Koç University Guidance and Psychological Services Centre)
KURES accompanies students in their process of coming to know and realizing themselves, and supporting their personal development. It aims to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them cope with the academic, social and personal problems they face throughout this process. Koç University offers counseling services to all enrolled students.
Admission
Serious applicants should plan to submit a complete, well-thought out, and comprehensive application. Students who submit a complete application will be granted an interview. Qualified candidates will be nominated to Koç University, who will ask that students complete a separate application. Nominated students are expected to fill out and submit their online application form by the end of the application period. It should be noted that applications close at 5:00 pm Istanbul local time on the last day of the application period. Koç University will make the final admission decision. Late applications will not be considered. Admitted students will receive an acceptance email and admission package which contain documents necessary for your visa application. Note that students must have completed at least one year of study at UM to be considered for this program.
Immigration
Depending on their nationalities, students can enter Turkey with their passports / IDs as tourists, multiple-entry tourist (ordinary) e-visas, or student visas. For more details on your entry to Turkey and the visa type you should obtain, please visit the International Community Services Office (ICO) website. A residence permit is required by law for those who will stay in Turkey for longer than 3 months or beyond their visa periods. Therefore, all exchange students are obliged to apply for and obtain a residence permit upon their arrival in Turkey. The International Community Services Office (ICO) will provide more information to accepted students on the residence permit process.
