Koç University Scholarship Turkey Funded
International Undergraduate Admissions at Koç University
Koç University Scholarship Turkey Funded
Koç University is a selective admissions university. We are looking for the best and the brightest in each country. Candidates are evaluated in terms of academic excellence, extra-curricular activities, recommendations, and the motivation to join Koç University and one of our undergraduate programs.
To apply to Koç University as an international student you need to complete and submit an online application form. Applications with missing documents will not be taken into consideration. You should not email or post any documents to the university during the application process.
What are the international application deadlines for Koç University?
You can find below the application deadlines for Koç University Undergraduate Programs for prospective international students for the upcoming admission session.
2020-21 Academic Year (Fall 2020 Admission)
| Session | Application period | Results announced | |
| Winter | 01 December 2019 | 10 January 2020 | 4-6 weeks after the Winter session deadline |
| Spring | 11 January 2020 | 29 May 2020 | 4-6 weeks after the Spring session deadline |
| Summer | 30 May 2020 | 21 September 2020 | 4-6 weeks after the Summer session deadline |
Important things to consider as an international applicant:
- We strongly recommend that you apply in the Winter, or Spring sessions only if you have ALL your documents ready such as SAT test scores.
- You can apply with your predicted IB or A-Level scores issued by your school
What are the application requirements for undergraduate programs at Koç University?
Please read carefully all the requirements below as you prepare your online application for admission to Koç University’s undergraduate programs as an international applicant. You can also watch our step-by-step webinar video. Submitting an application without one of the required documents or information will mean you have very low chances of admission to our university.
English proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS are not required for admission to Koç University. However, you should provide one of the eligible international university admission tests (SAT I, SAT II, ACT) or international diplomas with your application.
Application requirements
1) An international standard university admission exam score or an international diploma grade
You should satisfy and exceed the minimum acceptable score or grade from only ONE of the exams or diplomas listed below.
| Acceptable exam or diploma | All other programs in other Colleges – MINIMUM SCORE or GRADE | Medicine/Law – MINIMUM SCORE OR GRADE |
| SAT I (New) – General Non-Essay (Koc University’s Code is 1931) | 1180 out of 1600 | 1410 out of 1600 |
| SAT II Subject Tests (Koç University’s Code is 1931) | 2 Subject Tests where 1 should be Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2No minimum scores are specified out of 800 maximum | Medicine: 2 Subject Tests where: 1 should be Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 and 1 should be Biology or ChemistryLaw: 2 Subject Tests where 1 should be Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 and one should be relevant to the program (eg World History) |
| ACT | 23 out of 36 | 31 out of 36 |
| MCAT | Not applicable | 505 |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma | 28 out of 45 | 40 out of 45 |
| GCE (General Certificate of Education) | 2 A-Levels (A2) on program-relevant subjects with A*, A or B grades | Medicine: 3 A-Levels (A2) on program relevant subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths) with A* or A gradesLaw: 3 A-Levels (A2) on program relevant subjects with A* or A gradesNote: This includes:Cambridge International GCSEs,Pearson EdExcel International GCSEs |
| IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) | Not applicableAS levels are not considered a high school completion certificate by the Turkish Higher Education authorities so you can only apply for admission with A-Levels (A2) but you can include your AS levels for consideration as part of your educational history.Note: This includes:Cambridge International GCSEs,Pearson EdExcel International GCSEs | Not applicableAS levels are not considered a high school completion certificate by the Turkish Higher Education authorities so you can only apply for admission with A-Levels (A2) but you can include your AS levels for consideration as part of your educational history.Note: This includes:Cambridge International GCSEs,Pearson EdExcel International GCSEs |
| French Baccalaureate diploma | 12 out of 20 | 17 out of 20 |
| ABITUR (Germany) exam | 1-4 grade (1 and 4 included) | 1,5 Medicine 1,2 Law |
| MATURA (Austria) exam | Diploma grade: 1 or 2 | 1,5 Medicine 1,2 Law |
| MATURA (Switzerland) exam | Diploma grade: 4.50 – 6.00 | Diploma grade: 5.50 – 6.00 |
| EB (European Baccalaureate) | Diploma grade: 80% or 8-9 in relevant subjects (one of which should be Mathematics) | Medicine: 90% or 8-9 in relevant subjects (one of which should be Mathematics)Law: 90% or 8-9 in relevant subjects (one of which should be History/Philosophy) |
Please refer to the Acceptable Exams and Diplomas and Minimum Eligibility Scores and Grades section for details. Exam scores older than 2 years at the time of application will not be accepted. There is no time limitation on diploma grades.
Students who cannot provide any of the exams listed above (for a valid reason – such as an exam test center not being available in their country) may also be evaluated with their high school diploma grades and other credentials. However, please note that your admission chances will be low if you apply without one of the tests or diploma grades listed above.
Average test scores of previously admitted students to Koç University
You can see statistics about the average test scores of previously enrolled international students to Koç University’s undergraduate programs here (2017-2019):
2) Official High School Diploma (if available at the time of submission)
If available, a copy of your National High School Diploma certified by the issuing institution or notary public offices as genuine copies of the original and translated to English or Turkish IF the original is not in English or Turkish.
Please refer to Certifying Copies of your Original Documents section for details.
ICGSE: AS levels are not considered a high school completion certificate by the Turkish Higher Education authorities so you can only apply for admission with A-Levels.
3) Official high school transcripts (or predicted high school GPA)
You should upload a copy of official transcripts of your high school courses and grades showing your final Grade Point Average (GPA) or equivalent grading system. If you submit an application whilst you are still enrolled in your last year of high school you can submit an official document from your school stating your predicted grades.
4) Motivation letter
The motivation letter should be the place where your unique experience, interests, and motivations can “shine” in front of our Admissions Committee.
You should use 1-2 pages to explain why you would like to study your program of choice, talk about the academic and extra-curricular activities that have helped you make your decision to study a specific major and that would make you ready for university life, and why specifically do you think Koç University’s program is a good fit for your character, goals, and style of learning.
Always remember: plagiarism will mean an automatic rejection, make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and before uploading this document ask yourself: could this have been written by anyone else other than me?. If the answer is yes, then go back and revise.
Below we have put together some sample motivation letters to guide you in the process.
- Sample motivation letter – Medicine 1
- Sample motivation letter – Engineering
- Sample motivation letter – Business Administration
How to write a strong motivation letter
Webinar videoLocation: Koç University The time: September 2019 Duration: 1:30:00
Watch our webinar on how to prepare your motivation letter for our undergraduate international application at Koç University. Best practice guidance on format, length, how to impress the Admissions Committee, and more!
5) Two (2) letters of recommendation
You will be asked to provide contact details (name, surname, institutional email address, job title) for 2 people who can provide recommendations on your behalf for university admission. The referees will receive an email from Koç University asking them to complete a recommendation form or to upload an existing letter onto the same form. Make sure you remind them with enough time in advance to prepare their recommendation letters.
The recommendation letters can be written in English or Turkish. If your referees are not able to write in English you can provide a notarized translation of their recommendation.
You will be able to see if your referees have submitted their recommendations in your online application and they will receive an email confirming that they have successfully submitted the recommendation letters.
IMPORTANT: Referees should submit their recommendations in order for you to be able to submit your application. When you see their reference status shows as “received” you will be able to click on “Submit my application”.
6) Optional application documents
COVID-19 Update on Fall 2020 International Undergraduate Admissions
We are aware of the current barriers faced by some international applicants to provide a valid SAT or ACT test score report due to test cancellations and the postponement of IB and IGCSE final examinations and different assessments to be used for this year.
You should register for the next available SAT or ACT test date available in your country and indicate the date on the online application form in the “test scores” section.
If you were planning on applying with your predicted IB or A-level scores you can still do this by indicating your latest scores and uploading all relevant transcripts or letters from your school to support the predicted grades.
The Admission Committee will evaluate all candidates on the basis of all the other application documents and may issue conditional admissions to selected candidates.
In order to enroll as a new student in the Fall 2020 semester, candidates should provide before or during the enrollment period official their official test score reports (SAT/ACT) or final diploma scores as specified in the conditional admission letter.
If you have further questions you can email us at [email protected] indicating your REGAPP application number.
English language proficiency exam score
Since English is the medium of instruction at Koç University, it is essential that you demonstrate competence in the language. Students who submit a valid English Proficiency Exam Result and/or students who completed the last 3 years of high school education in a country where the official language is English (as recognized by the Turkish Higher Education authorities) will be exempted from attending the English Language Center (ELC) and will directly begin their undergraduate courses.
However, it is not sufficient to have proficiency in English. Applicants are expected to satisfy the minimum acceptable score or diploma grade for one of those exams or diplomas listed in Acceptable Exams and Diplomas and Minimum Eligibility Scores and Grades. Please see our English Language Preparatory program for details.
TOEFL: minimum of 80 points out of 120 in the Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) YDS (Yabancı Dil Sınavı): 80 PTE: 60 CAE: C
Note: IELTS is not currently accepted in Turkey (2019). Pakistan and Nigeria are not on the list of countries where English is the official language according to the Turkish Higher Education authorities and therefore are not exempt from providing a valid original English Proficiency test score report during enrollment (if offered admission) or taking the Koç University Institutional English Test.
Turkish language proficiency exam score
Only for Law and Nursing program candidates, a copy of the Turkish language proficiency exam score. Please see Proficiency in Turkish section for details.
Important things to remember as you complete your application for Koç University
To submit the online application for Koç University’s undergraduate programs as an international applicant, you will need to:
- indicate a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of program in the online application form so that, if you are not offered admission to your 1st choice program, you will still be evaluated for your 2nd and 3rd choice. If offered admission to your 2nd or 3rd choice you can consider accepting the offer and after your Freshman year applying for an internal transfer to your original 1st choice. Please note that Koç University also offers the possibility to undergraduate students to do double majors and minors.
- upload ALL the required documents as PDF files (.pdf) without any type of password encryption, and with a file size of less than 60MB and no Turkish or other special characters in the file name.
- remind your referees to submit their recommendation letters on the system (following the instructions they will receive via email) before the evaluation session deadline in order for you to submit your application.
- complete the “Scholarships” section of the form if your family is not able to afford Koç University’s full tuition fees and your living expenses every year of your undergraduate program. Please read carefully our guidance on how to complete the “Scholarships” section here and the documents you should upload. If you do not upload any supporting documents to demonstrate financial need, you will not be evaluated for a need-based scholarship.
Check out our step-by-step video on how to complete each section of the online application form and if you have any further questions you can also email us at [email protected] for further guidance.
How to complete the Koç University Undergraduate Application Form (Video)
What type of application should I select on the application system?
Please check below according to your individual educational status, which type of application you should complete and submit in the Koç University online application system for undergraduate programs.
| Application type | You have… |
| International Student | Completed or will be completing your high school before the Fall semester and will apply for admission as a new freshman student |
| Transfer Student GPA – International | Completed at least 1 year of an undergraduate program in a university located in any country other than Turkey and have a GPA of 2.40 out of 4.00 (or in equivalent scale) or higher. See details on how to apply as a transfer student here. |
| Transfer Student GPA – Within Turkey | Completed at least 1 year of an undergraduate program in a university located in Turkey and have a GPA of 2.40 out of 4.00 or higher. See details on how to apply as a transfer student here. |
| Transfer Student ÖSYM – Within Turkey | Completed at least 1 year of an undergraduate program in a university located in Turkey and have a valid ÖSYM exam scores. See details on how to apply as a transfer student here. |
| Special Student | Completed at least 1 year of an undergraduate or graduate program in a university in any country other than Turkey and will apply for admission for 1 semester only to take some courses. See details on how to apply as a special student here. |
| KU Internal Transfer Student – GPA | Already enrolled as a student at Koç University and will apply to transfer between majors with your current GPA |
| KU Internal Transfer Student – ÖSYM score | Already enrolled as a student at Koç University and will apply to transfer between majors with your valid ÖSYM exam scores |
How are undergraduate applications evaluated?
Applications are evaluated in terms of academic merit and fit with Koç University’s educational values and goals in a holistic approach by an Admissions Committee comprised of the Dean of the relevant College, the Dean of Students, and the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.
Interviews may be arranged with some candidates via skype or telephone if necessary for the School of Medicine. If you have applied to Medicine as one of your program choices, make sure to check your email inbox regularly after submitting the application as they will contact you via email to schedule an interview.
Please note that evaluation for admission to Koç University is done on a need-blind basis. Applying for a scholarship does not diminish your admission chances.
This evaluation process typically takes 1-2 months and we are not able to provide information about admission decisions to applicants via email, telephone, or in-person during this period.
Please refrain from contacting the Admission Committee members or other units at Koç University regarding your admission status. You will be able to check your application and admission status from the online application system.
How can I be considered for a scholarship at Koç University?
All international undergraduate applicants for Koç University are automatically evaluated in terms of academic merit for 0%, 25%, 50%, or 100% tuition-only scholarships by the Admissions Committee. There is no separate form to complete or specific deadlines for our academic merit scholarships.
If you or your family are not able to afford the annual tuition fees and living expenses (housing, food, books, transport) associated with studying for four years at Koç University, you should ask to be evaluated for a need-based scholarship.
Please note that evaluation for admission to Koç University is done on a need-blind basis. Applying for a need-based scholarship does not diminish your admission chances.
Make sure you read our guidance on how to complete the “Scholarship” section of our online application form to be evaluated for a need-based scholarship and check the “Tuition and Scholarships” section of our website for further details.
Should I apply through an educational agency or consultant?
Koç University has partnered with a limited and carefully selected number of education agencies in Turkey and abroad (see approved list of educational agencies here) to provide guidance to prospective international students about our university and our admissions process.
However, please note that it is NOT necessary to engage an educational agent in order to be considered for admission to Koç University. Admission or scholarship decisions are not based on the recommendations of agents and there are NO FEES charged by Koç University to educational agencies for any application procedures.
Koç University expects an application to be the work of the applicant and that all information on the application is complete, accurate and truthful. We may reject applications, cancel an admission offer or dismiss a student from attendance if it is determined that application materials have been falsified.
Please note that you should submit an application with a personal email address, not an educational agency email address as this will create unnecessary problems to communicate with you as an applicant if needed.
Download our prospectus for more details
Our international undergraduate prospectus for Academic Year 2020-21 is available in the following languages:
Please check carefully our Registrar’s website for detailed guidance on admission requirements for each program, eligibility to apply as an international student (for example, if you have dual nationality one of which is Turkish or from KKTC), and minimum scores details.
