Introduction

Koç University libraries and labs for foreigners are central to Koç’s reputation as a research-led, internationally oriented institution in Turkiye. For international student recruiters, university admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals, and placement agencies, understanding the scope and accessibility of Koç’s academic infrastructure is essential when counselling applicants, designing recruitment messaging, or building partnership pathways. This guide presents the facilities, access policies, student experience, and practical actions your team can take to convert infrastructure strengths into successful recruitment and placement outcomes.

Suna Kıraç Library — the flagship resource

Collections and digital reach

• Printed volumes: Over 270,000 printed volumes.
• Electronic books: More than 230,000 electronic books.
• E-journals and databases: 56,554 e-journals and 119 specialized databases supporting interdisciplinary research across humanities, social sciences, engineering and the sciences.
• Language diversity: Materials in English, Turkish, German, French, Russian, Italian, Spanish and Chinese — a major advantage for international students and exchange visitors.

Facilities and remote access

Four floors provide dedicated zones for individual study, collaborative group work, and quiet reading. The library’s technical infrastructure enables remote access to most digital resources from off-campus — an important feature for international students completing pre-arrival work or studying remotely.

Rare and special collections

The library holds approximately 8,000 rare volumes in Ottoman Turkish, French, English, Latin, Persian and Arabic with strengths in Turkish literature, Istanbul travelogues, and European and Ottoman history. Rare materials are available for on-site consultation in specialized reading rooms (no loans), which is particularly important for graduate students and visiting researchers.

Branch libraries and archives — specialized support

Koç coordinates several branch libraries and archival collections tailored to specific fields such as medicine, social sciences and archaeology. These branch units follow the same centralized standards for lending, access and training to ensure parity across disciplines.

For recruiters and admissions staff, the presence of specialized archives is a concrete indicator of research capacity in targeted programs and a useful point to highlight in program materials.

Laboratories and research infrastructure — practical access for foreigners

Key features

• Shared lab spaces with up-to-date instrumentation and safety systems.
• Eligibility: qualified international students may access labs for credit-bearing work, thesis research and institutional projects under faculty supervision.
• Policies ensure parity between local and foreign students — access, training, supervision and assessment follow the same standards.

Impact for research and employability

Hands-on access to labs enhances students’ practical skills, increases competitiveness for internships and employment, and makes programs more attractive to STEM-targeted recruits.

Student experience and support services

International feedback highlights that library and study facilities are well-equipped and maintained, with many students reporting the ability to study late into the evening. On-campus computer labs, printing services and Wi‑Fi are readily available across library floors and study spaces.

Campus staff provide orientation sessions, research consultations, citation and plagiarism workshops, and ongoing support for foreign students who may need help navigating the library catalogue, databases or lab onboarding procedures. These services reduce time-to-productivity for international students and improve outcomes in retention and research completion.

Why Koç’s libraries and labs matter for international recruitment and admissions

Message differentiation and positioning

Use quantifiable assets — e.g., 270,000+ printed volumes, 230,000+ e-books, 56,554 e-journals, 119 databases, and 8,000 rare volumes — in brochures, web pages and email campaigns to position Koç as research-rich and internationally resourced. Emphasize multilingual collections and remote access to appeal to English-speaking applicants and non-Turkish-language students.

Recruitment and conversion tactics

• Feature virtual tours of the Suna Kıraç Library and key labs in webinars and open days.
• Offer downloadable one-pagers for program pages that spotlight relevant lab equipment and library resources tied to each faculty.
• Promote testimonials from exchange and degree-seeking international students describing late-night study support, lab experiences, and staff assistance to build social proof.

Partnership and articulation opportunities

Highlight special collections and archives when negotiating research exchanges or dual-degree proposals; rare collections can underpin collaborative research proposals and visiting researcher programs. For medical and health sciences partners, compare and connect Koç’s lab and library strengths to allied institutions such as Medipol University and Istinye University to craft clinical and lab-exchange narratives. For tech and engineering collaborations, consider complementary networks with Ozyegin University and Uskudar University.

Actionable checklist for recruiters, admissions teams and agencies

Before outreach

• Compile program-specific assets (library databases, lab equipment lists, special collections).
• Prepare FAQs on lab access, safety training, and remote resource access for international students.

During recruitment

• Use images and short videos of study spaces, the Suna Kıraç reading rooms, and lab setups in application pages and social media.
• Schedule faculty-led virtual Q&A sessions focusing on research facilities and thesis supervision.

After admission

• Coordinate pre-arrival library orientations and lab safety modules to reduce first-semester friction.
• Link incoming students with research supervisors and library liaisons to accelerate thesis planning.

Operational considerations for HR and admissions teams

Admissions and HR systems should capture applicants’ research interests and prior lab experience to match candidates with appropriate lab supervisors and training tracks. Process integration and CRM-driven candidate segmentation based on research fit can streamline lab booking, training certifications and resource allocation. Automated pre-arrival communications about library access, digital account setup and lab safety courses are recommended elements for a smooth onboarding journey.

How Study in Turkiye helps you leverage Koç’s academic strengths

Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and institutional partners. We bring deep expertise in international recruitment, institutional partnerships and process design. We can support your team to convert Koç University’s libraries and labs into measurable recruitment advantages:

• Messaging and content: We create program-level content that highlights Suna Kıraç Library’s unique assets, rare collections and electronic resources to drive targeted campaigns.
• Recruitment workflows: We design and implement communications and onboarding sequences so questions about library and lab access are answered proactively.
• Partner engagement: We facilitate institutional introductions, campus visits and virtual showcases that feature Koç’s labs and archives in ways that resonate with international audiences.
• Operational onboarding: We advise on pre-arrival modules and liaison services that reduce administrative load on Koç’s staff and improve student satisfaction.

Comparative context — positioning Koç among Turkiye’s academic ecosystem

When presenting Koç to applicants, it helps to contextualize its library and lab strengths relative to other well-known institutions in Turkiye. For medical and health sciences, consider referencing nearby or complementary institutions such as Medipol University and Istinye University to illustrate clinical and lab pathways. For tech and engineering collaborations, link networks across universities such as Ozyegin University and Uskudar University to strengthen appeal for interdisciplinary applicants.

Best practices for presenting facility information to international candidates

• Be transparent about access conditions: state clearly which resources are available off-campus, which require on-site consultation, and the loan policies for international students.
• Provide visual evidence: short walkthrough videos, annotated photos of reading rooms, lab benches, protective equipment and centralized booking systems build trust.
• Localize messaging: include multilingual resources and emphasize language diversity in collections to reassure non-Turkish-speaking applicants.
• Include outcomes: tie facility descriptions to measurable student outcomes such as publication rates, research grants, internship placements and thesis completion timelines.

Compliance, safety and onboarding

Lab access always requires appropriate training, documentation and faculty supervision — ensure recruitment material sets expectations for safety training and any prerequisite certifications. Coordinate with Koç’s lab managers and library liaisons to create a clear onboarding timeline that can be communicated to shortlisted candidates.

Case scenarios and suggested messaging examples

Frequently asked questions

Final checklist for implementation

• Include library and lab stats on program landing pages.
• Create a resources FAQ for international applicants.
• Implement automated pre-arrival workflows for library account activation and lab safety training.
• Schedule live or recorded facility tours and add them to recruitment materials.
• Build partnerships with complementary institutions to showcase joint pathways.

Conclusion and next steps

Koç University libraries and labs for foreigners are powerful assets for international recruitment and academic partnership development. For recruiters, admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals, and placement agencies, presenting these capabilities clearly, accurately and through the lens of student outcomes will strengthen conversion and retention. Study in Turkiye is ready to partner with you to optimize messaging, streamline onboarding and deliver targeted campaigns that turn Koç’s infrastructure into a competitive advantage.

Contact us

If you want help integrating Koç University’s library and lab strengths into your recruitment strategy, creating pre-arrival onboarding for incoming students, or developing partnership proposals, contact Study in Turkiye. We work with agents, admissions teams and institutional partners to build scalable, measurable international recruitment programs.

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