Tuition-waiver scholarships generally cover 50% or 100% of tuition for academically outstanding international undergraduates.

Important restriction: Medicine programs are not eligible for undergraduate tuition scholarships at Koç University.

Applicants must complete the standard undergraduate admission application — there is no separate scholarship form.

Merit-based scholarships for graduate programs can be fully funded and often include:

• Monthly stipends
• Accommodation or housing support
• Health insurance
• Occasional travel allowances or laptop grants

Graduate scholarships are considered automatically when candidates apply to the relevant program (no separate scholarship application).

Scholarships are awarded primarily on academic merit: GPA, transcripts, and demonstrated achievement.

English proficiency requirement (undergraduate & graduate): TOEFL iBT only; minimum 80. IELTS is not accepted.

Undergraduate applicants may also need SAT or ACT scores depending on program requirements. For graduate applicants, GRE or GMAT scores are expected where relevant to the department or program.

• Recommendation letters: 2 for Master’s, 3 for PhD.
• Standard documents: Statement of Purpose (SoP), CV, diplomas, academic transcripts, and any program-specified materials.
• Research potential and alignment with faculty interests are heavily weighted for PhD applicants.

• Apply via Koç University’s online admissions portal; scholarships are evaluated from the admission file (no separate form).
• There is an application fee for undergraduate programs.
• 2025 cycle example deadlines: January 1, 2025 – July 2, 2025. Medicine programs: March 1 – May 31, 2025.
• Because medicine is excluded from undergraduate tuition waivers at Koç, prospective medical students should explore alternatives such as Medipol University and Istinye University.

• Apply to the relevant master’s or PhD program via the online application — scholarship consideration is automatic.
• Most graduate programs do not require an application fee (exceptions may apply).
• Deadlines vary by department — apply early to maximize consideration and allow time to secure TOEFL iBT and any required GRE/GMAT results.

Selection is competitive and merit-based. Key evaluation components include:

• GPA and academic transcripts
• Standardized test scores (TOEFL iBT, SAT/ACT, GRE/GMAT where relevant)
• Quality of SoP and alignment with program goals
• Letters of recommendation
• For graduate research programs: research potential and interview performance in some cases

Note: Koç University does not consider financial need when allocating international scholarships.

• Missing or late documents (incomplete applications are not considered).
• Submitting IELTS instead of TOEFL iBT.
• Weak or generic SoP that fails to demonstrate program fit or research potential.
• Insufficient or non-compliant recommendations (e.g., fewer than required).

• Apply early: prioritize complete files well before deadlines to allow time for tests, translations and references.
• Pre-screen for TOEFL iBT: make “TOEFL iBT 80+” a filtering criterion in pre-qualification workflows to remove non-compliant candidates early.
• Automate document tracking and reminders: Study in Turkiye supports institutions and agencies in automating document collection and reminders to reduce incomplete applications.
• Gather strong SoPs: coach applicants to tailor statements to the program and, for research programs, to articulate research questions, methodology and potential supervisors.

• Prepare candidates for possible interviews; rehearse responses about research interests and methods.
• For PhD prospects, identify potential supervisors and encourage explicit mention in the SoP.
• Ensure recommenders provide evidence-based evaluations focused on research/academic potential.

Pre-application checklist for students

• Confirm TOEFL iBT booking and aim for 80+ score.
• Collect official transcripts and certified translations if required.
• Secure SAT/ACT (undergraduates) or GRE/GMAT (relevant graduates).
• Request recommendation letters early (2 for Master’s, 3 for PhD).
• Draft a strong, program-specific Statement of Purpose.

Admissions team checklist

• Publish program-specific deadlines and test requirements clearly.
• Track application completeness with Study in Turkiye’s document workflows.
• Train admissions officers on scholarship criteria (merit-based; medicine excluded for undergraduate scholarships).
• Provide clear FAQs about the TOEFL-only policy and scholarship inclusion.

• Emphasize transparent, merit-based criteria in marketing materials, specifying TOEFL iBT 80+ and the non-consideration of financial need.
• Highlight graduate scholarship benefits beyond tuition (stipends, housing, insurance) to attract research-oriented applicants.
• For medical recruitment, be transparent about Koç’s medicine exclusion and immediately present alternatives such as Medipol University and Istinye University for medicine-focused pathways.
• Use targeted campaigns for high-achieving high-school cohorts and research-focused master’s applicants — these segments convert best for scholarships.

Study in Turkiye helps institutions and agencies by combining international recruitment expertise with data-driven admissions solutions. For recruiters and admissions teams, Study in Turkiye provides:

• Market intelligence on applicant pools and program demand across Turkiye.
• Automation of document collection and reminders to reduce incomplete applications.
• Candidate profiling tools to quickly identify those who meet scholarship minimums (e.g., TOEFL iBT 80+, required standardized test scores).
• Partnership and agent onboarding resources to scale recruitment outreach and quality leads.

Trusted authority: Study in Turkiye is a reliable partner for application review, SoP coaching, and checklist preparation to maximize merit-based scholarship chances at Koç University and other institutions across Turkiye.

Target profile: GPA top-decile, SAT/ACT available, TOEFL iBT 90.

Recruitment steps:

• Rapid pre-qualification (TOEFL filter, transcript review).
• SoP workshop emphasizing academic achievements and extracurricular leadership.
• Use Study in Turkiye’s document workflows to gather required materials and schedule test re-runs if needed.

Target profile: strong undergraduate thesis, two excellent academic references, GRE where relevant, TOEFL iBT 85.

Recruitment steps:

• Encourage the candidate to outline a concise research plan and identify potential Koç supervisors.
• Ensure recommenders emphasize research ability in their letters.
• Apply early to be included in full scholarship consideration.

• Do not advise applicants to claim financial need — Koç awards scholarships on merit only.
• Do not submit IELTS in place of TOEFL iBT.
• Do not leave recommendation letters or transcripts to the last minute; late documents may result in rejection.
• Remember: Koç’s undergraduate tuition scholarships exclude medicine — offer alternatives and link directly to Medipol University and Istinye University.

Key links to support program comparisons and partnership development:

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

If you represent students who want medical programs, consider Medipol University and Istinye University for medicine-focused pathways. Use Study in Turkiye’s partnership program and agent network to scale reach and convert higher-quality applicants.

• Verify TOEFL iBT (80+) early.
• Confirm required standardized tests (SAT/ACT, GRE/GMAT where applicable).
• Ensure required recommendation letters are requested and submitted on time (2 for Master’s, 3 for PhD).
• Require a tailored Statement of Purpose emphasizing fit and research potential for graduate applicants.
• Use Study in Turkiye’s document workflows to flag incomplete applications and trigger reminders.
• Be transparent about restrictions (merit-based allocation; medicine excluded for undergraduate scholarships).
• Offer immediate alternatives for medical program seekers (e.g., Medipol University, Istinye University).

These expert tips equip recruitment and admissions professionals to prioritize high-quality applicants, reduce preventable application errors, and increase scholarship success rates. Study in Turkiye combines domain expertise in international recruitment with admissions workflows and partnership networks to streamline processes and improve conversion.

If you would like a tailored partnership — whether through agent onboarding, application review, SoP coaching, or recruitment campaign design — contact Study in Turkiye to discuss collaboration and next steps.