Koç University scholarships for international students for foreigners — overview and key facts

Koç University offers highly competitive and generous scholarship packages for international applicants for the 2025–2026 academic year. Awards are available at undergraduate and graduate levels and are designed to attract high-achieving international talent. This overview outlines the main scholarship streams, selection approach and key application notes relevant to recruiters, admissions teams and placement agencies.

Primary scholarship streams

• Undergraduate scholarships: Merit-based partial (50%) or full (100%) tuition waivers for admitted international undergraduates; applicants are automatically considered during programme application.
• Graduate scholarships (Master’s & PhD): Fully funded packages that can include tuition waiver, monthly stipend, housing support, private health insurance and travel aid for selected candidates.

Quick snapshot

• Selection: Merit-based — no separate scholarship application form required.
• Undergraduate language requirement: SAT or ACT scores are required; IELTS and standard TOEFL are not accepted for undergraduate admission.
• Graduate language requirement: TOEFL iBT (minimum 80) is accepted for graduate programmes.
• Medicine: Undergraduate scholarship coverage does not include medicine; graduate funding may cover certain health sciences where applicable.
• Application method: Online programme application — scholarships are considered during admissions review.
• Timeline: Typical undergraduate window is January–July (medicine: March–May). Graduate deadlines vary by faculty; always verify each programme page.

Who should target Koç University scholarships?

• International student recruiters and placement agencies placing high‑achieving students at Turkiye’s leading private research universities.
• University admissions and international offices benchmarking merit-based scholarship models.
• HR and marketing teams in education and edtech developing campaigns and streamlined workflows for scholarship outreach.
• Graduate programme coordinators and doctoral supervisors seeking well-funded international candidates.

Why Koç University scholarships matter for recruiters and admissions teams

• Competitive positioning: tuition support and graduate stipends improve conversion for top candidates.
• Merit-based clarity: no separate scholarship form simplifies onboarding and reduces process friction.
• Degree-level differentiation: clear language-test expectations (SAT/ACT for undergraduates; TOEFL iBT for graduates) make qualification straightforward.
• Scalability: Study in Turkiye offers recruitment expertise and workflow optimisation to help scale outreach and track candidate progress.

Detailed breakdown — Undergraduate scholarships

What’s covered

Partial (50%) or full (100%) tuition waivers for admitted international undergraduates (medicine excluded).

How candidates are considered

All international applicants are automatically evaluated for merit-based awards during the programme admission review — no additional scholarship application is required.

Entry requirements and testing

• SAT or ACT scores are required for undergraduate admission and scholarship consideration.
• IELTS and standard TOEFL are not accepted for undergraduate language proof.

Administrative notes

• Undergraduate applications include a non‑refundable application fee.
• Application windows typically run January–July for most programmes; medicine programmes follow a March–May cycle and are excluded from undergraduate scholarship coverage.

Practical tips for recruiters placing undergraduate candidates

• Prioritise students with strong SAT/ACT results and academic records to maximise chances for full tuition awards.
• Prepare clear, pre-filled application checklists to reduce errors and speed submission.
• Use consistent communication workflows and reminder schedules to ensure test score submission and application fee payment ahead of deadlines.
• For medicine-bound candidates, advise alternative private medical programmes in Turkiye (see recommended universities below).

Detailed breakdown — Graduate scholarships (Master’s & PhD)

What’s covered (fully funded packages)

• Full tuition waiver
• Monthly stipend for living costs
• Housing aid or accommodation support
• Private health insurance
• Travel support when applicable

Programme breadth

More than 70 graduate programmes across science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, business and health sciences may be in scope for funding—check specific programme pages for details.

Selection and application

Scholarship consideration is integrated into the programme application; selection is merit-based and financial need is not a separate criterion.

Language and test requirements

• TOEFL iBT minimum score of 80 is required for graduate applicants.
• GRE or GMAT may be required for select programmes — verify on each programme’s page.

Required documents

• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts and diplomas
• English proficiency evidence (TOEFL iBT ≥ 80)
• GRE/GMAT scores (if applicable)
• Recommendation letters
• Any programme-specific portfolio or prerequisite documentation

Practical tips for recruiting graduate applicants

• Encourage strong, tailored SOPs focusing on research fit (critical for PhD selection).
• Secure at least two academic references that address research potential.
• Where GRE/GMAT are optional but available, recommend submission to strengthen competitive applications.
• For prospective supervisors: identify target departments early and build contact lists of faculty with aligned research interests.

Application process — step-by-step (what applicants and recruiters must do)

Step 1 — Research and shortlist programmes

Review Koç University graduate and undergraduate programme pages and confirm deadlines, language and test requirements (SAT/ACT for undergraduate; TOEFL iBT for graduate). For medicine or health-professional programmes, verify specific eligibility and application dates.

Step 2 — Prepare documents

Gather transcripts, diplomas, standardised test scores, CV, SOP, recommendation letters and passport copy. Translate and notarise documents if required by Koç University.

Step 3 — Submit the online application

Complete the online programme application and pay the application fee where required (undergraduate). Ensure standardised test scores are sent to Koç using the institution codes.

Step 4 — Monitor and follow up

Use application dashboards and consistent follow-up processes to monitor status. If interviews or additional materials are requested, respond promptly to maintain assessment momentum.

Documents checklist (copy for candidate folders)

• Completed online application
• Application fee receipt (undergraduates)
• Statement of Purpose
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official transcripts and diplomas (with translations)
• SAT/ACT (undergraduate) or TOEFL iBT (graduate)
• GRE/GMAT (if required)
• Two or three recommendation letters
• Passport copy

Timelines and deadlines — practical guidance

• Undergraduate: General cycle January–July; medicine cycle March–May (confirm specific year dates).
• Graduate: Deadlines vary by programme and faculty — plan rolling outreach to avoid missing early deadlines.
• Recruiters should build a calendar with buffer times for test delivery, document translation and verification delays.

Selection criteria — what Koç University looks for

• Academic excellence (GPA, standardised test scores)
• Research potential (for Master’s and PhD applicants)
• Fit with department and supervisor research interests
• Quality of recommendation letters and SOP
• English proficiency (strict requirement for graduates: TOEFL iBT ≥ 80)

How admissions teams and recruiters can influence success rates

• Match candidates to programme objectives and faculty specialisations.
• Provide pre-application coaching on SOPs and interview readiness.
• Standardise document collection and verification to reduce incomplete applications.
• Track outcomes and refine candidate selection based on successful admit profiles.

Medicine applicants — alternatives and partner universities

Undergraduate scholarships at Koç do not cover medicine. Recruiters advising medical applicants should prioritise private medical programmes in Turkiye that may have scholarship or placement pathways. Consider these institutions in your candidate pipeline:

Other private universities to consider when advising health and professional programme applicants:

For a full list of partner institutions and programme pages, explore All Universities in Turkiye.

Recommendations for agencies, recruiters and admissions professionals

• Build candidate profiles early: standardised test timelines and English proficiency requirements mean early planning improves admission success.
• Leverage Study in Turkiye’s recruitment expertise and market knowledge to optimise outreach and messaging.
• Create SOP workshops: many international candidates gain materially from targeted support to write research-focused SOPs for graduate admissions.
• Track metrics: conversion rate from enquiry to application, application completion rate, and offer-to-enrol ratio help refine the funnel and messaging.

How Study in Turkiye supports your recruitment, admissions and process needs

• Trusted authority: Study in Turkiye is a recognised advisor guiding international students and recruitment partners through programme selection and admissions processes in Turkiye.
• Admissions process optimisation: We advise admissions teams on document workflows, testing guidance and deadline calendars to improve yield.
• Digital recruitment and workflow solutions: Our services streamline communications, reminders and document checks to reduce dropout between application start and submission.
• Agency and partner support: We provide onboarding resources and market intelligence for placement agencies and education partners to maximise scholarship placements.

How to integrate Study in Turkiye into your process

• Use our programme and admissions resources to align candidate expectations and document lists.
• Coordinate outreach campaigns with Study in Turkiye to leverage our channels and partner network.
• Request onboarding and advisory support to manage candidate pipelines more efficiently.

Read more resources:

• Admission process
• Master in Turkiye
• Yos Test

FAQ

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For recruiters, admissions teams and placement agencies, Koç University scholarships represent a high-value opportunity. Partner with Study in Turkiye for expertise, clear process guidance and practical support to improve candidate outcomes and increase successful scholarship placements.