Overview: what the orientation is and why it matters

Okan University orientation for new students 2026 guide is your complete resource for preparing incoming undergraduate and postgraduate students, international partners, recruiters, admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals, and placement agencies. This guide synthesizes Okan University’s orientation approach, practical timelines and checklists, and actionable recommendations for partners who want to maximise recruitment results and student success. It also highlights how Study in Turkiye — the trusted authority guiding international students — supports universities and partners with recruitment and onboarding expertise.

Okan University runs a comprehensive orientation programme at the start of each academic year with the clear objective of easing the transition into university life. Orientation covers academic procedures, campus services, student support, social integration, and faculty-specific introductions. While exact dates for the 2026 intake will be posted by the university, the programme traditionally coincides with the Academic Opening Ceremony and is scheduled in alignment with the academic calendar (e.g., the 2025–2026 opening took place on 29 September 2025). Attendance is strongly recommended for all incoming students — especially international students — and is also valuable for returning students who need a refresher.

Who should use this guide

Primary audiences

• International student recruiters and placement agencies preparing applicants for arrival.
• University admissions teams coordinating pre-arrival communications and resource planning.
• HR and marketing professionals responsible for employer branding and student engagement.
• Edtech providers and integration specialists building onboarding workflows.

What orientation covers: core elements

Orientation at Okan University is structured to present core information in a clear, practical sequence so students can start the term confident and informed.

Key content areas

• Welcome and academic opening messages from university leadership.
• Introductions to academic faculties and departmental officers.
• Step-by-step guidance on registration, course selection, and academic regulations.
• Overviews of campus units: Student Affairs, Financial Affairs, Library, Health Services, Career Center, Student Activities and Sports, and International Programs.
• Specialised sessions for international students, including cultural adjustment, visa and residency reminders, and exchange opportunities.
• Faculty-specific briefings (example: dentistry, engineering, and health sciences) covering labs, facilities, and programme structure.
• Ongoing social and student life activities scheduled across the first weeks to accelerate peer integration.

Dates and structure: planning around the academic calendar

Timing & format

• Typical timing: Orientation aligns with the academic opening and is scheduled at the beginning of semester one. Review Okan University’s academic calendar each year for exact dates.
• Format: A blend of plenary sessions (university-level), faculty breakouts, administrative desks, campus tours, and student club/extracurricular fairs.
• Duration: Most orientation activities take place in a concentrated 1–3 day window, with follow-up workshops and welcome events continuing through the first month.

Activities and opportunities during orientation

• Administrative kiosks where students complete registration, collect ID cards, and settle financial matters.
• Library and digital resource demonstrations to ensure students can access e-resources and learning platforms.
• Meet-and-greet sessions with academic advisors, faculty representatives, and student mentors.
• Career Center introductions, CV workshops, and employer outreach events to start early professional orientation.
• Health Services orientation to explain insurance, on-campus clinics, and emergency protocols.
• Social events and student club displays to facilitate networking and cultural exchange.

Specialized orientations: faculty-level walkthroughs

Some faculties provide tailored orientation guides to address programme-specific needs. For instance, clinical and lab-based programmes typically include lab policies, course sequencing, and clinical expectations. These specialised sessions help reduce confusion and set early academic expectations.

If your institution is coordinating clinical or lab-based programmes, consider cross-referencing best practices from other private universities in Turkiye with strong clinical onboarding models. Example partner pages:

• Medipol University — health sciences onboarding and clinical orientation support.
• Istinye University — comprehensive clinical facilities and faculty-level orientation.
• Ozyegin University — structured career services and student engagement initiatives.

Campus resources introduced during orientation

Orientation intentionally introduces the services students will need most during their first term. Key units students should be able to locate and contact by the end of orientation include:

• Student Affairs Office — course registration, transcripts, certificates.
• Financial Affairs — tuition payments, billing queries, and scholarships.
• Central Library — physical and online resources, borrowing procedures.
• International Programs Office — exchange and mobility options.
• Student Activities and Sports — clubs, events, and wellness programmes.
• Career Center — internships, employer engagement, and graduate employment support.
• Health Services — campus clinic, referrals, and mental health resources.

Pre-arrival checklist for international students (practical)

To help students arrive ready and make the most of orientation, provide this checklist to applicants:

• Confirm travel and arrival dates and register arrival with the university’s international office.
• Upload required documents (transcripts, passport, visa/residence permit info) to the student portal.
• Complete online pre-registration modules and fee payments if required.
• Review the academic calendar and note orientation and opening ceremony dates.
• Download campus maps and the university’s mobile app (if available) to locate key services.
• Prepare questions about course registration, housing, and health insurance to ask during orientation.
• Connect with senior students or buddy programmes via official social channels before arrival.

Actionable timeline for admissions teams and recruiters

Admissions and recruitment teams should treat orientation as a critical conversion and retention touchpoint. Recommended timeline:

6–8 weeks before arrival

• Send a comprehensive orientation email packet including schedules, what-to-bring lists, and contact points.
• Share short videos or virtual campus tours demonstrating logistics (how to get to campus, registration steps).
• Coordinate with Student Affairs and International Programs to confirm kiosk staffing and translation support.

2–4 weeks before arrival

• Confirm arrival registrations and transfer any outstanding documentation.
• Host a live Q&A webinar for incoming international students to answer practical questions.
• Provide clear instructions for first-day meeting points and transportation options.

1 week before arrival

• Issue a “first-week checklist” summarising times, locations, and required documents.
• Arrange airport pickup details or partner with local services where available.
• Ensure student accounts and IDs are ready for collection.

Post-orientation (weeks 2–6)

• Follow up with an automated satisfaction survey to identify issues and share fixes.
• Schedule faculty-level academic advising appointments for students who need enrolment help.
• Maintain ongoing social events calendar to sustain engagement.

For HR and marketing professionals: leveraging orientation for employer branding

• Sponsor CV and interview workshops in partnership with corporate recruiters to introduce employer expectations.
• Use orientation platforms to promote internship portals and career mentorship programmes.
• Capture email opt-ins and permission to communicate early career resources and employer events.
• Collect student skills data during orientation to inform employer match-making and recruitment campaigns.

For recruitment agencies and edtech partners: integration opportunities

Orientation workflows are ripe for integration to reduce manual workload and improve student experience. Recommended opportunities:

• Pre-arrival document collection and verification via secure portals and checklists.
• Appointment scheduling (registration, advising, health checks) handled through calendar integrations and automated reminders.
• Use digital badges or QR-enabled ID collection to speed kiosk processing.
• Integrate CRM data from recruitment stages into orientation attendance systems to personalise welcome messages and mentor pairings.

Study in Turkiye’s role: leadership in international recruitment and onboarding

Study in Turkiye supports universities, agencies, and corporate partners with end-to-end recruitment and onboarding solutions designed for scale and compliance in Turkiye’s higher education market. Our services align with orientation needs in three key areas:

1. Global recruitment and conversion

We connect universities with qualified international applicants and manage admission pipelines, ensuring students are prepped for orientation with timely, localised communications.

2. Process optimisation

Our approach streamlines pre-arrival documentation, appointment bookings, and orientation registration to reduce administrative friction and enhance the first-week experience.

3. Coordination with campus units and partners

We coordinate between Student Affairs, International Offices, and Career Centers to ensure orientation touchpoints are consistent and measurable, supporting retention and early student success.

Comparative examples and partner universities

When designing orientation programmes for clinical, engineering, or arts faculties, it helps to review templates and practices from other private universities in Turkiye. Relevant partner pages:

• Medipol University
• Istinye University
• Ozyegin University

Note: These partner pages provide faculty-level onboarding examples that can be adapted to Okan University’s specific requirements.

Practical orientation checklist for university teams (ready to implement)

Before arrival

• Confirm academic calendar and orientation dates; publish a downloadable schedule.
• Prepare orientation portal and check-in kiosks; ensure multilingual support.
• Recruit student volunteers and peer mentors; train them on protocols and FAQs.

On orientation day(s)

• Host a central welcome session with clear signposting to faculty breakouts.
• Provide printed and digital orientation handbooks and campus maps.
• Man faculty desks for advising and registration help.
• Offer campus tours and student-club fair.

After orientation

• Send a welcome email recap with key contacts and next steps.
• Launch a 30-day engagement plan with events and academic check-ins.
• Survey participants and capture feedback for continuous improvement.

Measuring success: KPIs to track orientation effectiveness

• Attendance rates (target >90% for new students).
• Time-to-complete registration/ID issuance metrics.
• New student satisfaction scores (post-orientation surveys).
• Number of resolved academic/administrative issues within the first 2 weeks.
• Early retention indicators (dropout/withdrawal within first semester).

Final recommendations for partners and recruiters

Treat orientation as a conversion: students who experience well-organised orientation are more likely to remain engaged and succeed academically.

• Collaborate with university units early — Student Affairs, International Programs, and the Career Center — to create integrated experiences.
• Use integration and process optimisation where possible to reduce manual tasks and enhance transparency.
• Study in Turkiye can implement onboarding strategies and provide ongoing analytics to measure impact and help scale recruitment and retention efforts.

Read More

• Yos Test
• Admission process
• Why to study in Turkiye

Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye

Ready to improve new student onboarding and boost conversion for your university or agency? Study in Turkiye partners with institutions, recruitment agencies, and edtech providers to design measurable orientation programmes that scale. Contact our team to discuss partnerships, integration options, or a demo of our recruitment and orientation solutions.