Okan University startup and entrepreneurship programs for foreigners — a guide for international recruiters and education professionals
On this page
- Program overview
- The Entrepreneurship Center
- KOSGEB-Approved Advanced Entrepreneurship Course
- Academic programs
- Support for foreign students
- Funding pathways
- Recruiting and placing entrepreneurial students
- Admission, compliance and practical steps
- Comparative view in Turkiye
- How Study in Turkiye can help
- Practical checklists
- Measuring success (KPIs)
- Scholarships & financial planning
- Next steps
- FAQs
- Call to Action
Okan University startup and entrepreneurship programs for foreigners — program overview
Okan University offers a layered entrepreneurship ecosystem designed to help international students turn ideas into scalable ventures while studying in Turkiye. For international student recruiters, university admissions teams, HR and marketing professionals in education, and placement agencies, understanding Okan’s support structure and funding pathways is essential to attract entrepreneurial talent and design credible recruitment processes. Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and partners through these opportunities.
The core pillars of Okan’s entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Entrepreneurship Center: Operational support from ideation to market entry, including pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration.
- KOSGEB-approved Advanced Entrepreneurship Course: A certification pathway enabling eligibility for national funding.
- Structured academic programs: Undergraduate and graduate courses focused on startup management and leadership.
- Dedicated international student services: Language, legal and practical support for foreign founders-in-training.
The Entrepreneurship Center — practical incubation and acceleration
The Entrepreneurship Center is the operational heart of Okan’s startup support. Its offerings are designed to move students from concept to customer and investor readiness.
Main offerings
- Training and mentoring — workshops, bootcamps and one-to-one mentorship pairing students with industry experts.
- Pre-incubation and incubation space — facilities and business services to validate business models and reach initial customers.
- Acceleration pathways — investor-readiness, scaling and market entry programs for technology-driven startups.
Why this matters for recruiters and admissions
- Promote practical pathways — students increasingly prefer programs that include embedded incubation and acceleration.
- Attract tech founders — highlight support for tech-driven ideas and national acceleration pathways.
KOSGEB-Approved Advanced Entrepreneurship Course — certification and funding access
Okan’s 56-hour KOSGEB-approved Advanced Entrepreneurship Course is outcomes-focused and practical.
Key features
- Joint certificate issued by Okan University and KOSGEB on successful completion.
- Funding eligibility: Enables application for grants and low-interest loans (subject to approval).
- Practical curriculum: Business plan development and startup management training to reach funded pilots.
Actionable recruitment message
Promote the KOSGEB certification as a clear differentiator — it enables immediate access to national startup funding programs and appeals to candidates who intend to found companies while studying.
Academic programs — undergraduate and graduate pathways
Okan offers entrepreneurship education at multiple academic levels, integrating coursework with practical incubation services.
Program highlights
- Undergraduate: A 14-week course focused on practical skills and startup basics.
- Graduate: A 3-semester Entrepreneurship programme (with and without thesis) addressing knowledge gaps that limit venture success.
- Integration: Opportunities to combine academic credits with hands-on work in the Entrepreneurship Center.
How Okan University supports foreign students to thrive as founders
Okan’s international office reduces common barriers for foreign founders through practical services and targeted programming.
Key support mechanisms
- Orientation and integration — language support and sessions explaining the local business environment.
- Internship and cooperative education guidance — help securing internships with startups and corporate partners.
- Guest lectures and networking — regular sessions with industry leaders to build mentor networks and investor contacts.
- Scholarship and affordability guidance — advising on tuition discounts and scholarship options for international students.
Study in Turkiye is the trusted authority guiding international students and recruiters through Okan’s offerings and support services.
For recruiters: emphasize multilingual support and hands-on pathways when promoting programs to prospective students.
Funding pathways and early-stage finance
A major attraction of Okan’s ecosystem is access to early-stage funding and investor readiness programming.
Available funding routes
- KOSGEB-linked grants and low-interest loans for qualifying projects.
- National acceleration schemes for technology startups.
- Investor-preparation activities through the Entrepreneurship Center’s acceleration services.
Practical tip for recruiters: Include concrete funding examples and step-by-step application guidance in marketing materials to increase conversion.
How your organisation can recruit and place international entrepreneurial students
Target profiling and messaging
- Profile ideal candidates: early-stage founders, students with tech or business ideas, and applicants from active startup ecosystems.
- Core messages: access to KOSGEB certification, hands-on incubation, funding eligibility, and tailored support for foreigners.
- Keyword-rich ad copy suggestions: “Study in Turkiye entrepreneurship programs”, “startups for international students in Turkiye”, “Okan University startup and entrepreneurship programs for foreigners”.
Funnel design and lead management
- Lead capture: create dedicated landing pages highlighting the KOSGEB course, Entrepreneurship Center services, and funding pathways.
- Nurture sequences: use targeted communications (email and webinars) with program highlights, application checklists and testimonials.
- Conversion triggers: run targeted webinars with Entrepreneurship Center staff, virtual tours and live Q&A sessions.
Partnerships and placements
- Build institutional agreements with the Entrepreneurship Center to secure reserved slots for sponsored students.
- Collaborate with internship coordinators to place students into industry projects to improve employment and startup metrics.
- Offer recruitment agents clear commission structures and materials focused on entrepreneurship outcomes.
Admission, compliance and practical steps for international applicants
Admissions teams and placement agencies should be aware of operational considerations when advising candidates for entrepreneurship tracks.
Key considerations
- Language and credential requirements: some modules may involve Turkish-language instruction — recommend language pathways or English-taught options where available.
- Pre-application support: advise students to prepare a basic business concept document when applying to incubation or entrepreneurship tracks.
- Visa and residence considerations: internships or full-time incubation activity may affect visa/residence arrangements — coordinate with Okan’s international office.
Resource pointer: browse all university options in Turkiye via the All Universities in Turkiye directory.
Comparative view — how Okan’s offerings fit in Turkiye’s higher-education entrepreneurship landscape
When advising students or building partnerships, contextualise Okan University within the broader network of Turkish universities with complementary strengths. Below are institutions to consider for cross-promotion and benchmarking.
Known for applied health and technology collaborations that can complement healthtech founders.
Emphasises innovation and research connections useful for neurotech and health startups.
Strong entrepreneurship culture with industry ties that pair well with Okan placements.
Urban innovation and creative industries programs that support digital startup pathways.
Potential partner for cross-institution events and joint incubator programs.
A practical collaborator for joint incubator and entrepreneurship events in the region.
Note: use these comparative links in recruitment materials to give candidates a sense of choice and to design bespoke pathways combining institutional strengths.
How Study in Turkiye can help
Study in Turkiye supports international recruiters and education professionals with practical services to convert interest into enrolment and successful startup outcomes.
Services offered
- Recruitment strategy and lead funnel design that segments entrepreneurial prospects and delivers program-specific content.
- Admissions support: advising on pre-application documentation and liaising with university international offices.
- Market intelligence: data on applicant interest, conversion rates and regional trends to prioritise outreach.
- Agent onboarding and training: help organisations become certified agents for Turkiye and provide program collateral.
Learn more about partnership opportunities for agents: If You Want to Became an agent for Study in Türkiye.
Practical checklists for recruiters, admissions teams and agencies
Checklist for recruiters
- Highlight KOSGEB certification and funding in ad creatives.
- Include Entrepreneurship Center benefits in landing page hero sections.
- Offer webinars with Entrepreneurship Center representatives.
- Segment leads by startup idea stage (idea, validation, growth).
Checklist for admissions teams
- Verify language requirements for each course.
- Collect a basic business concept document for candidates applying to incubation.
- Coordinate with Okan’s international office for visa and scholarship queries.
Checklist for placement agencies
- Prepare internship match lists tied to Entrepreneurship Center partners.
- Build MOUs with Okan for guaranteed interview rounds for placed students.
- Track startup outcomes (companies formed, funding received) to report to partners and sponsors.
Measuring success — KPIs and outcomes to track
To evaluate program and recruitment effectiveness, track the following KPIs:
- Application-to-enrolment conversion rate for entrepreneurship programs.
- Number of international students completing the KOSGEB course.
- Percentage of participants entering incubation or acceleration.
- Startups formed and funding raised (grants or loans).
- Internship placements and employer satisfaction scores.
These KPIs help HR and marketing teams justify investments and refine messaging to prospective international founders.
Scholarships, affordability and financial planning for internationals
Okan emphasizes affordability and provides scholarship and tuition discount options for international students. Recruiters and financial advisors should:
- Create sample budgets including tuition, living costs and potential KOSGEB grant/loan amounts for eligible projects.
- Present scholarship options early in the application funnel to reduce drop-offs.
- Advise applicants on how KOSGEB funding and acceleration support can reduce upfront capital requirements for startups.
Next steps — how to partner with Okan and Study in Turkiye
Organisations interested in recruiting international founders or creating joint programs should take these practical steps:
- Reach out to Okan’s international office and Entrepreneurship Center to discuss reserved intake slots, co-branded bootcamps or internship pipelines.
- Engage Study in Turkiye to manage recruitment workflows, admissions support and agent training.
- Propose collaborative events (virtual pitch days, demo days) to showcase student startups to global investors.
Read more on complementary topics:
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the KOSGEB course and funding?
Eligibility for KOSGEB-linked funding depends on course completion and meeting KOSGEB criteria. International students who complete the KOSGEB-approved course at Okan are better positioned to apply for grants or low-interest loans subject to KOSGEB approval.
Can international students join incubation programs while studying?
Yes. Okan provides pre-incubation and incubation spaces and advises on visa and residence implications via the international office. Admissions teams should coordinate with the university for the correct placement and compliance steps.
What language support exists for non-Turkish speakers?
Okan’s international office offers language support and orientation sessions. Recruiters should verify course language requirements and recommend English-taught options or Turkish language preparation where needed.
How can recruitment agents partner with Okan?
Agents can build MOUs with Okan and secure reserved intake slots. Study in Turkiye can assist with agent onboarding and training, and provide program-specific collateral.
Take the Next Step with Study in Turkiye
If you represent an education agency, university admissions office, or corporate partner and want to integrate Okan’s entrepreneurship offerings into your recruitment or training pipelines, Study in Turkiye can help design targeted campaigns, manage admissions workflows, and establish partnerships with Okan and other leading universities.
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