How to apply to Master or Ph.D. programs at Koç University?
To apply to Koç University’s graduate programs as an international student you need to complete an online application form.
Please check carefully the relevant Graduate School website for detailed guidance on admission requirements, eligibility, minimum scores and application deadlines and remember:
- Applications with missing documents will not be taken into consideration.
- You should not email or post any documents to the university.
- There is no need for a separate scholarship application. You only need to apply to the program(s) of https://gsb.ku.edu.tr/enyour choice. Scholarship decisions are based on academic merit and not financial need.
- You can indicate in your Statement of Purpose if you are the recipient or have applied to a specific scholarship scheme (country-based).
- The application process is free. There is no application fee (except for Master without Thesis programs in the Graduate School of Business)
Graduate application checklist
Please read carefully the checklist below to make sure you submit a strong application and increase your admission chances. If you have any questions about the process or a specific program please complete our enquiry form
Can I have all my application documents ready before the deadline?
Some programs have an early and a regular deadline. Always try to submit your application by the early deadline if possible to increase your admission chances ONLY IF you have all the required standard test scores (GRE/GMAT and TOEFL) ready. Application deadlines for the Fall intake are typically announced on the Graduate School websites in mid-February. Please note that only the Graduate School of Sciences and Engineerings offers a Spring intake and the application deadlines are announced by end of October.
Have I identified a potential supervisor (for PhD candidates only)?
The following advice applies mostly to Ph.D. applicants in Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences Ph.D. programs: before submitting an application, we recommend that you independently contact by email a faculty member in your program of interest and obtain informal feedback on your research topic of interest. However, you can still apply without a specific supervisor.
Please refrain from contacting faculty members if you are applying to Ph.D. programs in the Graduate School of Social Sciences or the Ph.D. in Business Administration.
Have I identified a potential supervisor (for PhD candidates only)?
The following advice applies mostly to Ph.D. applicants in Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences Ph.D. programs: before submitting an application, we recommend that you independently contact by email a faculty member in your program of interest and obtain informal feedback on your research topic of interest. However, you can still apply without a specific supervisor.
Please refrain from contacting faculty members if you are applying to Ph.D. programs in the Graduate School of Social Sciences or the Ph.D. in Business Administration.
Have I prepared all my application documents?
Our Master and Ph.D. programs are very selective in their admission criteria. Only candidates with ALL the required documents and information are evaluated by the program faculty members.
- Make sure you prepare and submit the following documents and information in your application (as relevant to the program):
- Statement of Purpose (SoP)
- CV
- University transcripts (see specific program website for minimum GPA requirements as relevant)
- University diploma(s)
- English language proficiency test results (only TOEFL IBT is accepted and with a score of 80 IBT or higher, IELTS is not accepted in Türkiye)
- GRE or GMAT test scores (see specific program website for minimum score requirements as relevant)
- Referee contact details (2 for Master and 3 for Ph.D. programs)
- Other documentation (see specific program requirements)
Have I written and checked my Statement of Purpose?
The Statement of Purpose is a very important admission criterion for our Ph.D. and MSc/MA program evaluators. Below you can find guides and samples to help you prepare a strong SoP that demonstrates how your background, skills, knowledge and research interests make a good fit with the program. It is extremely important to demonstrate in your Statement of Purpose that your interests converge closely with the current research of faculty who work in the program to which you are applying. Other doctoral applicants will certainly do this, and if you don’t, you will forfeit an important competitive advantage to them.
- Quick guide: How to write a Statement of Purpose?
- Sample Statement of Purpose for a social sciences Ph.D. application – Example 1
- Sample Statement of Purpose for a social sciences Ph.D. application – Example 2
- Sample Statement of Purpose for an engineering Ph.D. application – Example 1
- Sample Statement of Purpose for a sciences Ph.D. application – Example 2
Have I registered in the online application system and are my documents ready for uploading?
To save time as you prepare to submit your application please read the following guidance:
- Scan and save your documents as PDF files (no encryption or passwords) before starting the online application
- Supporting documents (TOEFL scores, GRE scores, transcripts, diplomas) must be uploaded to the online application and NOT emailed to the university
- All documents must be in English or include a certified English translation
- If you have registered to the take the TOEFL or GRE/GMAT tests after the program application deadline, you can upload the documents in the online application form for up to 1 week after the deadline. Otherwise, you need to contact the relevant Graduate School via email to send your test scores and check if your application will be evaluated for the current admission session or the next one.
If you run into any issues in completing or submitting your online application you can email the relevant Graduate School or study@ku.edu.tr for technical assistance:
- Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering (gsse@ku.edu.tr)
- Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (gsss@ku.edu.tr)
- Graduate School of Health Sciences (gshs@ku.edu.tr)
- Graduate School of Business (gsb@ku.edu.tr)
When to apply
Fall 2025 Key Dates for Graduate Programs at Koç University
- Early Application Deadline: February 15, 2025
- Regular Application Deadline: May 15, 2025
* Fall 2025 Admission Dates above applies only for Master’s with Thesis and PhD programs, Professional Masters Programs have program-specific deadlines. Please check our PMP website for additional information about their key dates.
* Some programs are open for admission only in the Fall term and others on both Spring and Fall terms so you might not see a specific program listed on the online application system during the Spring application period.
* Make sure you also keep track of the different application deadlines and other key dates (when to expect a decision, shortlist period, etc) on your preferred graduate school website.
After you submit your application
Once you have submitted your application you will be able to upload only missing test scores in case they were not available when you submitted the application.
If there are any technical problems with your application you can always email the relevant Graduate School.
You can check the status of your application online. Please allow between 1- 2 months from the application deadline date until you hear from the administrators at the relevant Graduate School.
Shortlist of candidates
The relevant Graduate School will get in touch with shortlisted candidates by email to schedule an interview or written exam (depending on the graduate program).
Make sure you reply quickly to their emails to make sure a possible admission offer is made earlier.
If within this period you are considering one or more offers from other Graduate Schools and would like to know the decision from the Graduate School please contact them and not the faculty member.
If it has been 3 months or more since you applied and you have not received an email from the Graduate School with a full or conditional offer please assume you have not been successful on this application round.
Admission offers
If your application is successful you will be sent an admission offer by the relevant Graduate School which will outline any conditions you must meet.
Please read your offer letter carefully before accepting.
The earlier you let them know of your decision the better they will be able to help you in arranging your registration, accommodation, visa, and other administrative procedures.
Some international students may require a student visa to enter Türkiye. Our International Community Office (ICO) will provide all the necessary information to guide you through this process.
