Koç University Graduate Scholarship 2027/2028

About this scholarship

Koç University in Istanbul funds its research master's (master with thesis) and PhD students. Admission to an eligible programme in the Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering (MS thesis and PhD), the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (MA thesis and PhD) or the Graduate School of Business (PhD) comes with an automatic scholarship offer; there is no separate form or deadline. The package is a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend, a dormitory room or housing allowance, private health insurance and a meal card. Non-thesis master's, the LLM, Clinical Psychology and most Health Sciences programmes are not covered. Deadlines for the Fall 2027 intake have not been published yet; in 2026 the Social Sciences deadline was 15 May and the schools say applications generally run from February to May.

Funding type

Full tuition waiver for the length of the programme Monthly stipend. Sciences and Engineering, from October 2026: 39,000 TL for MS and 60,000 TL for PhD (KU Graduate Fellowship), or 57,500 TL for MS and 83,000 TL for PhD under the Presidential Fellowship for outstanding candidates. Social Sciences and Humanities, from October 2025: 31,000 TL for MA and 48,000 TL for PhD; MA stipends there depend on academic merit Free dormitory room or a housing allowance: 6,700 TL a month for MS and 10,000 TL a month for PhD in Sciences and Engineering (dormitory rooms for MS students depend on availability) Private health insurance (limited coverage) Meal card Travel support once a year to attend a scientific event Flights to Türkiye are not covered; PhD applicants are asked to apply to Türkiye Scholarships for that Project-based scholarships funded by TÜBİTAK, the EU or industry are also available, with the same benefits and a project-dependent stipend

Tuition fees

Covered

Living costs

Covered

Travel

Partially covered

Insurance

Covered

Eligibility requirements

Nationalities

All nationalities

Residence condition

No residence condition

Applicants of all nationalities A bachelor's degree for master's programmes; a master's (or, for some PhD programmes, a bachelor's) for PhD programmes An application to an eligible thesis master's or PhD programme: Sciences and Engineering (MS thesis and PhD), Social Sciences and Humanities (MA thesis and PhD) or Business (PhD) A strong academic record; the KU Graduate Fellowship goes to applicants with an excellent record or high-impact publications Not covered: non-thesis master's, the LLM, Clinical Psychology, most Graduate School of Health Sciences programmes and the MBA, which charge tuition

Minimum grade

Not stated

Work experience asked for

Not stated

Return condition

Return condition not stated

How to apply

With the admission application

Language requirements and exemptions

Language test required TOEFL iBT Other test Waiver not mentioned

Non-native speakers of English need a TOEFL iBT score: at least 4 out of 6 on the new scale, or 80 for tests taken before 21 January 2026. Tests taken in Türkiye must be at a state university test centre, and home edition tests are not accepted. Turkish applicants may use YDS, e-YDS or YÖKDİL (80). The Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering lets you apply without the score and provide it at registration. IELTS is not listed, so check with the graduate school before relying on it.

University admission details

Admission included in application?

Admission and the scholarship are decided together. Apply on the Koç University online application system to a thesis master's or PhD programme; the programme committee reviews the file, and promising candidates are interviewed (some Social Sciences programmes also set a written exam). Decisions are sent within 4-6 weeks of the deadline (2-6 weeks in Social Sciences). The offer of admission includes the scholarship offer.

Required documents

Online application form Official transcripts from all university degrees CV Statement of purpose Two recommendation letters for master's, three for PhD TOEFL iBT score (or YDS/e-YDS/YÖKDİL for Turkish applicants) GRE or ALES score: GRE 155 / ALES 75 for master's and for PhD with a master's; GRE 156 / ALES 80 for PhD with a bachelor's Programme-specific items, such as a project proposal for Design, Technology and Society

Application steps

Choose a thesis master's or PhD programme on the graduate school websites (gsse.ku.edu.tr, gsssh.ku.edu.tr, gsb.ku.edu.tr). Apply through the Koç University online application system before the programme's deadline. Fall 2027 deadlines are not out yet; in 2026 the Social Sciences deadline was 15 May (LLM 15 June) and the Sciences and Engineering school says its Spring 2027 deadline will be announced. Complete the file on time: incomplete applications are not competitive for admission or funding. Attend the interview (and written exam where required) if shortlisted. If admitted, the scholarship offer arrives with the admission letter; register online at registration.ku.edu.tr. PhD applicants: also apply to Türkiye Scholarships for the stipend and flight.

Requirement checklist

Scholarship contacts

Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering: [email protected]Copy

Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities: [email protected]Copy

International student recruitment: [email protected]Copy

Universities and contacts