Koç University (Turkish: Koç Üniversitesi) is a non-profit private university in Istanbul, Turkey.[1] It started education in temporary buildings in İstinye in 1993, and moved to its current Rumelifeneri campus near Sarıyer in 2000.[9] Koç University is ranked highest in Turkey according to the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and 2022 QS World University Rankings.[17][18] Koç University currently consists of Colleges of Social Sciences and Humanities, Administrative Sciences and Economics, Science, Engineering, Law, Nursing and Medicine.[2] Koç University offers 22 undergraduate, 43 master's and 30 PhD programs.[19] The university is home to more than 8,000 students.[19] The university accepts international students from various countries and has an extensive network of over 250 partner-universities including University of California and other universities such as Northwestern University, Cornell University and Georgetown University.[20][21]

Koç University
Koç Üniversitesi
TypePrivate (non-profit)[1]
Established1993; 31 years ago (1993)[2]
ChairmanNur Yalman[3]
PresidentMetin Sitti[4]
Vice-president
  • Alphan Sennaroglu (Research and Development)[5]
  • Funda Acar Yağcı (Academic Affairs)[6]
FounderVehbi Koç[7]
Location,
41°11′52″N 29°03′54″E / 41.19778°N 29.06500°E / 41.19778; 29.06500
Campusİstinye Campus in Sarıyer[8]

West Campus in Zekeriyaköy[8]

ANAMED Beyoğlu Campus in İstiklal Avenue[8]
Koç University Hospital in Topkapı
KWorks in Şişli
VEKAM in Ankara
AKMED in Antalya

Tuzla Campus in Sarıyer[8][9]
University pressKoç University Press[10]
AffiliationsVehbi Koç Foundation[2]

Erasmus Exchange Programme
Bologna Process[11]
EQUIS
CEMS
EFMD
AACSB
American Nurses Credentialing Center
TÜBİTAK

YÖK
Websitewww.ku.edu.tr
University rankings
Global – Overall
CWTS World[12]1031 (2020)
QS World[13]=431 (2024)
THE World[14]351–400 (2024)
USNWR Global[15]=679 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia[16]15 (2022)

Founded in 1993, Koç University has become one of the most prestigious universities in Turkey. The university attracts many of the highest-scoring students from Turkey's top high schools such as Koç School, Robert College, and Uskudar American Academy.[22][23][24] The majority of classes (over 95%[21]) at Koç University are taught in English (a few exceptions are found only in the School of Law and School of Nursing).[25]

Koç University is one of the top universities in Turkey.

Faculties, departments and schools

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Koç University has the following academic units:[25]

  • College of Administrative Sciences and Economics (CASE)
  • College of Sciences (CS)
  • College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH)
  • College of Engineering (CE)
  • Law School
  • School of Medicine (SOM)
  • School of Nursing (SON)
  • Graduate School of Business (GSB)
  • Graduate School of Sciences & Engineering (GSSE)
  • Graduate School of Social Sciences & Humanities (GSSSH)
  • Health Sciences Institute (GSHS)

Rankings

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Michio Kaku’s conference on “How Will Science Revolutionize the 21st Century?” for 20th anniversary of Koç University

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked Koç University as follows:

Year Turkey Asia BRICS and

Emerging Economies

Young

Universities

World
2013 3rd[26] 31st[26] N/A 31st[27] 226-250th[28]
2014 5th[29] 40th[29] 20th[30] 41st[27] 276-300th[31]
2015 6th[32] 47th[32] 29th[30] 51st[27] 301-350th[33]
2016 1st[34] 21st[34] 13th[30] 36th[27] 251-300th[35]
2017 1st 27th[36] 15th[30] 36th[27] 251-300th[37]
2018 1st 31st[38] 301-305th[37]
2022 1st 401-501st[39]

The same organization listed Koç University as follows in their annual World University Rankings by Subject:[40]

Year Subject Turkey In the world
2018 Social Sciences 1st 151-175th
2018 Engineering &

Technology

1st (joint with Bilkent) 201-250th
2018 Physical Sciences 1st 301-400th
2018 Clinical, Pre-Clinical &

Health

1st 401-500th

Other rankings such as the QS World University Rankings largely agree with the Times Rankings.[41]

Graduate School of Business

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The QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings 2018 ranked Koç University Graduate School of Business Master programs in Finance and Management as follows:[42]

Year Program Turkey In the world
2018 Masters in Finance 1st 52nd
2018 CEMS Masters in International Management

(CEMS MIM at Koç University)

1st 93rd

The Financial Times rankings place Koç University Graduate School of Business and its programs as follows:[43]

Financial Times European Business School Ranking

Year Turkey In Europe
2015 1st 66th
2016 1st 67th
2017 1st 65th
2018 N/A N/A

Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking

Year Turkey In Europe[44] In the world[43]
2015 1st 28th 59th
2016 1st 31st 64th
2017 1st 37th 76th
2018 N/A N/A N/A

In 2017, the CEMS Masters in International Management (CEMS MIM) was ranked 9th in the Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking. Koç University Graduate School of Business is one of the 30 university members of the CEMS Alliance of Business Schools offering this program.[45]

Research

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Source:[46]

Koç University is one of the leading research universities in Turkey and the region. The university strives to be a global center of research and aims to influence intellectual, technological, economic and social developments on a global scale.

Koç University has been the top recipient of TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) research awards. Koç University is also the most successful higher education institution in Turkey in bids for ERC grants, coordinating 8 of the 15 active projects in Turkey as of March 2018. In addition, Koç University is the best performing institution (including industry organizations) in Turkey after TÜBİTAK in the European Commission's Horizon 2020 funding scheme. The university is currently hosting 10.2 million Euros worth of Horizon 2020 projects.

Between 2004 and 2017 the university was awarded a total of 761 externally funded projects valued at 320 million TL (US$86 million).

The university has 132 research laboratories, 20 research centers, and 5 research and education forums.

 

People

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Presidents

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Notable professors

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Sports

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Students of Koç University founded the American football team Koç Rams, also known as the Istanbul Rams which will play in the European League of Football in the 2022 season.[47]

Campus

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History

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Koç University's central campus at Rumelifeneri is located north of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. The campus has 60 buildings, covering 230,000 square meters of built area.[48]

The university first began operations in 1993 in converted factory buildings in İstinye, Sarıyer. After the university moved to its new home at Rumelifeneri, the Istinye campus was remodelled to serve as a high-end conference and training center. Other Koç University campuses and locations include West Campus dormitories and residences (Rumelifeneri, Sarıyer), Koç University Hospital (Topkapı, Istanbul), ANAMED (Beyoğlu, Istanbul), KWORKS (Şişli, Istanbul), AKMED (Antalya), and VEKAM (Ankara).

The Koç University Suna Kıraç Library has five branches and holds some 322,000 print volumes plus nearly 160,000 ebooks and 64,000 online serial titles. The Library also holds about 2,000 rare materials in the areas of Ottoman and European history, literature and religion.


Architecture

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Koç University's Rumelifeneri campus was designed by prominent Boston based American-Iranian architect Mozhan Khadem. Khadem is the chief design architect of all Koç University buildings as well as the master planner of its campus.[49]

According to Khadem, the architecture of the campus was inspired by light and the significance of the university's geographical location on the border between Europe and Asia. Khadem also sites inspiration from Turkish artistic and poetic heritage, the works of the Sufi poet Rumi, and Turkish and Ottoman architectural styles.[50]

The campus is laid out along an east–west axis: architecturally the university represents a ‘gateway of knowledge and light’, symbolized by the university's ‘Portal of Knowledge’ – the campus's arched main entrance represents both a gateway of knowledge and a gateway between East and West.[51] Situated among hills overlooking the Black Sea, the stepped architecture allows the campus to integrate within the steep contours of the surrounding terrain.[52]

The campus consists of a series of connected buildings surrounding a variety of interlocking courtyards. These courtyards draw on Ottoman architectural tradition and are replete with symbols of Turkish history and culture.

The campus is compact and designed for pedestrians. Students and staff can move from place to place either through open courtyards or under cover. The campus utilizes a four by four meter modular design to accommodate different spatial needs.

The final stage of the Rumelifeneri campus construction plan was realized in 2018 with the completion of a sixth faculty building, an extension to the library, and several new dormitory buildings.

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "About KU". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  2. ^ a b c "About KU/History". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  3. ^ "About KU/Chairman". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  4. ^ "Professor Metin Sitti". Koç University.
  5. ^ "VPRD: Our Team". Koç University.
  6. ^ "VPAA Staff Directory and Contact Information". Koç University.
  7. ^ "About KU/Founder". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  8. ^ a b c d "Campus Life". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  9. ^ a b "ISTINYE CAMPUS". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  10. ^ "About Koç University Press". Koç University Press. Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  11. ^ "Bologna Process". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  12. ^ "CWTS Leiden Ranking – 2020". Leiden University. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  13. ^ "QS World University Rankings: Koç University". Top Universities. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Koç University". Times Higher Education (THE). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  15. ^ U.S. News. "Koc University". Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  16. ^ "QS World University Rankings-Emerging Europe & Central Asia". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  17. ^ "World University Rankings". 30 September 2015.
  18. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2022". 7 February 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Key Figures - Koç Üniversitesi". 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  20. ^ "Search Results | OIP". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07.
  21. ^ a b "About/International Prestige". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  22. ^ "Koç School | Yurt İçi ve Yurt Dışı Üniversite Yerleşimleri".
  23. ^ "Robert College | Home Page".
  24. ^ "Yurt İçi Üniversitelere Giriş Başarısı | Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi".
  25. ^ a b "Academic Programs". Koç University. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  26. ^ a b "The Asia University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Young University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  28. ^ "The World University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  29. ^ a b "The Asia University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  30. ^ a b c d "Emerging Economies". Times Higher Education (THE). 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  31. ^ "The World University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  32. ^ a b "Asia University Rankings". 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  33. ^ "World University Rankings". 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  34. ^ a b "Asia University Rankings". 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  35. ^ "World University Rankings". 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
  36. ^ "Best universities in Asia". Times Higher Education (THE). 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  37. ^ a b "Koç University". Times Higher Education (THE). 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  38. ^ "The One Hundred Under Fifty". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  39. ^ THE World University Rankings 2021
  40. ^ "By subject". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  41. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2018". Top Universities. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  42. ^ "QS World University Rankings: Business Master's Rankings 2018". Top Universities. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  43. ^ a b "Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com". rankings.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  44. ^ "Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com". rankings.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  45. ^ "Business school rankings from the Financial Times - FT.com". rankings.ft.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  46. ^ "Home". Research - Koç University. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  47. ^ "History | Istanbul Rams". Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  48. ^ "VKV Vehbi Koç Vakfı". www.vkv.org.tr. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  49. ^ "BDC - NEWS". www.bdcintl.com. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  50. ^ "The Architecture Of Koç University | Koç Üniversitesi". www.ku.edu.tr. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  51. ^ "The Portal of the Sun – Koç Üniversitesi 25. yıl". Retrieved 2019-05-09.
  52. ^ "Koç University | Campus master plan". Archnet. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
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