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Global Exchange
Global Exchange program provides an opportunity to spend a semester or an academic year at a partner university in non-European countries. Koç University’s partners in North America, South America, Middle East,  Africa, Eurasia and Asia-Pacific welcome KU students for a semester exchange.

Duration of Mobility

KU students are usually able to spend a semester (3 to 5 months) at one of the partner universities. However, in certain cases, an extension from Fall to Spring is possible (Please see below).

Extension of Mobility

Extension of the exchange semester could only happen if the following conditions are met:

  • Semester extension can only take place from Fall to Spring. There cannot be a break (except for official holidays, semester breaks, etc.) between semesters.
  • The student should inform Koç University OIP team regarding the extension request in Late September in Fall Semester.
  • Extension can only take place if there is an available student quota for a partner university. Partner universities will need to approve the extension without it having an effect on the student quota.
  • Extension requests are evaluated at the same time and students are placed based on their initial placement score.

Partners & Destinations

Students are advised to check KU’s Institutional Partner List before the application period. Please be careful about the following:

 

  • Make sure to select the program type as Global Exchange
  • Read the details on partner institutions’ web pages such as Departments/Colleges included, Fact Sheet, Course List, Quota information, Language and GPA requirements, etc.
  • Once you have a list of possible destinations, please visit OIP for specific questions on partner universities.

How Can I apply?

Who is Eligible to Apply?

  • Applicants must be registered at KU as full-degree undergraduate or graduate students at the time of application.
  • Undergraduate students must have completed at least one academic year and graduate students must have completed at least one semester and have a valid CGPA score. They must also continue studies at the same level at KU in the following year, i.e. the year of the exchange.
  • Students studying in the English Language Preparatory Class are not eligible to apply.
  • Türkiye scholarship students are allowed to participate to the exchange program, but they will not be receiving a scholarship  from YTB during their exchange period. In order to participate to the program they should submit a commitment letter that they accept this situation.
  • Students who suspend their registration can apply to exchange programs during their period of their suspension of their registration. Students are not able to participate in an exchange program during their suspension of registration.
  • If the execution time of the student who has received a disciplinary penalty coincides with the period in which the student will participate in the exchange program, the student cannot participate in the exchange program. The exchange period specified in previous applications and placement cannot be changed. The student can apply to the exchange program calls opened during the implementation of the disciplinary penalty.

Specific requisites for PhD students

  • Must be enrolled on a full time PhD program at the time of application
  • The proposed mobility period must fit into the PhD student’s program of study/research
  • Must have identified a potential supervisor at the host institution.

Application Requirements

  • A minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00 for undergraduates and a 3.00/4.00 for graduate students. In order to be able to apply to a specific partner university, the student must satisfy all requirements specified by that partner (such as language, GPA, etc). Therefore, students are required to check partner university requirements before application. For all applicants (major and double major), the GPA in the transcript is used. For Medicine students, GPAs determined according to the grades of the courses they took in grade 2 and above are used in applications.
  • Language Requirement: Koç University Institutional TOEFL*(550 PBT), TOEFL (550 PBT/ 80 IBT) or IELTS Score Card (min. 6.5), KUEPE** (Min 60) Students can apply using their expired language scores as well. In order to be able to apply to a specific partner university, the student must satisfy all requirements specified by that partner (such as language, GPA, etc). Therefore, students are required to check partner university requirements before application.
  • CEMS program students can apply with the GRE Verbal Reasoning (min. 157 is accepted), GMAT Verbal Session (min. 35 is accepted).
Students who wish to apply using their KUEPE scores must check the Global Exchange Partners Accepting KUEPE list before making their preferences.

*Students can get their Koc TOEFL scorecards from the Registrar’s Office.  Please keep in mind that it will take a couple of days for Registrar’s Office to issue your TOEFL or IELTS scorecards. You are asked to upload your English Proficiency Proof on the online application form (https://kuapp.ku.edu.tr ).

**Students who wish to apply using their KUEPE scores will need to take a screenshot of their KUSIS homepage, where KUEPE scores are shown. If students have any technical issues with screening their KUEPE results on their KUSIS homepage, they must contact the IT department to solve the issue. Students can also contact the Registrar’s Office and English Language Center to get their KUEPE results as well.

If you do not have an official TOEFL, IELTS or KUEPE scorecard, you have to take a new test. Please note that you need to plan your application accordingly as it takes time to get the result of English Proficiency tests.

Exceptions to the English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS) include only lifetime residents of Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom or the United States (other than Puerto Rico). Students who have recently and successfully completed at least 4 years of rigorous academic studies in one of the countries listed might also be exempted.  Their English proficiency score calculated on KUAPP will be the min. English  Language admission requirement of the program at KU they are admitted. Students English Language Score will be automatically calculated as the equivalent of 80 TOEFL IBT unless the student submits an IELTS or TOEFL score, Placement will be based on 50% GPA and 50 % TOEFL, so the higher scores students have, the better chance of placement students will have.

 

Application Documents

The following documents should be uploaded on kuapp at the time of the application. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

 

1- Transcript of Records: Registrar’s Office can issue your transcript online and send it to you via e-mail. Please request your transcript on KUSIS and ask the Registrar’s Office to send you your transcript online. Please upload ALL PAGES of your transcript as one single PDF file.

Students can also download their transcripts from e-Devlet and use that transcript in their applications.

2 – Language Proficiency Test Score:

Koç TOEFL (TOEFL PBT), TOEFL IBT, IELTS, GRE, GMAT or KUEPE

Please note that students must submit the official language scorecard for TOEFL or IELTS. Screenshots are not accepted for these exams. Students applying with KUEPE can upload their KUSIS homepage screenshot with thE KUSIS score or request a document from the Registrar’s Office.

Please keep in mind that some partner universities might not accept Koç TOEFL or KUEPE. The students are responsible to check which test results will be accepted by the host University from OIP’s Institutional Partners List or the host university’s incoming exchange language requirements website. We advise you to make your preferences accordingly.

3- Photo: Please upload a photo of you along with your application form.

4- Supporting documents (For special cases – please see above)

Application Method

Application is done via OIP’s online application system: https://kuapp.ku.edu.tr/ If you have not applied to any of the Mobility Programs offered by OIP via kuapp.ku.edu.tr, please first create a “Preliminary Application” for yourself.

Selection

  • Global Exchange students are selected by their sending higher education institution in a fair and transparent way.
  • Selection is done based on 75% Academic achievement + 25% Language score.
  • Disabled students receive +10 points if proving documents are provided in the application.
  • Children of martyr and veteran people receive +15 points if proving documents are provided in the application.
  • Students who receive or whose 1st degree relatives receive financial aid as disaster victims from The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) +10 points if proving documents are provided in the application. 1st degree relative information will be cross-checked with KUSIS.
  • Students who are covered by 2828 numbered Social Services Law receive +10 points if proving documents are provided in the application.
  • In addition to academic achievement and language score, if the applicant has benefited from Global Exchange Program before while pursuing the same level of academic degree, 10 points will be subtracted from the total average score.
  • If a student fails to submit the commitment letter to confirm his/her attendance in Global Exchange program within the timeframe given by OIP, 10 points will be deducted when the student applies for Global Exchange program in the future.
  • After being selected, students who wish to renounce their right to participate are responsible of informing OIP via email (outgoing@ku.edu.tr) by the deadline set by OIP. If students do not inform OIP, a reduction of -10 points will be implemented from their application if they apply to Global Exchange program in the future. A student, who cancels his/her participation after submitting his/her commitment letter and/or being nominated to a partner university, will face 10 point deduction from his/her application if he/she applies to Global Exchange program in the future. These rules might be considered invalid if there is a “force majeure” situation that a student is facing. Under such circumstances, the student is responsible of informing OIP with supporting documents/information regarding the “force majeure” situation.
  • The OIP calculates and lists the average score of each applicant based on the calculation explained above.
  • All applicants are ranked from the highest to the lowest score, and the top scoring students are selected depending on faculty quotas, by the selection committee.

Announcement of Results

Results are notified to all applicants in a written format via e-mail and OIP website, and are also announced on OIP’s Bulletin Board.

Placement results are also announced on Kuapp system. To view your results, you may log into your Kuapp account at kuapp.ku.edu.tr.

The following would help you understand your status on kuapp:

  • “Coordinator Approved” notification on your KUAPP system means; your documents are checked and approved. It does not mean that you are selected for now.
  • If your status has been changed to “Accepted”, congratulations! The school you have been placed into must be seen on the system. Please hand in your commitment letter to OIP immediately.
  • If your status has been changed to “Substitute”, you are wait-listed for all of your school preferences, not just for one that we have determined randomly. These people will be placed after the students who have already been placed do not turn their contracts in the office on time and therefore declare that they reject the mobility.
  • Being placed into Global Exchange partner does not guarantee your eventual acceptance from the host university. The partner universities reserve the right to accept/reject student applications for exchange. Your acceptance will be valid only after their confirmation.

Right to Appeal

Selected candidates will not have more than seven days to accept or reject the offered grant via outgoing@ku.edu.tr

If your application was neither selected for a grant nor included in the substitute list, you will be informed about the reasons and have at least one week to appeal against this decision to the Selection Committee of Koc University via outgoing@ku.edu.tr .

Who is my Academic Coordinator?

Departments/Colleges Coordinators Room Phone E-mail
School of Medicine Dr. Selin Ünsaler Topkapı – SUNSALER@ku.edu.tr
School of Nursing Gülcan Bağçivan Topkapı 2675 gbagcivan@ku.edu.tr
College of Adm. Sci. & Econ.
International Relations Ziya Öniş CASE 150 1670 zonis@ku.edu.tr
Business Administration Zekiye Selvili CASE 240 1456 zselvili@ku.edu.tr
Economics Murat Usman CASE 248 1553 musman@ku.edu.tr
College of Soc. Sci. & Hums.
Psychology İlmiye Seçer Z11E
ISECER@ku.edu.tr
Media and Visual Arts Nazlı Ozkan SOS 246 0703 NAZLIOZKAN@ku.edu.tr
Archeology History of Arts Lucienne Thys-Şenocak SOS 225 1425 lsenocak@ku.edu.tr
English Lang. & Comparative Litr. M. Fatih Uslu SOS 260 1528 muslu@ku.edu.tr
History Can Nacar SOS Z11B 1130 cnacar@ku.edu.tr
Philosophy Eylem Özaltun SOS Z22C 1116 eozaltun@ku.edu.tr
Sociology Fatoş Gökşen SOS 258 1311 fgoksen@ku.edu.tr
Law School Yasin Alperen Karaşahin SOS 151 1825 yakarasahin@ku.edu.tr
College of Science
Mathematics Hasan İnci SCI 268 1687 hinci@ku.edu.tr
Molecular Bio. & Genetics Onur Öztaş ONOZTAS@ku.edu.tr,
Chemistry Umut Aydemir SCI Z61 1449 uaydemir@ku.edu.tr
Physics Özgür Müstecaplıoğlu SCI 155 1424 omustecap@ku.edu.tr
College of Engineering
Chemical and Biological Engineering Alper Uzun ENG 206 1754 auzun@ku.edu.tr
Computer Engineering Öznur Özkasap ENG 144 1584 oozkasap@ku.edu.tr
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Sinem Çöleri ENG 117 1535 scoleri@ku.edu.tr
Industrial Engineering Metin Türkay ENG 205 1586 mturkay@ku.edu.tr
Mechanical Engineering Demircan Canadinç ENG 103A 1891 dcanadinc@ku.edu.tr
KU Institutional Erasmus Coordinator Bülent Kılıç DOS B334 bukilic@ku.edu.tr
Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities Burcu Ergin SOS Z04 1883 burcuergin@ku.edu.tr
Graduate School of Business Nida Bektaş SNA A73 1606 nidabektas@ku.edu.tr

Nomination & Application to Host University

Nomination

  • Being placed into Global Exchange partner university does not guarantee your eventual acceptance from the host university. The partner universities reserve the right to accept/reject student applications for exchange. Your acceptance will be valid only after their confirmation.
  • An eligibility check is done before nominating a student. Nominations are conducted by the Office of International Programs. You are not required to do anything for the nomination process except submitting your Student Commitment Form to OIP.
  • Please note that nominations take time and that Fall semester students are nominated before Spring semester students..

Application to Host University

 

  • The requirements for application may vary for each institution. Students are responsible for checking the host institution’s website for any information that might be useful for the application procedure. Partner institutions sometimes post necessary information on their websites instead of sending e-mails.
  • Obtain, complete, and send the “Application Form” of your host institution before the application deadline. Make sure that you include any other supplementary documents that are required by your host institution. Note that the application forms may be online. Information as to the exact application procedure can be found on each school’s application form or website.
  • Any late application or missing document risks your admission. We strongly advise you to send your documents as soft copies via e-mail before sending them through mail. This will help secure the safe receipt of your application on time. Please also be informed that the process of application to the host institutions must be handled individually by yourself. Our Office does not post application documents to host institutions.
  • Another document that partner institutions might request during your application is a copy of your passport. If you do not have a passport or you need to extend it when you submit an application, please download your “student letter” via e-devlet and use that document for passport application.
  • Expect to receive your Letter of Acceptance from your host institution no later than two months prior to your departure date. On many occasions, the acceptance letters are first received by our Office and then forwarded to students. If you receive your letter of acceptance directly, please bring a copy of it to our Office.

Before Mobility Procedure & Documents

After you are selected please note that you will be expected to submit documents below to OIP:

  • Global Exchange Program Commitment Letter (Turkish) Commitment Letter (English)
  • This letter should be read by the student carefully and signed version should be submitted to OIP.
  • Global Exchange Scholarship Commitment Letter: Students who are selected to receive Global Exchange Scholarship are required to submit scholarship commitment letter to OIP within the given time frame.
  • Letter of acceptance: You are asked to submit the “Letter of Acceptance” when you receive it from the host university.
  • ​Course Equivalency Form: You are asked the fill out the Course Equivalency Form in coordination with your Departmental Academic Coordinator. The participant is required to submit the approved & signed form to OIP office. College of Engineering students go through an online CEF procedure. These students are still required to submit the approved document to OIP.
  • IMPORTANT Note: Within the scope of the Global Exchange program, a Course Equivalency Form can be prepared for graduate and doctoral students who do not have a course load and who are in the thesis period, based on a workload of at least 9 KU credits in an academic term.
  • For undergraduate students, the number of courses to be counted at Koç University or the sum of their equivalent credits cannot exceed the limits specified in the articles of the relevant regulation regarding the semester course load.
  • A maximum of two courses counted within the scope of the exchange program of graduate and post-graduate doctoral program students (provided that they have not taken an undergraduate course in the program they are enrolled in at Koç University) can consist of undergraduate level courses.
  • The sum of the credits of the courses to be counted within the scope of the exchange program cannot be more than 1/3 of the total credit of the registered program.
  • Students participating in the exchange program within the scope of the Global Exchange program are obliged to carry out a course/thesis study/project at the partner institution corresponding to a minimum of 9 KU credits.

 

Important Notes:

  • You are highly advised to attend one of the pre-departure sessions organized by OIP.  Students who do not attend orientation programs are responsible from the problems and hardships that they go through due to lack of knowledge.
  • Every student is responsible of his/her own exchange process. Please proceed with attention to the validity of your contact information and follow every step on your own unless there is a force majeure (such as death, illness, impairment etc.)

During & After Mobility Procedure and Documents

During Mobility

Course Equivalency Form (During/After): If the student makes changes on the course list, then this form should filled out and approved by the Departmental Academic Coordinator. This form could also be sent to OIP after mobility.

After Mobility

Following the completion of the program, student has to take the following steps.

  • Certificate of Attendance : Submit the Certificate of Participation to OIP.
  • Course Equivalency Form (During/After): The final list of courses that a student takes at the host university should be filled out and approved by the Departmental Academic Coordinator.
  • Transcript: You are required to submit a copy of your transcript to OIP. Most of the time, partner universities send transcripts to OIP and then inform students. Students are required to collect the original copy of their transcript from OIP and take it to their faculties for transfer of courses with grades and credits.

Required Course Load & Transfer of Courses

  • It is mandatory to get approval from your faculty/institute before mobility in order to transfer the courses taken at partner university. This is done through the submission of Course Equivalency Form to related faculty at KU.
  • If your exchange GPA is higher than 2.00 you will have right to transfer your credit or grades to your Koç transcript. However partially credits or grades cannot be transferred.
  • If your exchange GPA is lower than 2.00 you will have no right to choose credit or grades only choice. All your exchange credits and grades transferred directly to your Koç transcript.
  • Students are required to take courses/thesis work/project work that worth 9 KU credits in one semester.

Additional Requirements for Students Receiving Global Exchange Scholarship:

  • Students are required to take courses/thesis work/project work that worth 15 KU credits in one semester.
  • Students are required to have min. 2.5 GPA at the host institution. Otherwise, students may be asked to return the scholarship amount provided by KU.

Cancellation

To cancel your application after submitting the Student Commitment Letter, you need to submit the cancellation petition to OIP. You can find the English version here.

It should be noted that students, who cancel their exchange after the “notice period” provided by OIP right after the announcement of placement results, would lose -10 points if they apply for Global Exchange Program again in the future.

Global Exchange Scholarship & Payment Procedure

The application process for the Global Exchange Scholarship will begin after the placement results are announced. Students will be applying for the Global Exchange Scholarship after the announcement of the results. The application method, dates and criteria for the Global Exchange Scholarship will be announced to the students who are accepted/placed for Global Exchange.

More information about the Global Exchange Scholarship will be shared later.

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External Scholarship Opportunities Offered by Host Universities/Countries

Canada:
Study in Canada Scholarship (SICS)

Application process is handled by the host universities. Each and every university has a different application procedure and the applications are very competitive. OIP will inform students selected to partners in Canada only in the first call as the scholarship procedure is scheduled for February – March. Students selected in the Second Call will not be eligible to apply for this scholarship.

More information can be found on:

https://www.educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/can/institutions/study-in-canada-sep-etudes-au-canada-pct.aspx?lang=eng

 

Switzerland:
Swiss-European Mobility Program

Similar to Erasmus+ procedures, Swiss universities offer Swiss-European Mobility Grant for Incoming Exchange students. Students selected for partner universities in Switzerland will be eligible to apply. However, the decision to issue the grant will be depending on partner universities’ decision.

 

Japan:
JASSO Scholarship:

Students selected for partner universities in Japan receive further instructions to apply for the JASSO Scholarship. More information can be found on https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/ryugaku/scholarship_j/index.html

Practical Matters

Passport

If you do not have a passport or you need to extend it when you submit an application, please download your “student letter” via e-devlet and use that document for passport application.

Visa

Remember that the country that you are traveling to may require you to obtain a visa. Please make sure that you know the requirements of the visa application for that country. Check the website of its consulate. Note that only the consulates can provide correct/up-to-date information about the visa procedures; our office is neither authorized nor capable of overseeing your visa applications. Consulates often require a Letter of Acceptance (signed and stamped) and a letter proving your financial funds.

Students can download their visa letter from KUAPP. System automatically writes your monthly grant amount on the visa letter, it does not mean your grant is guaranteed until OIP announces the grants to all selected students.

 

Residence Permit

  • You may need a residence permit during your stay at the host country
  • Please read any pre-arrival material provided by the host university
  • Get necessary documents ready before your departure
  • Follow International Office’s instructions while you are there

Accommodation

  • Many partner universities offer on/off campus accommodation
  • Please note that accommodation arrangement is your responsibility
  • Mind the deadlines/procedures regarding housing application provided by the host university
  • Make research on student recommendations
  • For private accommodation, we advise you to check the following;
    • Area: is the area safe? Do other students choose to live there?
    • Location: is it near the campus? If not, what is the transportation cost? Do the university provide free-transportation card?
    • Price: does it include bills?

Health and Safety

  • Follow the rules & regulations of the host country
  • Keep your distance from any large political demonstrations
  • Show respect and sensitivity for cultural, political and social issues
  • If there is a secuity concern, contact your family/university ASAP
  • In case of theft; keep a couple of copies of your passport and residence permit at different locations
  • If your passport is stolen, inform Turkish Consulate ASAP
  • If you have an accident or major health problem, inform your family, host university and KU OIP ASAP
  • Inform your host university & close friends about your emergency contacts’ details

Contact

For any inquiries regarding exchange programs, please open a track-it by sending an e-mail to outgoing@ku.edu.tr or open a track-it via  https://trackit.ku.edu.tr/

You can also contact our Outgoing Student Advisors by booking an appointment on their office hours. You can use audio or video call on Microsoft Teams for advising on exchange programs.
To book an appointment with Gizem Güler, please click here. To book an appointment with Ömer Eskici, please click here.

Global Exchange FAQ
Application & Selection Calendar
Partner Universities
Contact OIP Advisors
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