Istanbul & Koç University

The Town and It’s Region

Istanbul is in northwestern Türkiye in the Marmara Region. It is the largest metropolitan in Türkiye with the largest population (approx. 16 million) and 39 districts. The city is divided into two sides, the European side in the West and the Asian/Anatolian side in the East. The watercourse that divides the city is the Bosphorus. As a seaport, it is both the closest Asian city to Europe and the European city to Asia (Istanbul.com). Istanbul has been one of the most important cities in world history and continues to be today. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) provides a detailed overview of the city’s history, arts & culture, population, security, and current events on its Instagram account (municipalityist). The website of IMM’s Tourism Directorate (https://visit.istanbul/en/) can be a good starting point to familiarize yourself with this magical place.

Koç University is located in mid-Northwestern Istanbul, in the Sariyer district on the European Side. The university looks over the Black Sea in the north and the Marmara in the southeast. Visit KU’s contact web page for a closer look at the university location, transportation options, and address info. You can also explore the main campus (Rumelifeneri) and the Sarıyer District through vocalized presentations created by KU’s International Community Services Office.

What to do in and around Istanbul?

Leisure and Recreational Activities

As a cosmopolitan metropolis, Istanbul is a hub for numerous activities and perspectives due to its charming atmosphere. From museums to religious places, shopping malls to parks, and palaces to beaches, the city offers countless options.

Istanbul hosts more than 80 museums ranging from archaeological, and history museums to modern and fine art museums, 311 parks, 81 beaches, and 147 shopping malls. One can explore the Prince’s Islands and enjoy the sunset in the Bosphorus on the way back to the center. The city also hosts a wide range of festivals, concerts, and fairs. In other words, there is always something to delight in Istanbul.

The Tourism Directorate of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) (https://visit.istanbul/en/) is a great resource for learning about alternatives.

The University

Koç University was founded in 1993 as a non-profit private university in Istanbul, Türkiye. Since its establishment, Koç University has become one of the leading universities in Türkiye, distinguished by notable contributions to the elevation of education, knowledge, and service both domestically and beyond.

The principal mission of Koç University is to cultivate Türkiye’s most competent graduates, well-rounded adults who are internationally qualified; who can think creatively, independently, and objectively; and who are confident leaders. Concurrently, research conducted at Koç University contributes to scientific development on an international scale and bolsters technological, economic, and social development. Koç University consistently strives to advance knowledge through its efforts and to serve Türkiye and humanity as a model of institutional excellence.

As a “Center of Excellence”, Koç University facilitates the coming together of young students who possess superior skills with esteemed faculty members who possess superior knowledge and experience. Through Koç University’s liberal-arts-inspired pedagogy and a plethora of extra-curricular enrichment opportunities, students acquire the intellectual courage to inquire and question while developing the character necessary to serve as custodians of democratic values and freedom. Guided by the highest standards of academic and interpersonal development, the institution collectively imparts the critical thinking necessary to analyze knowledge, the creativity to nurture and surpass this knowledge, and the curiosity for lifelong learning.

From its curricular programs to the architectural design of its buildings, Koç University’s student-oriented approach engenders a uniquely nurturing, yet competitive, environment. Graduates of Koç University become leaders in their professions and, true to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s principles, contribute to the betterment of society. Combining traditional academic paradigms with innovative programming and successfully attracting top-tier students, faculty members, and research programs, Koç University aims to “raise the bar” for higher education in Türkiye.

Main Campus Map

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Koç Üniversitesi Tanıtım Filmi
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About Koç University

Koç University Campuses/ Campus Life

University Governance

Administrative Offices

Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA)

Office of the Vice President for Research and Development (VPRD)

People Finder (e-Guide)

Student Guide

University ID

The University ID Card is one of your most important needs. If you are employed at KU, Human Resources will provide your card; if you are a student, the Registrar’s Office will provide your card. For all other statuses, your card will be delivered to you by your host department or office at KU. The University ID is important because it shows your affiliation with KU. It’s what the security guards look at upon your entry to any KU campus. It serves as your student card in Türkiye, entitling you to several privileges such as discounts, discounted train tickets, or transit passes in Istanbul and elsewhere. If you lose your student ID card, immediately inform the Registrar’s Office. If you lose your KU staff card, inform HR.

Computing, IT Services, and My.KU

User Name and Password: Each individual affiliated with KU is assigned a unique username and password that are used for all websites or online systems that require a log-in, i.e: email, track-it technical requests service, HR portal, KU mobile apps, KU Gmail, shared networks, webmail, VPN, etc. You can change your password anytime via https://home.ku.edu.tr/password/

Wi-Fi Connection on KU Campuses

Whether you are a guest or a member of KU, you need login credentials to connect to the internet on campus. The login credentials are your username and password. To learn how to connect to the Wi-Fi on campus, visit https://it.ku.edu.tr/en/how-to/connect-to-ku-wireless/ku-faculty-staff-and-student/. Please select your status as a guest or faculty/staff/student from the menu on the left. Internet Connection at Dorms, Faculty, and Off-Campus Housing All dorms and KU-affiliated housing feature high-speed unlimited internet. Network credentials are shared with KU members upon check-in.

Access to Shared Folders

There are various network drives such as F drive, and H drive. You must log on via Novell with your user credentials to access shared folders. These folders are visible to only KU members. You can email it@ku.edu.tr if you experience any difficulty while logging on or accessing any specific folder.

IT Services

The IT department (https://it.ku.edu.tr/en/) handles the entire computing and network-related matters at KU. It’s the computing-related HELP DESK for everyone. On IT’s website, you can find numerous useful information about printers, computers, wireless, VPN connection, internet security, etc. For any technical questions, issues, or service requests, you should email it@ku.edu.tr or call x1111 from campus phones, 0212 338 1111 from a mobile or external phone. E-mailing will warrant the quickest solution to your request as it will generate a trackable work order automatically and an IT user assistant will attend to your request within 24 hours.

My.KU

https://my.ku.edu.tr is a user friendly website offered and managed by the IT department and exclusive to KU members. Using my.ku.edu.tr you can access your KU Gmail account, and google drive, connect to the nearest printer on the network, look up colleagues or people and find the most up to date news and announcements of departments and computing services. For any questions about this website, you can email it@ku.edu.tr.

Campus Security

Campus Safety is handled by Koç University Security Department. The KU Security Department was established in accordance with Law on Private Security Services numbered 5188. The fundamental duties of the Directorate of Security consist of ensuring the security of students, employees, and the campus, taking preventive measures against lifestyle disruptions on campus, organizing traffic and parking on the campus, preventing vandalism, robbery, and sabotage, delivering lost properties to their owners, and carrying out entrance and exit checks.

The university is under 24/7 comprehensive video surveillance. If you notice any suspicious act and need to report a complaint or crime, please call one of the below emergency numbers.

Safety and Security Contact Information:

– Rumelifeneri Campus Main Entrance Security: (0212) 338 35 35 – (0212) 338 36 36
– Head of Security (24 Hour): (0212) 338 36 39
– Lost and Found Office: (0212) 338 36 39
– Emergency: (0212) 338 11 22
– West Campus Security Office: (0212) 338 70 07 – (0212) 338 70 08
– İstinye Campus Security Office: (0212) 229 87 86 / 1055
– Anatolian Civilizations Research Center: (0212) 393 60 00 / 123

Fire Station

Koc University has a Fire Station on campus that operates on a 24/7 basis. Besides their preventive precautions strategy, the Fire Department works with the Occupational Safety Office to educate students and non-students about fire hazards. Undergraduate and graduate students working in faculty laboratories receive training sessions about “Fire Precautions in the Laboratory,” where the usage of portable fire extinguisher tubes is demonstrated. “Laboratory entrance cards” are not given to those who did not participate in these sessions.

Disabled Residents List in Case of Emergency

In the event of fire and natural disasters, there is a “disabled resident list” in our fire extinguisher trucks to rescue disabled students from the disaster zone urgently. An updated list of disabled student residents at the dormitory is always kept in our fire extinguishing trucks. Koc University is protected against fires at the level of international standards.

Earthquakes

There are 5 earthquake containers on our campus, and rescue materials in these containers are periodically controlled. If any material (medicine, drinking water, batteries, etc.) expires, they are replaced periodically. There are 11 emergency assembly areas on the main campus, which you can locate at https://isg.ku.edu.tr/en/emergency-situations/emergency-assembly-areas/.

The elevators on campus are equipped with sensors to sense earthquakes greater than or equal to magnitude 3. In case of an earthquake, the elevators get deactivated. The university has an emergency announcement system for both the university and the district. After the pandemic, the number of first-aid experts has also increased.

For more information, please visit https://isg.ku.edu.tr/en/emergency-situations/earthquake/.

Health & Safety for Campus Residents

For health and safety on campus, please refer to the web page of the Occupational Safety office: https://isg.ku.edu.tr/en/. To view and download the Health and Safety Manual, please visit https://isg.ku.edu.tr/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/health-and-safety-manual.pdf.

Emergency Vocabulary (English/Turkish)

Accident / Kaza (qa-zuh)
Emergency / Acil, İlk yardım (ah-jille)
Fire / Yangın (young-ehn)
Help me / Yardım edin, Yardım lütfen (yahr-dum looth-phen)
Hospital / Hastane (huss-tah-neh)
Medicine / İlaç (e-luch)
I’ve had an accident / Kaza yaptım (qa-zuh yup-tuhm)
He / She fainted / Bayıldı (bah-yihl-du)
I’m injured / Yaralıyım (yah-rah-leh-yuhm)
Very sick / Çok hasta (choke hasta)
Need a doctor / Doktor çağırın (doktor cha-uh-rehn)
Need an ambulance / Ambulans çağırın (ambulans cha-uh-rehn)