Profile of The Programme

Executive MBA Programme (EMBA) is the first programme from Türkiye, and our region, to have been placed in the Financial Times global rankings. Koç GSB Executive MBA ranked 61st worldwide by the Financial Times in 2018. EMBA is founded on its rigorous curriculum, excellent faculty and committed students. Today, employers have confidence that Executive MBA at Koç is a transforming experience, not only for the participants but for their institutions as well. With its outstanding curriculum, dedicated faculty, vast business network and state-of-the-art facilities, our Executive MBA Programme is a valuable investment for future and current business leaders.

The Koç Executive MBA curriculum emphasizes the fundamentals of business and management theory: economics, accounting, business strategy, management and decision sciences, finance, marketing, operations management, management information systems and international business. The result is an MBA graduate with the strategic insight, multi-functional expertise, global perspective and analytical and informational skills required from a world-class business leader.

Qualification Awarded

Master in Business Administration

Admission Requirements

Executive MBA is a post-experience programme for executives who want to enhance their careers. Koç Executive MBA is for students who have at least seven years (including at least 2 years of managerial experience) of full time working experience.

The first and foremost condition for joining the the Koç Executive MBA Program is to be a highly motivated and dedicated individual. In addition, applicants must possess the following qualifications:

  • An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution (*studies abroad should be recognized by Turkish Higher Education Council)
  • Minimum 7 years of full-time professional work experience ( a minimum 2 years of this experience should be managerial experience) for the Executive MBA programme
  • Proficiency in English
  • In order to apply to the Executive MBA Program, the applicants must complete the online application and upload the following;
  • An official academic transcript from every university attended
  • Three essays as specified
  • Application fee payment slip
  • A written statement of corporate support
  • Two reference letters
  • Two reference letters should be submitted for the application. The candidate should provide the contact information of those who will fill in the reference letters in the online application. The references will be provided with the web link of the reference letter form via e-mail.

All qualified applicants will be invited for an interview by the Graduate School of Business. The candidates will be given a business case to read right before the interview and will be asked to answer questions related to the case as a part of the interview process.

Important Notice

  • All the international students’ undergrad diplomas from the Universities abroad should be recognized by Higher Education Council of Türkiye. If they are not recognized by YOK, the students’ applications will not be valid to any Turkish University. This process will be conducted on behalf of the student by KU Registrar’s Office.
  • Turkish students whose undergrad degrees’ are from Universities located outside of Türkiye, are expected to supply equivalency document by applying YOK individually.

For your inquiries, please contact Graduate School of Business at gsb@ku.edu.tr

Exchange Opportunities

Koç University Graduate School of Business is the only business school that is a member of the Global Network for Advanced Management from Türkiye. GNAM is a leading organization setting the future of MBA throughout the World. In a flatter world characterized by rugged and diverse terrain, the Global Network for Advanced Management is an innovative approach to enable those involved to connect and address the leadership challenges facing business and society. The new Global Network for Advance Management fosters substantive ties among leading business schools from both economically strong countries and those on the horizon of economic development, providing opportunities for faculty to exchange ideas, collaborate on research, co-create cases and course materials, and for students to experience the complexity that will characterize any environment in which they will lead. Koç University EMBA students are eligible and promising candidates for the Master of Advanced Management (MAM) program at the Yale School of Management that assembles a cohort of exceptional students from countries around the world for a one-year program of study at Yale University. By bringing together the most promising management students from all parts of the globe to exchange ideas and points of view, while leveraging the resources of Yale University, the program provides a unique opportunity for future leaders to expand their understanding of the complexities that have developed in the contemporary global market economy. Students in the MAM program will form close ties with Yale MBA students, as well as Yale faculty and visiting lecturers and practitioners from corporate and enterprise partners. MAM students will have access to Yale SOM networks and resources, such as the school’s Career Development Office. For more information on the Master of Advanced Management at the Yale School of Management, please visit mam.som.yale.edu. To learn more about the Global Network for Advanced Management please visit advancedmanagement.net.

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Examinations Letter Grade Number Grade Equivalents

A 4.00
A- 3.70
B+ 3.30
B 3.00
B- 2.70
C+ 2.30
C 2.00
C- 1.70
D+ 1.30
D 1.00
F 0.00

Graduation Requirements and Curriculum

The Koç Executive MBA Programme is an intensive programme completed over a period of 17 months. Success in the Koç EMBA Programme demands extraordinary motivation and commitment. The time demands of the programme are highly strenuous. During 2 full weeks both at the beginning and at the end of the program, students spend 48 hours (except Sundays) in the classroom. In between those camp periods, students are expected to be in lectures for 8 hours per week and to devote at least 16 hours each week to individual and team study. In total, students spend four weeks for camp periods and one week for International Business trip. After the classes are over a period of 13 months, students start work on an individual graduation project for 4 months.

There are no electives in the Executive MBA Program. The curriculum consists of 51 credit core courses and graduation projects. In order to hold Koç Executive MBA degree following requirements should be accomplished;

* having a minimum of 3.00 GPA by the end of the program

* successfully completion of 51 credits

* participating in International Business Study Trip

* submiting a YÖK (Higher Education Council) graduation project and an individual graduation project

YÖK Graduation Project (1 credit-required)

In accordance with the regulations and requirements of the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK), the Koç Executive MBA degree does not require a graduation thesis, but a graduation project.

Individual Graduation Project (non credit-required)

Upon completion of the coursework in 13 months, each student works on an individual graduation project during a 4 month period and complete the program by submitting this project.

International Business Study Trip

International Business Study trip is organized within the scope of International Business Course. Previously, study trips to prominent business schools all over the world for instance to China and USA were held; the current program of the one-week long study trip includes lectures, company visits and cultural activities at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

It is a unique opportunity for an international exposure which also allows students to assess deeply the dynamics of international business through global perspectives and national policies. Program schedule embarks on immersive course series delivered by the faculty of Georgetown University that are mostly focused on international trade and global economy as well as on business-government relations. Courses in the program are followed by the company visits to well-known institutions such as World Bank and IFC in nation’s capital Washington D.C.

Since international study trip is a part of the International Business course in Executive MBA curriculum, participation is required.

Course descriptions can be found at this link.

Career Development Center

Executive MBA graduates work as executives in a plethora of industries. Some of those industries are automotive, construction, consumer durables, cosmetics, military defense, FMCG, health, telecommunications, auditing, banking, consulting, tourism, technology, and finance.

The mission of the Career Services Office of the Koç Graduate School of Business is to assist students in developing their career strategies starting from their first day in the program.

This does not imply imposing career tracks to students but it means providing the necessary tools and media for self-assessment, self-development and, ultimately an effective career search. The total of the career services aim to facilitate the process of shaping their own future and to aid them in attaining their goals.

In today’s business world, most of the challenging positions are announced through the “invisible job market”, without appearing publicly in the media. The long established relation of the Graduate School with companies provides an excellent access for applying to these positions. A considerable number of companies prefer to recruit by applying directly to the Career Office for their open internship and part-time or full-time job positions.

Career Development Center, supports all Koç University students and graduates in career Development and Planning, in preparing graduate education plans, and in professional life decisions. For more information about the Career Development Center, please visit https://career.ku.edu.tr/en/