Profile of The Programme

Koç University School of Medicine provides six years of medical education, excluding English preparatory year. In the first year, the students take the core education program of the University, equipping them with the required competencies for medical education.

Starting with the second and third years; basic medical courses and basic-clinical bridge topics are provided with an integrated program, to expose the students as early as possible to clinical medicine.

In these pre-clinical years, 20% percent of the curriculum is dedicated to research activities and students are allocated in various research projects at KU.

In clinical years, our students work on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases through clerkship  training program.

In the sixth year, as pre-graduate interns, they fulfil duties and responsibilities, under supervision, in the care of patients and thus complete their training. In the clinical years the students enjoy a total of 6 months of electives-unique to our program- which can be fulfilled in different clinics both in Türkiye and abroad.  The curriculum is dynamic and is reviewed regularly by different committees in terms of knowledge columns where student participation and feedback are essential.

Qualification Awarded

Doctor of Medicine

Admission Requirements

Candidates can apply via ÖSYM, as an international student, as a transfer student or as a tuition-paying exchange student. Admission requirements for all types of prospective students can be found at the Registrar’s Directorate webpage:

https://registrar.ku.edu.tr/en/admission/

The requirements for incoming exchange students can be found at http://oip.ku.edu.tr.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

Students who took the equivalents of certain courses offered in Koç University in other institutions can apply to the respective College or Graduate School at Koç University to transfer those courses.

Opportunities for candidates with IB, French Baccaleurate, Matura and Abitur diplomas on webpage (only in Turkish for the moment):
https://adaylar.ku.edu.tr/sikca-sorulan-sorular/kayit-ve-ogrenci-isleri-ile-ilgili-sorular

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

Koç University exam regulations are given on webpage: https://registrar.ku.edu.tr/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/03/Examinat…

Graduation Requirements

Students need to have a GPA at or above 2.00/4.00 and need to have completed all courses on their curriculum with a passing letter grade in order to graduate.

Occupational Profiles and Access to Further Studies

Graduates of Koç University School of Medicine are expected to be highly qualified medical doctors with sound scientific knowledge, good communication skills and ethical values, adequate clinical experience to handle most medical problems and ready to pursue further education in diverse fields. They will be eligible to pursue further specialization in Türkiye and elsewhere in the world as graduates of a medical school recognized by the World Health Organization.

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/

Curriculum

Medicine Curriculum

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Graduates of Koç University School of Medicine should be equipped with knowledge, skills and attitudes to serve the society with responsibility, compassion, altruism and competencies, which are grouped below:

Scientific Foundation of Medicine

  • Identifying normal and abnormal human physical and mental development
  • Characterizing basic structure and physiologic, cellular, biochemical  and molecular mechanisms of normal human body
  • Classifying etiology, risk factors and natural history of acute and chronic human diseases
  • Identifying basic principles of epidemiology, health economics and health systems management
  • Understanding principles and utilization of biochemical, pharmacological, surgical and other interventions in treatment of diseases

Clinical Skills

  • Taking an appropriate medical history including social issues
  • Performing a thorough physical examination including mental status
  • Evaluating and advising patients according to their  own social and cultural environments, taking into account  physical and psychological factors
  • Identifying and stratifying patient requirements as emergency, acute and chronic to personalize management issues
  • Applying basic diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests rationally, analyze and interpret results and formulate an appropriate route of management
  • Managing common medical emergencies,  identifying sources of consultation and referral
  • Managing patients in an effective, efficient and ethical manner including health promotion and disease prevention

Critical Thinking and Research

  • Understanding the power and limitations of scientific methodology in medical research
  • Developing a critical approach, creativity and a research-oriented attitude towards basic and clinical problems
  •  Effectively collecting,  organizing and interpreting biomedical  information, utilizing modern technology and electronic data sources for research and patient care

Communication Skills

  • Expressing empathy, compassion and genuine attention in communicating with patients, families and community
  • Applying communication skills to facilitate understanding people in  different age groups, cultural and social orientations
  • Developing good writing and speaking habits, presenting  information in clear and concise manner
  • Demonstrating basic skills and positive attitudes in teaching others
  • Maintaining constructive communication skills with other students, professionals and supervisors

Professional Values, Attitudes, Behavior and Ethics

  • Recognizing of the essential elements of the medical profession including ethical principles, altruism, empathy, compassion, accountability, honesty, integrity and commitment to scientific methods
  • Understanding that well-being of the patient is the primary responsibility of the physician
  • Recognizing that it is the duty of the physician to inform, educate and consider the wishes of the patient in medical decisions concerning his/her health
  • Respecting supervisors, colleagues and other personnel and promoting a positive work environment and healthy relations
  • Maintaining ethical and legal professional  standards in patient care, research and community work

Population Health and Health Systems

  • Recognizing epidemiologic data on social, economic and cultural determinants  of the diseases
  • Determining impacts of war, natural disasters, migration, infectious  diseases and environmental factors on the health problems of families, communities and nations
  • Identifying important health problems in  the community, country and internationally
  • Following global trends in mortality, epidemiology of acute and chronic diseases, developing modes of disease control and prevention
  • Getting prepared  to accept leadership and responsibility in management of health-related issues in groups  or institutions

Management of Technology and Information

  • Understanding  the application and limitations of technology
  • Following and using technology in communication, data recording,  access to information, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
  • Effectively using electronic data systems to retrieve patient medical information