Overview

The Design, Technology and Society programme offered by Koc University provides doctoral training at the intersection of design, technology, and society, focusing on the development of interdisciplinary thinking and creative approaches to the use of digital technologies. It addresses the needs of creative industries by combining applied design, social and behavioral sciences, computation, and experimental design.

Key Facts

Students engage with contemporary concepts such as interaction design, experience design, and service design, while developing an understanding of human cognition, systems, and communication. The programme supports both theoretical and applied learning, enabling students to analyze user needs, develop innovative design solutions, and explore the role of technology in creative and societal contexts.

The programme emphasizes research and practical application through interdisciplinary collaboration, prototype development, and critical analysis. Students produce research outputs and contribute to academic and professional knowledge, culminating in a doctoral thesis and preparation for roles in creative industries and research environments.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Interaction Design
Experience Design
Service Design
Applied Design and Experimental Design
Design, Technology and Society Studies
Interdisciplinary Research and Prototyping

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-10-05 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-15 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

80

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Istanbul, Turkey

Disciplines

Design View 6 other PhDs in Design in Turkey

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Academic requirements

GPA

3

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

80

Schedule TOEFL®

Other requirements

General requirements

Documents required:

Research proposal (PDF format)
Research proposal approval document from project coordinator/ faculty member (PDF format)
Originality check document for the research proposal from Turnitin (PDF format)
Link to online CV (web page or PDF file download)
Link to online portfolio (if applicable)
Official transcript from your university
Proof of English language proficiency – TOEFL, or YDS
ALES scores, or (for non-Turkish citizens) GRE scores
3 letters of recommendation

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Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Koc University and/or in Turkey, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

Free
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

Free

Additional Details

Fully-funded

Living costs

Istanbul

Turkey

2000 - 3240 TRY / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.