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

The Department of Archaeology and History of Art at Koç University offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of archaeology, the history of art and visual culture, cultural heritage management, and museum studies by employing the most recent theoretical and methodological approaches and a hands-on approach to learning. The department consists of specialists in the archaeology and history of art of the civilizations that have flourished in the area of modern Turkey.

The department offers a BA level degree in archaeology and history of art; MA degree with four concentrations in archaeology and archaeological sciences, history of art, cultural heritage management and Late Antique and Byzantine studies; a PhD degree with tracks in archaeology and history of art respectively.

Current on-going archaeological field projects range from study of early farming communities at Barcin Hoyuk (6000 BCE) to the late Bronze age site of Alalakh in the Hatay region; the Hellenistic and Roman site of Sagalassos in Southwestern Turkey to the middle Byzantine urban archaeology project at Kucukyali in Istanbul.