Istanbul University

• General Information

Istanbul University has been the locomotive of Turkey’s Higher Education with its 15 faculties, 12 institutes, 2 vocational schools, 2 Schools, 2 departments, 74 research and application centres and 216 student clubs.

There are over 300,000 students, 3,337 academics and 7,067 administrative staff. The number of Istanbul University alumni is reaching almost 1 million. Istanbul University is the only university in Turkey whose alumni have been awarded two Nobel Prizes. (The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 2015, Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar and The Nobel Prize in Literature, 2006, Orhan Pamuk)

Istanbul University has 675 diploma programmes; 20 Associate degrees, 124 Bachelor’s degrees, 329 Master’s degrees and 202 PhD degrees.

Istanbul University has a great library collection consisting of approximately 1.5 million books.

·         A Short History of Istanbul University

The history of Istanbul University dates back to the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror in 1453. The Sahn-ı Seman Madrasahs (Conqueror Madrasahs), established after the scientific meetings in Zeyrek a day after the conquest, constitute the first ring of this scientific journey. The madrasahs, where theological and environmental sciences were taught together, became centers of attraction with the reconstruction of Istanbul and the invitation of foreign scholars by the Conqueror. Flourishing with the support of the sultans, the madrasahs reached proficient status as higher education institutions particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were transformed into Darülfünun by Sultan Abdülmecid in 1846. The Darülfünun works carried out by Grand Vesir Sait Pasha who tried to keep abreast with the speed of the Industrial Revolution.

Following the proclamation of the Republic, the young Republic of Turkey, in an effort to establish educational system that is based on rationale and science, acknowledged the legal personality of Darülfünun and accepted the scientific and administrative independence of the institution on October 7th, 1925. After this date, the higher education system tried to meet the needs of the new system in terms of academics and materials. The infrastructure for a modern university was set up with the support of foreign scholars invited to the country. With the 1933 University Reform, conducted under the leadership of Atatürk, Istanbul Darülfünun was transformed into Istanbul University. Istanbul University started to accept students on November 18th, 1933, as the “first and only” university of the Republic of Turkey.

·         Our Mission

The mission of Istanbul University is to produce valuable knowledge to our country and humanity and to train competent individuals by bringing together the east and the west, the past and the future.

·         Our Vision

The vision of Istanbul University is to become a leading university with its education at global level and its research shaping the future.

·         Core Values

Scientific and Research Oriented, Inventiveness, Innovativeness, Entrepreneurship, Quality Oriented and Sustainability, Compliance with Ethics and Universal Values, Transparency and Accountability, Social Sensitivity and Student Oriented...