Istanbul University

Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi), is one of the most prominent public research universities located in Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul University
Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi
Latin: Universitas Istanbulensis[1]
MottoTurkish: Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü
Motto in English
Science Bridge from Past to the Future
TypePublic university
Research university
Established1453 (Medâris-i Semâniye ve Fâtih Dârüşşifâsı)
1846 (Darülfünûn)
1933 (University)
RectorProf. Dr. Mahmut Ak
Academic staff
4,260[2]
Administrative staff
6,049[2]
Students64,032[2]
Undergraduates45,449[2]
Postgraduates18,583[2]
Location
Istanbul
,
Turkey

41°00′46.93″N 28°57′49.95″E
CampusBeyazıt Campus
Vezneciler Campus
Avcılar Campus
Çapa Campus
Kadıköy Campus
FounderMehmed II
Colors  Green   Yellow
AffiliationsCoimbra Group
EUA
UNIMED
Websitewww.istanbul.edu.tr

Founded by Mehmed II on May 30, 1453, a day after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks,[3] it was reformed in 1846 as the first Ottoman higher education institution based on European traditions.[4][5] The successor institution, which has been operating under its current name since 1933, is the first university in modern Turkey.[6] Some pre-1930 Western sources refer to it as the University of Constantinople, after the previous name of the city,[7] while one in French referred to it as the Université de Stamboul ("Stamboul" the name for the historic inner city).[8]

At present, there are 64,032 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students[9] studying in 33 academic units,[10] including faculties, institutes, colleges, and vocational schools at 10 campuses.[11] The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square in Fatih, the capital district of the province, on the European side of the city.

Istanbul University alumni include 2 Nobel laureates, Aziz Sancar (in Chemistry) and Orhan Pamuk (in Literature),[12][13] the longest-serving President of Israel Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, two Prime Ministers of Israel (David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett), President of Turkey Abdullah Gül, six Prime Ministers of Turkey (Suat Hayri Ürgüplü, Sadi Irmak, Nihat Erim, Refik Saydam, Naim Talu, Yıldırım Akbulut), and the current Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu.

History
The main entrance to Istanbul University, 1950's

Origins of Istanbul University go back to 1453,[14][3] when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II "as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters".[14] There was also the University of Constantinople, which was founded in 425 and rebranded as Phanar Greek Orthodox College after the Fall of Constantinople. Istanbul University functioned as a Medrese (Islamic theological school) as well. This madrasa is regarded as the precursor to the Darülfünûn (technical institute or university. Literally: House of Natural Sciences), which evolved into Istanbul University in 1933.[15] Education in a number of sciences and fields (such as medicine, mathematics, astronomy, cartography, geography, history, philosophy, religion, literature, philology, law, etc.) became available, and, until the 19th century, they were instrumental in educating the ruling cadres of the Ottoman society. However, when the medreses were no longer able to meet the needs of the modern world, a restructuring process began, and as a result, the institutions of higher education called Darülfünûn, the core of Istanbul University, was established.

An institution of higher education named the Darülfünûn-u Osmanî (دار الفنون عثماني) (Ottoman Polytechnic Institute) was created in 1863, but suppressed in 1871.[15] Its first rector was Hasan Tahsini, regarded as one of the most important Ottoman scholars of the 19th century. In 1874 the Imperial Polytechnic Institute (Darülfünûn-u Sultanî) (دار الفنون سلطاني) started classes in law in French, but was closed in 1881.[15]

The Imperial University, now known as Darülfünûn-u Şahâne (دار الفنون شهانه) was refounded in 1900, with the departments of theology, arts, mathematics, science and philology.[15] In 1924, the faculties of law, medicine, arts and sciences were established in Istanbul University (İstanbul Darülfünûnu), as the university was now called.[15] Islamic theology was added in 1925, but in 1933 the university was reorganized without the latter.[15]

Main entrance gate of Istanbul University on Beyazıt Square, which was known as Forum Tauri (later Forum of Theodosius) in the late Roman period. Beyazıt Tower, located within the campus, is seen in the background, to the right of the flagpole.
The arched monumental gate of Istanbul University on the reverse of the 500 lira banknote (1971–1984)

The first modern Applied Physics courses were given at the Darülfünûn on 31 December 1863, which marked the beginning of a new period, and on 20 February 1870, the school was renamed as the Darülfünûn-u Osmanî (Ottoman House of Multiple Sciences) and reorganized to meet the needs of modern sciences and technologies. Starting from 1874, some classes of Literature, Law and Applied Sciences were given at the building of Galatasaray High School, which continued regularly until 1881. On 1 September 1900, the school was renamed and reorganized as the Darülfünûn-u Şahâne (Royal Polytechnic Institute) with courses on Mathematics, Literature and Theology. On 20 April 1912, the school was renamed as the İstanbul Darülfünûnu (Istanbul Polytechnic Institute) while the number of courses were increased and the curricula were modernized with the establishment of the Schools of Medicine, Law, Applied Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics), Literature and Theology.

On 21 April 1924, the Republic of Turkey recognized the İstanbul Darülfünûnu as a state school, and on 7 October 1925, the administrative autonomy of İstanbul Darülfünûnu was recognized while the Schools (within the old Medrese system) became modern Faculties. The Darülfünûnu counted with five faculties: medicine, law, letters, theology and science.[16] The professors of the Darülfünûnu had academic freedom as mentioned in Article 2 of Law 493[17]

On 1 August 1933, İstanbul Darülfünûnu was reorganized as İstanbul Üniversitesi (Istanbul University)[18] following the educational reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Classes officially began on 1 November 1933.

Campus
Late Roman and early Byzantine remains at the Istanbul University campus next to Beyazıt Tower.
Interior of the main building

The university has seventeen faculties on five campuses; the main campus being on Beyazıt Square, which was originally built by Constantine the Great as the Forum Tauri and was later enlarged by Theodosius the Great as the Forum of Theodosius during the Roman period.

The main campus building with its landmark gate was previously used as the headquarters of the Harbiye Nezareti (Ministry of War) by the Ottoman government. Located on the grounds is the Beyazıt Tower, an 85 m (279 ft) tall fire-watch tower. The grounds were previously the location of the Ottoman era Eski Saray (Old Palace). Some Roman and Byzantine ruins are still visible on the grounds.

The university has a teaching staff of 2,000 professors and associates and 4,000 assistants and younger staff. More than 60,000 undergraduate and 8,000 postgraduate students follow the courses offered by Istanbul University every year.

The main gate was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 500 lira banknotes of 1971–1984.[19]

International perspective and rankings

Istanbul University School of Business is the only AACSB-Accredited Business School among the public universities in Turkey.[20]

In the QS World University Rankings 2024, Istanbul University is ranked at 711–720th globally.[21] In the broad subject areas, it is ranked 281st in "Arts and Humanities", 309th in "Life Sciences and Medicine", 353th in "Social Sciences and Management", 451-500th in "Natural Sciences, and 451-500th in "Engineering & Technology".[22]

In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019, Istanbul University is ranked at 401–500th worldwide (1st in Turkey). It is also ranked at 251–300th in "Veterinary Sciences", 401–500th in "Clinical Medicine", 101–150th in "Dentistry & Oral Sciences", 201–300th in "Nursing", and 301–400th in "Medical Technology".[23][24][25][26][27][28]

University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[29]401–500 (2023)
CWUR World[30]644 (2020–2021)
CWTS World[31]355 (2020)
QS World[32]711–720 (2024)
QS Employability[33]301-500 (2022)
RUR World[34]536 (2020)
THE World[34]801–1000 (2021)
USNWR Global[35]745 (2022)
Global – Liberal arts
QS Arts & Humanities[36]281 (1st nationwide) (2023)
QS Social Sciences and Management[37]353 (4th nationwide) (2023)
Global – Life sciences and medicine
QS Life Sciences & Medicine[38]309 (2nd nationwide) (2023)
Global – Science and engineering
QS Engineering & Tech.[39]451-500 (9th nationwide) (2023)
QS Natural Sciences[40]451-500 (5th nationwide) (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia[41]23 (2022)

In 2020, Times Higher Education ranked the university top 1000 in the world, 301–400th in "Clinical, pre-clinical and health", 401–500th in "Education", 501–600th in "Social Sciences", and 601–800th in "Life Sciences".[42]

The Best Global Universities Ranking 2021 of the U.S. News & World Report ranks Istanbul University 714th in the world, 225th in "Surgery", 243rd in "Clinical Medicine", 195th in "Endocrinology and Metabolism", 255th in "Neuroscience and Behavior", 383rd in "Molecular Biology and Genetics", 442nd in "Plant and Animal Science", 446th in "Biology and Biochemistry", and 593rd in "Physics".[43]

By CWTS Leiden Ranking 2019, Istanbul University is ranked 335th (overall), 196th in "Biomedical and Health Sciences", 374th in "Life and Earth Sciences", 669th in "Mathematics and Computer Science", 544th in "Physical Sciences and Engineering", and 570th in "Social Sciences and Humanities".[44]

By Round University Ranking 2019, Istanbul University is ranked 529th in the world, 490th in "Humanities", 496th in "Life Sciences", 329th in "Medical Sciences", 556th in "Natural Sciences", 506th in "Social Sciences" and 600th in "Technical Sciences".[45][46]

Istanbul University Observatory

Notable faculty

See the page Academic staff of Istanbul University.

Notable alumni

See also Istanbul University alumni for a detailed list.

Turkish Presidents
Foreign Presidents
Speakers of the Turkish parliament
Turkish Prime Ministers
Foreign Prime Ministers
Turkish Ministers
Politicians
Journalists
Scientists
Writers
Poets
Musicians
Other

Notable expatriate academic staff
  • Main Gate
    Main Gate
  • Faculty of Literature
    Faculty of Literature
  • Faculty of Pharmacology
    Faculty of Pharmacology
  • Beyazit Campus
    Beyazit Campus
  • Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Library.
    Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Library.
  • Rectorate
    Rectorate
  • Faculty of Political Sciences Gulhane Building
    Faculty of Political Sciences Gulhane Building
  • Faculty of Medicine
    Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Science
    Faculty of Science
  • Garden of Istanbul University - Süleymaniye Mosque at Rear
    Garden of Istanbul University - Süleymaniye Mosque at Rear
  • Süleymaniye Mosque - Istanbul University - Aerial view
    Süleymaniye Mosque - Istanbul University - Aerial view
  • Main Entrance and Beyazit Tower
    Main Entrance and Beyazit Tower
  • Courtyard of the Faculty of Literature
    Courtyard of the Faculty of Literature
  • Beyazit Tower in Main Campus
    Beyazit Tower in Main Campus
  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Faculty of Law
    Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Faculty of Law
  • Beyazit Campus
    Beyazit Campus
  • Istanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeological Museum
    Istanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeological Museum

See also

References
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