Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi), is a prominent public research university located in Istanbul, Turkey.
Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi | |
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Latin: Universitas Istanbulensis[1] | |
Motto | Turkish: Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü |
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Motto in English | Science Bridge from Past to the Future |
Type | Public university Research university |
Established | 1453 (Medâris-i Semâniye ve Fâtih Dârüşşifâsı) 1846 (Dârülfünûn) 1933 (University) |
Rector | Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar |
Academic staff | 4,260[2] |
Administrative staff | 6,049[2] |
Students | 64,032[2] |
Undergraduates | 45,449[2] |
Postgraduates | 18,583[2] |
Location | , 41°00′46.93″N 28°57′49.95″E / 41.0130361°N 28.9638750°E |
Campus | Beyazıt Campus Vezneciler Campus Avcılar Campus Çapa Campus Kadıköy Campus |
Founder | Mehmed II |
Colors | Green Yellow |
Affiliations | Coimbra Group EUA UNIMED |
Website | www.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 (not to be confused with the Byzantine era University of Constantinople, which was founded in 425 AD by the East Roman emperor Theodosius II as the Pandidacterium and was by some accounts the world's first university),[7] while one in French referred to it as the Université de Stamboul ("Stamboul" the name for the historic inner city).[8]
Istanbul University is consistently ranked first in Turkey and among the top 500 universities in the world according to the recently published Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2024).[9] At present, there are 64,032 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students[10] studying in 33 academic units,[11] including faculties, institutes, colleges, and vocational schools at 10 campuses.[12] 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),[13][14] 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
editOrigins of Istanbul University go back to 1453,[15][3] when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II "as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters".[15] There was also the Byzantine era University of Constantinople, which was founded in 425 AD by the East Roman emperor Theodosius II as the Pandidacterium (it was later rebranded as the Phanar Greek Orthodox College after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453). 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.[16] 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 (Ottoman Polytechnic Institute) was created in 1863, but suppressed in 1871.[16] 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) (Ottoman Turkish: دار الفنون سلطاني) started classes in law in French, but was closed in 1881.[16]
The Imperial University, now known as Darülfünûn-u Şahâne was refounded in 1900, with the departments of theology, arts, mathematics, science and philology.[16] In 1924, the faculties of law, medicine, arts and sciences were established in Istanbul University (İstanbul Darülfünûnu), as the university was now called.[16] Islamic theology was added in 1925, but in 1933 the university was reorganized without the latter.[16]
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.[17] The professors of the Darülfünûnu had academic freedom as mentioned in Article 2 of Law 493[18]
On 1 August 1933, İstanbul Darülfünûnu was reorganized as İstanbul Üniversitesi (Istanbul University)[19] following the educational reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Classes officially began on 1 November 1933.
Campus
editThe 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.[20]
International perspective and rankings
editIstanbul University School of Business is the only AACSB-Accredited Business School among the public universities in Turkey.[21]
In the QS World University Rankings 2024, Istanbul University is ranked at 711–720th globally.[22] 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".[23]
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".[24][25][26][27][28][29]
University rankings | |
---|---|
Global – Overall | |
ARWU World[30] | 401–500 (2024) |
CWUR World[31] | 644 (2020–2021) |
CWTS World[32] | 355 (2020) |
QS World[33] | 621–630 (2025) |
QS Employability[34] | 301-500 (2022) |
RUR World[35] | 536 (2020) |
THE World[35] | 801–1000 (2021) |
USNWR Global[36] | 745 (2022) |
Global – Liberal arts | |
QS Arts & Humanities[37] | 281 (1st nationwide) (2023) |
QS Social Sciences and Management[38] | 353 (4th nationwide) (2023) |
Global – Life sciences and medicine | |
QS Life Sciences & Medicine[39] | 309 (2nd nationwide) (2023) |
Global – Science and engineering | |
QS Engineering & Tech.[40] | 451-500 (9th nationwide) (2023) |
QS Natural Sciences[41] | 451-500 (5th nationwide) (2023) |
Regional – Overall | |
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia[42] | 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".[43]
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".[44]
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".[45]
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".[46][47]
Notable faculty
editSee the page Academic staff of Istanbul University.
Notable alumni
editSee also Istanbul University alumni for a detailed list.
- Turkish Presidents
- Foreign Presidents
- David Ben-Gurion, Founder and the First Prime Minister of Israel
- Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, the Longest-Serving President of Israel
- Speakers of the Turkish parliament
- Turkish Prime Ministers
- Foreign Prime Ministers
- David Ben-Gurion, Founder and the First Prime Minister of Israel
- Moshe Sharett, Prime Minister of Israel
- Turkish Ministers
- Politicians
- Ali Tanrıyar – Former Minister of Interior
- Cemil Çiçek – Former Speaker of the Parliament
- Coşkun Kırca – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Ekrem İmamoğlu – Current Mayor of Istanbul
- Erkan Mumcu – Former Minister of Culture and Tourism / Minister of Education / Minister of Tourism
- Ertuğrul Mat – Former Bursa deputy
- Hayati Yazıcı – Former Minister of Customs and Trade
- İhsan Sabri Çağlayangil – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Kadir Topbaş – Former Mayor of Istanbul
- Köksal Toptan – Former Speaker of the Parliament
- Masud Sabri – Pharmacist and former Governor of Xinjiang province in China
- Meral Akşener – Leader of Good Party
- Murat Başesgioğlu – Former Minister of Labor and Social Security
- Mustafa Bey Barmada – Former Governor General of the State of Aleppo
- Naci Ağbal – Former Minister of Finance
- Nimet Bas – Former Minister of Education
- Journalists
- Scientists
- Writers
- Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
- Ali Kurumahmut
- Bahadir Kaleagasi, international co-ordinator of TUSIAD
- Duygu Asena
- Mario Levi
- Mıgırdiç Margosyan
- Nihal Atsiz
- İlhan Selçuk[48]
- Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Laureate in Literature
- Reşat Nuri Güntekin
- Poets
- Musicians
- Other
- Burcu Esmersoy[49] – Anchorwoman, Model
- Cansu Dere – Actress, Model
- Cüneyt Arkın — Actor, Director
- Çağatay Ulusoy – Actor
- Ayça Ayşin Turan - Actress
- Deniz Gezmiş – Political activist
- Metin Erksan – Film Director and Art Historian
- Okan Yalabık – Actor
- Özgü Namal – Actress, Singer
- Özgür Çevik – Singer, Actor
- Türkan Rado (1915–2007), first ever Turkish female professor of jurisprudence
- Tuncel Kurtiz – Actor
Notable expatriate academic staff
edit- Fritz Arndt (1885–1969), German chemist (1915–1918)
- Erich Auerbach (1892–1957), German philologist (1936–1947)
- Helmuth Theodor Bossert (1889–1961), German philologist and art historian and archaeologist (1934–1959)
- Max Clara (1899–1966), German anatomist
- Georges Dumézil (1898–1986), French philologist, religion historian (1923–1931)
- Erwin Finlay-Freundlich (1885–1964), German astronomer (1933–1937)
- Albert Gabriel (1883–1972), French art historian (1926–1930)
- Hilda Geiringer (1893–1973), Austrian mathematician (1934–1938)
- C. W. M. Hart (1905–1976), Australian anthropologist (1959–1969)
- C. H. E. Haspels (1894–1980), Dutch archaeologist
- Felix Haurowitz (1896–1987), Czech physician and biochemist (1939–1948)
- Baymirza Hayit (1917–2006), Uzbek historian and orientalist
- Richard Honig 1890–1981), German penologist (1934–1939)
- Günther Jacoby (1881–1969), German theologian and philosopher (1915–1918)
- Curt Kosswig (1903–1982), German zoologist and geneticist (1937–1955)
- Lotte Loewe 1900–unknown), German organic chemist (1934–1955)
- Hans Marchand (1907–1978), German linguist
- Richard von Mises (1883–1953), Austrian mathematician
- Fritz Neumark (1900–1991), German economist (1934–1954)
- Rudolph Nissen (1896–1981),German surgeon (1933–1949)
- William Prager (1904–1980), German mathematician
- Hans Reichenbach (1891–1953), German philosopher (1945–1938)
- Oskar Rescher (1884–1972), German scholar in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish literature
- Umberto Ricci (1879–1946), Italian economist (1942–1945)
- Hellmut Ritter (1892–1971), German orientalist (1926–1949, 1956–1969)
- Wilhelm Röpke (1899–1966), German economist
- Hans Oswald Rosenberg (1879–1940), German astronomer (1938–1940)
- Leo Spitzer (1887–1960), Austrian Romanist and Hispanist, philologist (1925–1930)
- Andreas Tietze (1914–2003), Austrian scholar of Turkish lexicography and language (1938–1957)
Gallery
edit-
Main Gate
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Faculty of Literature
-
Faculty of Pharmacology
-
Beyazit Campus
-
Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Library.
-
Rectorate
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Faculty of Political Sciences Gulhane Building
-
Faculty of Science
-
Garden of Istanbul University - Süleymaniye Mosque at Rear
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Süleymaniye Mosque - Istanbul University - Aerial view
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Courtyard of the Faculty of Literature
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Beyazit Tower in Main Campus
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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Faculty of Law
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Beyazit Campus
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Istanbul University Rıdvan Çelikel Archaeological Museum
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Studia et opuscula in honorem Universitatis Istanbulensis physiologiae professoris publici ordinarii Hans Winterstein septuagenarii ab amicis collegis famulisque conscripta XXXI. Iulii A.D. MCMXXXXIX (in Latin). 1949.
- ^ a b c d e "Sayılarla İstanbul Üniversitesi". sayilarla.istanbul.edu.tr. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Istanbul University". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ Günergun, Feza; Kadıoğlu, Sevtap (2006). "İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ'NİN YERLEŞİM TARİHÇESİ ÜZERİNE NOTLAR". Osmanlı Bilimi Araştırmaları. 1 (8): 135–163. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "İstanbul Üniversitesi'nin kuruluşunun 86. yıl dönümü! İstanbul Üniversitesi tarihi". haberler.com (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Üniversitelerin kuruluş tarihleri". cnnturk.com (in Turkish). CNN Türk. 20 June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 79. American Medical Association, 1922. p. 646 Archived 20 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bonafous, M (October 1927). "Le suicide a Constantinople". Revue Turquie d'Anthropologie (in French). 3 (5). Institut Turc d'Anthropologie: 22-. - Cited: page 22 (page 71/103 of the collection) - Index of pages Archived 24 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Shanghai Ranking Universities". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Sayılarla İstanbul Üniversitesi". istanbul.edu.tr (in Turkish). Istanbul University. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ'ndeki Tüm Programlar (Alfabetik Sırada)". yokatlas.yok.gov.tr (in Turkish). Council of Higher Education (Turkey). Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Yerleşim". istanbul.edu.tr (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015". NobelPrize.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Literature 2006". NobelPrize.org. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Istanbul University". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Rüegg, Walter: "European Universities and Similar Institutions in Existence between 1812 and the End of 1944: A Chronological List", in: Rüegg, Walter (ed.): A History of the University in Europe. Vol. 3: Universities in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (1800–1945), Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISBN 978-0-521-36107-1, p. 687
- ^ Gedlkoğlu, Tokay (1995). "Changing Models of University Government in Turkey". Minerva. 33 (2): 152. ISSN 0026-4695.
- ^ Gedlkoğlu, Tokay (1995).p.152
- ^ Gedlkoğlu, Tokay (1995).p.156
- ^ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey "Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey". Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2008.. Banknote Museum: 6. Emission Group – Five Hundred Turkish Lira – I. Series Archived 4 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine & II. Series Archived 4 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. – Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- ^ "Find AACSB-Accredited Business Schools | AACSB". aacsb.edu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Istanbul University". Top Universities. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Istanbul University". Top Universities.
- ^ "Istanbul University | Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2019 | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Veterinary Sciences | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Clinical Medicine | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Dentistry & Oral Sciences | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Nursing | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Medical Technology | Shanghai Ranking – 2019". shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Shanghai Ranking Universities". www.shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019.
- ^ "CWUR World University Rankings – 2020–2021". CWUR. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Top Universities. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ a b "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2022 – Istanbul University". Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Arts and Humanities". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Social Sciences & Management". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Life Sciences & Medicine". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering & Technology". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Natural Sciences". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings-Emerging Europe & Central Asia". Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Istanbul University". Times Higher Education (THE). 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "US News Best Global Universities". Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "World University Rankings". roundranking.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Istanbul University". roundranking.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Turkish journalist İlhan Selçuk died". National Turk. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ^ İpek, Bülent (1 January 2011). "O Artık Bir Magazin Figürü". HaberTürk. Istanbul. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
External links
edit- Istanbul University website (in Turkish and English)
- History of Istanbul University (Turkish)