Istanbul University Explained

Istanbul University
Native Name:Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi
Latin Name:Universitas Istanbulensis[1]
Motto:Turkish: Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü
Mottoeng:Science Bridge from Past to the Future
Established:1453
1846
1933
Rector:Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar
Students:64,032[2]
Undergrad:45,449
Postgrad:18,583
Academic Staff:4,260
Administrative Staff:6,049
Campus:Beyazıt Campus
Vezneciler Campus
Avcılar Campus
Çapa Campus
Kadıköy Campus
Coor:41.013°N 28.9639°W
Free Label:Founder
Free:Mehmed II

Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi), is a prominent public research university located in Istanbul, Turkey.

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

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 2023).[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

See also: University of Constantinople.

Origins of Istanbul University go back to 1453,[14] [15] when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II "as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters".[14] 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) (Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928);: '''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

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 850NaN0 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

Istanbul 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]

Arwu W:401–500 (2023)
Arwu W Ref:[30]
Qs W:621–630 (2025)
Qs W Ref:[31]
The W:801–1000 (2021)
The W Ref:[32]
Usnwr W:745 (2022)
Usnwr W Ref:[33]
Cwts W:355 (2020)
Cwts W Ref:[34]
Rur W:536 (2020)
Cwur W:644
Cwur W Ref:[35]
Cwur W Year:2020–2021
Qs Eeca:23
Qs Eeca Year:2022
Qs Eeca Ref:[36]
Qs W Life:309 (2nd nationwide)
Qs W Life Ref:[37]
Qs W Life Year:2023
Qs W Social:353 (4th nationwide)
Qs W Social Ref:[38]
Qs W Social Year:2023
Qs W Arts:281 (1st nationwide)
Qs W Arts Year:2023
Qs W Arts Ref:[39]
Qs W Eng:451-500 (9th nationwide)
Qs W Eng Year:2023
Qs W Eng Ref:[40]
Qs W Natural:451-500 (5th nationwide)
Qs W Natural Ref:[41]
Qs W Natural Year:2023
Qs W Employability:301-500
Qs W Employability Ref:[42]
Qs W Employability Year: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

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

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Studia et opuscula in honorem Universitatis Istanbulensis physiologiae professoris publici ordinarii Hans Winterstein septuagenarii ab amicis collegis famulisque conscripta XXXI. Iulii A.D. MCMXXXXIX. . 1949 . la.
  2. Web site: Sayılarla İstanbul Üniversitesi. sayilarla.istanbul.edu.tr. 26 December 2022. 16 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116072246/https://sayilarla.istanbul.edu.tr/#/. live.
  3. Günergun . Feza . Kadıoğlu . Sevtap . İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ'NİN YERLEŞİM TARİHÇESİ ÜZERİNE NOTLAR . Osmanlı Bilimi Araştırmaları . 2006 . 1 . 8 . 135–163 . 23 May 2022.
  4. Web site: İstanbul Üniversitesi'nin kuruluşunun 86. yıl dönümü! İstanbul Üniversitesi tarihi . haberler.com . tr . 14 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201114185317/https://www.haberler.com/istanbul-universitesi-nin-kurulusunun-86-yil-12293794-haberi/. 14 November 2020 .
  5. Web site: Üniversitelerin kuruluş tarihleri . 20 June 2015 . cnnturk.com . CNN Türk . tr . 5 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211221015142/https://www.cnnturk.com/universite-rehberim/universitelerin-kurulus-tarihleri?page=1 . 21 December 2021 . live .
  6. Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 79. American Medical Association, 1922. p. 646
  7. Bonafous. M. Le suicide a Constantinople. Revue Turquie d'Anthropologie. Institut Turc d'Anthropologie. fr. 3. 5. October 1927. 22-. - Cited: page 22 (page 71/103 of the collection) - Index of pages
  8. Web site: Shanghai Ranking Universities . 2024-05-23 . www.shanghairanking.com.
  9. Web site: Sayılarla İstanbul Üniversitesi . istanbul.edu.tr . Istanbul University . tr . 14 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116072246/https://sayilarla.istanbul.edu.tr/#/ . 16 November 2020 . live .
  10. Web site: İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ'ndeki Tüm Programlar (Alfabetik Sırada). yokatlas.yok.gov.tr. Council of Higher Education (Turkey). tr. 15 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810023242/https://yokatlas.yok.gov.tr/lisans-univ.php?u=1056. 10 August 2020. live.
  11. Web site: Yerleşim . istanbul.edu.tr . tr . 13 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025161222/https://www.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/content/universitemiz/yerlesim . 25 October 2016 . live .
  12. Web site: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015. NobelPrize.org. en-US. 6 April 2020. 21 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200521195335/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2015/summary/. live.
  13. Web site: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2006. NobelPrize.org. en-US. 6 April 2020. 2 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122526/https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2006/index.html. live.
  14. Web site: Istanbul University . . 12 January 2021 . 21 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201121101921/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/istanbul-university . live .
  15. Encyclopedia: Istanbul University . . 13 January 2021 . 15 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115143857/https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul-University . live .
  16. 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,, p. 687
  17. Gedlkoğlu . Tokay . 1995 . Changing Models of University Government in Turkey . Minerva . 33 . 2 . 152 . 0026-4695.
  18. Gedlkoğlu, Tokay (1995).p.152
  19. Gedlkoğlu, Tokay (1995).p.156
  20. [Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey]
  21. Web site: Find AACSB-Accredited Business Schools AACSB. aacsb.edu. 9 April 2020. 25 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925185539/https://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accredited-schools?F_Country=Turkey. live.
  22. Web site: Istanbul University . 2023-07-01 . Top Universities . en.
  23. Web site: Istanbul University . Top Universities . en.
  24. Web site: Istanbul University Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2019 Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111205512/http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/Istanbul-University.html. live.
  25. Web site: ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Veterinary Sciences Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 1 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701081558/http://www.shanghairanking.com/Shanghairanking-Subject-Rankings/veterinary-sciences.html. live.
  26. Web site: ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Clinical Medicine Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 16 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516132123/http://www.shanghairanking.com/shanghairanking-subject-rankings/clinical-medicine.html. live.
  27. Web site: ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Dentistry & Oral Sciences Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 8 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308092207/http://www.shanghairanking.com/Shanghairanking-Subject-Rankings/dentistry-oral-sciences.html. dead.
  28. Web site: ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Nursing Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 23 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423051224/http://www.shanghairanking.com/Shanghairanking-Subject-Rankings/nursing.html. dead.
  29. Web site: ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 – Medical Technology Shanghai Ranking – 2019. shanghairanking.com. 6 April 2020. 28 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128164255/http://www.shanghairanking.com/Shanghairanking-Subject-Rankings/medical-technology.html. dead.
  30. Web site: Shanghai Ranking Universities. https://web.archive.org/web/20190815195442/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html. dead. 15 August 2019. www.shanghairanking.com.
  31. Web site: QS World University Rankings 2025. Top Universities. 5 June 2024. 8 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180608073254/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2019. live.
  32. Web site: World University Rankings. 25 August 2020. Times Higher Education (THE). 29 December 2020. 29 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210529142055/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/world-ranking. live.
  33. Web site: U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2022 – Istanbul University . 1 July 2023. 2020-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200406202911/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/istanbul-university-502403 . live .
  34. Web site: CWTS Leiden Ranking. Centre for Science and Technology. Studies (CWTS). CWTS Leiden Ranking. 6 April 2019. 2 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110202100254/http://www.leidenranking.com/. live.
  35. Web site: CWUR World University Rankings – 2020–2021 . CWUR . 10 July 2020 . 29 December 2020 . 8 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200608081107/https://cwur.org/2020-21.php . live .
  36. Web site: QS World University Rankings-Emerging Europe & Central Asia . 15 January 2023.
  37. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Life Sciences & Medicine. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  38. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Social Sciences & Management. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  39. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Arts and Humanities. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  40. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering & Technology. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  41. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Natural Sciences. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  42. Web site: QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022. Top Universities. 19 July 2023.
  43. Web site: Istanbul University. Times Higher Education (THE). 17 June 2021. en. 6 April 2020. 6 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406202915/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/istanbul-university. live.
  44. Web site: US News Best Global Universities. 6 April 2020. 6 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406202911/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/istanbul-university-502403. live.
  45. Web site: CWTS Leiden Ranking. Studies (CWTS). Centre for Science and Technology. CWTS Leiden Ranking. en. 6 April 2019. 2 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110202100254/http://www.leidenranking.com/. live.
  46. Web site: World University Rankings. roundranking.com. 6 April 2020. 25 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015240/https://roundranking.com/ranking/world-university-rankings.html#world-2019. live.
  47. Web site: Istanbul University. roundranking.com. 6 April 2020. 4 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201104202006/https://roundranking.com/universities/istanbul-university.html?highlight=WyJpc3RhbmJ1bCIsInVuaXZlcnNpdHkiLCJpc3RhbmJ1bCB1bml2ZXJzaXR5Il0=. live.

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