Istanbul University
Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi | |
Former name | Sahn-ı Seman Medresesi (1453–1846) Dârülfünûn-ı Şâhâne (1846–1912) İstanbul Dârülfünûnu (1912–1933) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Turkish: Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü |
Motto in English | Science Bridge from Past to the Future |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | May 30, 1453 |
| Founder | Mehmed II |
| Budget | $411 million (2025) |
| Rector | Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar |
Academic staff | 4,339 |
Administrative staff | 5,885 |
| Students | 58,809 |
| Undergraduates | 42,066 |
| Postgraduates | 16,268 |
| Location | , 41°00′46.93″N 28°57′49.95″E / 41.0130361°N 28.9638750°E |
| Campus | Urban |
| University press | Istanbul University Press |
| Colors | |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | www.istanbul.edu.tr |
Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi), is a 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 as the first Ottoman higher education institution influenced by European approaches. The successor institution, which has been operating under its current name since 1933, is the first university in modern Turkey.
The university has 58,809 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students studying in 112 academic units, including faculties, institutes, colleges, and vocational schools at 9 campuses. 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 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Aziz Sancar and Nobel Prize in Literature winner Orhan Pamuk, as well as President of Turkey Abdullah Gül, six Prime Ministers of Turkey, including Suat Hayri Ürgüplü, Sadi Irmak, Nihat Erim, Refik Saydam, Naim Talu, Yıldırım Akbulut, and the current mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu. The alumni also include the longest-serving President of Israel Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, as well as David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett, who both served as Prime Ministers of Israel.