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Istanbul University

Istanbul University
İstanbul Üniversitesi
Istanbul University logo.svg
Latin: Universitas Constantinopolitanum
Motto"Leadership in Higher Education for Centuries"
TypePublic University
Established1453; 568 years ago (1453)
(reformed 1846/1933)
RectorProf. Dr. Mahmut Ak
Academic staff
4,101 [1]
Students70,399 [1]
Undergraduates53,066 [1]
Postgraduates17,333 [1]
Location
Istanbul
,
Turkey

41°00′46.93″N 28°57′49.95″E / 41.0130361°N 28.9638750°E / 41.0130361; 28.9638750Coordinates: 41°00′46.93″N 28°57′49.95″E / 41.0130361°N 28.9638750°E / 41.0130361; 28.9638750
CampusBeyazıt Campus
Vezneciler Campus
Avcılar Campus
Çapa Campus
Kadıköy Campus
FounderMehmed II (1453)
Abdülmecid I (1846)
Abdülaziz I (1870)
Abdülhamid II (1900)
Mehmed V (1912)
M. K. Atatürk (1933)
Colors  Green   Yellow
AffiliationsCoimbra Group
EUA
UNIMED
Websitewww.istanbul.edu.tr

Istanbul University (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi) is a prominent Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square in Fatih, the capital district of the province, on the European side of the city. Some pre-1923/1930 western sources refer to it as the University of Constantinople, after the previous name of the city.[2]

Istanbul University is associated with 2 Nobel laureates, Aziz Sancar (in Chemistry) and Orhan Pamuk (in Literature).[3][4]

History[]

The main entrance to Istanbul University, 1950's

Origins of Istanbul University go back to 1453,[5][6] when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II "as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters".[5] There was also the University of Constantinople, which was founded in 425 and which had existed until 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, which evolved into Istanbul University in 1933.[7] 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 House of Sciences) was created in 1863, but suppressed in 1871.[7] Its first rector was Hasan Tahsini, regarded as one of the most important Ottoman scholars of the 19th century. In 1874 the Imperial University (Darülfünûn-u Sultanî) (دار الفنون سلطاني) started classes in law in French, but was closed in 1881.[7]

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.[7] In 1924, the faculties of law, medicine, arts and sciences were established in Istanbul University (İstanbul Darülfünûnu), as the university was now called.[7] Islamic theology was added in 1925, but in 1933 the university was reorganized without the latter.[7]

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 (Imperial House of Multiple Sciences) with courses on Mathematics, Literature and Theology. On 20 April 1912, the school was renamed as the İstanbul Darülfünûnu (Istanbul House of Multiple Sciences) 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.

On 1 August 1933, İstanbul Darülfünûnu was reorganized as İstanbul Üniversitesi (Istanbul University) 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.[8]

Faculties[]

International perspective and rankings[]

Istanbul University School of Business is the only AACSB-Accred Business School among the public universities in Turkey.[9]

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".[10][11][12][13][14][15]

In the QS World University Rankings 2021, Istanbul University is ranked at 801-1000th globally. In the broad subject areas, it is ranked 323rd in "Life Sciences and Medicine", 401-450th in "Arts and Humanities", and 510-520th in "Social Sciences and Management". In the specific subject areas, it is ranked at 201-250th in "Modern Languages", 301-350th in "Agriculture & Forestry", 301-350th in "Medicine", 301-350th in "Pharmacy & Pharmacology", 351-400th in "Biological Sciences", 451-500th in "Business & Management Studies", and 601-650th in "Computer Science and Information Systems".[16]

University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[17]401-500 (2020)
CWUR World[18]644 (2020-2021)
CWTS World[19]355 (2020)
QS World[20]801-1000 (2021)
RUR World[21]536 (2020)
THE World[21]801-1000 (2021)
USNWR Global[22]714 (2021)

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".[23]

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".[24]

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".[25]

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".[26][27]

Istanbul University Observatory

Notable faculty[]

Please see the page Istanbul University faculty.

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
  • Ragıp Soylu[28]
    • Scientists
    Writers
    Poets
    Musicians
    Other

    Gallery[]

    See also[]

    References[]

    1. ^ a b c d "Sayılarla İstanbul Üniversitesi". sayilarla.istanbul.edu.tr.
    2. ^ Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 79. American Medical Association, 1922. p. 646
    3. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015". NobelPrize.org.
    4. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Literature 2006". NobelPrize.org.
    5. ^ a b "Istanbul University". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
    6. ^ "Istanbul University". Encyclopædia Britannica.
    7. ^ 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
    8. ^ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). 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.
    9. ^ "Find AACSB-Accred Business Schools | AACSB". aacsb.edu.
    10. ^ "Istanbul University | Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2019 | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    11. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 - Veterinary Sciences | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    12. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 - Clinical Medicine | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    13. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 - Dentistry & Oral Sciences | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    14. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 - Nursing | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    15. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019 - Medical Technology | Shanghai Ranking - 2019". shanghairanking.com.
    16. ^ "Istanbul University". Top Universities.
    17. ^ [1]
    18. ^ "CWUR World University Rankings - 2020-2021". CWUR. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
    19. ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking.
    20. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2019". Top Universities.
    21. ^ a b "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 25 August 2020.
    22. ^ U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2021 - Istanbul University
    23. ^ "Istanbul University". Times Higher Education (THE).
    24. ^ "US News Best Global Universities".
    25. ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking.
    26. ^ "World University Rankings". roundranking.com.
    27. ^ "Istanbul University". roundranking.com.
    28. ^ https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/ragip-soylu. Missing or empty |title= (help)
    29. ^ "Turkish journalist İlhan Selçuk died". National Turk. 23 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
    30. ^ 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[]