Istanbul Technical University

Istanbul Technical University, also known as Technical University of Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi), is a public technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third-oldest technical university focused on engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences.

According to the QS World University Rankings for 2025, İTÜ ranks 79th globally and first in Turkey for Engineering and Technology, and 182nd globally and first in Turkey for Natural Sciences. The university offers 92 undergraduate programs and 188 graduate programs across 14 faculties, with 277,160 m² of laboratory space and 12 research centers.

Many graduates from Istanbul Technical University have won important science awards from TÜBİTAK and TÜBA. Some alumni have even joined academies of science in the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia. The university also has a basketball team, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi B.K., that plays in the Turkish Basketball Super League.

History

See also: List of Istanbul Technical University rectors

Ottoman Empire

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) is one of the world's oldest schools focused on teaching engineering. It started in 1773 when Sultan Mustafa III created the Imperial School of Naval Engineering in Kasımpaşa on the Golden Horn. The school trained people to build ships and make maps for the Ottoman Navy. Later, in 1795, another school opened in Hasköy to train engineers for the army. Over time, the school added programs for architects and civil engineers.

Modern Turkey

By 1928, the school became a full university teaching engineering and architecture. In 1944, it was named Istanbul Technical University, and by 1946, it became an independent university with faculties in architecture, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Today, after 251 years, Istanbul Technical University remains a top school for engineering and architecture in Turkey. Its graduates have helped shape the country’s growth and development.

Academics

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) has many different areas of study, much like "schools" in American universities. Each area, called a faculty, includes several departments focused on specific subjects. For example, the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering includes departments such as electrical engineering, robotics and autonomous systems engineering, and electronics and communication engineering.

The university offers a wide range of programs, from engineering fields like Civil, Mechanical, and Computer Engineering to arts and sciences. There are also special research centers and institutes for advanced study in areas such as energy, satellite communications, and disaster management. Additionally, ITU has independent departments like the School of Foreign Languages and the School of Fine Arts.

International perspective and rankings

Istanbul Technical University has many departments that are approved by important groups around the world. Students need to show they can speak good English to join classes there. Some lessons are in English, and some are in Turkish.

The university is very well known for engineering. It often appears near the top in lists of the best schools in Turkey for many subjects, including different kinds of engineering, computer science, and more.

Campus

ITU is a public university with six campuses. Five are in important parts of Istanbul, and one is in Famagusta. The main campus, Maslak, is in Sarıyer and covers a large area of 1,600,000 m². It includes the university’s main offices, a swimming pool, a stadium, many faculties, student housing, and the central library.

The Tuzla Campus serves the Maritime Faculty and is located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul. The three urban campuses are close to each other near Taksim Square. The Taşkışla campus houses the Faculty of Architecture in a famous historical building from the Ottoman era. The Gümüşsuyu campus is home to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and the Maçka campus hosts the Faculty of Management. Both are in important historical buildings in Istanbul. The Famagusta campus in Northern Cyprus is the only one that hosts the ITU TRNC Education and Research Campuses faculty.

Library Services

The ITU library has around 533,000 books, 500,000 copies of journals, and 6,000 rare Ottoman and Latin books. It connects to international libraries and online databases and holds the largest technical collection in Turkey, especially in science and engineering. The Mustafa Inan Library, named after a former university leader, Mustafa İnan, is the central library. The history of ITU’s library services began in 1795 from the printing house of the _Mühendishâne-i Berrî-i Hümâyu_n of the Ottoman Empire.

Triga Mark-2 Nuclear Reactor

ITU has a nuclear reactor of Triga Mark-2 at the Maslak campus, located in the Energy Institute.

Arı Technopolis

Since 2003, Arı Technopolis at the Ayazağa Campus has offered companies chances to research, develop technology, and produce with university experts. It has two buildings, Arı-1 and Arı-2. Plans are to build Arı-3 in Maslak and another building in Floria. Arı Technopolis accounts for 49% of technopolis exports in Turkey.

National High Performance Computing Center

[NHPCC] is located in the Ayazağa Campus. It is Turkey’s national center for high-performance computing. The supercomputer there was ranked among the world’s top 500 supercomputers, at position 240.

Student life

Athletics

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) has many sports areas because of its big suburban campus. The Ayazağa Gymnasium is the main sports center and has a stadium that can hold 3,500 people for basketball and volleyball games. There is also a fitness center there.

Basketball is very popular at ITU. The university’s basketball team has won the Turkish Basketball League five times and now plays in the second division. The Ayazağa Gymnasium is where the team plays its home games.

Although the basketball team does well, the football team plays in an amateur league. There is a football stadium in Ayazağa where the team plays. The university also has tennis courts and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

ITU’s American football team, the ITU Hornets, won the top league in Turkey for university teams in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons. Other sports and activities at ITU include badminton, ultimate frisbee, fencing, diving, dancing, gymnastics, tennis, and many more.

Social life

ITU has many clubs and groups for students to join besides their studies. Popular groups include the Rock Club, Cinema Club, Model United Nations, and the International Engineering Club. There is also a group called the Local Board of European Students of Technology with members from many European countries. Even with all these options, sometimes the campus can feel quiet because many students choose to spend time in the city of Istanbul.

ITU Model United Nations (ITUMUN)

The Model United Nations Society at ITU is one of the most active student clubs. Students often take part in Model United Nations conferences, both in Turkey and around the world. These conferences help students develop their skills by acting as delegates for different countries and discussing real-world issues.

Housing

ITU has dormitories that can house 3,000 students. These include Lakeside Housings, IMKB Dormitory, Verda Urundul, Ayazağa Dormitory, and Gumussuyu dormitory.

Radio ITU

Radio ITU is the first university radio station in Turkey. It is located in the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering building on the Maslak campus.

Entertainment

ITU Stadium is a popular place in Istanbul for concerts. Famous artists like Metallica, Justin Timberlake, Roger Waters, and Lady Gaga have performed there.

Notable faculty

Istanbul Technical University has had many important teachers and experts. Some of them are Cahit Arf, a mathematician from Turkey, and Fatih Birol, who works for the International Energy Agency. Others include Aykut Barka, a geologist, and Rudolf Belling, a sculptor from Germany. The university also counts Nihat Berker, a physicist, and Karl von Terzaghi, an engineer from Austria, among its notable teachers.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Istanbul Technical University alumni

Many graduates from Istanbul Technical University have helped build Turkey. They have worked on important projects like bridges, roads, and buildings. Two famous architects, Emin Halid Onat and Ahmet Orhan Arda, designed Anıtkabir. The university has also trained leaders of the country. Süleyman Demirel studied Civil Engineering and became the 9th president of Turkey. Turgut Özal studied Electrical Engineering and served as the 8th president of Turkey. Necmettin Erbakan studied Mechanical Engineering and was the 23rd prime minister of Turkey. Binali Yıldırım studied Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and became the 27th prime minister of Turkey.