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Istanbul Technical University
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi

Motto	Asırlardır Çağdaş
Motto in English	Contemporary through the Ages
Type	Public technical university
Established	1773; 252 years ago (1773)
Founder	Mustafa III
Rector	Hasan Mandal
Academic staff	2,277; professor 547
Students	37,092
Undergraduates	25,470
Postgraduates	11,622
Location	Istanbul , Turkey
Campus	4 urban, 1 suburban, 1 abroad
Colors	Navy blue and honey yellow
Sporting affiliations	Turkish Basketball Division II ITU Hornets (American football) Ünilig Super League
Mascot	Bee

The Istanbul Technical University, often called İTÜ, is a public university in Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the oldest and most important schools in Turkey. It is also the world's third-oldest technical university. İTÜ focuses on engineering, natural sciences, and recently, social sciences.

İTÜ is known for its strong programs. In 2025, it was ranked 79th globally for Engineering and Technology. It was also ranked 182nd globally for Natural Sciences. The university offers many different study programs. It has 92 programs for undergraduate students and 188 for graduate students. İTÜ also has many labs and research centers.

Getting into İTÜ is quite hard. Students need to score very high on the national university entrance exam. Many graduates from İTÜ have won important science awards. Some alumni have even become members of science academies in other countries. The university's basketball team, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi B.K., plays in a top Turkish league.

History of İTÜ

Early Years in the Ottoman Empire

Istanbul Technical University has a very long and interesting history. It is considered the third oldest school in the world for engineering education. Sultan Mustafa III started İTÜ in 1773. It was part of his plan to modernize the Ottoman Empire. The school was first called the Imperial School of Naval Engineering. It was located in Kasımpaşa, Beyoğlu near the Golden Horn. Its main goal was to train people to build ships and make maps for the Ottoman Navy.

In 1795, another school was opened nearby. It was called the Imperial School of Military Engineering. This school trained technical staff for the Ottoman Army. Later, in 1845, the school added a program for training architects. The school's purpose and name changed again in 1883. By 1909, it became a public engineering school. This school trained civil engineers to help build the country's infrastructure.

İTÜ in Modern Turkey

By 1928, the school was officially recognized as a university. It taught both engineering and architecture. In 1944, its name was changed to Istanbul Technical University. Then, in 1946, it became an independent university. It had separate departments for architecture, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Today, Istanbul Technical University is 251 years old. It has a modern learning environment and excellent teachers. İTÜ is a symbol of engineering and architecture education in Turkey. It helped modernize the Ottoman Empire. It has also led the way in construction, industry, and technology in modern Turkey. Engineers and architects from İTÜ have played a big part in building Turkey. Many alumni have also become important figures in Turkish politics.

What Students Learn at İTÜ

Maçka campus of Istanbul Technical University

Taşkışla campus of Istanbul Technical University

Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center at the Ayazağa campus of Istanbul Technical University

Lecture Hall at the Ayazağa campus of ITU

Sky Tram between the Maçka and Taşkışla Campuses of Istanbul Technical University

İTÜ has many different departments, like "schools" in other universities. Each department focuses on a specific area of engineering. For example, the Electrical and Electronics Engineering department includes electrical engineering, robotics, and electronics.

Here are some of the main areas of study:

Civil Engineering: Includes Civil Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, and Environmental Engineering.
Architecture: Includes Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Interior Architecture.
Mechanical Engineering: Focuses on Mechanical Engineering.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering: Includes Electrical Engineering, Robotics, and Electronics.
Computer and Informatics: Includes Computer Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity.
Mines: Includes Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering.
Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering: Includes Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Food Engineering.
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering: Focuses on designing ships and working with oceans.
Sciences and Letters: Includes Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Molecular Biology.
Aeronautics and Astronautics: Includes Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautical Engineering.
Management: Includes Management Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Economics.
Maritime: Includes Marine Engineering and Maritime Transportation.
Textile Technologies and Design: Includes Textile Engineering and Fashion Design.

İTÜ also has a campus in Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It offers programs like Computer Engineering, Architecture, and Maritime Business.

Research Centers

İTÜ has many research groups and centers. These centers focus on different areas of study. Some examples include:

Energy Institute
Institute of Science and Technology
Institute of Informatics
Eurasia Earth Sciences Institutes
Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Genetics Research Center
ARI Technopolis (a technology park)
Center for Satellite Communications and Remote Sensing
National Center for High Performance Computing
Polar Research Center

Global Recognition and Rankings

University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World	701-800 (2023)
QS World	298 (2026)
QS Employability	301-500 (2022)
THE World	501-600 (2024)

Global – Science and engineering
QS Engineering & Tech.	79 (2025)
QS Natural Sciences	182 (2025)

Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia	17 (2022)

Many of İTÜ's engineering programs are approved by ABET. This is a well-known organization that checks engineering programs. The architecture and maritime programs are also approved by important international groups. To study at İTÜ, students usually need to pass an English test. About 30% of classes are taught in English, and 70% are in Turkish. Some subjects are taught completely in English.

İTÜ is highly respected in Europe for its engineering sciences. It offers many chances for students to study abroad through programs like Erasmus.

Campus Life at İTÜ

Maslak skyline and the ITU Ayazağa Campus

Ayazağa Campus

ITU Taşkışla Campus

ITU Lake in Ayazağa Campus

İTÜ is a public university with six campuses. Five campuses are in Istanbul, and one is in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. The main campus is in Maslak, Sarıyer. It is a large campus with many facilities. Here you can find the university's main offices, a swimming pool, a stadium, most faculties, and student dorms.

The Tuzla Campus is for students and teachers of the Maritime Faculty. It is located in the Tuzla area of Istanbul, which is known for its shipyards.

Three other campuses are in the city, close to Taksim Square.

The Taşkışla campus houses the Faculty of Architecture. The Taşkışla building is a famous historical building. It was once a military barracks during the Ottoman Empire.
The Gümüşsuyu campus is home to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
The Maçka campus houses the Faculty of Management. Both are in historic buildings.

The Famagusta campus in Northern Cyprus is İTÜ's first campus outside Turkey.

Library Services

ITU Mustafa Inan Library

The İTÜ library has a huge collection of books and journals. It also has many rare old books. The library can access international libraries and online databases. It has the largest collection of technical materials in Turkey. The main library is called the Mustafa Inan Library. It is named after a former university leader. The library's history goes back to 1795.

Special Facilities

Triga Mark-2 Nuclear Reactor: İTÜ has a small nuclear reactor on its Maslak campus. It is used for research at the Energy Institute.
Arı Technopolis: This is a technology park on the Ayazağa Campus. It helps companies do research and develop new technologies. It works with university researchers. Arı Technopolis is a leader in technology exports in Turkey.
National High Performance Computing Center: This center is also on the Ayazağa Campus. It has a very powerful supercomputer. This supercomputer was once among the top 500 in the world.

Student Life at İTÜ

Sports and Athletics

ITU Stadium at the Ayazağa campus.

The large Maslak campus has many sports areas. The Ayazağa Gymnasium is the main sports center. It has a stadium that can hold 3500 people for basketball and volleyball games. There is also a fitness center.

Basketball is very popular at İTÜ. The İTÜ basketball team has won the Turkish Basketball League Championship five times. They currently play in the Turkish Basketball League's Second Division.

While basketball is strong, the football team plays in an amateur league. There is a football stadium on the Ayazağa campus where they play.

The campus also has tennis courts and an indoor Olympic swimming pool. An outdoor swimming pool is available for university staff.

İTÜ's American football team, the ITU Hornets, has won the Turkish University Sports Leagues Super League multiple times.

Other sports clubs at İTÜ include badminton, fencing, diving, winter sports, dancing, tennis, paintball, and many more.

Social Activities

ITU Lake at the Ayazağa campus

İTÜ offers many ways for students to get involved outside of classes. Popular clubs include the Rock Club, Cinema Club, and Model United Nations. The European Students of Technology Group also helps students connect with peers from other European countries. Even with all these activities, the campus can sometimes be quiet. This is because many students choose to explore the city of Istanbul.

ITU Model United Nations (ITUMUN)

The Model United Nations Society at İTÜ is very active. Students in this club pretend to be delegates from different countries at the United Nations. They research and discuss global issues. This helps them develop important skills.

Housing

İTÜ has dormitories for about 3,000 students. These include Lakeside Housings, IMKB Dormitory, and Gumussuyu dormitory.

Radio ITU

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

Entertainment

The İTÜ Stadium is a popular place for concerts in Istanbul. Many famous artists have performed there. For example, Metallica, Justin Timberlake, Roger Waters, and Lady Gaga have all held concerts at the İTÜ stadium.

Important People from İTÜ

Notable Faculty Members

Many talented people have taught at İTÜ, including:

Cahit Arf — A famous Turkish mathematician.
Fatih Birol — The head of the International Energy Agency.
Rudolf Belling — A German sculptor.
Karl von Terzaghi — An Austrian civil engineer who started the field of soil mechanics.
Celâl Şengör — A well-known Turkish geologist.

Notable Alumni

Many İTÜ graduates have helped develop Turkey. They have played key roles in building bridges, roads, and buildings. For example, Emin Halid Onat and Ahmet Orhan Arda designed Anıtkabir. Two former presidents of Turkey, Süleyman Demirel and Turgut Özal, studied at İTÜ. Also, former prime ministers Necmettin Erbakan and Binali Yıldırım are İTÜ alumni.