Istanbul University

1001–1200th
World University Rankings 2024
351–400th
Asia University Rankings 2023
Beyazit, Fatih, Istanbul, 34452, Turkey

About Istanbul University

Istanbul University can trace its origins back to 1453, when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters. It has gone through many iterations since then, serving as a madrasah (Ismalic theological school) and as an institution of higher education called the Darülfünûn (House of Sciences) in the 19th century, before being established as Istanbul University in 1933 after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk reformed Turkey’s education system. 

Today it has 22 faculties – including the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Aquatic Sciences – as well as three departments, eight schools, 16 institutes, 61 application and research centres – including a technology transfer centre – and the state conservatory. 

The university is spread across 12 campuses: Beyazıt-Central, Laleli-Vezneciler, Vefa, Horhor, Avcılar, Çapa, Cerrahpaşa, Şişli, Kadıköy, Bahçeköy, Bakırköy and Büyükçekmece. The main campus is at Beyazıt-Central, which houses the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economy, Faculty of Political Science, Faculty of Communication and the Hasan Ali Yücel Faculty of Education. The campus is situated in the Old City, an area of historical and architectural significance on Istanbul’s peninsula. The university has more than 5,000 academic staff and 7,000 administrative staff, who educate and take care of more than 80,000 students.

The university’s mission is to “bring together East and West; the past and the future”. Notable almuni include the 11th Turkish president Abdullah Gül, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Aziz Sancar and David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel. 

Explore rankings data for Istanbul University

All ranked institutions have an overall score and 4 pillar scores. However for each pillar, only institutions ranked in the top 500 overall or the top 500 in this pillar have a publicly visible score

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Key statistics

  • 9%
    Percentage of International Students
    (1)
  • 25.4
    No. of students per staff
    (1)
  • 14%
    Proportion of ISR Publication
    (1)
  • 56 : 44
    Student Ratio of Females to Males
    (1)
  • 61,369
    Number of FTE Students
    (1)
Based on data collected for the (1) 2024 World University Rankings

Subjects taught at Istanbul University

  • Law

    • Law
  • Arts & humanities

    • Archaeology
    • Art, Performing Arts & Design
    • Architecture
    • Languages, Literature & Linguistics
    • History, Philosophy & Theology
  • Business & economics

    • Business & Management
    • Accounting & Finance
    • Economics & Econometrics
  • Physical sciences

    • Chemistry
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
    • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Social sciences

    • Geography
    • Sociology
    • Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
    • Communication & Media Studies
  • Psychology

    • Psychology
  • Life sciences

    • Biological Sciences
  • Computer science

    • Computer Science
  • Clinical, pre-clinical & health

    • Other Health
    • Medicine & Dentistry