IVAC'08 - Istanbul University

By IVAC'08

0008
16 April 2008

Istanbul University (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi)

Motto:

"Leadership in Higher Education for Centuries"

Established: 1453

Type: State university

Rector: Prof. Dr. Mesut Parlak

Staff: 6,000

Undergraduates: 60,000

Postgraduates: 8,000

Location: Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey

Campus: Beyazıt, Vezneciler, Avcılar, Çapa, Cerrahpaşa, Kadıköy

Founder:

Sultan Mehmed II (1453)
Sultan Abdülmecid I (1846)
Sultan Abdülaziz I (1870)
Sultan Abdülhamid II (1900)
Sultan Mehmed V (1912)
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1933)

Website: http://www.istanbul.edu.tr

Istanbul University (Turkish: İstanbul Üniversitesi) was founded as an institution of higher education named the Darülfünun (House of Multiple Sciences) on July 23, 1846; but then Medrese (Theological School) which was founded immediately after Mehmed II conquered Istanbul in 1453 is regarded as the precursor to the Darülfünun which evolved into Istanbul University.

Main entrance gate of Istanbul University on Beyazit Square which was known as Forum Tauri in the Roman period. Beyazit Tower,, located within the campus, is seen in the background.

German historian Richard Honig believes that the history of the Medrese which first evolved into the Darülfünun and later became Istanbul University actually started on March 1, 1321, during the reign of Osman I in Bithynia, the cradle of the Ottoman State.

The first modern Applied Physics courses were given at the Darülfünun on December 31, 1863, which marked the beginning of a new period, and on February 20, 1870, the school was renamed as the Darülfünun-u Osmani (Ottoman House of Multiple Sciences) and reorganized to meet the needs of modern sciences and technologies.

Istanbul University main building with statue of Atatürk in front of it

Starting from 1874, some classes of Literature, Law and Applied Sciences were given at the building of Galatasaray Lisesi, which continued regularly until 1881.

On September 1, 1900, the school was renamed and reorganized as the Darülfünun-u Şahane (Imperial House of Multiple Sciences) with courses on Mathematics, Literature and Theology.

Main building interior with skylight

On April 20, 1912, the school was renamed as the İstanbul Darülfünunu (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 April 21, 1924, the Republic of Turkey recognized the İstanbul Darülfünunu as a state school, and on October 7, 1925, the administrative autonomy of İstanbul Darülfünunu was recognized while the "Schools" (within the old Medrese system) became modern "Faculties".

Byzantine remains next to Beyazıt Tower

On August 1, 1933, İstanbul Darülfünunu was reorganized as İstanbul Üniversitesi (Istanbul University) following the educational reforms of Atatürk. Classes officially began on November 1, 1933, in "the first modern university" of the Republic of Turkey.