Fırat University (FÜ)

Fırat University (FÜ) is a public university located in Elazığ, Türkiye. Its establishment is based on a law dated 11 April 1975. The university continues higher education activities in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions by opening institutions in Elazığ as well as in Bingöl, Muş, Tunceli and Kemaliye district of Erzincan.

History

Higher education activities in Elazığ began in 1967 with the establishment of the Higher Technical School. In the same year, the Senate of Ankara University decided to establish a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Elazığ, and this faculty commenced education and instruction in 1970. The Higher Technical School was transformed into the Elazığ State Academy of Engineering and Architecture (EDMMA) in 1969.

Fırat University officially came into existence on 11 April 1975 through the consolidation of these institutions under a single umbrella. At the time of its founding, it included the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Letters. EDMMA was restructured as the Faculty of Engineering and integrated into the university, and the Faculty of Medicine was established in 1982.

Campuses

The university primarily conducts its educational and operational activities at campuses centered in Elazığ. Educational activities are also extended across the province through vocational schools located in Baskil, Karakoçan, Keban, Kovancılar and Sivrice districts of Elazığ.

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Academic Units

Faculties

• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Architecture
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Aquatic Products
• Faculty of Technical Education
• Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Institutes

• Institute of Educational Sciences
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences
• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Software and Information Research

Colleges

• College of Foreign Languages
• State Conservatory
• College of Civil Aviation

Vocational Schools

• Baskil Vocational School
• Elazığ Organized Industrial Zone Vocational School
• Karakoçan Vocational School
• Keban Vocational School
• Kovancılar Vocational School
• Health Services Vocational School
• Sivrice Vocational School
• Social Sciences Vocational School
• Technical Sciences Vocational School

Student Profile

The total number of students enrolled at Fırat University is 43,614. Admission to undergraduate and associate degree programs is conducted based on the results of the national centralized Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS).

Departments

Fırat University offers undergraduate and associate degree programs through its faculties and vocational schools.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs are concentrated in engineering, health, basic sciences, social sciences and education.

Engineering and Technology Fields: Programs in this area are offered by both the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Technology. These include Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering, and Software Engineering. The Faculty of Technology also offers a program in Forensic Informatics Engineering.

Health and Medicine Fields: Programs include Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, Midwifery, Nursing, and Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation.

Basic Sciences and Architecture: The Faculty of Science offers programs in Biology, Physics, Statistics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Molecular Biology and Genetics. The Faculty of Architecture offers the Architecture program.

Education Field: The Faculty of Education offers programs in Science Teaching, Primary Mathematics Teaching, English Teaching, Preschool Teaching, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Classroom Teaching, Social Studies Teaching, and Turkish Language Teaching.

Social, Humanities and Communication: The Faculty of Human and Social Sciences offers programs in German Language and Literature, Geography, Contemporary Turkic Languages and Literatures, English Language and Literature, Art History, Sociology, History, and Turkish Language and Literature. The Faculty of Communication offers programs in Journalism, Visual Communication Design, Public Relations and Promotion, and Radio, Television and Cinema.

Administrative, Theological and Sports Fields: The Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences offers programs in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Political Science and Public Administration, Social Work, and Management Information Systems. Additional programs include Theology (Faculty of Theology), Sports Management (Faculty of Sports Sciences), Aquatic Products Engineering (Faculty of Aquatic Products), Aviation Electricity and Electronics, and Aircraft Maintenance and Repair (College of Civil Aviation).

Associate Degree Programs

Associate degree programs are delivered through nine vocational schools.

Health and Social Services Vocational Schools: The Health Services Vocational School offers programs in Anesthesiology, Physiotherapy, Audiometry, Autopsy Assistance, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Services, Medical Imaging Techniques, and Medical Laboratory Techniques. The Social Sciences Vocational School offers programs in Culinary Arts, Banking and Insurance, Office Management and Executive Assistance, Foreign Trade, Public Relations and Promotion, Business Administration, Accounting and Tax Applications, Marketing, Tourism and Hotel Management, and Local Governance.

Technical and Industry-Oriented Vocational Schools: The Technical Sciences Vocational School provides training in Computer Programming (including distance learning), Biomedical Device Technology, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Technology, Graphic Design, Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology, Interior Design, Construction Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Architectural Restoration, and Automotive Technology. The Elazığ Organized Industrial Zone Vocational School offers programs in Computer Programming, Natural Gas and Installation Technology, Electronic Technology, Industrial Product Design, Garment Production Technology, Construction Technology, Welding Technology, Chemical Technology, and Structural Inspection.

District and Other Vocational Schools: District vocational schools and other institutions offer the following programs: Alternative Energy Sources Technology, Horticulture and Railway Systems Locomotive Operation (Baskil Vocational School); Environmental Protection and Control, Electricity Generation Transmission and Distribution, Geotechnics, Food Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, and Landscape and Ornamental Plant Cultivation (Keban Vocational School); Horse Breeding and Training, Cartography and Cadastre, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, and Tourism and Hotel Management (Sivrice Vocational School); Computer Programming, Child Development, Food Technology, Land Registry and Cadastre, and Structural Inspection (Karakoçan Vocational School); and Computer Programming, Pharmacy Services, Home Patient Care, First Aid and Emergency Care, Business Administration, Opticianry, and Health Institution Management (Kovancılar Vocational School).

International Activities

Fırat University supports student and academic staff mobility as part of its internationalization strategy. To this end, it implements exchange programs such as Erasmus+ and Mevlana to provide opportunities for international experience.

The university actively participates in research, innovation and cooperation activities under European Union (EU) projects. It serves as the coordinating institution in projects supported by the Central Executive Agency in Brussels, currently managing 1 Higher Education Capacity Building project and 3 Jean Monnet Module projects. Additionally, it participates as a beneficiary in 1 Horizon Marie Curie Staff Exchange project and 1 Virtual Exchanges project supported by the Central Agency.

The university holds the roles of lead and supporting institution in projects funded by the Türkiye National Agency under the ESC (European Solidarity Corps) program and benefits from 2 KA154 (Youth Participation) projects. These activities aim to encourage academic staff and students to join global research networks, support the development of innovative ideas, and strengthen scientific collaborations.^【1】

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Awards and Achievements

Fırat University has received recognition for achievements in various fields from national and international ranking institutions.

• URAP Turkey Ranking (2025-2026): Ranked 17th in the 2025-2026 Turkey ranking prepared by URAP (University Ranking by Academic Performance) within the Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University. It rose to 14th place among public universities.^【2】

• URAP World Field Ranking (2024-2025): In the 2024-2025 World Field Ranking published by URAP, the university ranked among the world’s top institutions in 12 distinct scientific fields.^【3】

• YÖKAK Full Institutional Accreditation: Following an evaluation by the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK), the university earned the Full Accreditation certificate on 18 July 2025 for meeting all quality assurance criteria.^【4】

• US News Engineering Field Ranking (2019): According to the US News ranking, Fırat University ranked 409th globally and 5th nationally in the field of Engineering.^【5】

• TÜBİTAK 2209-A Student Projects (2024/1): Based on the results of the 2024/1 cycle of the TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Student Research Projects Support Program, Fırat University was among the top three universities in Türkiye with the highest number of approved projects. It received funding for 461 out of 881 applications, achieving a high acceptance rate.^【6】

• YÖK Accessible University Flag Awards (2024): Under the YÖK Accessible University Flag Awards, the Faculty of Education and the Directorate of the Technical Sciences Vocational School were awarded the orange flag for accessibility in physical environments.^【7】

• TEKNOFEST 2025 Finals: At TEKNOFEST 2025, 13 teams from Fırat University successfully advanced to the finals with their developed projects.^【8】

Student Life

Student housing needs are met by dormitories operated by the Credit and Hostels Institution (KYK) and private dormitories located on and around campus. Social facilities such as cafeterias and dining halls are available for student use. Students actively participate in social life through numerous student clubs that organize cultural, artistic and sporting events.