Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKÜ)

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKÜ) is a public university established on 3 July 1992 under Law No. 3837 in Hatay. The university is named after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye. It conducts its educational and academic activities through various units spread across different regions of the province, with its main campus being the Tayfur Sökmen Campus located in the Antakya district of Hatay.

History

Efforts to establish a higher education institution in Hatay date back to the 1960s. The university became part of academic life as one of the 21 new universities established by Law No. 3837 on the Organization of Higher Education Institutions. In its initial period, it began operations with three academic units: one college and two vocational colleges. Following its establishment, it expanded its academic and physical infrastructure. The university’s name was officially updated to “Hatay Mustafa Kemal University” on 18 May 2018.

Campuses

The main campus of the university is the Tayfur Sökmen Campus, located in the Serinyol region of the Antakya district of Hatay. The majority of the faculties, the central library, research laboratories, and central administrative units are situated within this campus. The Tayfur Sökmen Campus is equipped with infrastructure facilities such as sports venues, conference halls, and social amenities. The university’s vocational colleges operate in various districts of the province, including Kırıkhan, Reyhanlı, Samandağ, Yayladağı, Hassa, and Altınözü.

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Academic Units

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University offers academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and associate degree levels.

Faculties

• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Architecture
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Faculty of Agriculture

Institutes

• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences

Colleges

• Antakya State Conservatory
• College of Tourism Management and Hotel Management
• College of Foreign Languages

Vocational Colleges

• Altınözü Agricultural Sciences Vocational College
• Antakya Vocational College
• Hassa Vocational College
• Hatay Health Services Vocational College
• Kırıkhan Vocational College
• Reyhanlı Social Sciences Vocational College
• Samandağ Vocational College
• Art and Design Vocational College
• Yayladağı Social Sciences Vocational College

Student Profile

The total number of students at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University is 23,323. The distribution of students by academic unit is as follows: 11,218 students in faculties, 9,159 students in vocational colleges, 2,691 students in institutes, and 255 students in the conservatory and colleges.^【1】 Admissions to undergraduate and associate degree programs are conducted centrally based on the results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS).

Departments

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University offers educational programs across its various faculties, colleges, and vocational colleges.

Undergraduate Programs

• Faculty of Dentistry: Dentistry.
• Faculty of Education: Science Teaching, Primary Mathematics Teaching, English Language Teaching, Special Education Teaching, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Classroom Teaching, Social Studies Teaching, Turkish Language Teaching.
• Faculty of Arts and Sciences: Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Geography, English Language and Literature (English), Chemistry, Mathematics, Art History, Sociology, History, Turkish Language and Literature.
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences: Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Political Science and Public Administration, International Relations, Management Information Systems.
• Faculty of Theology: Theology, Theology (M.T.O.K.).
• Faculty of Communication: Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising, Radio Television and Cinema.
• Faculty of Architecture: Architecture, Landscape Architecture.
• Faculty of Health Sciences: Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing.
• Faculty of Sports Sciences: Sports Management.
• Faculty of Medicine: Medicine.
• College of Tourism Management and Hotel Management: Gastronomy and Culinary Arts.
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Veterinary Medicine.
• Faculty of Agriculture: Horticultural Crops, Plant Protection, Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Field Crops, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Animal Science.

Associate Degree Programs

• Altınözü Agricultural Sciences Vocational College: Digital Agricultural Technologies, Food Technology, Chemical Technology, Water and Waste Management Technology, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
• Antakya Vocational College: Culinary Arts, Printing and Publishing Technologies, Computer Programming, Computer Technology, Office Management and Executive Assistance, Child Development, Foreign Trade, Electricity, Electronic Technology, Real Estate Management, Cartography and Cadastre, Construction Technology, Corporate Information Specialist, Logistics, Media and Communication, Accounting and Tax Applications, Office Technologies and Data Management, Private Security and Protection, Marketing, Health Information Systems Technology, Tourism and Hotel Management, Tourism and Travel Services, Local Governance.
• Hassa Vocational College (Kırıkhan): Computer Programming, Biomedical Equipment Technology, Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Systems Technology.
• Hatay Health Services Vocational College: Anesthesiology, First Aid and Emergency Care, Occupational and Recreational Therapy, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Services, Medical Imaging Techniques, Medical Laboratory Techniques, Elderly Care.
• Kırıkhan Vocational College: Oral and Dental Health, Back-End Software Development, Computer Technology, Information Security Technology, Office Management and Executive Assistance, Foreign Trade, Dental Prosthetics Technology, Pharmacy Services, Home Patient Care, Occupational Health and Safety, Accounting and Tax Applications, Office Technologies and Data Management, Opticianry, Local Governance.
• Reyhanlı Social Sciences Vocational College: Banking and Insurance, Foreign Trade, Logistics, Accounting and Tax Applications, Social Security, Social Services.
• Samandağ Vocational College: Smart Greenhouse Technologies, Plant Protection, Laboratory and Veterinary Health.
• Art and Design Vocational College: Art Conservation, Graphic Design, Architectural Decorative Arts, Architectural Restoration.
• Yayladağı Social Sciences Vocational College: Banking and Insurance, Child Development, Child Protection and Care Services, Foreign Trade, Logistics, Accounting and Tax Applications.

International Activities

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University engages in various international activities to promote global academic interaction. These include participation in student and staff exchange programs such as Erasmus+, Mevlana, and Farabi. The International Relations Unit coordinates these exchange processes. Additionally, the university has bilateral cooperation agreements with universities in different countries around the world.

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Awards and Achievements

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University has achieved notable success in academic and scientific endeavors.

SCImago Ranking Achievement: In the 2024 SCImago institutional ranking, the university ranked fourth in Türkiye in the field of energy and tenth in veterinary medicine.^【2】

TÜBİTAK Project Success: In 2024, the number of projects accepted under the TÜBİTAK 2204A student research program increased to 109. Additionally, 31 projects were accepted under the TÜBİTAK 1001 program in 2024.^【3】

Publication Performance: The number of publications in the Scopus database increased by 13 percent within one year, reaching 426. Four academics from the university have been included in Stanford University’s list of the world’s most influential scientists. In the AD Scientific Index, the university ranked seventh in Türkiye for publications in economics and econometrics.^【4】

Patent Registration: An invention titled “New Potential Antiviral Options Against SARS-CoV-2,” developed by Professor Dr. Nizami DURAN of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at Tayfur Ata Sökmen Faculty of Medicine, has been officially patented by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.^【5】

Academic Performance Awards: At the 2024–2025 academic year academic achievement award ceremony, 33 academics received awards based on evaluations conducted through the newly integrated Academic Performance Process Management System. In addition, the three academics with the highest project and patent performance, the three most successful academics in each faculty and college by scientific discipline, and the five teaching staff with the highest academic performance in vocational colleges were also honored.

Dr. Zafer ÇAYLI from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Faculty of Theology received first place in academic incentive, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rıdvan DEMİR received second place, and Dr. Oğuzhan KUNDAK from the Department of Fundamental Islamic Sciences received third place with certificates of appreciation.^【6】

Student Life

In addition to academic development, the university supports cultural, artistic, social, and sporting activities among students. Events such as theater performances, conferences, exhibitions, and technical tours are encouraged on campus. Dining halls and canteens are available on the main campus and other campuses to meet students’ meal needs. The Tayfur Sökmen Campus features sports facilities including an indoor sports hall, swimming pool, tennis courts, football fields, and fitness centers.^【7】