Marmara University (MÜ)

Marmara University (MÜ) is a public higher education institution based in Istanbul, with its foundation laid on 16 January 1883. The university’s academic and administrative units are distributed across multiple campuses located on both the Anatolian and European sides of Istanbul.

History

The establishment of Marmara University traces back to 16 January 1883, when the Hamidiye Higher School of Commerce began operations in the İzzet Efendi Mansion in Kanlıfırın. In 1890, the institution was relocated to the Hakkı Bey Mansion in Beyazıt and awarded its first graduates in 1887.

Following the proclamation of the Republic, the school’s name was changed to Higher School of Commerce. At the beginning of the 1924–1925 academic year, it became the Higher School of Economics and Commerce, one of the first mixed-gender educational institutions in Türkiye where male and female students attended classes together. In 1959, the institution adopted the name Istanbul Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences (İİTİA), operating from a building in the Sultanahmet district.

By virtue of a Decree with the Force of Law published in the Official Gazette No. 17760 on 20 July 1982, the Istanbul Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences was transformed into Marmara University. In the 1982–1983 academic year, Marmara University commenced its academic activities with nine faculties, one vocational school, and one institute.

Old photograph of Marmara University’s Atatürk Faculty of Education (Marmara University)

Campuses

The university’s educational, research and administrative activities are carried out across various campuses throughout Istanbul. These campuses are:

• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Külliyesi (Maltepe)
• Mehmet Genç Külliyesi (Dragos)
• Göztepe Campus
• Bağlarbaşı Campus
• Anadoluhisarı Campus
• Acıbadem Campus
• Kartal Campus
• Sultanahmet Campus

Academic Units

The university comprises faculties, institutes, vocational schools and applied sciences vocational schools offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and research. Rapidly expanding since 1982, the university currently operates with 21 faculties, one vocational school, four applied sciences vocational schools and 13 institutes.

Faculties

The university has 21 faculties:

• Atatürk Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Financial Sciences
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Economics
• Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Business Administration
• Faculty of Architecture and Design
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Political Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Technical Education
• Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Applied Sciences

Institutes

The 13 institutes conducting postgraduate education and research are:

• Institute of European Studies
• Institute of Banking and Insurance
• Institute of Educational Sciences
• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Gastroenterology
• Institute of Fine Arts
• Institute of Islamic Economics and Finance
• Institute of Neurological Sciences
• Institute of Population and Social Research
• Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Countries Studies
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences
• Institute of Turkish Studies

Vocational Schools

• Vocational School of Jewelry Technology and Design
• Vocational School of Applied Sciences
• Vocational School of Foreign Languages

Applied Sciences Vocational Schools

• Vocational School of Justice
• Vocational School of Health Services
• Vocational School of Social Sciences
• Vocational School of Technical Sciences

Visual of Marmara University (Marmara University)

Student Profile

Marmara University hosts more than 62,217 students from Türkiye and abroad. According to 2024 data, the student population includes approximately 6,617 associate degree students, 44,852 undergraduate students and 10,748 postgraduate students (master’s and doctoral programs).^【1】

Departments

The university offers 153 active associate and undergraduate programs across its faculties and vocational schools. Academic programs cover the fields of social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health and arts. In addition to Turkish, instruction is provided in five languages: English, French, German and Arabic. Students are offered opportunities to participate in double major and minor programs.

International Activities

The university participates in various programs promoting international student and staff mobility. Active exchange programs include Erasmus+, Mevlana and Farabi. Through these programs, hundreds of students each year study at partner higher education institutions abroad. According to 2024 data, 524 students came to the university under the Erasmus program, while 1,076 students went to institutions abroad.

Awards and Achievements

Marmara University has received numerous national and international awards through its academic staff and students. Key achievements in scientific performance include:

• PALMS Awards: The Institute of Social Sciences was ranked by the international Eduniversal organization with PALMS Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
• TÜBA-TESEP and TÜBİTAK Awards: Academic staff have received support and recognition through projects funded by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Social Sciences Awards (TESEP) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) Research Support Programs (ARDEB).
• SAP Innovation Awards: Students have achieved rankings in international competitions in corporate software and digital transformation, such as the SAP Innovation Awards.

Student Life

The university provides an environment that supports not only academic education but also social and cultural activities. More than 100 student clubs operate within the university. The Prof. Dr. Orhan Oğuz Library located on the Göztepe Campus offers 24/7 services.^【2】 Campus facilities include sports halls, swimming pools, football fields and tennis courts. Dining halls and cafeterias provide students with a variety of food options.