Atatürk University (ATAÜNİ)

Atatürk University (ATAÜNİ) is a public university located in the city of Erzurum, Türkiye. It was established as a result of the idea to create a university in Eastern Anatolia. Its campus, built on a vast area, houses physical infrastructure and academic units. The university has adopted scientific research alongside its educational activities as part of its mission.

Atatürk University ranks 7th among public universities in Türkiye in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 rankings.^【1】 In addition to traditional education, the institution serves students through its Faculty of Open and Distance Education.

History

The establishment process of Atatürk University began with a speech delivered by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, on 1 November 1937 at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, in which he emphasized the necessity of establishing a university in Eastern Anatolia. After Atatürk’s death, efforts were temporarily halted but were revived on 1 November 1950 with the opening address of President Celal Bayar to the Assembly.

In this context, the Ministry of National Education established a Science Commission composed of university representatives. The commission conducted surveys in eastern provinces in 1951 and, following an invitation and initiative by Erzurum Governor Cemal Göktan, visited Erzurum. Based on evaluations and reports concerning the city’s historical, cultural, and strategic significance, it was decided that the university would be established in Erzurum.

The first legal step occurred on 25 February 1953 with the adoption of Law No. 6059. Subsequently, on 10 March 1954, Law No. 6373 officially named the institution “Atatürk University.” Cooperation was established with the United States of America, and a delegation from the University of Nebraska conducted assessments in 1954. The delegation submitted a report based on the “Land Grant” university model. Following a draft prepared by the Turkish-American Joint Committee, Law No. 6990 came into effect on 7 June 1957, formally establishing Atatürk University.

Campuses

Atatürk University primarily conducts its activities at its central campus located in the city center of Erzurum. This campus spans 6.5 million square meters of open space and 1 million square meters of enclosed area. The campus includes faculty buildings, research centers, laboratories, libraries, social facilities, sports areas, and dormitories.

In addition to the central campus, the university has campuses for its vocational schools located in various districts. These units aim to develop human resources tailored to the needs of their respective regions.

Atatürk University Campus (Atatürk University)

Academic Units

Faculties

• Faculty of Open and Distance Education
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Letters
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Nursing
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Communication
• Kazım Karabekir Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Architecture and Design
• Faculty of Engineering
• Oltu Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Aquatic Products
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Applied Sciences
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Faculty of Agriculture

Institutes

• Institute of Atatürk’s Principles and History of the Turkish Revolution
• Institute of Educational Sciences
• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Fine Arts
• Institute of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Biotechnology
• Institute of Winter Sports and Sports Sciences
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences
• Institute of Turkish Studies

Vocational Schools

• Aşkale Vocational School
• Hınıs Vocational School
• Horasan Vocational School
• İspir Hamza Polat Vocational School
• Narman Vocational School
• Oltu Vocational School
• Pasinler Vocational School
• Health Services Vocational School
• Social Sciences Vocational School
• Şenkaya Vocational School
• Technical Sciences Vocational School
• Tortum Vocational School

College / Conservatory

• State Conservatory of Turkish Music
• College of Foreign Languages

Departments

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

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs are offered by faculties and vocational schools. The Kazım Karabekir Faculty of Education includes programs in German Language and Literature, Biology, Geography, Philosophy Group, Science Education, French Language, Primary School Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Preschool Education, Special Education, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Classroom Teaching, Social Studies, History, Turkish Language and Literature, and Turkish Language Teaching.

The Faculty of Letters offers programs in German Language and Literature, American Culture and Literature, Arabic Language and Literature, Archaeology, Information and Document Management, Geography, Contemporary Turkish Dialects and Literatures, Persian Language and Literature, Philosophy, English Language and Literature (English), English Translation and Interpretation, Psychology, Russian Language and Literature, Art History, Sociology, History, and Turkish Language and Literature. The Faculty of Science offers programs in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Data Science and Analytics.

Engineering programs include Computer Engineering (and English), Environmental Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data, and Software Engineering. The Faculty of Architecture and Design includes departments in Interior Architecture, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning.

Health-related programs include Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing (and English), Medicine (Turkish and English), and Veterinary Medicine. Additionally, the Faculty of Health Sciences offers programs in Nutrition and Dietetics, Child Development, and Midwifery.

The Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences offers programs in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Econometrics, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, International Relations, International Trade and Logistics, and Management Information Systems. The Faculty of Agriculture includes departments in Horticultural Crops, Plant Protection, Food Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Machinery and Technologies Engineering, Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Field Crops, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, and Zootechnics.

In Oltu, faculties offer programs in Finance and Banking, Business Administration, Social Services, Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Information Systems and Technologies, Data Science and Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Other undergraduate programs include Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Tourism Management, and Tourism Guiding at the Faculty of Tourism; Journalism, Public Relations and Promotion, Radio Television and Cinema, and New Media and Communication at the Faculty of Communication; Theology (and Arabic) at the Faculty of Theology; Photography at the Faculty of Fine Arts; Sports Management at the Faculty of Sports Sciences; and Aquatic Products Engineering at the Faculty of Aquatic Products. The Faculty of Open and Distance Education offers undergraduate programs in Child Development, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Graphic Arts, Public Relations and Promotion, Business Administration, Public Administration, Advertising, Recreation, Health Management, Social Services, Sociology, History, and Textile and Fashion Design through distance education.

Associate Degree Programs

Associate degree programs are conducted through vocational schools to meet the mid-level workforce needs of industry and service sectors. The Health Services Vocational School offers programs in Operating Room Services, Anesthesia, Dental Prosthetic Technology, Dialysis, Pharmacy Services, Electroneurophysiology, Disability Care and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, First Aid and Emergency Care, Audiometry, Orthopedic Prosthetics and Orthotics, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Work, Medical Imaging Techniques, Medical Laboratory Techniques, and Elderly Care.

The Technical Sciences Vocational School offers technical programs in Horseback Riding and Coaching, Computer Programming, Electricity, Electronic Communication Technology, Food Quality Control and Analysis, Food Technology, Garment Production Technology, Construction Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Chemical Technology, Machinery, Automotive Technology, and Water and Waste Management Technology.

The Social Sciences Vocational School offers programs in Office Management and Executive Assistance, Criminal Justice and Security Services, Child Development, Foreign Trade, Accounting and Tax Applications, Office Technologies and Data Management, Radio and Television Programming, Civil Aviation Operations, and Tourism and Hotel Management.

The Aşkale Vocational School offers programs in Office Management and Executive Assistance, Child Development, Electricity, Logistics, Office Technologies and Data Management, Health Institution Management, and Civil Aviation Operations.

The Hınıs Vocational School offers programs in Child Development, Pharmacy Services, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Opticianry, and Medical Laboratory Techniques.

The Horasan Vocational School offers programs in Computer Programming, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Private Security and Protection, Postal Services, Rail Systems Track Technology, and Civil Defense and Firefighting.

The İspir Hamza Polat Vocational School offers programs in Banking and Insurance, Biomedical Device Technology, Electricity, Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Forestry and Forest Products, Health Institution Management, and Renewable Energy Technology.

The Narman Vocational School offers programs in Banking and Insurance, Construction Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, and Medical Documentation and Secretarial Work.

The Oltu Vocational School includes departments in Banking and Insurance, Food Quality Control and Analysis, Graphic Design, Public Relations and Promotion, Construction Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Forestry and Forest Products, and Medical Documentation and Secretarial Work.

The Pasinler Vocational School offers programs in Banking and Insurance, Computer Programming, Cartography and Cadastre, Human Resources Management, and Construction Technology.

The Tortum Vocational School offers programs in Computer Programming and Graphic Design.

The Faculty of Open and Distance Education offers associate degree programs in Emergency and Disaster Management, Banking and Insurance, Information Management, Computer Programming, Office Management and Executive Assistance, Call Center Services, Child Development, Foreign Trade, E-Commerce and Marketing, Real Estate Management, Photography and Camerawork, Public Relations and Promotion, Islamic Studies, Occupational Health and Safety, Business Management, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Logistics, Accounting and Tax Applications, Radio and Television Programming, Advertising, Health Institution Management, Civil Aviation Operations, Social Services, Sports Management, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Work, Tourism and Hotel Management, Web Design and Coding, New Media and Journalism, and Local Governance.

Student Profile

Atatürk University is one of Türkiye’s universities with the highest number of students, offering traditional, open, and distance education programs.^【2】 A significant portion of its students receive education through the Faculty of Open and Distance Education. The university enrolls students from various provinces of Türkiye and abroad. The student profile spans associate, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Student Life

Within the campus, libraries and study halls support students’ academic work. Dormitory buildings are available to meet housing needs. Additionally, various sports facilities and social areas are included in the campus plan for student use.

International Activities

Atatürk University participates in student and academic exchange programs. The university has agreements for student and staff mobility with European universities through the Erasmus+ program, enabling students to complete part of their education at partner institutions abroad.

Additionally, the university utilizes the Mevlana Exchange Program and the Farabi Exchange Program. It also accepts international students and researchers.

Awards and Achievements

Atatürk University has received various rankings and awards from academic ranking organizations, state institutions, and technology festivals.

Academic Rankings and Project Performance

• URAP (2024–2025): Ranked 921st in the University Ranking by Academic Performance global ranking.
• Shanghai Ranking (ARWU 2024): Positioned in the 901–1000 band in the academic world ranking.
• THE ISR (2026): Ranked 159th globally, 9th nationally, and 6th among public universities in the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Ranking.
• TÜBİTAK ARDEB (2022): Ranked 4th among public universities and 5th among all universities by the number of projects accepted under the 1001 Projects program.^【3】

Accessible University Awards (YÖK 2023)

The “Accessibility in Space Award” (Orange Flag), awarded by the Higher Education Council (YÖK), was granted to the following units:

• Faculty of Nursing
• Kazım Karabekir Faculty of Education
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Engineering^【4】

TEKNOFEST and TÜBİTAK Competition Rankings (2023)

• The Psychology 4.0 Team, composed of students from the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, received the Best Presentation Award in the TEKNOFEST Technology Applications in Psychology competition. The team developed a comprehensive psychological support and monitoring program aimed at preventing suicide attempts among youth and young adults.

• The ARÇURA Team, consisting of İbrahim Dağcı and Kübra Solak, won the Best Presentation Award in the Biotechnology Innovation Idea Competition. The team designed an original biosensor model capable of rapidly detecting the Smallpox virus, a potential bioterrorism agent.

• Dr. Sümeyye Ulaş, won the TÜBA TEKNOFEST Doctoral Science Award for her thesis titled “Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.” The study focuses on therapeutic methods that strengthen interaction between parents and children.

• The TTurks Rocket Team, achieved second place in Türkiye in the TEKNOFEST Vertical Landing Rocket competition based on its performance.

• The project developed by Hira Beril Küçük and Oğuz Can Özdemir, won second place in Türkiye in the Machine Manufacturing and Automotive category of the TÜBİTAK 2242 University Student Research Project Competitions. The duo designed a next-generation driver alert system powered by artificial intelligence to enhance driving safety.

• The team of Hakan Efe, Fırat Sönmez, and Serhan Pehlivan, won second place in Türkiye in the TÜBİTAK 2242 Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship category. The team provided a solution that facilitates user access to services through a resource monitoring and reservation system developed for self-service laundries.

• The project team led by Arş. Gör. Onur Erdem Korkmaz, Sevde Gül Korkmaz, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Ömer Çoban, Doç. Dr. Emin Argun Oral, and Prof. Dr. İbrahim Yücel Özbek, secured third place in the Accessible Living Technologies competition held within TEKNOFEST. The team developed a Brain-Computer Interface System that enables users to express their intentions through a computer keyboard using EEG (electroencephalography) data.^【5】