Balıkesir University (BAÜN)

Balıkesir University (BAÜN) is a public university located in the city of Balıkesir, Türkiye. The university’s main campus is the Çağış Campus, approximately 17 km from the center of Balıkesir city.

History

The foundations of Balıkesir University trace back to the Karesi Teacher Training School established in 1910. In 1932, this institution was renamed Necatibey Teacher Training School and relocated to the current building of Necatibey Faculty of Education through the initiatives of Mustafa Necati Bey, then Minister of National Education. From 1932 to 1982, Necatibey Teacher Training School continued its teacher training activities under the name Necatibey Institute of Education. In 1981, its three-year status was upgraded to a four-year Higher Teacher Training School, and in 1982 it was affiliated with Uludağ University under the name Necatibey Faculty of Education.

In the same year, by Decree-Law No. 41, other higher education institutions in Balıkesir were also brought under the umbrella of Uludağ University. Balıkesir School of Business and Tourism became Balıkesir School of Tourism Management and Hotel Management, while Balıkesir State Academy of Engineering and Architecture became Balıkesir Faculty of Engineering. Balıkesir Vocational School continued its activities under its original name.

These institutions remained under Uludağ University for ten years, forming the foundational infrastructure for the establishment of Balıkesir University. Balıkesir University was officially established by Law No. 3837, published in the Official Gazette No. 21281 on 11 July 1992, and acquired legal personality on 1 January 1993. The academic units designated for Balıkesir University later formed the infrastructure for Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, established in 2015.

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Campuses

The majority of the university’s educational and research activities are conducted at the Çağış Campus, approximately 17 km from the center of Balıkesir city. Additionally, academic units and vocational schools affiliated with the university are located in various districts of Balıkesir province.

Academic Units

Balıkesir University has the following academic units offering undergraduate and postgraduate education:

Faculties

• Burhaniye Applied Sciences Faculty
• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Architecture
• Faculty of Engineering
• Necatibey Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Institutes

• Edremit Olive Oil Institute
• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences

Colleges

• Edremit Civil Aviation College
• College of Foreign Languages

Vocational Schools

• Altınoluk Vocational School
• Ayvalık Vocational School
• Balıkesir Vocational School
• Bigadiç Vocational School
• Burhaniye Vocational School
• Dursunbey Vocational School
• Edremit Vocational School
• Havran Vocational School
• İvrindi Health Services Vocational School
• Kepsut Vocational School
• Savaştepe Vocational School
• Sındırgı Vocational School

Student Profile

Undergraduate and associate degree admissions to Balıkesir University are conducted through the centralized placement system based on results of the Basic Eligibility Test (TYT) and Field Eligibility Tests (AYT). Postgraduate admissions are carried out according to the admission criteria set by the relevant institutes. The total number of students enrolled in associate, undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the university is approximately 29,622 ^【1】.

Departments

Balıkesir University offers undergraduate and associate degree programs through its academic units.

Undergraduate Programs: Undergraduate education is provided in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences through programs in Biology, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Psychology, Sociology, History, Turkish Language and Literature, and other fundamental and social science disciplines. Necatibey Faculty of Education offers teacher training programs in Biology, Science Education, Primary School Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Mathematics, Preschool Education, Classroom Teaching, Social Studies, Turkish Language and Literature, and Turkish, as well as a program in Guidance and Psychological Counseling. The Faculty of Engineering includes departments in Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The Faculty of Health Sciences offers programs in Midwifery, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Gerontology and Nursing.

Other undergraduate programs include Law at the Faculty of Law; Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Political Science and Public Administration, and International Trade and Logistics at the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences; Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture; Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine; and Veterinary Medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In the field of applied sciences, Burhaniye Applied Sciences Faculty offers programs in Finance and Banking, Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Tourism Management, and International Trade; Edremit Civil Aviation College offers Aviation Management; the Faculty of Tourism offers Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Recreation Management, Tourism Management, and Tourism Guiding; and the Faculty of Sports Sciences offers Sports Management.

Associate Degree Programs: Associate degree education is delivered by Balıkesir and district vocational schools. These programs include technical fields such as Computer Programming, Electricity, Electronics Technology, Construction Technology, Machinery, Mechatronics, Control and Automation Technology, and Automotive Technology, as well as social and commercial fields such as Business Administration, Accounting and Tax Applications, Banking and Insurance, Marketing, Tourism and Hotel Management, Office Management and Executive Assistance. In the health services sector, İvrindi Health Services Vocational School offers programs in First Aid and Emergency Care, and Medical Documentation and Secretarial Services. In the agricultural sector, sector-specific programs include Laboratory Technician and Veterinary Health, and Olive Growing and Olive Processing Technology.

International Activities

Balıkesir University supports student and academic staff mobility as part of its internationalization strategy. It actively participates in exchange programs such as Erasmus+, Mevlana, and Farabi. Through the Erasmus+ program, the university has established agreements for study and internship mobility with higher education institutions in several European countries.

Awards and Achievements

Balıkesir University has achieved various successes in academic, scientific, artistic and sporting fields:

• International Achievements in Gastronomy: The university has won two world first prizes at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in international gastronomy categories. These awards were earned through the joint work of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sarıoğlan and graduate student Rana Şat on a book addressing generational consumption habits, and through the work of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sarıoğlan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yakup Dinç and graduate student Rana Şat on a book presenting Anatolian cuisine in menu format.^【2】

• Best Paper Award in Strategic Management: The study titled “Strategic Governance for Sustainable Performance: ESG Impacts of Board and Financial Structures in International Logistics” by Prof. Dr. Pelin Vardarlıer and Asst. Prof. Mert Demir from the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences was awarded the Prof. Dr. Erol Eren Best Paper Award at the 20th International Strategic Management Conference.^【3】

• TEKNOFEST Achievements: At TEKNOFEST 2025, the PLCommander Team composed of students and graduates from the Faculty of Engineering won first place in the Industrial Automation and Programmable Systems category. The HUB-10 Communication Team, also composed of students from the Faculty of Engineering, secured second place in the Wireless Communication competition.^【4】

• Sporting Achievements and Infrastructure: In 2025, the university was awarded the “Sports-Friendly Campus” prize. Balıkesir University athletes won a total of 62 cups and medals in individual and team disciplines during the 2022–2025 period in competitions organized by the University Sports Federation.^【5】

Student Life

Accommodation needs for students at the Çağış Campus are met through dormitories operated by the Credit and Hostels Institution (KYK) and private student life centers. The university hosts cultural, artistic, sporting and scientific activities for students. It also has a central library and sports facilities.