Istanbul Technical University (ITU) was founded in 1773 by Sultan Musafa III as the Imperial School of Naval Engineering, making it the third oldest technical university in the world. Over the years, its functions have widened from the training of military staff to architects in the 19th century and civil engineers in the 20th century. Today, its primary focus is engineering, although it is also known for its social sciences and history.
ITU has 13 faculties – including Aernoatuics and Astronautics, Mechanical Engineering and Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering – which offer nearly 40 postgraduate and doctoral programmes. There are also a number of research institutes, such as the Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Genetics Research Center and the Center for Satellite Communications and Remote Sensing, and more than 350 laboratories.
More than 20 of ITU’s engineering programmes are certified by ABET Accreditation and the university offers many opportunities for students to study abroad. Its international graduate exchange programmes allow students to earn dual diplomas at American partner institutions, and there are many double major programmes on offer, along with more than 900 international partnerships and a large number of programmes on offer via Erasmus.
ITU has a strong focus on research and development and its ITU Seed programme supports the entrepreneurial endeavours of its students. Many firsts have been developed at ITU, including Turkey’s first communication satellite, its first hydrogen-powered boat and its first driverless car. The first television broadcast in Turkey was also made from ITU.
