ITU was established in 1773, during the time of the Ottoman Sultan Mustafa III. With its original name "Muhendishane-i Bahr-i Humayun", The Royal School of Naval Engineering, its responsibility was to educate chart masters and ship builders. In 1795, the "Muhendishane-i Berr-i Humayun", The Royal School of Military Engineering, was established to educate the technical staff in the army. In 1847, education in the field of architecture was also introduced.

Established in 1883, the School of Civil Engineering assumed the name "Engineering Academy", with the aim of teaching essentials skills needed in planning and implementing the country's new infrastructure projects. Gaining university status in 1928, the Engineering Academy continued to provide education in the fields of engineering and architecture until it was incorporated into ITU in 1944. Finally, in 1946, ITU became an autonomous university which included the Faculties of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

With a history stretching back over 227 years, providing technical education within a modern educational environment and strong academic staff, ITU is strongly identified with architectural and engineering education in Turkey. Since its inception and foundation under Ottoman rule, ITU has constantly lead the way in reform movements, and in the latter era of the Republic of Turkey, ITU has assumed pivotal roles in the reconstruction, modernization, and administration of the country. The efforts and expertise of ITU graduates have been major contributors in the planning and construction of Turkey's roads, bridges, dams, factories, buildings, energy plants, communication networks, villages and cities. ITU is a state university which defines and continues to update methods of engineering and architecture in Turkey. It provides its students with modern educational facilities while retaining traditional values, as well as using its strong international contacts to mould young, talented individuals who can compete in the global arena.

Campuses

Of ITU's five campuses, the main campus is located at Ayazağa, a recently developed business area. The Rector's office and administrative units are situated on this campus. Faculties of: Civil Engineering, Electric and Electronic Engineering, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Minig, Science and Letters, Aeronautics, and Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering are all on this campus which extends over an area of 247 hectares. Of the five institutes ITU has, four are located on this campus comprising: the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Institute of Information Technology.

The Ayazağa campus can be reachable in ten minutes from the village of Istinye on the Bosphorus. Travel by water from the Istinye bay to Kadıköy and the Anatolian side is possible. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the city campuses in normal traffic, when there are no traffic-jams. Public buses setting out from the campus provide transportation to Taksim, the lively center of modern Istanbul.

The Gümüşsuyu, Taşkışla and Maçka campuses are located in the city center. The campuses at Gümüşsuyu and Taşkışla are both in the Taksim area which has served as the trade and cultural center of the city since the 19th century. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is located on the Gümüşsuyu campus. The Faculty of Architecture, the Social Sciences Institute, the Department of Fine Arts, the Continuous Education Center, the Rectorate and the ITU Development city-center offices are all located on the Taşkışla campus. ITU Solar Car - ARIBA   ITU Olympic Swimming Pool The Faculty of Management, The Department of Languages and History of Ataturk Reforms, the Turkish Music State Conservatory, ITU Foundation Offices and ITU Social Complexes are all located on the Maçka campus. An English Preparatory Program is provided by the Department of Languages. The Social Complex offers external and internal guests services at its hotel, restaurants, outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts. In addition, this campus is also home to a nursery. A cable-car shuttle nearby provides cheap and pleasant transportation between Maçka and Taşkışla.   The Maritime Faculty is located on the Tuzla campus with an area of 16.5 hectares. The fully equipped Maritime training pool is on this campus and the ITU Mediteranian Ship is anchored in the campus harbour. ITU Maritime Engineering Faculty Port

POTAM - ITU Pump and Turbine Research Laboratory ITU Humanoid Robots   ITU High-Voltage Laboratory