Considered as the world's third institution of higher learning specifically dedicated to engineering education, Istanbul Technical University (ITU) has a long and distinguished history.

ITU was founded in 1773 by Sultan Mustafa III, as an important institution in the Nizam-ı Cedid reforms,[14] as the Imperial School of Naval Engineering (Ottoman Turkish: Mühendishâne-i Bahrî-i Hümâyun),[15] in the Kasımpaşa quarter on the Golden Horn, originally dedicated to train ship builders and cartographers for the Ottoman Navy.

In 1795 the Imperial School of Military Engineering (Ottoman Turkish: Mühendishâne-i Berrî-i Hümâyun) was established in the nearby Hasköy quarter on the Golden Horn, and the scope of the school was broadened to train technical military staff for the modernization of the Ottoman Army.

[14][15] In 1845 the engineering function of the school was further widened with the addition of a program devoted to the training of architects.

Istanbul Technical University not only played a leading role in the modernization movement of the Ottoman Empire, but has also maintained its leadership position in the changes and innovations taking place in the construction, industrialization, and technological realms during the modern days of the Turkish Republic.

Engineers and architects trained at Istanbul Technical University have played significant roles in the construction of Turkey.

Minimum score of 72 from TOEFL IBT, or success in the English proficiency exam is one of the prerequisites to register the Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate level courses at ITU.

[34] Therefore, the university provides a broad range of options, that involve highly reputable institutions, to its students for the Erasmus Mobility.

The University Rectorate, swimming pool, stadium, along with most of the faculties, student residence halls and the central library of ITU are located there.

The history of ITU Library Services dates back to 1795, originating from the printing house of the Mühendishâne-i Berrî-i Hümâyun of the Ottoman Empire.

Tennis courts and an indoor Olympic swimming pool, which is opened in May 2007, are also available in the Ayazağa Campus.

Other sports clubs and activities in ITU are badminton, ultimate, fencing, diving, winter sports, dancing and gymnastics, tennis, paintball, aikido, athletics, mountaineering, bridge, swimming, cycling and triathlon, skiing, parachuting, korfball, handball, iaido, capoeira, wrestling, archery, ultimate frisbee and sailing.

Model United Nations Society of ITU is one of the most active student clubs in the University.

Participants research and formulate political positions based on the actual policies of the countries they represent.

[72] Radio ITU is located in the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering building on Maslak campus.

For instance, Metallica (in 2014), Justin Timberlake (in 2014), and Roger Waters (in 2013) gave concerts at the ITU stadium.

Lady Gaga also performed at the stadium on September 16, 2014 to a sold-out crowd of 25,157 people as part of her artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball.

For instance, Emin Halid Onat and Ahmet Orhan Arda are architects of Anıtkabir.