It was commissioned by Ottoman statesman and grand vizier Rüstem Pasha, and built by court architect Mimar Sinan in 1551.

[1] Rüstem Pasha Medrese is situated at Rüstempaşa Street 34 in Sururi neighborhood of Fatih district in old Istanbul.

During the Republican Era (after 1923), the building served in the beginning as orphanage, and after 1966 as dormitory for university students.

[2] The building's facades suffered damage by atmospheric effects, fires around it and waste water caused by blocked sewage system.

The student room interiors have barred windows facing to the courtyard and arched niches.

It is believed that the chamber at the southern corner was a bath or a kitchen due to its different type of roof.