Hacettepe University

Hacettepe University Overview

Hacettepe University (HU), founded in 1967, stands tall as a distinguished state university nestled in the heart of Turkey's capital, Ankara. With its main campus in Sıhhiye and the sprawling Beytepe Campus, encompassing five campuses in total, the university leaves an indelible mark on the academic landscape.

This institution's roots trace back to 1954 when the Child Health Department emerged within Ankara University's Medical Faculty in the Hacettepe neighborhood of Altındağ. Spearheaded by the visionary Professor Dr. İhsan Doğramacı, it soon evolved into the Institute and Hospital of Child Health, transitioning into a remarkable healthcare establishment by 1957. The institute expanded its horizons, initiating educational pursuits alongside research and treatment endeavors in 1958. The subsequent years saw the establishment of faculties focusing on nursing, medical technology, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation, followed by the School of Health Sciences specializing in nutrition and dietetics in 1962. 1963 witnessed the transformation of this school into the esteemed Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, while simultaneously launching the School of Dentistry.

The unification of educational, research, and healthcare activities under one roof materialized with the establishment of the Hacettepe Science Center in 1965, giving birth to the active Hacettepe Medical Center and Hospital the following year. As time passed, Hacettepe University's journey expanded to include faculties of Medicine, Health Sciences, Science, Social Sciences, and Home Economics in 1968. The previously existing Pharmacy and Dentistry departments were elevated to faculties in 1971.

Innovative thinking propelled the university's growth, ushering in new departments, faculties, research centers, and vocational schools. Yet, the insufficiency of space posed a challenge that led to the birth of the expansive Beytepe Campus, sprawled over a 1500-hectare expanse, approximately 20 kilometers from the Sıhhiye Campus.

As of 2020, Hacettepe University thrives with an impressive array of academic institutions, encompassing fifteen faculties, fifteen institutes, two vocational schools, one conservatory, four vocational schools, and a remarkable count of ninety-eight research and application centers.

This institution's influence stretches beyond academia, nurturing a vibrant tapestry of student clubs, making it a hub of diversity and engagement. An astonishing assemblage of approximately 140 student clubs thrives on the Sıhhiye and Beytepe Campuses, encompassing realms of art, sports, science, politics, technology, and social causes like animal rights, women's rights, and human rights. Beyond merely joining existing clubs, students hold the freedom to establish clubs aligning with their interests, subject to fulfilling necessary criteria.

Guided by the vision of nurturing both artistic and scientific endeavors, Hacettepe University showcases its commitment through two exquisite art museums situated on separate campuses. The Hacettepe Art Museum, established in 2005 on the Sıhhiye Campus, exhibits an awe-inspiring collection, featuring masterpieces by renowned artists like Burhan Doğançay, Şeref Akdik, Hikmet Onat, Feyhaman Duran, and many more. On the Beytepe Campus, the Hamiye Çolakoğlu Ceramic Museum, inaugurated in 2020, pays homage to the exceptional artist and academician Hamiye Çolakoğlu, an influential figure in Turkish ceramic art.

Hacettepe University consistently ranks high in prestigious lists such as the Webometrics, where it garners international recognition and acclaim. Its unwavering commitment to excellence shines through the Faculty of Medicine, which has earned its place as one of the finest medical schools in Turkey, securing the top spot among state universities for over a decade.