Gebze Technical University

Gebze Technical University (Gebze Teknik Üniversitesi (GTÜ)), formerly known as Gebze Institute of Technology (GIT), is one of two institutes of technology founded in Turkey; The other one is İzmir Institute of Technology. It is a university for undergraduate and graduate studies and research activities located in a specifically selected area in Gebze, one of the most industrialized regions of the Marmara Region. Gebze Technical University is one of the universities that hold the title "research university" in Turkey, which "research university" title is given based on university's academic output by Council of Higher Education.

Research
Although it is a fairly new undergraduate institution, GTU has held the fifth place among all universities in Turkey, and the first place among the state universities for number of publications per person by having increased the number of scientific publications in international publications to 153 by 2008.

Establishment
Gebze Technical University was founded in 1992 under the name of Gebze Institute of Technology. Gebze Technical University (GTU) was established upon the foundations and experience of Gebze Institute of Technology (GIT) with the decree dated 4 November 2014 of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, interiting and embracing GIT's 22-year heritage.

Education
The institute initially provided education at graduate level for four faculties in 1994, and further on expanded to offer undergraduate education in the departments of Physics, Mathematics, Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electronics Engineering in 2001. Since 2001, the university has continued to expand its institutes, faculties and departments. Most recently, the Aeronautical Engineering department was added in 2021. All education programs are supported in English (30%).

Institutes, Faculties, Departments & Vocational Schools

 * Institutes
 * Energy Technologies Institute
 * Institute of Biology
 * Institute of Nanotechnology
 * Institute of Earth and Marine Sciences
 * Institute of Information Technologies
 * Faculties
 * Faculty of Science
 * Physics
 * Chemistry
 * Mathematics
 * Molecular Biology and Genetics
 * Faculty of Engineering
 * Computer Engineering
 * Bioengineering
 * Environmental Engineering
 * Electronics Engineering
 * Industrial Engineering
 * Civil Engineering
 * Geomatics Engineering
 * Chemical Engineering
 * Mechanical Engineering
 * Materials Science and Engineering
 * Faculty of Architecture
 * Architecture
 * City and Regional Planning
 * Industrial Product Design
 * Aerospace Faculty
 * Aeronautical Engineering Department
 * Faculty of Business Administration
 * Department of Economics
 * Department of Management
 * Science of Strategy
 * Management Information Systems
 * Vocational Schools
 * Cyber Security Vocational School
 * Cyber Security Analyst and Operator
 * Departments Under Rectorate
 * Department of Physical Education and Sports
 * Turkish Language Preparatory Department
 * Foreign Languages

Campuses
The university consists of one campus, Çayırova Campus, which is still under construction.

Çayırova Campus
Being the first and the main campus of Gebze Technical University, Çayırova Campus is located 10 kilometers away from Gebze city center toward Istanbul. The campus is of 1.400.000 m². The rector's office, administrative bodies, library, and classrooms for the entire undergraduate and a number of graduate studies are located in Çayırova Campus. Çayırova Campus is divided into two sides with differentiating climates - a north side (commonly referred to as the "forest side" by students for its tree-packed, cool environment) as well as a south side (commonly referred to as the "desert side" by students for its dry, grassless environment). In between both sides, is the Marmaray Fatih/Gebze Teknik Üniversitesi train station. The main entrance to the university is on the north side of the campus. About 500 meters to the left of the main entrance, you can find a bus stop offering commute around Kocaeli Province as well as the entrance to the Marmaray train station.

Muallimköy Campus (permanently shut down), with its 3,800,000 m² area, is still under construction but Environmental Engineering, Geodetic and Photogrammetric Engineering, Biology and Chemistry departments have been continuing their research there since 2002. It is planned to contain most of the departments and a 500-person capacity dormitory facility. The Istanbul–Ankara TEM highway passes very near the campus. In 2014, the faculties and departments on the muallimköy campus were moved to the Çayırova Campus. Muallimköy campus land was transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Transportation
Offering multiple transportation methods to both Istanbul and Kocaeli Province of Türkiye, Gebze Technical University is one of the most advantageous universities in Türkiye in terms of transportation. In between both sides of campus, is the Marmaray Fatih/Gebze Teknik Üniversitesi train station named directly after the university. About 500 meters to the left outise of the university main entrance, you can find the following buses offering commute around Kocaeli province: 200, 501, 502, 503 and 490. 490 is the route to the Muallimköy dormitory owned by the university and KYK. 

Library
The GTU Library, otherwise known as the Prof. Dr. Nejat Göyünç Library, is a three-floor library on the southern side of the Çayırova campus that is 4,177 square meters large and able to host 560 people.

It possesses the following:
 * Over 20,000 books
 * Over 6,000 published thesis'
 * Over 300,000 eBooks
 * Over 800 CDs, VCDs and DVDs
 * Over 75,000 electronic publishments
 * Over 60 external databases (resources)

Laboratories
GTU has over 100 research and/or teaching laboratories in both the northern and southern sides of campus. Every major department has its own computer network and laboratory for its students. In addition, public computer laboratories are available workdays and weekends.

Cafeterias
GTU has two student cafeterias as well as a personnel cafeteria. Despite the personnel cafeteria being aimed to serve only university personnel, students are able to eat there as well.


 * One student cafeteria is located behind the Architecture department building in the northern side of campus
 * The other student cafeteria is located inside of the -1st floor of the Environmental Engineering and Chemistry building in the southern side of campus
 * The personnel cafeteria is located behind the Student Affairs building and near the Rectorate building in the northern side of campus

The price of a cafeteria meal for undergraduate students in the 2023-2024 academic year is 15 Turkish Lira.

Sports Complex
The GTU Sports Complex, also known as the Ahmet Ayhan Closed Sports Hall, is a sports complex located near the Chemical Engineering building in the southern side of campus. Inside of the complex: Basketball, volleyball, robotic events are held. There is also a fitness area inside of the complex.

The cost to use the complex, per person during the 2023-2024 academic year is as follows:


 * Student: 50 TL
 * Personnel: 50 TL
 * Guest: 120 TL

GTU Congress and Culture Center
The GTU Congress and Culture Center, also known as the Congress Center for short, opened recently on February 02, 2020 is a congress hall used by the university for hosting: Conferences, seminars, concerts, international meetings, new academic year opening ceremonies and more. It is located in the far north of campus, north of the Material Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering building and near the D.100 state road.

Kelebek Cafe & Restaurant
Arguably the most crowded, and social location in campus, Kelebek Cafe & Restaurant is a university-sponsored, private cafe and restaurant located in the northern side of campus right across of the Architecture department building and interconnected to the left side of the Foreign Languages building. The cafe and restaurant offer a wide selection of products to consume and prices often fluctuate.

GTU Stationary & Copy Center
The GTU Stationary & Copy Center, also known as the Copy Center or the Photocopy Center for short, is a university-sponsored, private shop located to the left of the Kelebek Cafe & Restaurant. The shop offers products covering student and academician needs such as: Printing, pencils, pens, empty sheets of papers, erasers, sharpeners etc. . Prices often fluctuate.

Half Olympic Closed Swimming Pool
The GTU Half Olympic Closed Swimming Pool, or the Closed Swimming Pool for short, opened on September 15, 2017, is an indoor swimming pool complex, located next to the right of the GTU Sports Complex in the southern side of campus.

The cost to use the swimming pool, per person during the 2023-2024 academic year is as follows:


 * Student: 100 TL
 * Personnel: 100 TL
 * Guest: 220 TL

Sport Courts
GTU features multiple basketball, volleyball, soccer and tennis courts on the northern side of campus.

The cost to use the courts, per person during the 2023-2024 academic year is as follows:


 * Student: 50 TL
 * Personnel: 50 TL
 * Guest: 120 TL

Upcoming Facilities
1. In response to long-term criticism about a lack of dormitories close to campus, a dormitory facility is being constructed across of the Environmental Engineering and Chemistry building in the southern side of campus.

2. A building containing three amphitheaters inside of it is being constructed to the left of the library in the southern side of campus.

Campus Life
Since its establishment, GTU has been often criticized for its lack of social life on campus, with the university itself hosting few to no events per year, leaving students to socialize by themselves. Due to factors such as: Low student count, low club/society participation, low funding and low to no university personnel support, not a lot of activities and events take place on campus, leaving many students dissatisfied with campus life. Most social interaction occurs at a private cafe and restaurant on campus - the Kelebek Cafe & Restaurant. The student societies active at GTU are:
 * Astronomy and Physics Society
 * IEEE Student Branch
 * IT Club
 * Music Society
 * Photography and Drawing Society
 * Robot Society
 * Sport Society
 * 1907 UNIFEB GYTE
 * Dance Club
 * Nature Sports and Climbing
 * GTU Rowing Crew
 * UltrAslan GYTE
 * UNIBJK GYTE


 * Theater Club
 * International Students Club

Notable alumni
Most graduates take role in the development and leaderhsip of Türkiye. For example,

- İdris Güllüce is a civil engineer, politician for the Justice and Development Party (Turkey) and former minister of environment, urbanisation and climate change for Türkiye

- Hasan Turan (Turkish politician), holds a masters in business and is a politician for the Justice and Development Party (Turkey)