The number of students at this university is greater than the population of 50 provinces.

Atatürk University, which holds an important place in the social, economic, and cultural life of Erzurum, has a population larger than that of 50 provinces in Turkey, with approximately 651,842 students.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk expressed the necessity of establishing a large university in Eastern Anatolia during his opening speech of the legislative year at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on November 1, 1937, and ordered the initiation of works on this matter. After a long and arduous process, the proposal for the establishment of Atatürk University was legalized in the Grand National Assembly on May 31, 1957, with the number 6990, and it was published in the Official Gazette, coming into effect on June 7, 1957. Thus, Atatürk University was officially established on June 7, 1957. In the 67 years that have passed, Atatürk University has graduated 756,200 students and continues to make significant contributions to the social, economic, and cultural life of Erzurum.

More students than the population of 50 provinces

Atatürk University, one of the oldest and most rooted educational institutions in Turkey, which has paved the way for the establishment of many universities in the region and has trained thousands of academics, draws attention with its number of students. In terms of student numbers in Turkey, Anadolu University, Istanbul University, and Atatürk University are in the top three. Atatürk University has more students than the population of 50 provinces in Turkey, reaching a total of 651,842 registered students across open education, second education, formal education, and distance education. Of these, 583,880 are in open education, 6,936 in second education, 58,690 in formal education, and 2,036 in distance education. This year, 156,388 students enrolled at Atatürk University.

61,545 graduates in 2024

Since it opened its doors to education in 1958, Atatürk University has had 1,711,118 registrations in 67 years, graduating 756,200 students. The university has 11,917 international students from 96 different nationalities, and in the 2023-2024 academic year, 61,545 students graduated. When looking at the registered students at Atatürk University, it is seen that there are 456,684 associate degree, 183,461 undergraduate, 9,125 master’s, 53 proficiency in art, and 2,519 doctoral students. Analyzing the number of students who both graduated and enrolled from Atatürk University reveals that females are numerically ahead. Atatürk University has 23 faculties, 8 institutes, 14 vocational schools-conservatories, 2,646 academics, and 2,245 administrative staff; to date, 30,029 articles, 922 books, 2,879 artistic activities, 893 awards, and 25,761 presentations have been published.