Balıkesir University

Balıkesir University

Balıkesir Üniversitesi
Motto	Köklü geçmiş, güçlü gelecek
Motto in English	Rooted past, strong future
Type	Public
Established	1910 / 1992
Affiliations	Erasmus
Rector	Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu
Students	26,782
Location	Balıkesir , Turkey
Website	balikesir.edu.tr

University rankings
Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia	351-400 (2022)

Balıkesir University (Turkish: Balıkesir Üniversitesi) is a public university in Balıkesir, Turkey. It was established in 1992.

History

The roots of Balikesir University date back to Karesi Teacher Training School, which was established in 1910. Balikesir State Engineering Academy, Balikesir Management and Tourism Vocational School and Balikesir Vocational School started educational facilities in 1975-1976 and this marked an important step for the establishment of the university. These establishments changed their names and status and they were made to continue their educational facilities under the name of Uludag University in 1982 with the decree law numbered 41. Necati Education Institute became a four-year “High Teacher Training School” in 1981 and then in 1982, this institution was renamed Necatibey Education Faculty.

In the same way, the name of Balikesir Business Administration and Hotel Management Vocational School was changed as Balikesir School of Tourism and Hotel Management and the name of two–year Balikesir Vocational School remained the same. These institutions, which operated under the name of Uludağ University for ten years, have established a firm infrastructure for Balikesir University through a healthy and stable development. Balikesir University was established in accordance with the law dated 11 June 1992, numbered 3837 published in official journal numbered 21281. Since January 1, 1993, Balikesir University has maintained its activities.

After the legal establishment of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University in 2015, the Faculties of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Maritime Studies, Health Sciences in Bandırma, the Gönen Geothermic Institute and the vocational schools in Bandırma, Erdek, Manyas and Gönen were transferred from Balıkesir University to the Bandırma 17 Eylül University.

Academic Awards

The paper titled “A Comparative Analysis of Designing Gastronomic Experiences With Artificial Intelligence”, presented by Balıkesir University academics and students, received the Best Paper Award at the 12th International CEO Social Sciences Congress, held on 6–7 December 2025 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Campuses

Çağış Campus

Faculty of Fine Arts

Çağış Campus

The units listed below are on the main Çağış Campus on the outskirts of the city. Buses and minibuses provide regular services to Çağış Campus from the city center between the hours 07:00 and 23:00.

• Rectorate building, with administrative departments
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Architecture
• Faculty of Science and Letters
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
• Balıkesir Vocational School
• Central Library
• Main Sports Hall
• Graduate School of Science and Technology
• Graduate School of Social Sciences
• Graduate School of Health Sciences

NEF Campus

NEF Campus, in the center of the town, was the original site of the university. These units are on this campus:

• Necatibey Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• NEF Conference Hall
• Halil İnalcık Conference Hall
• Sports Hall
• University Fitness Center
• Outdoor sports facilities
• Continuing Education Center (BAUSEM)

Academic Units

Faculties

Balıkesir University comprises 14 faculties:

• Burhaniye Faculty of Applied Sciences (Burhaniye Uygulamalı Bilimler Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Science and Letters (Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Fine Arts (Güzel Sanatlar Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Law (Hukuk Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Theology (İlahiyat Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Architecture (Mimarlık Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Engineering (Mühendislik Fakültesi)
• Necatibey Faculty of Education (Necatibey Eğitim Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Health Sciences (Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Sports Sciences (Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Medicine (Tıp Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Tourism (Turizm Fakültesi)
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Veteriner Fakültesi)

Graduate Institutes

• Edremit Olive Research Institute (Edremit Zeytincilik Enstitüsü)
• Institute of Science and Technology (Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü)
• Institute of Health Sciences (Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü)
• Institute of Social Sciences (Sosyal Bilimleri Enstitüsü)

Schools

• Edremit School of Civil Aviation (Edremit Sivil Havacılık Yüksekokulu)
• School of Foreign Languages (Yabancı Diller Yüksekokulu)

Vocational Schools

• Altınoluk Vocational School
• Ayvalık Vocational School
• Balıkesir Vocational School
• Bigadiç Vocational School
• Burhaniye Vocational School
• Dursunbey Vocational School
• Edremit Vocational School
• Havran Vocational School
• İvrindi Health Services Vocational School
• Kepsut Vocational School
• Savaştepe Vocational School
• Sındırgı Vocational School
• Susurluk Agriculture and Forestry Vocational School

Rectors

• 1992–1994: Prof. Dr. Asım Yücel
• 1994–1998: Prof. Dr. Aydın Okcu
• 1998–2006: Prof. Dr. Necdet Hacıoğlu
• 2006–2010: Prof. Dr. Şerif Saylan
• 2010–2014: Prof. Dr. Mahir Alkan
• 2014–2018: Prof. Dr. Kerim Özdemir
• 2018–2023: Prof. Dr. İlter Kuş
• 2023–present: Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu

Student Societies

Balıkesir University hosts active student societies covering cultural, scientific, artistic, sports, and social responsibility fields, with a total membership exceeding 11,500 students.

Society Name (English)	Original Name (Turkish)	Active Members
Aikido Society	AİKİDO TOPLULUĞU	128
Academic Law Society	AKADEMİK HUKUK TOPLULUĞU	231
Mind and Intelligence Games Society	AKIL ve ZEKA OYUNLARI TOPLULUĞU	379
Anatomy Society	ANATOMİ TOPLULUĞU	126
Kemalist Thought Society	ATATÜRKÇÜ DÜŞÜNCE TOPLULUĞU	266
European Medical Students' Association (EMSA)	AVRUPA TIP ÖĞR.BİRLİĞİ TOPLULUĞU	20
BAUN OBİDEV Society	BAUN OBİDEV TOPLULUĞU	323
Science, Social Solidarity and Synergy Society	BİLİM, TOPLUMSAL DAYANIŞMA ve SİNERJİ TOP.	20
Women in Science Society	BİLİMDE KADINLAR TOPLULUĞU	109
Cycling Society	BİSİKLET TOPLULUĞU	187
Stock Market and Investment Society	BORSA ve YATIRIM TOPLULUĞU	184
Children's Rights and Diplomacy Society	ÇOCUK HAKLARI VE DİPLOMASİ TOPLULUĞU	138
Design and Drama in Early Childhood Education Society	ÇOCUK EĞİTİMİNDE TASARIM VE DRAMA TOPLULUĞU	20
Mountaineering and Winter Sports Society	DAĞCILIK ve KIŞ SPORLARI TOPLULUĞU	497
Combatting Disinformation Society	DEZENFORMASYONLA MÜCADELE TOPLULUĞU	20
Literature, Books and Debate Society	EDEBİYAT, KİTAP ve MÜNAZARA TOPLULUĞU	211
Electrical and Computer Systems Society	ELEKTRİK, BİLGİSAYAR SİSTEMLERİ TOPLULUĞU	307
Industrial Sciences and Technology Society	ENDÜSTRİ BİLİMLERİ ve TEKNOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	104
Early Childhood Education Society	ERKEN ÇOCUKLUK EĞİTİMİ TOPLULUĞU	210
Film Review and Production Society	FİLM İNCELEME ve YAPIM TOPLULUĞU	25
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Society	FİZYOTERAPİ ve REHABİLİTASYON TOPLULUĞU	80
Gastronomy Society	GASTRONOMİ TOPLULUĞU	172
Traditional and Complementary Medicine Society	GELENEKSEL ve TAMAMLAYICI TIP TOPLULUĞU	27
Future Educators Society	GELECEĞİN EĞİTİMCİLERİ TOPLULUĞU	20
Youth, Women and Family Society	GENÇLİK, KADIN ve AİLE TOPLULUĞU	163
Young Red Crescent Society	GENÇ KIZILAY TOPLULUĞU	75
Young TEMA Society	GENÇ TEMA TOPLULUĞU	174
Young Vision Society	GENÇ VİZYON TOPLULUĞU	20
Young Entrepreneurs Society	GENÇ GİRİŞİMCİLER TOPLULUĞU	20
Young Doctors of the World Society	GENÇ YERYÜZÜ DOKTORLARI TOPLULUĞU	27
Genetics Research Society	GENETİK ARAŞTIRMA TOPLULUĞU	196
Food Innovation and Technology Society	GIDA İNOVASYON ve TEKNOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	38
Visual Arts Society	GÖRSEL SANATLAR TOPLULUĞU	185
Public Health Society	HALK SAĞLIĞI TOPLULUĞU	0
Folk Dance Society	HALKOYUNLARI TOPLULUĞU	240
Touching Lives Society	HAYATA DOKUNANLAR TOPLULUĞU	20
Animal and Nature Protection Society	HAYVANLARI VE DOĞAYI KORUMA TOPLULUĞU	167
Accessible Education for All Society	HERKES İÇİN ENGELSİZ EĞİTİM TOPLULUĞU	196
Sports for All Society	HERKES İÇİN SPOR TOPLULUĞU	345
Communication and Young Executives Society	İLETİŞİM VE GENÇ YÖNETİCİLER TOPLULUĞU	145
Knowledge and Civilization Society	İLİM ve MEDENİYET TOPLULUĞU	70
Scientific Discussion Society	İLMİ MÜZAKERE TOPLULUĞU	58
English Speaking Society	İNGİLİZCE KONUŞMA TOPLULUĞU	158
Humanity and Civilization Society	İNSANLIK VE MEDENİYET TOPLULUĞU	20
Innovation and Technology Society	İNOVASYON ve TEKNOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	52
Future of Goodness Society	İYİLİĞİN GELECEĞİ TOPLULUĞU	20
Women and Life Society	KADIN ve YAŞAM TOPLULUĞU	339
Quality Ambassadors Society	KALİTE ELÇİLERİ TOPLULUĞU	20
American Football Society	KORUMALI FUTBOL TOPLULUĞU	115
Gulf Vocational Colleges Society	KÖRFEZ YÜKSEKOKULLAR TOPLULUĞU	21
Birdwatching and Nature Society	KUŞ GÖZLEM ve DOĞA TOPLULUĞU	22
Kuva-yi Milliye Society	KUVAYİ MİLLİYE TOPLULUĞU	94
Cultural Ambassadors Society	KÜLTÜR ELÇİLERİ TOPLULUĞU	20
Library Society	KÜTÜPHANE TOPLULUĞU	373
Latin Dances Society	LATİN DANSLARI TOPLULUĞU	244
LÖSEV Society	LÖSEV TOPLULUĞU	143
Spiritual and Psychological Counseling Society	MANEVİ-PSİKOLOJİK DANIŞMA TOPLULUĞU	54
Mathematics Society	MATEMATİK TOPLULUĞU	45
National Revival Society	MİLLİ DİRİLİŞ TOPLULUĞU	91
National Will Society	MİLLİ İRADE TOPLULUĞU	73
National Ideal Society	MİLLİ MEFKURE TOPLULUĞU	20
National Defense and Technology Society	MİLLİ SAVUNMA ve TEKNOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	94
Architecture and Design Society	MİMARLIK VE TASARIM TOPLULUĞU	45
Misya Aviation and Space Technologies Society	MİSYA HAVACILIK ve UZAY TEKN. TOPLULUĞU	42
Motorsports Society	MOTOR SPORLARI TOPLULUĞU	44
Music Society	MÜZİK TOPLULUĞU	316
Ombudsmanship Society	OMBUDSMANLIK TOPLULUĞU	70
Forestry and Nature Research Society	ORMAN VE DOĞA ARAŞTIRMALARI TOPLULUĞU	20
Psychiatry Society	PSİKİYATRİ TOPLULUĞU	42
Psychology Society	PSİKOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	108
Psychological Counseling and Guidance Society	PSİKOLOJİK DANIŞMANLIK ve REHBERLİK TOP.	198
Radio and Communication Society	RADYO ve İLETİŞİM TOPLULUĞU	30
Robotics Society	ROBOT TOPLULUĞU	39
Health Academy Society	SAĞLIK AKADEMİSİ TOPLULUĞU	29
Health Ambassadors Society	SAĞLIK ELÇİLERİ TOPLULUĞU	20
Healthy Living Society	SAĞLIKLI YAŞAM TOPLULUĞU	41
Healthcare Innovation Society	SAĞLIKTA İNOVASYON TOPLULUĞU	20
Chess Society	SATRANÇ TOPLULUĞU	117
Political Science, Management and Futurism Society	SİYASET YÖNETİMİ ve FÜTÜRİZM TOPLULUĞU	109
Sociology Society	SOSYOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	0
Underwater Sports Society	SUALTI SPORLARI TOPLULUĞU	124
TEKNOFEST Society	TEKNOFEST TOPLULUĞU	20
Medical Faculty Scientific Research Society	TIP FAKÜLTESİ BİLİMSEL ARAŞTIRMA TOP.	75
Theatre Society	TİYATRO TOPLULUĞU	323
Community Volunteers Society	TOPLUM GÖNÜLLÜLERİ TOPLULUĞU	0
Turkish Medical Students' Association (TurkMSIC)	TÜRK TIP ÖĞRENCİLERİ BİRLİĞİ TOPLULUĞU	47
Türk Yurdu Society	TÜRK YURDU TOPLULUĞU	496
International Information and Technology Society	ULUSLARARASI BİLGİ ve TEKNOLOJİ TOPLULUĞU	280
IEEE Student Branch Society	ULUSLARARASI ELEKTRİK ELEKTRONİK MÜH. TOP.	312
International Student Society	ULUSLARARASI ÖĞRENCİ TOPLULUĞU	82
Active University Youth Society	ÜNİVERSİTELİ AKTİF GENÇLER TOPLULUĞU	0
AI Literacy Society	YAPAY ZEKA OKURYAZARLIĞI TOPLULUĞU	20
AI and Data Science Society	YAPAY ZEKA VE VERİ BİLİMİ TOPLULUĞU	20
Lifelong Development Society	YAŞAM BOYU GELİŞİM TOPLULUĞU	132
Creative Writing and Applied Literature Society	YARATICI YAZARLIK ve UYGULAMALI EDEBİYAT TOP.	123
Yeniler Society	YENİLER TOPLULUĞU	26
Green Crescent Society	YEŞİLAY TOPLULUĞU	55
Yörük Turkmen Culture Research Society	YÖRÜK TÜRKMEN KÜLTÜRÜNÜ ARAŞTIRMA TOP.	173
Total Active Members		11,559

Notable alumni

• Yasemin Adar, Turkish female freestyle wrestler
• Tuna Aktürk, ex Vice-Mayor of Balıkesir Mayority and Balıkesirspor President
• Halil İnalcık, Historian of Ottoman Empire
• Muharrem İnce, Member of Turkish Parliament
• Gülşah Kocatürk, Turkish female judoka
• İsmail Özgün, Turkish politician
• Ümit Sonkol, Türk Telekom B.K. basketball player

References

• Balıkesir University

External links

• Balıkesir University(In Turkish) Balıkesir University Archived 2021-03-15 at the Wayback Machine