Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) is a Turkish public university based in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It ranked first among Turkish universities in 2019 and 494th globally. According to the 2021 Turkish University Rankings, it now ranks second after Hacettepe University. Middle East Technical University is a pioneer in scientific and engineering research in Turkey and the Middle East, with its academic program focusing primarily on engineering and the natural sciences. Founded in 1956 during the reign of Turkish leader Adnan Menderes, it has since evolved into a major institution and one of the most distinguished academic institutions in Turkey. The Middle East Technical University receives approximately 27,000 Turkish and other students annually. It also hosts 1,900 international students from 90 different countries around the world as part of its international student exchange activities with numerous foreign universities.
The university offers 40 undergraduate programs across five different faculties,
in addition to 100 graduate programs, including 66 doctoral programs across five graduate schools. The university also includes a foreign language school.
The Middle East Technical University also has a branch in Northern Cyprus, also known as Turkish Cyprus. This makes it the first Turkish university to have branches outside the borders of the Republic of Turkey. This branch offers 15 undergraduate programs and three graduate programs, and approximately 3,500 undergraduate students study there.