Mersin University was founded in 1992 by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. When it first began enrolling students, the university had only four faculties, four vocational schools, and one institute. Today, it has 16 faculties, 11 vocational schools, seven colleges, and five institutes.
As its name suggests, the university is located in Mersin, a city situated on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey.
The 16 faculties offer a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programmes. Its faculties include: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Communication, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Nursing among others.
There are also five institutes: Health Sciences Institute, Institute of Education Sciences, Institute of Fine Arts, Institute of Science, and the Institute of Social Sciences.
Throughout the academic year, the university carries out a range of research projects, which are facilitated in its numerous research centres. These include the Advanced Technology Education Research and Application Centre, Biotechnology Research Centre, Sea Turtles Application and Research Centre, and the Tourism Application and Research Centre.