Artvin Çoruh University (AÇÜ)

Artvin Çoruh University (AÇÜ) is a public university established on 17 May 2007. It is located in the city of Artvin, in eastern Türkiye’s Black Sea Region, near the border with Georgia. The university aims to integrate the region’s natural resources and cultural diversity into its education, research and community service activities.

Guided by its mission to contribute to regional development, AÇÜ conducts specialized work particularly in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. The university seeks to provide education to students through its academic staff and campuses.

The foundations of Artvin Çoruh University are rooted in the Artvin Faculty of Forestry, established in 1993 as a faculty of Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ), and the Artvin Vocational School, established in 1999. These institutions marked the first steps of higher education in Artvin.

In 2007, AÇÜ was established as an independent university under Law No. 5662, incorporating the existing faculties and vocational schools. Since its founding, it has adopted a specialization vision focused on regional development, with particular emphasis on environmental and forestry fields.

Artvin Çoruh University carries out its educational activities across multiple campuses. The main campus is the Seyitler Campus in the city center, which also houses the Rectorate. The Seyitler Campus accommodates several faculties, while district campuses host relevant vocational schools and some faculties.

^{Artvin Çoruh University Library (}Anadolu Agency⁾

The academic structure of Artvin Çoruh University consists of various faculties, institutes and vocational schools.

• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Hopa Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Business
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Forestry
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Art and Design
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Tourism

• Artvin Vocational School
• Arhavi Vocational School
• Borçka Acarlar Vocational School
• Hopa Vocational School
• Health Services Vocational School
• Şavşat Vocational School
• Yusufeli Vocational School

• Graduate School of Education

Artvin Çoruh University hosts students from various regions of Türkiye as well as international students. According to 2025 data, approximately 12,776 students are enrolled at the university.^【1】

The student profile includes those enrolled in associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.

^{Artvin Çoruh University City Campus (}Artvin Çoruh University⁾

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers programs in Philosophy, English Language and Literature (in English), Russian Language and Literature, Sociology, History and Turkish Language and Literature.

The Faculty of Education offers programs in Primary School Mathematics Teaching, Preschool Teaching, Special Education Teaching, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Classroom Teaching, Social Studies Teaching and Turkish Language Teaching.

The Faculty of Health Sciences offers programs in Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Nursing.

The Faculty of Engineering includes departments in Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Electrical-Electronics Engineering.

The Faculty of Forestry offers programs in Forest Industry Engineering and Forestry Engineering.

The Hopa Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences includes departments in Economics, Business and Political Science and Public Administration. The Faculty of Business offers programs in Finance and Banking and Health Management.

Other bachelor’s programs include Physical Education and Sports Teaching and Sports Management at the Faculty of Sports Sciences; Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at the Faculty of Tourism; and Theology at the Faculty of Theology.

The Faculty of Art and Design (Arhavi) provides education in Visual Communication Design (for both Turkish and TRNC citizens) and Landscape Architecture.

Artvin Vocational School offers the largest number of programs: Emergency and Disaster Management, Culinary Arts, Hunting and Wildlife, Banking and Insurance, Computer Programming, Office Management and Executive Assistance, Disability Care and Rehabilitation (Ardanuç), Cartography and Cadastre, Interior Design, Laboratory Technology, Court Office Services, Machinery, Accounting and Tax Applications, Forestry and Forest Products, Private Security and Protection, Civil Defense and Firefighting, and Land Registry and Cadastre.

The Health Services Vocational School offers programs in Oral and Dental Health, Child Development, Pharmacy Services, Physiotherapy, First Aid and Emergency Care, Occupational Therapy, Opticianry, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Work, Medical Laboratory Techniques and Elderly Care.

Borçka Acarlar Vocational School offers programs in Child Development, Electrical Energy Production Transmission and Distribution, Construction Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Control and Automation Technology, Finance, Mechatronics, Social Services and Building Inspection.

Hopa Vocational School offers programs in Banking and Insurance, Maritime and Port Management, Human Resource Management and Logistics.

Şavşat Vocational School offers programs in Digital Health Systems Technology, Health Institution Management, Social Security, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Elderly Care. Yusufeli Vocational School offers programs in Plant Protection, Home Patient Care, Finance and Local Governance.

Arhavi Vocational School offers programs in Office Management and Executive Assistance, Foreign Trade, Sports Management and Tourism and Hotel Management.

The campuses of Artvin Çoruh University provide students with various facilities. The center campus hosts facilities such as the Nihat Gökyiğit Congress and Culture Center for student activities. Students can participate in social, cultural and sporting events through student clubs operating under the Directorate of Health, Culture and Sports. Student clubs vary according to student interests and organize various activities throughout the year. In addition, the central library and sports facilities are available to students.

Artvin Çoruh University carries out various international activities in line with its internationalization goals. The university actively participates in student and staff mobility programs under the Erasmus+ program. Numerous bilateral agreements have been established with European universities under the Erasmus+ program, providing students with opportunities for Study Mobility and Internship Mobility. In addition, the university participates in international cooperation projects such as Erasmus+ KA171 Projects and Erasmus+ KA2 Projects.^【2】

Artvin Çoruh University organizes various award programs. Within the university, the Ali Nihat Gökyiğit Academic Incentive Awards are presented to academics who produce scientific publications and projects.^【3】

According to the GreenMetric 2024 rankings, AÇÜ is ranked 473rd worldwide and 45th in Türkiye.^【4】 In addition, the Artvin TTO (Technology Transfer Office) and the company ARTAB have been established.^【5】