Department

Dear Students,

It is possible to argue that public finance was born concomitant with the beginning of the common social life; therefore, with the emergence of first states. It is a necessity and an outcome of the sovereignty that each state provides some of the common vital needs of the society and sustain the required fiscal sources. The systematic scientific analysis of the fiscal events has evolved since the mid-19th century in our country. Public finance education and studies that were initially conducted within the Faculty of Law have been continuing in the Faculty of Economics since its establishment in 1936.

Initially a “Public Finance” course was included in the third year of the curriculum and the lecture was given by Ord. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Fazıl Pelin. In accordance with the Doctorate Regulation of the July 16th, 1941, the Doctorate degree courses have also started under the name of “Public Finance and Budget” within the Faculty. Ord. Prof. Dr. Fritz Neumark conducted “Income Tax” course under this programme. The undergraduate programme of Public Finance formed with the Higher Education Law that took effect in 1981. 

At the Department of Public Finance, following the basic courses during the beginning semesters as; economics, business administration, accounting, mathematics, statistics, labour economics, political science, history of economics, sociology, basic law; courses focusing on the main subject area as public finance, theory of taxation, economics of the public sector, budgeting, fiscal policy, tax law, customs law, tax judgement, taxation systems, state debts, local government finance are being conducted during the following semesters. 

Compulsory English preparatory classes will begin at our department as of 2020-2021 academic year and at least thirty percent of all courses will be conducted in English. Furthermore, our students are provided with the opportunity to choose another course on Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, French or German as a second foreign language.

Regarding the scientific subspecialty, Department of Public Finance consists of four sub-departments as Theory of Public Finance, Fiscal Economics, Budget and Fiscal Planning, and Fiscal Law. There are four master’s programs with a thesis provided by our department as; Public Finance, Fiscal Law and Business Taxation, two of which are in secondary education (evening education), and a doctorate program.

The acquired knowledge combined with research, analytical thinking and problem solving skills gained throughout the education process, provide significant advantages to our graduates in entering upon a career in both public and private institutions.

Graduates of the Department of Public Finance can take charge primarily in positions such as tax inspector at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, revenue expertise, Court of Accounts auditor, tax and administrative courts judge, bank inspector, independent accountant and financial advisor, auditor in domestic and international audit firms, and also in various positions in other ministries and all affiliated public institutions and the private sector. To date, graduates of our department have fulfilled significant duties. Already, thousands of our graduates work successfully in the public administrations, judiciary and the private sector.

In addition to conducting their education and training duties, distinguished academic staff of the Department of Public Finance, has contributed with research outputs, reports and projects, along

with opinions to the structuring of public finance and tax systems and the preparation of fiscal policies in our country and in many other countries.

Being a part of the Istanbul Public Finance, first of all being a part of Istanbul University’s history of 567 years, which started in 1453; is being on one of the seven hills of the beloved Istanbul while internalising thousands of years of history, life, culture and drawing inspiration from the great wise looking at the magnificent Süleymaniye.

I wish you all good health and success.

Salim Ateş OKTAR, Ph.D
Professor of Public Finance



Public Finance programme provides students with a profound understanding of the key concepts and the principles of public finance. Through the acquisition of necessary tools and skills, students gain the ability to conduct research on issues related to public expenditures, taxation system, public debt management, and broadly on economic, social, and regulative role of the state in the era of globalization. 

The program targets the students who intend to gain solid scientific approaches on public finance both in theory and practice. The degree helps students to gain the necessary knowledge, the skills, and the capability to cope with the problems with respect to employability in any field of public finance and also in international financial institutions.


The Faculty of Economics was established in 1936 and started its academic activities in 1937. In the early years of the Faculty, instead of separate departments, courses were taught under the roof of the Faculty of Economics. According to the integrated education program, the courses of economics of the first year were: ‘Economic Theory’; ‘Economic Geography’; ‘The Structure of Turkish Economics’; ‘Economic and Social History’. Also, for the first time in the curriculum, the courses given in economics were as follows: 'Structure of Turkish Economy'; 'Economic and Social History'; 'History of Economic Doctrines'; 'International Trade’; 'Conjuncture and Depressions’ ‘Politics of Agriculture and Industry'; 'Transportation Economy'; ' Economic Systems and Rural Affairs’; 'The History Of Turkish Public Finance'. In the aforementioned education system, undergraduates were first meet with a 5-hour Public Finance lecture given by Ord. Professor Dr. İbrahim Fazıl Pelin in their 3rd grade. 

After the implementation of the integrative education program, 8 departments were established with the decision of the Faculty administration. One of these departments was General Economics and Public Finance Theory under the presidency of Ord. Prof. Dr. Fritz Neumark and the other one was Public Finance and Fiscal Law under the presidency of Ord. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Fazıl Pelin. By the year 1952, application of “class” system was rescinded in the Faculty and in place of that, 3 parts and 5 disciplinary system practice was introduced, and one of those 5 disciplines was Discipline of Public Finance. In conjunction with the “semester” procedure that introduced in 1960, courses of Public Finance Discipline was carried out in 5th, 6th and 7th, 8th semesters.

With the Higher Education Law in 1981, the Department of Public Finance which consists of sub-departments as Theory of Public Finance, Fiscal Economics, Budget and Fiscal Planning, Fiscal Law and Business, was established. Later, the Department of Business Administration was segregated from the Department of Public Finance.


Department of Public Finance provides students with solid theoretical ground on public finance in particular and economics in general. The theoretical competence is accompanied with practical issues that help students gain experience in problem solving and developing of different views through comparative analysis. Students gain the ability and acquire the advanced skills related to research methods and accomplish the tasks they face in the real world economic issues. Following the successful completion of the degree programme in the Department of Public Finance, our graduates are expected to be qualified perfectly in order to be the pioneers to steer the economic policies.

In the Department of Public Finance, it is aimed to provide the students with the necessary knowledge required for management positions in public and private institutions after graduation. In line with this purpose, the endeavour is to improve the questioning and the analysing skills of the students. Our graduates are perfect candidates for positions as tax inspector, accountancy controller, Court of Accounts auditor, tax court judge, administrative judge, budget expertise, capital market expertise, fiscal consultant, certified public accountant, bank inspector, and also various positions in the private sector. Therefore, alumni of the department have a wide range of choices for employment ranging from private to public sector. Our graduates hold leading positions in professional occupations, and shape economic and social life.

Faculty Member      
Ord. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Fazıl PELİN 1936 - 1944
Ord. Prof. Dr. Fritz NEUMARK 1936 - 1952
Prof. Dr. Bedii FEYZİOĞLU 1950 - 1987
Prof. Dr. Memduh YAŞA 1953 - 1983
Prof. Dr. Sevim GÖRGÜN 1953 - 1979
Prof. Dr. Arif NEMLİ 1953 - 2000
Prof. Dr. Kenan BULUTOĞLU 1957 - 1982
Prof. Dr. Şerafettin AKSOY 1963 - 2003
Prof. Dr. Türkan ÖNCEL 1963 - 2003
Prof. Dr. İzzettin ÖNDER 1964 - 2007
Prof. Dr. Yenal ÖNCEL 1964 - 2005
Prof. Dr. Salih TURHAN 1966 - 2001
Prof. Dr. Bora OCAKCIOĞLU 1967 - 1998
Prof. Dr. Nihat FALAY 1969 - 2008
Prof. Dr. Esfender KORKMAZ 1976 - 2007
Prof. Dr. Tülay ARIN 1976 - 2004
Prof. Dr. Eser KARAKAŞ 1982 - 2016
Prof. Dr. Hülya KİRMANOĞLU 1982 - 2014
Prof. Dr. K. Pınar AKKOYUNLU  1982 - 2019
Prof. Dr. Elif SONSUZOĞLU 1986 - 2015
Prof. Dr. Emine Figen ALTUĞ 2006 - 2019
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burhan ŞENATALAR 1969 - 1979
Asst. Prof. Dr. Metin TARIM 1976 - 1985
Asst. Prof. Dr. Şamil ÜNSAL 1982 - 2019
Asst. Dr. Ali Suat ÜRGÜPLÜ 1968 - 1971
Asst. Pertev BİLGEN 1958 - 1962
Asst. Levent ÇAKMUR 1965 - 1969
Asst. Mehmet Emin Dursun URAL 1971 - 1985
Asst. Zehra TURHAN 1980 - 1981
Asst. İl-Han ÖZAY ---   ---
Asst. Kısmet ERKİNER 1967 - 1971
Res. Asst. Fatoş Yeşim KARTALLI 1986 - 1994
Res. Asst. Kaan TUNCELİ 1989 - 2002
Res. Asst. Göksel AŞAN 1989 - 1998
Res. Asst. Esra OLCAR 1992 - 1996
Res. Asst. Berna Gülriz HARATOKA 1994 - 1996
Res. Asst. Emine Elif ŞİMŞEK 1999 - 2006
Lecturer Esat TEKELİ 1952 - 1966
Lecturer Recep TURGAY 1967 - 1970