59 Notable alumni of Marmara University
Updated: June 05, 2026 EliteDegrees
Marmara University is ranked #852 in the world and #9 in Turkey by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 59 notable alumni from Marmara University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Marmara University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Hülya Vurnal İkizgül
1967-. (aged 59)
musician
sculptor
Hülya Vurnal İkizgül is a Turkish mosaicist, sculptor and ceramic artist.
2. Ayşe Sinirlioğlu
1956-. (aged 70)
diplomat
Ayşe Sinirlioğlu is a Turkish diplomat, who has been her country's ambassador to Romania and then to Spain and Andorra. She became Turkey's first woman deputy undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2015 she was the Sherpa during Turkey's presidency and the Antalya summit of the G20 group of countries.
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3. Demet Bozkurt
1996-. (aged 30)
association football player
Demet Bozkurt is a Turkish footballer. She was part of the Turkey women's national under-19 football team in 2015.
4. Sinan Sandal
1989-. (aged 37)
judoka
Sinan Sandal is a Turkish judoka.
5. Elif Ağca Yarar
1984-. (aged 42)
volleyball player
Nedime Elif Ağca Yarar, also known as Nedime Elif Ağca Öner, is a retired national level Turkish volleyball player who last played for Fenerbahçe. She is 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) tall and plays as setter. She studied at Marmara University.
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6. Mehmet Çakıcı
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Mehmet Çakıcı is a Turkish Cypriot politician and psychiatrist. He served as the first leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) between 2007 and 2013 and has been a member of the Assembly of the Republic since 2003. He then served as an independent member of the parliament for the Lefkoşa District, having resigned from the TDP in November 2016...
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7. Esin Varan
1988-. (aged 38)
actor
Esin Varan is an American actress and writer who has worked in film & television and on stage.
8. Gizem Gönültaş
1993-. (aged 33)
association football player
Gizem Gönültaş is a Turkish women's football forward currently playing in the Turkish Women's First League for Beşiktaş J.K. with jersey number 10. She played in the national teams of Turkish girls' U-17, women's U-19, women's U-21 and lately in the Turkey women's team.
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9. Nuri Şahin
1980-. (aged 46)
beach volleyball player
volleyball player
Nuri Şahin is a Turkish volleyball player. He is 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) tall at 91 kg (201 lb), and plays as libero. He capped 155 times for the Turkey men's national volleyball team. As of 2012-13 season, Şahin plays for Halkbank Ankara and wears number 5. He studied at Marmara University.
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10. Elvan Işık Gezmiş
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Elvan Işık Gezmiş is a Turkish pharmacist and politician, serving as a deputy of the Republican People's Party in the 28th Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
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11. Tayfun Taşdemir
1975-. (aged 51)
carom billiards player
Tayfun Taşdemir is a former world champion Turkish professional carom billiards player specialized in three-cushion event.
12. Deniz Hakyemez
1983-. (aged 43)
beach volleyball player
volleyball player
Deniz Hakyemez Çetin Saraç is a Turkish volleyball player who has represented the national team. She is 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall and plays as an outside hitter. She studied at Marmara University.
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13. Aslı Özge
1975-. (aged 51)
screenwriter
director
film director
film editor
film producer
Aslı Özge is a Turkish director, scenarist and producer.
14. Cem Kızıltuğ
1975-. (aged 51)
caricaturist
illustrator
cartoonist
Cem Kızıltuğ is a Turkish cartoonist and illustrator. He is a cartoonist and illustrator for Zaman and also illustrates children's books.
15. Berdan Öztürk
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
Berdan Öztürk is a Turkish politician of Kurdish descent who is from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who has served as a Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Ağrı since 7 June 2015.
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16. Umut Oran
1962-. (aged 64)
businessperson
politician
Umut Oran is a Turkish textile manufacturer and a centre-left politician who currently serves as a Vice President of Socialist International since 13 December 2014. He served as a Member of Parliament for Istanbul's 3rd electoral district during the 24th Parliament of Turkey, lasting between 2011 and 2015. He is a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), having formerly...
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17. Tankut Öktem
1940-2007 (aged 67)
painter
sculptor
Tankut Öktem was a Turkish sculptor well known especially for his monumental works.
18. Ayşe Işıl Karakaş
1958-2024 (aged 66)
university teacher
judge
Ayşe Işıl Karakaş was a Turkish academic, professor of law, and former judge at the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the Republic of Turkey.
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19. Ali Sofuoğlu
1995-. (aged 31)
karateka
Ali Sofuoğlu is a Turkish karateka competing in the kata. He is a member of Kağıthane Belediyesi S.K. In 2021, he won one of the bronze medals in the men's kata event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He won the gold medal in the men's individual kata event at the 2023 World Karate Championships held in Budapest,...
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20. Birgül Ayman Güler
1961-. (aged 65)
academic
politician
Birgül Ayman Güler is a Turkish academic and politician.
21. Ali Haydar Hakverdi
1979-. (aged 47)
politician
Ali Haydar Hakverdi is a Turkish politician from the Republican People's Party (CHP) who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Ankara's first electoral district since 7 June 2015. He was first elected in the June 2015 general election and was re-elected in the snap election of November 2015.
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22. Mehmet Usta
1973-. (aged 53)
actor
film actor
Mehmet Usta is a Turkish actor.
23. Betül Kaçar
1983-. (aged 43)
academic
university teacher
astrobiologist
researcher
chemist
Betül Kacar is a Turkish-American astrobiologist and an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She directs a NASA Research Center exploring the essential attributes of life, its origins and how they should shape our notions of habitability and the search for life on other worlds.
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24. Selahattin Taşdöğen
1951-. (aged 75)
actor
Selahattin Taşdöğen is a Turkish actor.
25. Nihat Ergün
1962-. (aged 64)
politician
Nihat Ergün is a Turkish politician and the former Minister of Science, Industry and Technology.
26. İlker Aycı
1971-. (aged 55)
Mehmet İlker Aycı is a Turkish businessperson. Aycı was the advisor of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 1994 and served as the CEO of several Turkish companies before becoming the chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 to 2022. He accepted an offer as the Board Member of Oman Air in April 2024.
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27. Mahir Ünal
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Mahir Ünal is a Turkish politician and academic from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) who served as the Minister of Culture and Tourism from 24 November 2015 to 24 May 2016. He has been a Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Kahramanmaraş since being elected in the 2011 general election. He was re-elected in both the June...
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28. Cihat Yaycı
1966-. (aged 60)
university teacher
soldier
writer
Cihat Yaycı is a Turkish author, former rear admiral, and theoretician of the irredentist and expansionist strategic–maritime doctrine known as "Blue Homeland".
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29. Mehmet Kasapoğlu
1976-. (aged 50)
politician
Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu is a Turkish civil servant and former Minister of Youth and Sports from 2018 to 2023.
30. Yalçın Akdoğan
1969-. (aged 57)
journalist
politician
Yalçın Akdoğan is a Turkish politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey from 2014 to 2016. A member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Akdoğan became a Member of Parliament representing Ankara's first electoral district at the 2011 general election and was re-elected in June 2015.
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31. Nihat Zeybekci
1961-. (aged 65)
economist
businessperson
politician
Nihat Zeybekci is a Turkish economist, politician, a member of parliament for Denizli Province of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and former Minister of the Economy.
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32. Sedef Kabaş
1968-. (aged 58)
journalist
Sedef Kabaş is a Turkish journalist and television presenter who has presented on various news channels in Turkey since 1997. In January 2022, she received international attention after she was arrested following a television interview in which she was alleged to have insulted Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
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33. Ahmet Nur Çebi
1959-. (aged 67)
businessperson
Ahmet Nur Çebi is a Turkish businessman and 34th president of Turkish multi-disciplined sports club Beşiktaş J.K.
34. Özge Özacar
1995-. (aged 31)
model
dancer
singer
actor
Özge Özacar is a Turkish actress.
35. Kıraç
1972-. (aged 54)
songwriter
singer
film score composer
musician
Ali Tufan Kıraç is a Turkish anatolian rock and heavy metal musician.
36. Yaşar Okuyan
1950-2023 (aged 73)
politician
Yaşar Okuyan was a Turkish politician who served as an MP. Okuyan was born on 28 August 1950 and died of a lung disease on 26 December 2023 at the age of 73.
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37. Eser Yenenler
1984-. (aged 42)
actor
screenwriter
Eser Yenenler is a Turkish comedian, TV presenter and actor.
38. Şahap Kavcıoğlu
1967-. (aged 59)
politician
economist
Şahap Kavcıoğlu is a Turkish banker and politician. He was a Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and was the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey from 2021 to 2023. He is also a contributor to the newspaper Yeni Safak and is described as a supporter of...
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39. Toygar Işıklı
1974-. (aged 52)
singer
lyricist
composer
Toygar Işıklı is a Turkish film score composer, music producer, and singer.
40. İsmail Saymaz
1980-. (aged 46)
journalist
İsmail Saymaz is a Turkish investigative journalist and writer for the newspaper Sözcü. He has published articles and books on the Turkish deep state and Ergenekon, including a 2011 book on links between the 2007 Zirve Publishing House massacre and the 2006 killing of Andrea Santoro, and another 2011 book on former police chief Hanefi Avcı. He has won a...
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41. Ali Erbaş
1961-. (aged 65)
university teacher
ulema
Grand Mufti
Ali Erbaş is a Turkish Islamic scholar and president of Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Turkey from 2017 to 2025.
42. Can Atalay
1976-. (aged 50)
lawyer
politician
Şerafettin Can Atalay is a Turkish lawyer, activist, and politician.
43. Gizem Örge
1993-. (aged 33)
volleyball player
Gizem Örge is a Turkish volleyball player. Currently, she plays in the Turkish Women's Volleyball League for Fenerbahçe as libero. She was part of the Turkey women's national volleyball team, which became champion at the 2014 Women's European Volleyball League.
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44. Bengü
1979-. (aged 47)
composer
songwriter
recording artist
singer
Bengü Erden is a Turkish singer. She became first familiar with music during her time at the İzmir State Symphony Orchestra. In İzmir, she was cast in a leading role in the musical "Oliver Twist". She later took singing lessons with İzmir State Conservatory's general manager, Müfit Bayraş. In 1998, by performing a song by Müfit Bayşara, she ranked second...
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45. Ahmet Ümit
1960-. (aged 66)
writer
screenwriter
Ahmet Ümit is a Turkish author and poet. He is best known for his crime novels.
46. Mustafa Şentop
1968-. (aged 58)
university teacher
politician
Mustafa Şentop is a Turkish politician from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) who is currently a Member of Parliament and has been in the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th legislative terms.
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47. Murat Ünalmış
1981-. (aged 45)
actor
Murat Ünalmış is a Turkish actor.
48. Aydın Doğan
1936-. (aged 90)
merchant
businessperson
entrepreneur
Aydın Doğan is a Turkish business magnate and investor. He is the founder of Doğan Holding, one of Turkey's largest conglomerates.
49. Kadir Topbaş
1945-2021 (aged 76)
preacher
entrepreneur
teacher
theologian
architect
Kadir Topbaş was a Turkish architect, businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Istanbul from 2004 to 2017.
50. İsmet Yılmaz
1961-. (aged 65)
minister
engineer
politician
İsmet Yılmaz is a Turkish politician who was a member of the Grand National Assembly from 2011 to 2023.
51. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
1954-. (aged 72)
statesperson
economist
politician
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician who has been the president of Turkey since 2014. He previously served as the 25th prime minister from 2003 to 2014 as part of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which he co-founded in 2001. He also served as mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. Coming from an Islamist background and promoting...
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52. Burak Özçivit
1984-. (aged 42)
model
television actor
actor
film actor
Burak Özçivit is a Turkish actor and model who is best known for his roles in Çalıkuşu, Kara Sevda and as the titular role of Osman Gazi in the Turkish historical fiction TV series Kuruluş: Osman. Throughout his acting career Özçivit has been a recipient of numerous accolades.
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53. Meral Akşener
1956-. (aged 70)
politician
Meral Akşener is a Turkish politician, teacher, historian and academic who is the founder of the Good Party (İYİ Party).
54. Mustafa Sarıgül
1956-. (aged 70)
writer
businessperson
politician
Mustafa Sarıgül is a Turkish writer, entrepreneur and politician who is currently a member of the Grand National Assembly from Erzincan.
55. Darhan Qydyräli
1974-. (aged 52)
scientist
Darkhan Kydyrali is a Kazakh scholar and writer, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor. He is an academician of National Academy of Science Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2014 to August 31, 2022 Dr. Kydyrali President of the International Turkic Academy. Since July 2016 he has been working as chairman of the board of the Egemen Kazakhstan national newspaper. He is a...
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56. Şaban Özdemir
1981-. (aged 45)
journalist
television producer
Şaban Özdemir is a Turkish journalist and tv producer. The producer and anchorman of Pros Cons and Life is a choice. Since September 2015 he's also the anchorman for Take Care of Yourself health tv show.
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57. Salim Muslumov
1961-. (aged 65)
politician
Salim Muslumov Yanvar oglu Azerbaijani politician who served as the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population (2013-2018) and the Chairman of the State Social Protection Fund of Azerbaijan Republic (2002-2013).
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58. Sinan Oğan
1969-. (aged 57)
politician
Sinan Oğan is a Turkish politician who won a seat in the Turkish parliament in 2011 with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). He was the presidential candidate of ATA Alliance for the 2023 Turkish presidential election, which resulted in a second round. He finished in third place, therefore he was described as a potential kingmaker. He proceeded to support...
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59. Ömer Bolat
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Ömer Bolat is a Turkish academician and politician. He has made contributions to the fields of economics, international relations, and business administration throughout his career. Bolat became the minister of trade of the 67th cabinet of Turkey.
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