Istanbul 29 Mayıs University was established in the academic year 2010-2011 under the Faculty of Arts with programs in Philosophy, History, and Turkish Language and Literature. In subsequent years, a Compulsory English Preparatory Class was opened for students enrolled in the same departments, and in the academic year 2014-2015, programs in Psychology, Arabic Translation and Interpreting, and English Translation and Interpreting were also initiated. As of this period, the language of instruction for undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts was partly (less than 30%) determined to be English or Arabic.

The Faculty of Theology commenced its activities in the academic year 2011-2012 with the International Islamic and Religious Sciences Program, where partially (less than 30%) Arabic language instruction was provided. In the academic year 2012-2013, the "International Theology Program" was added to this program, and a Compulsory Arabic Preparatory Class was implemented for students enrolled in these programs. Furthermore, students from this faculty who successfully completed the Compulsory Arabic Preparatory Class were sent to leading universities in Jordan for a two-month program to improve their Arabic language skills.

The Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences admitted students to the Politics and International Relations Program, where the language of instruction was English, in the academic year 2013-2014. A Compulsory English Preparatory Class was established for students enrolled in this program. Additionally, in the academic year 2014-2015, programs in Economics (English) and Social Work (Turkish) were opened. In the academic year 2021-2022, the Faculty admitted its first students to the Information Systems Bachelor's Programs.

The Faculty of Education started its education and training activities in the academic year 2019-2020 with the Turkish Language Teaching Bachelor's Program, where the language of instruction was Turkish, under the Department of Turkish and Social Sciences Education. Additionally, in the academic year 2020-2021, programs in Arabic Language Teaching, English Language Teaching, Preschool Teaching, and Guidance and Psychological Counseling were also opened.

In the academic year 2022-2023, Istanbul 29 Mayıs University expanded its education and training activities by opening programs in Elementary Mathematics Teaching, Special Education Teaching, and Classroom Teaching under the Faculty of Education.

The Faculty of Law admitted its first students to the Law Bachelor's Program in the academic year 2020-2021. Although the language of instruction is Turkish, students are provided with the opportunity to study in an English preparatory class for one year within their scholarship or tuition-paying status and within the quota.

The Foreign Languages ​​School, the Continuous Education Application and Research Center (29 MAYIS SUREM), the Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center (29 MAYIS TUROMER), and the Arabic Language Teaching Application and Research Center (29 MAYIS AROMER), among other institutions within the university, provide various opportunities for students to learn foreign languages ​​to a good level, depending on their fields of study.

Centers such as the Quran Studies Application and Research Center (KURAMER), the Psychology Application and Research Center (29 MAYIS PAMER), and the Economic and Financial Systems Application and Research Center (29 MAYIS EFSAM) contribute to diversifying scientific research and publications and support the university's scientific activities.

Istanbul 29 Mayıs University aims to contribute to the training of future academics by opening various postgraduate programs and admitting students. Additionally, it aims to achieve the set goals in education, teaching, and scientific research by collaborating with prestigious universities both domestically and internationally.

The university continues its education, teaching, and academic activities with its distinguished academic staff and students at the Umraniye Elmalikent Campus.