The Department of Economics was established in 1992 together with the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS). The Department admitted its first undergraduate students in the 1995–1996 academic year. Beginning with the 2010–2011 academic year, a compulsory English Preparatory Class was introduced, and a program in which at least 30% of the curriculum is delivered in English was implemented. In addition to its undergraduate program, the Department offers a thesis-based master’s program, a non-thesis master’s program, and a doctoral program.

Committed to fostering individuals who can comprehend contemporary issues in the global and Turkish economies, generate solutions, establish causal relationships, think socially and analytically, and demonstrate strong communication skills, the Department of Economics had a total of 494 students in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Students who choose to study in the Department of Economics are admitted based on the results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination administered by the Measurement, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). The registration of international students is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the “Directive on Application, Admission, and Registration of International Students to Associate and Undergraduate Programs at Mersin University.” Student transfers from other institutions are conducted within the framework of the “Directive on Horizontal Transfers to Associate and Undergraduate Programs at Mersin University.” Adaptation procedures for students who transfer horizontally, vertically, or from another institution upon request are executed according to the “Directive on Exemption and Adaptation Procedures at Mersin University.” Admissions to Double Major and Minor Programs are carried out within the framework of the “Directive on Double Major and Minor Programs at Mersin University.”