๐ฆ Galatasaray Universityยถ
Galatasaray University is a half
Turkish half French state university founded in 1992. It is the only university
in Turkey education language of which is French. Itโs located in Istanbul,
Beลiktaล. The university is on Bosporus shore and thus, it has amazing
landscapes. (Even when you are relieving yourself) The building the university
is using is an old palace.
The history
of the university dates back to 1481. In 1481, Bayezid II found a school named
โGalata Sarayฤฑโ which means โthe Palace of the Galataโ. Galata is the name of a
neighborhood in Istanbul. That school was also like a university for Ottoman
Empire. The purpose of the school was to train officer for state administration.
In 1838, the building was reconstructed and started to serve as a medication
institute. Then in 1868, Galatasaray Mekteb-i Sultanisi was founded. That
schoolโs focus was to teach French and the freedom. In 1874, three academical
branches were established and their curriculum was designed in line with that of
Sorbonne. Then in 1924, with the decision of Great Atatรผrk, the school became a
high school, and it still continues to educate young people. It is the hardest
high school to enter because you need to score 500 out of 500 in high school
entrance exams.
In 1992, President
Franรงois Mitterrand of France and President Turgut รzal of Turkey during a
ceremony at Galatasaray High School sign an agreement and Galatasaray
University, Lโuniversitรฉ Galatasaray was established. Galatasaray University is
a part of the Galatasaray Community as Galatasaray High School and Galatasaray
Sports Club with which you may be familiar. The university is one of the most
prestigious and successful universities in Turkey. As it is found in its roots,
the secular and free education tradition of teaching is really important.
The official language of education is
French but itโs actually a tri-lingual university. The courses are in French,
Turkish and English. In order to be graduated from this university, you have to
speak French and English. Other than these two languages, the students also have
to study a third foreign language and it can be German or Spanish.
As the language of education is
French, there is a preparatory period including one year of linguistics training
but if you are a linguistics student, the preparatory period includes two years
of linguistics training.
There are 5
faculties and 12 programs in the university.
In order to be accepted to the
university, you have 3 options. The university accepts 50% of its students from
the entrance exams, 25% from Galatasaray High School and the other 25% from
other high schools with French education such as Saint Joseph, Saint Benoit.