🦁 Galatasaray University

image1 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. It’s located in Istanbul, Beşiktaş. 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. image2 The history of the university dates back to 1481. In 1481, Bayezid II found a school named “Galata Sarayı” which means “the Palace of the Galata”. 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 school’s 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 Atatürk, 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. image3 In 1992, President François Mitterrand of France and President Turgut Özal of Turkey during a ceremony at Galatasaray High School sign an agreement and Galatasaray University, L’université 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. image4 The official language of education is French but it’s 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. image5 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. image6 There are 5 faculties and 12 programs in the university. image7 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.