Galatasaray University

Galatasaray University Overview

Galatasaray University (GSU), located in the Ortaköy district of Istanbul, Turkey, is a state university with French as the medium of instruction. It is one of the most important institutions of the Galatasaray Community, along with Galatasaray Sports Club and Galatasaray High School.

The idea of establishing a university that continues the legacy of Galatasaray High School and provides education in French emerged in the 1970s. In 1979, Selahattin Beyazıt, the former president of Galatasaray Sports Club, and businessman, took the first concrete step by meeting with Bülent Ecevit and Süleyman Demirel. Beyazıt proposed that the university should be established on a 1,175,000 square meter land owned by Galatasaray Club in Riva, a district of Istanbul's Beykoz. The discussions regarding the establishment of the university continued, and in 1984, İnan Kıraç, the President of Galatasaray Education Foundation, stated, "We have started working on the establishment of Galatasaray University," indicating that the idea had matured.

Due to the efforts of retired Ambassador Coşkun Kırca, a graduate of Galatasaray High School, President Turgut Özal officially raised the issue of establishing a university through a joint Turkish-French initiative during his meeting with French President François Mitterrand in Paris on June 5, 1991. Following a positive response to this proposal, French President Mitterrand visited Turkey and, on April 14, 1992, attended the signing ceremony of the Galatasaray University Establishment Document, which was signed by President Turgut Özal, Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Çetin, and French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, at the Galatasaray High School building in Beyoğlu. Galatasaray University is not only the only university in Turkey with French as the medium of instruction but also the first higher education institution established through an international treaty. The treaty establishing Galatasaray University is based on the 1954 France-Turkey Cultural Cooperation Agreement.

Instead of the land in Riva, Galatasaray Education and Training Institution, which operated in the building of Galatasaray High School in Ortaköy, became operational until June 1994. The first internal exam was held on May 23, 1993, and on October 11, 1993, President Süleyman Demirel visited the institution on the occasion of the opening of the first academic year. On December 13, 1993, protocols foreseeing cooperation with many universities in France were signed.

The institution became Galatasaray University in 1994. Although the institution gained university status, it maintained its status as an integrated education and training institution, and Galatasaray High School and Galatasaray Primary School were defined as academic units affiliated with Galatasaray University.

Galatasaray University has a unique student admission system that sets it apart from all other universities in Turkey. This system grants significant privileges to high schools that provide education in French in Turkey and is legally based on the international treaty between Turkey and France that enabled the establishment of Galatasaray University.

Every year, Galatasaray University admits 480 students. Fifty percent of these students (240) are selected through a national examination called "LYS" (Lisans Yerleştirme Sınavı), which is administered by the Turkish Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). The remaining 240 students are admitted based on their performance in the French Baccalaureate exams or the Turkish High School Diploma (Lise Diploması).

The university offers undergraduate programs in various fields such as Law, Economics, International Relations, Management, Computer Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, and Industrial Engineering. The medium of instruction is primarily French, although some courses may be taught in Turkish or English. This multilingual approach aims to provide students with strong language skills and a global perspective.

Galatasaray University has a strong emphasis on international cooperation and academic exchange. It has established partnerships with numerous prestigious universities in France and other countries. Through these collaborations, students have the opportunity to participate in student exchange programs, study abroad for a semester or a year, and engage in joint research projects.

The university campus is located in Ortaköy, one of the vibrant districts of Istanbul, known for its historical landmarks, cultural diversity, and lively atmosphere. The campus features modern facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, and student dormitories.