Private company

Galatasaray University

Logo: Galatasaray University, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons3

Turkish university established in Istanbul, Turkey in 1992

Galatasaray University (Turkish: Galatasaray Üniversitesi, French: Université Galatasaray) is a public university established in Istanbul, Turkey in 1992, following an agreement signed in the presence of President François Mitterrand of France and President Turgut Özal of Turkey during a ceremony at Galatasaray High School, the mother school of the university. Turkey's Ambassador to France, Coşkun Kırca, was instrumental in facilitating the agreement.2 It was founded by Bayezid II.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1992Founded1
Galatasaray University o1
Photo: Julia Sumangil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Galatasaray University (Turkish: Galatasaray Üniversitesi, French: Université Galatasaray) is a public university established in Istanbul, Turkey in 1992, following an agreement signed in the presence of President François Mitterrand of France and President Turgut Özal of Turkey during a ceremony at Galatasaray High School, the mother school of the university. Turkey's Ambassador to France, Coşkun Kırca, was instrumental in facilitating the agreement. Galatasaray University is a member of the Galatasaray Community, alongside Galatasaray High School and Galatasaray Sports Club, and is recognized as a prominent institution in Turkey. Galatasaray University is located at Ortaköy within the borough of Beşiktaş, a populous central district on the European side of Istanbul. The building that accommodates Galatasaray University was originally the Feriye Palace, a coastal summer palace on the Bosphorus built in 1871.2

The story

Founded by Bayezid II in 1992.1

In 1871, during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, the building was built by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan. The building was used as a dormitory for the female students of the Galatasaray High School until 1992, when it was inaugurated as the Galatasaray University. Galatasaray University was originally the Feriye Palace, a coastal summer palace on the Bosphorus built in 1871.

Galatasaray University continues the long-standing traditions of Galatasaray High School, originally established in 1481 as the Galata Sarayı Enderun-u Hümayunu (English: Galata Palace Imperial School).

The establishment comprises five faculties: Economic and Administrative Sciences, Law, Communications, Natural Sciences and Literature, and Engineering and Technology. It also includes two institutes, Social Sciences and Applied Sciences, with 200 academic staff members and 2,500 students.

As a participant in the European exchange programs Erasmus and Socrates, Galatasaray University accommodates around 50 European students. Meanwhile, 100 students of Galatasaray University travel each year to France within the framework of these exchange programs.

Courses at Galatasaray University are conducted in three languages: French, Turkish and English. French serves as the primary language, while English is required as the secondary foreign language. Additionally, students are expected to study a third language, choosing between Spanish and German. For students in the Faculty of Engineering, the preparatory program includes a single year of language training.

On January 22, 2013, the roof of a building used by professors and secretaries for offices caught on fire. The cause was assumed to be electrical, since a small outlet fire occurred at around 6:00 pm. After campus security stabilized the fire and disabled the alarm, the fire spread inside the walls of the building to the roof. The fire was contained at approximately 10:00 pm.

From Wikipedia’s article on Galatasaray University, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Galatasaray University, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

Administration Research Center

Penalty Law and Criminology Research Center

Strategical Research Center

Center of Research and Documentation of Europe

Read the full text

Kemalist Reforms Research Center

MEDIAR Center for Media Studies, Research and Applications

GİAM Galatasaray Center For Economic Research

From Wikipedia’s article on Galatasaray University, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1992Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5