Galatasaray University
| Galatasaray Üniversitesi | |
 | |
| Type | Public University |
|---|---|
| Established |
1481 14 April 1992 |
| Founder |
Bayezid II (1481) Turgut Özal & François Mitterrand (1992) |
| Rector | Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Karsak |
Administrative staff | 200 |
| Undergraduates | 2000 |
| Postgraduates | 500 |
| Location |
Istanbul, Turkey 41°02′44.70″N 29°1′13.8″E / 41.0457500°N 29.020500°ECoordinates: 41°02′44.70″N 29°1′13.8″E / 41.0457500°N 29.020500°E |
| Campus | Ortaköy |
| Language | French |
| Colors | Red Yellow |
| Mascot | Lion |
| Affiliations | Agence universitaire de la Francophonie |
| Website | gsu.edu.tr |
Galatasaray University (Turkish: Galatasaray Üniversitesi, French: Université Galatasaray) is a Turkish university established in İstanbul, Turkey in 1992, following an agreement signed with 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, played an important role in organizing the agreement. Galatasaray University is one of the most important members of the Galatasaray Community as Galatasaray High School and Galatasaray Sports Club, and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and notable universities in Turkey.
Galatasaray University is the only Francophone University in Turkey. The establishment has five faculties (Economic and Administrative Sciences, Law, Communications, Natural Sciences and Literature, Engineering and Technology); two institutes (Social Sciences, Applied Sciences), 200 teachers and 2500 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.
In essence, Galatasaray University represents a secular tradition of teaching. Courses at Galatasaray University are tri-lingual: in Turkish, French and English. Apart from French which is the primary foreign language, fluency in English as the secondary foreign language is also required. For the Faculty of Engineering, the preparatory period includes only one year of linguistic training.
Galatasaray University is located at Ortaköy within the borough of Beşiktaş, a populated central district on the European side of İstanbul. The building which accommodates Galatasaray University was originally the Feriye Palace, a coastal summer palace on the Bosphorus built in 1871.
Galatasaray University is heir to the centuries-old traditions of Galatasaray High School which was established in 1481 as the Galata Sarayı Enderun-u Hümayunu (Galata Palace Imperial School).
History
In 1871 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, the building was built by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan.[1][2][3] 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.[1][2]
On January 22, 2013, the roof of a building used by professors and secretaries for offices caught on fire. The cause is assumed to be electrical, as 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.[1][2]
Departments Offering Bachelor's Degrees
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Faculty of Communications
- Journalism and Internet Publication
- Publicity and Public Relations
- Radio, Television and Cinema
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Faculty of Science and Letters
Faculty of Law
