Top 3 Universities of Istanbul

Gokce Nacar

Nov 19 935 read

Top 3 Universities of Istanbul

When compared to European nations, the notion of higher education is relatively young in Turkey. For decades, only aristocracy with ties to the Ottoman Palace (Topkapi) received what we now refer to as "university education." Military colleges were founded in the 18th century, and army leaders began to be trained according to Western norms. The first higher education institutions, however, were not formed until the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923. Even the standards of these early educational institutions were considerably below those of Western colleges.

With the introduction of university reforms in 1933, Turkey founded universities with a universal perspective. Many Turkish academics were fired as a result of these major changes, while European academicians, largely of Hebrew ancestry and fleeing Nazi tyranny in Germany, were recruited to key posts and a revised curriculum was implemented. In Turkey, these changes represent the beginning of true university education. Turkey has 203 universities as of 2020, with 10 state universities and 40 foundation institutions in Istanbul alone. Istanbul, being Turkey's largest city, is home to the country's oldest, largest, and most successful universities. We will look at some of these higher education institutions that lead academic life in Turkey in our list of "The Best Universities in Turkey."

Bogazici University

Bogaziçi University, along with Middle East Technical University in Ankara and Bilkent University in Ankara, has been regarded as one of Turkey's top three institutions for decades. Each year, Boaziçi welcomes students who get the top scores on their university entrance tests. As a result, it is the primary goal of Turkey's most successful pupils.

Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, an American professor, and Christopher Rheinlander Robert, an American trader, established Bosphorus University in 1863 under the name "Robert College." Robert College was changed to Boaziçi University in 1971 after serving as a high school for more than a century. This university is also famous for it’s location, as it’s next to the amazing Bosphorus.

Istanbul University

Let's take a look at a large institution that deserves to be on our list of "The Best 3 Universities in Istanbul." Istanbul University is the country's oldest, largest, and most populous university. Its foundations were established in the 15th century by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II under the name "Sahn-Seman." This school was known as "Darulfunun Osmani" before the foundation of the Republic. Istanbul Institution was established as the fledgling Republic of Turkey's first university with the announcement of university reforms in 1933.

Foreign academics from Europe were invited to Istanbul University as soon as it was formed. Academics, particularly those who had been subjected to political tyranny in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, flocked to Istanbul and started teaching at Istanbul University. These individuals also assisted Turkish authorities in the development of a modern educational system. It is definitely one of the top universities in Istanbul.

Galatasaray University

Galatasaray University has a special position among "The Best Universities in Istanbul" on our ranking. Galatasaray University was established in 1994 as a result of a special arrangement between the Turkish and French governments. It is Turkey's only university with an international agreement and the only higher education institution that employs French as its primary language of instruction.

In Turkey, Galatasaray University features a one-of-a-kind student selecting method. While all other universities must accept students who have passed a public college entrance test, Galatasaray University admits 50% of its students who have passed this central exam and 50% of its students who have passed a separate exam open solely to graduates of French-teaching high schools. Students who have graduated from French-teaching schools such as Notre Dame de Sion, Saint Benoit, Saint Michel, and Galatasaray High School are recruited via an unique selection procedure that includes a test of their French language skills.

Visit Iamistanbul for additional information about studying and other topics. It's important to remember that these are Istanbul's greatest public universities; private universities are not listed. You can discover more about history, museums, fantastic locations to visit such as historical landmarks, and more on our website!