Galatasaray University was first established in 1481 by Sultan Beyazit II as an "Enderun School" (Imperial School) and was called the "Galata Sarayı" ('Galata Palace'). The institution started in the same premises of the present Galatasaray High School to train civil servants for various ranks in the state administration. In those days, the best students of secondary schools were sent to the Enderun School. In the name 'Galata Palace,' the word' Palace,' referred indeed to the state, identified with the Imperial Palace.
Galatasaray is the only educational institution in Turkey, maintaining its reputation, traditional structure, and mission. The school building was reconstructed in 1838 and converted into "Tıbbiye-i Adliye-i Sahane" (The Faculty of Medicine). The first Turkish midwives and other health service personnel were educated in this faculty. This was a step forward to integrate Western science in the field of education.
In 1868, the school was opened under the name of "Galatasaray Mektebi Sultanisi" (Galatasaray High School), the third version of present-day Galatasaray, by order of Sultan Abdulaziz, the first Ottoman emperor. He visited Europe and was highly influenced by the educational institutions in France, in particular. Keçecizade Fuat Paşa, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, served in a foreign minister's capacity at that time and later became a grand vizier in the administration. Ali Paşa were among those who made great efforts to establish the school designed on the French model. This historical francophone education institution was a boarding school where freedom of conscience always prevailed.
In 1874, three graduate schools were instituted by decree of Sultan Abdulaziz. They were combined under the name of "Mekteb-i Aliye-i Sultaniye," covering Galatasaray Faculty of Law, Galatasaray Faculty of Engineering, and Galatasaray Faculty of Literature. At that stage, these schools' administrative structure and courses were designed to be compatible with the Sorbonne University. Especially the Faculty of Law confirmed with the level and quality of its European counterparts and, as such, contributed to the development of today's law school.
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