Istanbul University

Istanbul University is a prominent Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square in Fatih, the capital district of the province, on the European side of the city. Some pre-1923/1930 western sources refer to it as the University of Constantinople, after the previous name of the city.
Origins of Istanbul University go back to 1453, when it was founded by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II "as a school of philosophy, medicine, law and letters". There was also the University of Constantinople, which was founded in 425 and which had existed until the Fall of Constantinople. Istanbul University functioned as a Medrese as well. This madrasa is regarded as the precursor to the Darülfünûn, which evolved into Istanbul University in 1933. Education in a number of sciences and fields became available, and, until the 19th century, they were instrumental in educating the ruling cadres of the Ottoman society. However, when the medreses were no longer able to meet the needs of the modern world, a restructuring process began, and as a result, the institutions of higher education called Darülfünûn, the core of Istanbul University, was established.

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