Turkish-German University in Istanbul

The Turkish-German University in Istanbul is presently the most ambitious project of German-Turkish cooperation in education and science. 5,000 students will learn, do research and advance Turkish top-level research at five faculties and a center for foreign languages in Beykoz, the green lung of Istanbul. In 2013 the first students commenced their studies in five degree programs at a makeshift campus. The opening ceremony for the new campus took place on January 24, 2020, and was attended by German chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The development of the Turkish-German University gets support from a consortium of 38 German universities. Chairwoman is Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, President of the German Parliament (ret.). The Turkish-German University is  cooperation project: The Turkish partners provide the premises, buildings, and infrastructure, and cover the running costs. The German partners send university teachers and instructors and prepare curricula and material for developing the language center. They provide grants for local salaries, scholarships and further training. 

The faculty of natural sciences at the Turkish-German University is being established under the guidance of the University of Potsdam together with partners from several German universities and research institutions in Potsdam (partner of pearls - Potsdam Research Networks). This is done in close coordination with the Turkish founding parties. The work with the Turkish-German University led to useful cooperation with Turkish partners and institutes from the pearls research network in Potsdam. Intensive scientific exchange serves as a bridge between the two countries. The project Benim Yolum supports the scientific exchange and coordinates the networking of junior scientists and industrial partners at the Turkish-German University.