Edmond de Amicis had called Istanbul ‘the city with the most beautiful face’ in the world. And maybe it would be no exaggeration to call Boğaziçi, the university with the most beautiful view in the world. Boğaziçi University which was originally Robert College was the first American university to be established on non-American soil. It was established in 1863 by an American educator named Cyrus Hamlin and a businessman named Christopher Rhinelander Robert in Rumeli Hisarı .
Cyrus Hamlin wrote about his life in Turkey and the book about his 40 years in Turkey was published with the name ‘My Life and Times’. Hamlin was an American missionary and an educator with ideals. He served as the chairman of the college till 1876. His name lives in a building in Boğaziçi University.
Cyrus Hamlin Hall Interior
The land with this amazing view belonged to an Ottoman diplomat named Ahmet Vefik Pasha who was a prominent Ottoman intellectual with a rich collection of books. The pasha was persuaded to sell a part of his land for the establishment of Robert College.
Robert College was turned into Boğaziçi University and became a state university in 1971 but it has not compromised its educational standards.
The University has always been a leader in higher education due to its bright students, world famous academics and liberal atmosphere. Although today the university is going through turbulent times due to an appointed rector that has been trying to annihilate the liberal and democratic tradition of this amazing University, University professors, staff, students and alumni are ‘fighting’ for its strong academic tradition.
The University has grown exponentially across the years but South Campus is still the heart of the University with its amazing view and historical buildings that take one back in time!
As a young student of psychology, I had always been struck by the breath taking view of Boğaziçi University and hope that one day you get to experience the breath taking view of the south campus after you enter from its main entrance walking down to main square!
