Prof. Yücel Öztürk completed his primary education in Artvin and his secondary and high school education in Gümüşhane. He graduated from Istanbul University’s Department of Literature in 1982 with a thesis titled Science in Kutadgu Bilig. He began his career as a history teacher with the Ministry of National Education in 1983.
In 1991, he started his master’s studies at Fırat University, completing a thesis titled Tax Register of Small Ardahan and Karslivas, No. 527. Dr. Öztürk continued his academic journey at Fırat University, earning his Ph.D. in 1999 with a dissertation on The Crimean Khanate under Ottoman Rule (1475–1600). His research has focused on topics such as the Crimea, Ukraine, the Cossacks, and Ottoman urban history.
He achieved the rank of Assistant Professor in 2000, Associate Professor in 2005, and Professor thereafter. Professor Öztürk currently serves as a faculty member at Sakarya University.