Kastamonu University (KÜ)

Kastamonu University (KÜ), a public university established on 1 March 2006 under Law No. 5467, conducts higher education activities in the province of Kastamonu. The university has been designated by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) within the framework of regional development-oriented mission differentiation as an institution specializing in "Forestry and Nature Tourism." The main campus is the Kuzeykent Campus, located near the center of Kastamonu city. Some of its academic units and vocational schools operate in buildings spread across various districts of the province.

The academic foundations of Kastamonu University trace back to higher education units operating in the region prior to its establishment, under Gazi University. Among these were the Kastamonu Vocational School, established in 1992, and the Faculty of Education, opened in 2000. The university was officially established on 1 March 2006 under Law No. 5467.

At the time of its founding, the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Education, School of Physical Education and Sports, School of Health, and several vocational schools previously affiliated with Gazi University were incorporated into the newly established Kastamonu University. In the years following its establishment, the university expanded its academic structure by adding new faculties such as Faculty of Science and Letters, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Faculty of Theology, and Faculty of Communication.

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The university's educational and research activities are carried out at central and district campuses:

Kuzeykent Campus: The main campus of the university, housing faculty buildings, central lecture halls, laboratories, the Prof. Dr. Hakkı Yazıcı Central Library, and social facilities.

District Campuses: The educational network through vocational schools extends to the districts of Abana, Araç, Azdavay, Bozkurt, Cide, Çatalzeytin, Devrekani, İhsangazi, İnebolu, Küre, Taşköprü and Tosya within Kastamonu province.

• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Fine Arts and Design
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
• Faculty of Forestry
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Tourism
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

• College of Civil Aviation
• College of Foreign Languages

• Abana Sabahat-Mesut Yılmaz Vocational School
• Araç Rafet Vergili Vocational School
• Bozkurt Vocational School
• Çatalzeytin Vocational School
• Cide Rıfat Ilgaz Vocational School
• Daday Nafi and Ümit Çeri Vocational School
• Devrekani Turkey Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Union Vocational School
• İhsangazi Vocational School
• İnebolu Vocational School
• Kastamonu Vocational School
• Küre Vocational School
• Taşköprü Vocational School
• Tosya Vocational School

Student admissions to Kastamonu University are conducted based on the results of the national university entrance examinations (YKS). International student admissions are carried out through special procedures such as the Kastamonu University International Student Examination (KÜYÖS). The university has a student population of 26,785.

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The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and associate degree programs across its faculties and colleges, including specialized programs focused on forestry and nature tourism.

Undergraduate Programs: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Forestry Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, International Trade and Logistics.

Associate Degree Programs: Culinary Arts, Hunting and Wildlife Management, Digital Agricultural Technologies, Unmanned Vehicle Technology, Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Furniture and Decoration, Civil Defense and Firefighting, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Services.

In line with its internationalization vision, the university supports student and staff mobility through active participation in exchange programs such as Erasmus+, Mevlana, and Farabi. These programs provide students with opportunities for international education and experience.

Kastamonu University has received various recognitions in the fields of academic work, research productivity, and international cooperation:

• International Rankings: Ranked in the 1501+ band in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2026 World University Rankings and showed improvement in the research quality category. Additionally, in the THE 2024 Impact Rankings, it entered the 1001–1500 band according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, achieving top-tier global positions in subcategories such as "Climate Action" and "Life on Land."^【1】

• TÜBİTAK Achievement: According to YÖK’s 2024 report, it ranked 9th among the top 10 universities in Türkiye in terms of the number of projects supported by TÜBİTAK.^【2】

• International Cooperation Award: Recognized with the "International Cooperation Award" under the 2025 YÖK Excellence Awards for the Erasmus+ project titled "ECOPRINT in Nature."

• Highly Cited Researchers List: Represented by 10 academics in the 2025 list of "The World’s Most Influential Scientists" compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier.^【3】

The Kuzeykent Campus houses facilities designed to support students’ social, cultural, and physical development. On campus, the central library, indoor swimming pool, stadium, and sports facilities are available for student use.