Karabük University (KBÜ)

Karabük University (KBÜ) is a public university located in the city of Karabük, in the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye. The foundations of Karabük University are rooted in academic units established in 1992, which were initially affiliated with Zonguldak Karaelmas University. These units included the Faculty of Engineering and the Karabük Vocational School.

History

The university was officially established on 29 May 2007 by Law No. 5662. At its inception, it began academic activities with four faculties, one vocational school, and two vocational colleges. Initially, the university had 116 academic staff, 122 administrative staff, and 4,685 students.

Following its establishment, the university underwent rapid growth and academic expansion. Today, it offers education through 14 faculties, 4 institutes, 4 vocational schools, and 7 vocational colleges. Its staff exceeds 2,150, including 956 academic personnel and more than 400 administrative staff.^【1】

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Campuses

The main campus of the university is the Iron and Steel Campus, located near the center of Karabük city. This primary campus houses faculty buildings, laboratories, the central library, a congress center, and sports facilities.

Other significant academic units are located in Safranbolu, a district listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. These buildings host units such as the Safranbolu Faculty of Tourism, the Safranbolu Fethi Toker Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, and the Safranbolu Şefik Yılmaz Dizdar Vocational School. Additionally, vocational schools are present in the districts of Eflani, Eskipazar, and Yenice.

Academic Units

Karabük University houses the following academic units offering education at undergraduate, graduate, and associate degree levels:

Faculties

• Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Hasan Doğan Faculty of Sports Sciences
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Business
• Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Forestry
• Safranbolu Başak Cengiz Faculty of Architecture
• Safranbolu Fethi Toker Faculty of Fine Arts and Design
• Safranbolu Faculty of Tourism
• Safranbolu Türker İnanoğlu Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine

Institutes

• Iron and Steel Institute
• Graduate School of Education

Vocational Schools

• Safranbolu State Conservatory
• Vocational School of Civil Aviation
• Vocational School of Foreign Languages

Vocational Colleges

• Vocational College of Information Technologies
• Eflani Vocational College
• Eskipazar Vocational College
• Ovacık Sports Vocational College
• Safranbolu Şefik Yılmaz Dizdar Vocational College
• Vocational College of Health Services
• Vocational College of Cybersecurity
• Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Union Technical Sciences Vocational College (TOBB Technical Sciences Vocational College)
• Yenice Vocational College

Student Profile

The total number of students at Karabük University is 42,146, of whom 11,072 are international students from 92 different countries.^【2】 Undergraduate admissions for citizens of the Republic of Türkiye (T.C.) are conducted based on results of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS). For international students, admission is based on the university’s own KBÜ-ULOS exam or TR-YÖS scores. The university employs a total of 2,150 staff, of whom 1,160 are academic and 990 are administrative.^【3】

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Departments

Karabük University offers undergraduate and associate degree programs through its faculties, vocational schools, and vocational colleges.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate programs are organized across sixteen faculties. The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences offers engineering programs in both Turkish and English, including Computer Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Rail Systems Engineering, and Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. In the field of health sciences, in addition to the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, the Faculty of Health Sciences offers programs in Child Development, Midwifery, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, and Nursing.

Social and Humanities programs are conducted by the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences (Archaeology, Geography, Philosophy, English Language and Literature, Psychology, Art History, Sociology, History, Turkish Language and Literature) and the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences (Economics, Political Science and Public Administration, Social Work, International Relations). The Faculty of Business offers programs in Actuarial Science, Finance and Banking, Public Relations and Advertising, Business Administration, and Business Administration (English).

Arts, Architecture, and Communication fields are represented by the Safranbolu Başak Cengiz Faculty of Architecture (Architecture), the Safranbolu Fethi Toker Faculty of Fine Arts and Design (Industrial Design), the Safranbolu Türker İnanoğlu Faculty of Communication (Journalism and Radio, Television and Cinema), and the Safranbolu Faculty of Tourism (Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Tourism Management, Tourism Guiding, and Recreation Management).

Associate Degree Programs

Associate degree programs, delivered through nine vocational colleges, aim to meet the mid-level workforce needs of industry and service sectors.

The Vocational College of Health Services offers health-focused programs such as Oral and Dental Health, First Aid and Emergency Care, Physiotherapy, Opticianry, and Medical Laboratory Techniques. The Vocational College of Information Technologies offers next-generation IT-oriented programs including Artificial Intelligence Operator, Autonomous Systems Technician, Cloud Computing Operator, Game Development and Programming.

The Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Union Technical Sciences Vocational College offers programs in technical fields such as Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Electrical and Electronic Technology, Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technology, and Rail Systems. Other vocational colleges (Eflani, Eskipazar, Safranbolu Şefik Yılmaz Dizdar, and Yenice) provide programs tailored to regional needs, including Architectural Restoration, Heritage Conservation, Child Development, Culinary Arts, and Rail Systems.

International Activities

In line with its internationalization goals, the university supports programs that promote student and staff mobility. Major international exchange programs include Erasmus+, Mevlana, and Farabi, which aim to provide students and academics with international experience.

Awards and Achievements

Karabük University and its academic staff have achieved various national and international successes in scientific production, project performance, and student competitions.

International Academic Recognition: University academics have achieved global rankings in ScholarGPS, which evaluates academic impact and publication quality. According to 2024 data, Associate Professor Dr. Samet Uslu ranks 1st in the world in Fuel Science; Professor Dr. Okan Ünal ranks 6th in Surface Modification; and Professor Dr. Dursun Özyürek ranks 10th in Mechanical Adaptation. Additionally, Associate Professor Dr. Aydın Sinan Apaydın, recognized nationally for his achievements in Neurosurgery, received the 1st place globally in the TOYB Global – Medical Innovation and Inventions category in 2024. Academics distinguished by their research output and publication numbers have been honored with Academic Achievement Awards during the university’s anniversary celebrations.^【4】

National Projects and Institutional Achievements: The university demonstrated institutional excellence under the ÜNİDES (University Student Community Collaboration and Support Program) implemented by the General Directorate of Youth Services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Over five cycles, it received the highest number of approved projects—136 in total—making it the top-supported institution in Türkiye. The success of student projects continued at the TEKNOFEST competitions.

In the 2025 finals, the university participated with 18 teams. Its Partech Wireless Communication Team won the “Best Team Spirit” award from ULAK Communication Inc., the competition’s organizer, for its project on a seamless communication mechanism. The team consists of students from Electrical-Electronics and Computer Engineering. According to YÖKSIS academic performance rankings provided by the Higher Education Council (YÖK), Associate Professor Dr. Selçuk Atay ranks 1st in Türkiye in Philology and New Turkish Literature, and Assistant Professor Dr. Yusuf Seçgin ranks 1st in Türkiye in the Anatomy Discipline.^【5】

Artistic and Student Achievements: Students have earned awards in artistic and visual arts fields such as photography and film festivals. Abdullatif Khal Murad Mirza, a student at the Safranbolu Türker İnanoğlu Faculty of Communication, won third place in the UNESCO 30th Anniversary Photo Marathon, held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Safranbolu’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Another student from the same faculty, Yusuf Emir Sümbül, received an exhibition award in the same competition. Additionally, the documentary “In the Footsteps of an Orchestra,” produced through collaboration between faculty members and a doctoral student, was honored with the Gordion Foundation Special Award at international film festivals.^【6】

Student Life

The main campus, Iron and Steel Campus, provides social and cultural facilities to meet students’ extracurricular needs. The campus includes a social life center, a library, sports facilities (including the Ayyıldızlı Stadium), and dormitories. The library offers both printed and electronic resources for research and study.