Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (KMÜ)

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (KMÜ) is a public university located in the city of Karaman, Türkiye. It is named after Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, the ruler of the Karamanoğulları Beylik, who in 1277 issued a decree declaring Turkish the first official state language.

History

The foundations of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (KMÜ) were laid in 1987 with the establishment of the Karaman Vocational School under Selçuk University. Over the following years, higher education infrastructure in Karaman expanded with the opening of new faculties and vocational schools also affiliated with Selçuk University. Ultimately, on 29 May 2007, Law No. 5662 established a new university in Karaman under the name Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University.

Under this law, all academic units previously affiliated with Selçuk University and located in Karaman were transferred to the newly established university, forming the institutional basis of KMÜ. In the years following its establishment, new faculties were founded, including the Faculty of Medicine, the Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Dentistry, and the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture.

Campuses

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University has three campuses: Yunus Emre Campus, Kazım Karabekir Campus, and Ermenek Campus. With a total area of 1,809,000 square meters, the university ranks among Türkiye’s largest campus universities. Yunus Emre Campus, located in the center of Karaman city, is the main campus and hosts all academic and administrative units of the university except the Kazım Karabekir and Ermenek Vocational Schools.

This expansive campus includes educational buildings, laboratories, social facilities, and sports areas. The Central Library serves students with a collection exceeding 300,000 books, along with individual and group study rooms. The other campuses, aimed at integrating with district and rural areas, house the Ermenek Vocational School, the Ermenek Uysal and Hasan Kalan Health Services Vocational School, and the Kazım Karabekir Vocational School.

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Academic Units

The university hosts numerous academic units engaged in teaching and research:

Faculties

• Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Letters
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Islamic Sciences
• Kamil Özdağ Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
• Faculty of Sport Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Applied Sciences

Institutes

• Institute of Natural Sciences
• Institute of Health Sciences
• Institute of Social Sciences

Colleges

• College of Foreign Languages

Vocational Schools

• Ermenek Vocational School
• Ermenek Uysal and Hasan Kalan Health Services Vocational School
• Kazım Karabekir Vocational School
• Health Services Vocational School
• Social Sciences Vocational School
• Technical Sciences Vocational School

Student Profile

The university has a total of 19,721 students enrolled at undergraduate, associate, and graduate levels. Admission to undergraduate and associate degree programs is conducted centrally based on results from the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS). Additionally, specialized programs such as those in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture and the Faculty of Sport Sciences admit students through special talent examinations.

Departments

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and associate degree programs.

Undergraduate programs include fields in engineering and health such as Medicine, Dentistry, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Electrical-Electronics Engineering. Programs in science and information technology include Data Science and Analytics, Software Development, and Mathematics. Administrative and economic programs include Economics, Business Administration, Political Science and Public Administration, and International Trade and Business. Social and humanities programs include History, Sociology, Archaeology, and English Language and Literature (in English). In translation, programs are offered in German, Arabic, and Persian Translation and Interpretation. In education sciences, programs include Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Guidance and Psychological Counseling.

Associate degree programs are offered in the following areas: at the Technical Sciences Vocational School — Computer Programming, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Technology, and Occupational Health and Safety; at the Health Services Vocational School — Oral and Dental Health, Operating Room Services, First and Emergency Aid, Medical Imaging Techniques, Dialysis, and Pharmacy Services; at the Social Sciences Vocational School — Logistics, Banking and Insurance, Culinary Arts, and Tourism and Hotel Management.

International Activities

Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University actively implements various exchange programs to provide international experience for its students and academic staff. These include the Erasmus+ Mobility Program in Europe, the Mevlana Exchange Program, and the Orhun Exchange Program. Under the Orhun Program, travel expenses are covered by the sending institution, while the host university provides accommodation and meals. Applications for the Farabi Exchange Program were suspended for the 2023-2024 academic year.

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Awards and Achievements

The university has achieved notable successes in academic performance, research, and accessibility. According to the URAP 2024-2025 Türkiye Ranking, it ranks 70th in academic performance, continuing its upward trajectory.^【1】

In 2024, under the YÖK Accessible University Awards, it received five flags in the categories of “Accessibility in Space” (Orange Flag), “Accessibility in Education” (Green Flag), and “Accessibility in Socio-Cultural Activities” (Blue Flag).^【2】

In research, the university was represented by ten academics in the 2024 report of Türkiye’s most influential scientists. Patents have been registered in areas such as renewable energy and post-disaster housing, and projects have received support from TÜBİTAK. On the student front, international achievements include a third-place finish (bronze medal) at the Umitler European Taekwondo Championship.^【3】

Student Life

The Yunus Emre Campus features social and sports facilities. The social facilities, known as the Student Life Center, include a cafeteria, snack bar, and a two-story dining hall. For sports activities, the campus offers an international-standard sports complex, a 1,500-seat indoor sports hall, a semi-Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, a climbing wall, and a 5,000-seat stadium. Student housing needs are met by dormitories operated by the Credit and Hostels Institution (KYK). The university hosts cultural and artistic events throughout the year, including symposia, congresses, theater performances, and concerts.