Selçuk University

Selçuk Üniversitesi is a public university located in the province of Konya, officially established in 1975. Among Türkiye’s largest higher education institutions, the university continues its activities under the vision of “A World University Connecting Tradition with the Future.”

History and Establishment Process

Roots of Higher Education

Konya Law School represents the foundations of modern higher education in Konya, extending from the Seljuk and Ottoman educational traditions. The city’s first modern higher education institution was the Konya Law School, established in 1907 concurrently with schools in Thessaloniki and Baghdad to serve consumers across Istanbul. The school began instruction on 1 March 1908 and operated for 11 years, graduating 134 students before ceasing operations on 15 March 1919 due to conditions following the First World War.^【1】

Republican Era Initiatives and Official Establishment

The idea of establishing a university in Konya during the Republican era gained prominence from the 1950s and was formalized in 1955 with a bill submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. However, the bill did not pass through the committee, and the process of university formation continued with the expansion of the Selçuk Education Institute and the Higher Islamic Institute in 1962. With support from the “Association for Establishing and Sustaining a University,” founded in 1968, the School of Engineering and Architecture was launched. Finally, on 11 April 1975, Selçuk University was officially established by Law No. 1873. In the 1976–1977 academic year, the university began its educational activities with seven departments under the Faculties of Science and Letters, 327 students, and two faculty members.

Institutional Expansion and the 1982 Restructuring

One of the most significant turning points in the university’s history was the Decree with the Force of Law No. 41 dated 20 July 1982. Under this regulation, existing higher education institutions were integrated into the university structure: the Education Institute became the Faculty of Education, the Academy of Architecture and Engineering became the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, and the Higher Islamic Institute became the Faculty of Theology. Simultaneously, new faculties were established in Law, Medicine, Agriculture, and Veterinary Science, as well as in Science, Health, and Social Sciences, significantly broadening the academic scope. As a result, the university rapidly evolved into an institution comprising eight faculties, four colleges, and three institutes.

Academic Structure and Educational Programs

Academic Structure and Administrative Units

Konya Selçuk University ( Selçuk.edu.tr)

• Number of Faculties: 23 faculties (Medicine, Law, Dentistry, Communication, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, etc.)

• Number of Institutes: 7 institutes (Science, Health, Social Sciences, etc.)

• Number of Colleges: 5 colleges and 1 conservatory.

• Number of Vocational Schools: 23 vocational schools.

• Research Centers: Between 51 and 54 numerous research and application centers.

• Education System: The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is applied.

• Student Organizations: Between 187 and 189 active student organizations.^【2】

Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Education

To deepen scientific research, the university offers numerous master’s and doctoral programs under the faculties of Science, Health, and Social Sciences. Additionally, interdisciplinary programs are available in fields such as Information Technologies Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Defense Technologies, and Seljuk History and Civilization. Students are also permitted to pursue double major and minor programs under specified conditions.

Internationalization and Student Mobility

Selçuk University hosts approximately 2,500 international students from 114 countries, providing an international learning environment. Exchange programs such as Erasmus, Mevlana, and Farabi support student and academic staff mobility. The university offers a Turkish language center for international students and preparatory classes in foreign languages including English, German, French, Arabic, and Russian.

Campus Facilities and Infrastructure

Alaeddin Keykubat Campus

Located in the center of Konya, the Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, covering approximately 14.5 million square meters, is one of Türkiye’s largest campuses. For ease of transportation, the campus is served by a tramway and free shuttle services. It features modern amenities including unlimited free Wi-Fi, a central library open 24/7, a post office, bank ATMs, and shopping centers.

Social, Cultural and Sports Facilities

In addition to its extensive academic development, the university provides ample opportunities to support student social life:

Cultural Spaces: Over 400 national and international events are held annually at the Sultan Alparslan Cultural Center and various modern auditoriums. Additionally, 187–189 active student organizations operate on campus.

Sports Facilities: The 19 May Indoor Sports Hall (capacity 3,500), the 75th Year Sports Hall, an Olympic-sized indoor arena, an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and equestrian facilities form the core of the university’s sports infrastructure.

Accommodation and Health Services: Numerous dormitories affiliated with the university and the Student Dormitories Institution (KYK) are located within and around the campus. Health services are provided by the University Hospital and the Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center.

Scientific Research and Regional Impact

Research Centers and Technology Development

The university hosts between 45 and 54 research and application centers. Konya Technopark plays a significant role in university-industry collaboration, hosting over 205 companies and more than 1,000 R&D personnel. The university also actively participates in and wins awards in technology competitions such as TEKNOFEST.^【3】

Contribution to the Establishment of Other Universities

Selçuk University has served as a foundation for the emergence of several new universities in the region. Niğde Ömer Halis Demir University, Aksaray University, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey University, Konya Necmettin Erbakan University, and Konya Technical University were established based on units or structures previously part of Selçuk University.

Position in Academic Rankings

Selçuk University participates in national and international ranking systems. According to the URAP system, it ranked 16th among public universities in Türkiye during the 2018–2019 period. It is also consistently represented among the top institutions in global rankings such as THE, QS, and US News for both world and Türkiye performance.