The general administration of the university looks forward to innovation, guidance and leadership in providing students and society with high-quality educational facilities in the field of education, and to be successful in promoting the process of growth and addressing all challenges and hurdles facing the human community. The university seeks to be a model to be emulated at the local, regional and global levels, coupled with creativity in its performance. It should be remembered that the city of Kirkuk is one of Iraq's main historical towns, as the history of the region is shown by geological evidence and by books on the history of this area, and one of the consequences was the multiplicity of ethnicities and faiths in it. It is inhabited by Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Syrians, and Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisted side by side. The city of Kirkuk is 250 kilometres northeast of Baghdad, the capital, and the city is bordered by the northern Zagros Mountains and the western Little Zab River. Kirkuk is considered one of Iraq's most important and vital towns, and mineral resources, such as oil and natural gas, and the fertility of its agricultural land are among the most significant factors that have played a role in this. As well as its distinguished geographical and commercial location, this makes it a link between southern Iraq and its northern region.

The University of Kirkuk was founded on January 17, 2003. At the start, it included four colleges: Law, Education for Human Sciences, Science, and Nursing. In order to meet the market needs of various scientific experts, the university established three new colleges: medicine, engineering, and agriculture. As well as the College of Administration and Economics, which was established in 2007-2008, and the College of Education for Physical Sciences and Sports Sciences and many other scientific and Humanities departments have been launched. More importantly, postgraduate studies (Master's degree) in Physics, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Law, Arabic Language, and the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture have been begun. Also, doctoral studies (Ph.D. degree) were established in the College of Law and the Department of Arabic Language in the College of Education for Human Sciences. All these achievements have been established as a part of the university’s plan and vision to open new horizons that would help to provide the province with exceptional and promising experiences.