The University of Kirkuk was established on January 17, 2003, and began its academic journey with four colleges: Law, Education for Humanities, Science, and Nursing.

As the need for scientific expertise in the governorate increased, the university established three new colleges: Medicine, Engineering, and Agriculture. This was followed by the College of Administration and Economics in 2007–2008, and then the College of Education for Pure Sciences in 2011–2012.

The university later witnessed a major qualitative expansion that included establishing new scientific and humanities colleges and departments, including Veterinary Medicine and Physical Education and Sports Sciences. In addition, postgraduate (Master’s) programs were launched in Physics, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Law, Arabic Language, and Horticulture in the College of Agriculture, as well as a PhD program in the College of Law and in the Department of Arabic Language within the College of Education for Humanities.

After the university moved to its new campus in Al-Sayyada, the expansion continued to include the College of Dentistry and the College of Arts, as well as establishing a College of Education and a College of Agriculture in the Hawija District, in addition to the creation of the College of Computer Science and Information Technology.

Through these successive steps, the University of Kirkuk continues to strengthen its academic presence and develop its scientific programs, serving as a key source of expertise and qualified professionals for the governorate and Iraq in general.