EXAMINATION OF THE SPOUSE SELECTION CRITERIA OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
This research is a descriptive study in which the spouse selection priorities of university students are examined in the context of specific data. The study group of the research consists of 384 participants studying in the 3rd and 4th grades at various departments of a foundation university in Istanbul in the spring semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. The data were obtained using the assessment tool for Priorities in Spouse Selection and the Personal Information Form developed by the researcher. SPSS statistics software was used in the data analysis. According to the results of the study, the spouse selection priorities of the students that participated in the study are listed as being tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic, being of the same religion/sect, and not having been married before. While males paid more attention to being tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic among the characteristics of a prospective spouse than females, females paid more attention to the quality of being of the same religion/sect than males. It was determined that single students preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic, married students preferred that a prospective spouse was of the same religion/sect. Both third-grade and fourth-grade students preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic in the first place. Students in the age group of 18-25 years and at the age of 26 and above preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic. While students with high-income level preferred that a prospective spouse had not been married before, students with middle-income level preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic. While those with a monthly expense of 1000 TL and below, and between 1001 and 2000 TL preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic, those with a monthly expense of 2001 TL and above preferred the quality of being skilful/talented/hard-working. While those who planned to get married by experiencing a romantic relationship/flirting or dating preferred that a prospective spouse was tolerant/sensitive/sympathetic, those who planned to marry through an arranged marriage preferred that a person whom they would marry was religious.

Keywords
Marriage, Family, University Student, Spouse Selection, Culture