Iraq's higher education ministry authorizes use of graduate admissions results

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said Acting Minister Abdul Hussein al-Musawi authorized universities and institutes on August 30, 2026 to process graduate-level admission results. The decision allows candidates whose scores fall between 40 and 44 to receive up to five additional points in order to fill remaining seats, the ministry said. Under the directive, universities and institutes may apply the adjustment only where vacancies remain in their approved admissions plans and only by processing candidates with the highest differentiation rates. The ministry instructed institutions to complete the procedures within three days of the notification date and to prepare formal acceptance letters. All higher education institutions are required to submit detailed information to the ministry following the process. The ministry said the measure is intended to allow the largest possible number of qualified candidates to benefit from available graduate seats. No further details on the number of affected programs or candidates were immediately available.