Iraq ministry delegates postgraduate admissions authority to universities

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, acting through caretaker Minister Abdulhussein al-Mawsaawi, has authorized universities, colleges and institutes to process postgraduate admissions results and fill vacant seats. Under a ministry announcement, all institutions, including colleges and institutes not affiliated with a university, may award up to five additional points to applicants who scored between 40 and 44 on the competitive examination. The measure applies only where seats remain unfilled in the approved admissions plan. Candidates receiving the extra points will be ranked by the highest differential ratio, with those at the top placed in the available seats. The ministry said the processing and placement must be completed within three days of the notification date across all covered institutions. Universities have also been instructed to issue admissions decrees without delay once the process is concluded. The ministry said it will be kept fully informed of the details of the procedures.