Iraq grants universities three extra days to process graduate admissions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abdulhussein al-Muwaisawi, on Saturday authorized universities, institutes and non-affiliated colleges to process the results of graduate school applicants. The decision, issued by the ministry, grants university councils and the councils of non-affiliated colleges and institutes the authority to handle placements. Under the new rules, applicants who scored between 40 and 44 on the competitive graduate examination will receive a maximum of five additional points. The extra points apply only to unfilled seats in each university's acceptance plan. Placements will be carried out starting with the applicant holding the highest differential score among candidates. The ministry directed that all processing be completed within three days of the notification date and that university acceptance orders be issued immediately afterward. The ministry said no further details were immediately available on the number of affected applicants or institutions.