Iraq grants universities authority to award bonus points for graduate admissions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has authorized universities and institutes to award additional points to master's degree applicants in order to fill remaining admission slots. The decision, announced by acting Higher Education Minister Abdulhussein al-Musawi, applies to candidates whose scores fall between 40 and 44. Under the new measure, universities may grant a maximum of five bonus points, and only where unfilled places remain on the approved admissions plan. The ministry said the process would be conducted transparently, with placements based on the highest differential rate. Institutions have been given three days from the notification date to complete the processing and must apply the procedure across all their academic units. The ministry also asked that university admission orders be issued without delay once the process is finished and that full details of the implementation be submitted to the ministry. The move is intended to ensure that vacant graduate seats are filled efficiently while maintaining fairness in admissions, according to the ministry statement.