Iraq's higher education ministry grants universities authority to process graduate admissions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abdulhussein al-Musawi, has authorized universities, colleges and institutes to process graduate program application results. The decision, announced by the government's Information and Communications Department, also covers the governing boards of institutions not affiliated with any university. Under the directive, applicants who scored between 40 and 44 on the entrance exam may receive up to five additional points, provided that unfilled capacity remains. The ministry said the measure is intended to ensure that available graduate seats are filled by as many qualifying candidates as possible. Processing will be carried out according to the highest differential ratio among applicants. The ministry ordered all covered educational institutions to complete the processing within three days of the notification date and to submit the results back to the ministry. It also instructed that acceptance decrees be issued immediately once the process is completed in accordance with the established rules.