Study and find schools in Iraq

Studying in Iraq

Iraq has a large network of public universities, private universities and colleges, and technical institutes. Higher education is run by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) in Baghdad, while the Kurdistan Region in the north has its own Ministry of Higher Education. In recent years the federal ministry has opened its universities to foreign students through the Study in Iraq (Udrus fi al-Iraq) initiative, with full and partial scholarships.

Most programmes are taught in Arabic. Some universities have started to add programmes in other languages: the University of Baghdad, for example, opened an English-language track in its law degree for the 2026-27 academic year, after an earlier French-language track.

The education system

According to Study in Iraq, the official portal of the ministry, higher education is delivered by universities, colleges, higher institutes and technical institutes. The main qualifications are:

• Diploma
• Bachelor's degree (bakalorius): usually four years of full-time study, although the length varies in some fields
• Higher diploma
• Master's degree: usually one to three years of full-time study, often ending with a thesis or research project
• Doctorate (PhD)

Quality is overseen by the ministry's Supervision and Scientific Evaluation Apparatus, which is working on programme-level accreditation in Iraqi universities. Private universities and colleges need the ministry's approval and are supervised by its Private University Education Directorate. Universities in federal Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region cooperate: for the coming academic year the two ministries agreed to raise the number of mutual admission places from 400 to 1,000 per side for undergraduate study and from 100 to 250 per side for postgraduate study.

Admission and recognition

Iraqi students enter public universities through the Central Admission system. International students apply through the Study in Iraq portal: they create an account, choose a university and level, and follow the ministry's application guide, which is published on the portal together with a written undertaking that applicants must sign. The ministry also publishes a universities guide for students outside Iraq.

Before applying, check which documents the university needs to recognise your secondary-school certificate or degree, and whether they must be certified by the Iraqi embassy in your country. Programmes taught in English may ask for an English test; the University of Mosul, for example, runs an officially accredited IELTS test centre.

Visa and residence

Visas and residence permits are issued by the Ministry of Interior's Directorate of Civil Status, Passports and Residency. Iraq's e-visa lets visitors enter without going to an embassy, but it is valid for 30 days and is meant for short stays. Students admitted to a full programme should ask the university's scholarships and cultural relations office, and the Iraqi embassy or consulate in their country, which entry visa and residence permit they need.

Costs and scholarships

Study in Iraq offers three funding routes for international students:

• Full scholarship (minha): covers study costs and accommodation
• Half scholarship: covers half of the study costs
• Self-funded study (nafaqa khassa): the student pays the fees, which the ministry describes as low

Fee amounts are not published on the portal; ask the university for the current tuition for your programme. Private institutions set their own fees; Iraq University College, for example, publishes its admissions, fees and tuition for the 2026-27 academic year on its website.

Where to study

Baghdad, the capital, is home to the University of Baghdad. According to the university, it was founded in 1908 and is the oldest university in Iraq; its Faculty of Law dates from 1908, its Faculties of Engineering and Medicine from 1921, and the High Teachers' House, later the Faculty of Education, from 1923.

Mosul, in the north, has the University of Mosul, which has dormitories, a scholarships and cultural relations office and a Bologna Process office. In the south, Basra has Iraq University College, a private institution set up in the 2004-05 academic year with ministry approval, with departments from civil and power engineering to law, cyber security, artificial intelligence and business; and Nasiriyah has the University of Thi-Qar, one of the public universities listed on the Study in Iraq portal.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign students study in Iraq?

Yes. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research accepts applications from foreign students through the Study in Iraq portal, with full scholarships, half scholarships and self-funded places.

What language are courses taught in?

Mostly Arabic. A few programmes are taught in other languages, such as the English-language law track at the University of Baghdad from 2026-27.

How long is a bachelor's degree in Iraq?

Usually four years of full-time study, although some fields take longer. A master's degree usually takes one to three years.

Can I study in Iraq on an e-visa?

The e-visa is valid for 30 days and is designed for short visits. For a full degree, ask the university and the Iraqi embassy which visa and residence permit you need.