Eligibility

Criteria for student selection for the Scholarship.

The following criteria are considered in selecting scholarship students:

1. Grades: The maximum number of points are 65.

2. Years of experience after the bachelors degree: two points for each year, not exceeding 10 points.

3. Age of applicant: maximum points are 10 and are calculated as follows:

If applying for a bachelors degree:

22-26 years = 10 points
27-30 years = 5 points

If applying masters applying for PhD:

less than 30 years = 10 points
31-35 years = 5 points

4. Marital status: maximum points is 5 given in accordance with the following:

Single = 5 points
Married = 3 points

5. In person interview: maximum points is 10

Conditions of applying for the Scholarship

First: General conditions	Second: Special conditions for the Diploma and the Bachelors Degree.	Third: Special conditions for the Masters and PhD.
The applicant should be an Iraqi citizen with residence inside the country for no less than two years before applying for the scholarship.	The applicant should have a high school degree (Baccalaureate) with an average of no less than 80% for the diploma and 80% for the bachelors degree.	The applicant should have a bachelors or masters degree
The applicant should pledge to serve the Iraqi government for a period equivalent to the period of study.	The applicant should be a graduate of the year 2008-2009 and above.	The applicant's age should not exceed 30 years for those applying for the Masters and 35 years for the PhD.
The applicant should sign an agreement that ensures his return to Iraq after obtaining his/her degree.	The applicant's age should not exceed 22 years at the time of applying.	The applicant's rank should be within the first quarter of the graduates for the bachelors degree and for those with a masters applying for the PhD they should have an average of no less than 75%.

The Iraq Education System

Iraqi education was considered to be one of the most desirable in the Middle East until recent decades of war and sanctions which isolated Iraq from educational advances in other parts of the world. The government of Iraq is working hard to rectify this situation.

The education system in Iraq is highly centralized with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research overseeing

K-12 and higher education programs, respectively. Students pay no tuition for public education, and women have equal access to education.

Summary of the Iraqi Education System

Primary School - elementary school equivalent

Age 6-12 (six years)

Secondary School - intermediate (three years) and secondary (three years)

Age 12-18 (six years)

Higher Education

Technical Institutes (award a Diploma) and Technical Colleges (award a degree)

(Equivalent to community colleges or vocational/trade schools)

Bachelor’s Degree: Most Bachelor’s degree courses last for four years. In Architecture, Dentistry and Pharmacy, studies last for five years, and in Medicine for six.

Master’s Degree: Usually two years. An undergraduate grade of 65% (“B”) or higher is required for admission.

Doctorate: The Doctorate (PhD) is conferred after a further three years study beyond the Master’s degree, with one year of coursework and two years of thesis preparation.

Iraq Grades		Suggested US Equivalent
90-100	excellent	A
80-89	very good	A
70-79	good	A
60-69	average	B
50-59	pass	C
0-40	failure	F

Primary Sources: World Higher Education Database (WHED), updated in 2005. www.wes.org

and James S. Frey, Iraq, 1988, American Assoc. of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

This scale is used by UNESCO, WES, the International Education Research Foundation.

Academic transcripts for the Iraq scholarship program will be verified with Iraqi universities in writing by the HCED.