The Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on Monday that more than 10,000 international students have applied for the third edition of the "Study in Iraq" program, representing a wide range of nationalities.

According to the Ministry, over 3,000 international students from 47 countries enrolled in Iraqi universities during the program’s first two editions.

Ministry spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi stated, “The third edition of the Study in Iraq program, launched last April by Minister of Higher Education Naeem Al-Aboudi, continues to welcome international students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.”

He noted that more than 10,000 students have applied to the program’s latest edition and are currently undergoing admission procedures, including visa processing, in coordination with relevant government institutions inside and outside Iraq.

Al-Aboudi highlighted that the previous editions led to the enrollment of over 3,000 students from 47 nationalities across various Iraqi universities. Some of these students have already completed their studies and earned advanced degrees, such as a Chinese graduate from Wasit University who specialized in Arabic language.

He emphasized Iraq's unique academic appeal, saying, “International students are drawn to specialized academic programs that are not widely available elsewhere. This positions Iraqi universities as a distinctive educational destination.”

He also referenced Iraq’s deep-rooted academic tradition, noting that the country’s higher education legacy dates back to 1908 with the founding of the College of Law—the nation’s first university-level institution.

Al-Aboudi explained that the third edition of the program offers three admission tracks: Full scholarships, partial scholarships and full-tuition (self-funded) admissions.

He stressed that international students have applied across all three channels, including the non-scholarship track.

“A large number of students who were not accepted into the full scholarship category have opted for the partially funded or self-funded options,” Al-Aboudi added. He concluded by noting that the expected number of international students admitted through the third edition will be no less than the current figure of 3,000 enrolled in Iraqi universities.