Iran and Iraq Expand Reciprocal Scholarship Program
Iraq will award 200 scholarships annually to Iranian students while Iran provides 100 each year to Iraqi students.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Scholarships
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Iranian and Iraqi academic officials discussed expanding scientific cooperation between universities in the two countries, and Iran and Iraq agreed to implement a memorandum of understanding on reciprocal scholarships. Talks in Baghdad involved Mohammad-Javad Najafi, Iran's scientific counselor in Iraq, and Jasim Fathi Ali Al-Maadidi, president of Northern Technical University.
Why it matters
The reciprocal scholarship program aims to expand educational cooperation between the two countries. Officials indicated the number of scholarships could grow in subsequent years if the initial year proves successful.
Iraq will award 200 scholarships annually to Iranian students, and Iran will provide 100 scholarships each year to Iraqi students. Scholarships for Iraqi students will go to top scorers on high school diploma examinations, such as mathematics and geometry for engineering fields.
The players
Northern Technical University
An engineering technical college in Mosul, Iraq, founded in 2014, whose president took part in the Baghdad talks on academic cooperation.
Yasser Abdul-Zahra Al-Hajjaj
Iraq's ambassador to Tehran, who announced the scholarship plans in a meeting with Saeed Habiba on November 2.
The details
Academic officials discussed organizing collaborative training courses, exchanging professors and students, conducting joint research projects, and using laboratory and research center facilities. The talks were organized by the Association of Iraqi Graduates of Iranian Universities in Baghdad, where Iraqi students also shared concerns about post-graduate issues.
Timeline
November 2: Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Yasser Abdul-Zahra Al-Hajjaj discussed scholarship remarks with Saeed Habiba.
Saturday (before November 7, 2026): Academic officials met in Baghdad to discuss cooperation.
December 2: Students must upload their documents to resolve outstanding issues.
Regional Education Ties
Iran's higher education system is ranked 15th-16th globally, and the reciprocal scholarship deal channels that standing into a regional exchange. Iraqi students would gain access to top-tier Iranian universities under the program.
Eligible Iraqi students should prepare high school diploma results in subjects like mathematics and geometry, since scores determine who receives the scholarships. Iranian students should note the 200 annual awards available from Iraq.
The takeaway
Students weighing study abroad should watch for expanded reciprocal programs, since officials said scholarship numbers could grow if the first year succeeds. Early attention to application deadlines and documentation can make a difference.
What happens next
Students must upload their documents by December 2 to resolve outstanding scholarship issues.
Further reading
For more on how students fund study abroad, explore our Scholarships coverage.
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