Iraqi Kurdistan — Study (English-taught master's and PhD (UKH and KRG universities))

Main requirements

For master's and PhD study, UKH runs fee-charging English-taught programmes. The MSc in Reservoir Engineering Management, for example, needs a relevant bachelor's (e.g. Petroleum Engineering) with at least 70%; the MSc in Public Health needs 50% for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy graduates and 60% for health-related fields, with 2 years' experience preferred. The PhD in Sustainable Built Environment needs at least 60 in the bachelor's and 70 in the master's plus an oral entrance exam (research proposal presentation and interview).

Documents

University transcripts and degree, a valid English test, and an equalised transcript for graduates of non-Iraqi institutions. Foreign degrees are equalised by the KRG Ministry of Higher Education (IQD 300,000 for foreign citizens, 15–30 working days). Your Iranian degree and transcripts must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Iraqi embassy or the KRG representation in Iran (ask which stamp the ministry wants in your case), and translations into English or Arabic made in Iran need the embassy's or representation's stamp. For foreign citizens the ministry sets aside its own approved list if your university is on the UNESCO list or in the Shanghai or Times rankings; the newest KRG list of approved Iranian universities we found is still from December 2021 (about 40 universities).

Language

UKH asks for IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 74, PTE 50 or Duolingo 105 for master's, and IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, PTE 58 or Duolingo 120 for PhD; a valid test is required even from English-medium graduates.

Costs and proof of funds

Per UKH's site as of Oct 2026: MA International Law USD 3,000, MSc Economics and Finance 4,100, MSc Reservoir Engineering Management 5,100 and MSc Public Health 5,250 a year; PhDs USD 6,000–8,000 a year. Living in Erbil is about IQD 890,000 a month excluding rent (Numbeo); a blood test costs IQD 31,500. The student residency card (6 or 12 months) needs a health test and support letters from your educational institution; for visa-free nationalities it costs IQD 475,000 the first time (300,000 to convert the visit visa, 150,000 card, 25,000 admin) and IQD 175,000 to renew, plus mandatory health insurance (IQD 375,000 a year). No full scholarships for foreigners were found. The Central Bank of Iraq's official rate was about IQD 1,510-1,520 per USD in October 2026, while the street rate in Erbil was about 1,630.

Steps and timeline

Get an English score, release and translate your documents, apply online to UKH and sit the interview or entrance exam. After admission enter on the 30-day visit visa, equalise your degree at the KRG Ministry and apply for residency within 30 days. Usually 4–10 months.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Equalisation needs your original degree and transcripts; if you studied tuition-free at an Iranian public university, you must first clear the free-education obligation through the Student Affairs Organization to get the full degree released.

You don't need to arrange a visa in advance: Iran is on the KRG's 'List A', so with a passport valid at least 6 months you get a 30-day visit visa online (visit.gov.krd) or on arrival at any KRI border point or airport. The KRG Interior Ministry's service page lists an administrative fee of IQD 100,000, while the KRG representation's letter (Apr 2025) says Iranian passports have a visa waiver, so carry dinars and check before you travel. The visit visa can be extended 30 days at a time at the residency directorate, only a limited number of times (IQD 100,000 + 10,000 admin fee each time, health test at the first extension, late penalty IQD 20,000 a day); to stay longer you need a 6-month or 1-year residency card with a sponsor (kafil). According to Iran's consulate in Sulaymaniyah, the KRI entry stamp is valid only inside the region: travelling on it to Baghdad or southern Iraq counts as illegal entry and carries 3 months to 3 years in prison, and travel accident insurance is required.

Key point, read before you pay: the Student Affairs Organization's newest list of approved foreign universities (valid from January 2026) has only four Iraqi universities — Baghdad, Kufa, Mustansiriya and Basra — and no Kurdistan Region university. The Sep 2024–Dec 2025 list (nine Iraqi universities) and older editions had none either, and an old 'invalid universities' list for Arab countries names 'kurdistan University (Iraq)'. Iran's Ministry of Health list (2024-2025) has no Iraqi university at all, which matters for dentistry and pharmacy. So assume a KRG degree will not be evaluated or recognised in Iran; choose this route only if you don't need the degree in Iran. If your university isn't on any list, the organisation says to ask its Graduates Affairs office before enrolling.

Security: since 28 Feb 2026 the region, especially Erbil, has been hit by more than a thousand Iranian drone and missile attacks, with new drone strikes reported on 8 and 12 October 2026. Since 25 Sep 2026 flights between Iran and Erbil or Sulaymaniyah have been suspended (still suspended on 2 Oct 2026), so for now you travel overland through the border crossings. Check the situation right before you travel.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, permanent residence)

Staying beyond 30 days needs a residency card; for students the KRG requires study and residential support letters from the university, so ask its international office for them. Working requires a separate Ministry of Labour permit. After study you can stay only with a sponsoring employer; no clear permanent-residence path was found.