Student Transfer Regulations 2025–2026
These are the official transfer and admission regulations for undergraduate students transferring to or from Knowledge University for the 2025–2026 academic year, issued by the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The document below sets out the eligibility conditions, required documents, and criteria for student transfers between private universities and institutes in the Kurdistan Region.
To facilitate and easing the process of transfer of undergraduate students from/ to Private Universities and Institutions in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The directorate of Private studies in the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research-KRG, has introduced Conditions and Criteria for the Transfer of Students within Private Universities and Institutes in the Kurdistan Region for the Academic Year (2025–2026).
These regulations are issued under number 13552 dated July 20th, 2025. The details are given below. For more information and for any inquiry, email to [email protected] , or phone to 00964 (0) 750 462 2954.
Directorate of International Relations Office, Knowledge University in Erbil ( https://www.knu.edu.iq ).
General Transfer Criteria:
Transfer is only permitted after completing the first academic stage (year).
A "No Objection" clearance must be obtained from both the sending and receiving universities/institutes. The final transfer process must be officially approved by the Ministry.
The student must first obtain a "No Objection" from the original (mother) university/institute, followed by a "No Objection" from the destination university/institute.
A final admission decree must exist for any student requesting a transfer.
The student transfer window runs from July 20, 2025, until August 31, 2025.
Transfer or hosting from private universities to public universities is strictly not permitted.
Students are permitted to transfer from private universities/institutes within the Kurdistan Region to private universities/institutes outside the Region and Iraq within the same specialization, conditionally the destination institution is formally recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the KRG.
Changing departments (transferring from one major to another) within private universities/institutes is not permitted. If a student wishes to change the department, the current admission must be canceled, and he/she must re-enter the competitive admission process according to standard regulations, provided that this intent is declared in the application form.
Transferring from public universities to private universities within a similar department and the same specialization is permitted. This requires a "No Objection" from both universities, followed by a scientific equalization evaluation by the receiving university. The final process must be submitted to the Ministry for official approval.
All transfer cases inside or outside Iraq and the Kurdistan Region must comply with the equalization and course-loading regulations enforced in the public universities of the Kurdistan Region.
During student transfers between private universities and institutes for the (2025–2026) academic year, only the receiving institution holds the right to collect tuition fees after full financial settlement of previous years with the sending institution. No transfer fees or administrative charges may be collected by the sending institution.
A. Student Transfers Between Private Universities/Institutes Within the Same Province:
Transfer is exclusively permitted under the following exceptional circumstances:
Suspension of admission or permanent closure of the department at the current private university/institute.
A disciplinary committee decision ordering the transfer of the student due to a violation.
If the student has a verified, legally legitimate excuse. Following the submission of "No Objection" letters from both institutions, formal Ministry approval must be obtained.
B. Student Transfers Between Private Universities/Institutes Across Different Provinces of the Kurdistan Region:
Transfer is permitted if one of the following documented conditions is met:
Relocation of the student's family to another province within the Region, verified by official documentation.
Relocation of the workplace of the student's legal guardian, verified by official documentation.
Marriage of the student in another province.
Death of the student's legal guardian.
Chronic medical illness, supported by an approved medical committee report.
C. Student Transfers from Private Universities/Institutes in Central and Southern Iraq to Private Universities/Institutes in the Kurdistan Region:
Transfer is permitted under the following conditions:
For students from Central and Southern Iraq transferring to the Kurdistan Region, their original admission high school average must be evaluated. If the student graduated from a high school within the Kurdistan Region, they must meet the minimum admission score required by private universities/institutes in the Region for their specific year of admission.
The university/institute where the student is currently enrolled must be recognized, and its graduates must hold valid equivalence privileges within the Kurdistan Region.
A scientific equalization evaluation must be completed in accordance with current regulations.
D. Student Transfers From Outside the Country to Private Universities in the Kurdistan Region:
Transfers from foreign institutions to private universities in the Region are permitted, provided the student’s high school grade average satisfies the Region's admission criteria. High school certificates obtained abroad must be officially equalized by the Ministry of Education of the KRG / General Directorate of Examinations.
The foreign university must be formally recognized and included on the UNESCO list of accredited universities.
A scientific equalization evaluation must be completed in accordance with current regulations.
E. Student Transfers for Native Citizens of the Kurdistan Region Studying Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Engineering Abroad to Private Universities in the Region:
Transfers are permitted provided the student has successfully completed their first academic year abroad and matches the high school grade thresholds outlined below:
Dentistry and Pharmacy: Students admitted to foreign universities in the academic year (2020–2021) and subsequent years must have a high school average of no less than 85. For students admitted prior to the (2020–2021) academic year, the high school average must be no less than 80.
Engineering: The student’s high school average must be no less than 75.
A scientific equalization evaluation must be completed in accordance with current regulations.
Following "No Objection" letters from both universities, the student’s official academic transcripts must be authenticated by the Iraqi Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country. The complete file must then be forwarded to the Ministry for final approval.
The foreign university must be accredited and listed on the UNESCO database of recognized universities.
Edited and updated on October 4th, 2026 by
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Azeez Saeed
[email protected] , [email protected]
0750 462 2954; 0770 446 2954; 0770 566 1953