The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) has announced a significant reduction in university and institute tuition fees, which will return over three billion dinars annually to students and relatives, according to the ministry’s spokesperson.

Speaking on Channel8, Abbas Akram emphasized: “The goal of the Ministry in reducing tuition fees is to ensure that financial concerns do not become an obstacle to the education process.”

He added that students completing the 12th grade will, as in previous years, have the greatest opportunities to access both public and private higher education institutions, based on their exam scores and graduation requirements.

Abbas Akram also revealed that 20,000 seats at universities and institutes went unfilled last year, highlighting the need for broader access.

Regarding the upcoming academic year 2025–2026, he stated: “The reduction applies to both parallel and evening programs at government and private universities and institutes.”

He further clarified that government universities and institutes will see tuition reductions of 45% across all levels, while private institutions will have reductions ranging from 10% to 25%, in line with the latest national university rankings and the policies of the 9th Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government.