Foreign students settle into life in Babil under ‘Study in Iraq’ scheme

BABIL — More than 70 students from Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Sudan have enrolled at the University of Babil this academic year under Iraq’s “Study in Iraq” program, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees across a range of disciplines.

Ahmed Al-Mamouri, head of the university’s scholarship department, said all students are housed in university dormitories under conditions set by the national scholarship scheme, which guarantees accommodation for admitted applicants.

Al-Mamouri said the students are permitted to travel between Iraqi governorates as long as they hold valid visas and residency permits, which are issued through coordination between the Ministries of Higher Education and Interior.

Several students said they have adjusted to campus life despite early difficulties with local dialects, Iraq’s hotter climate and different exam systems. Syrian student Maya Knenji said, “At first I was confused and didn’t fully adapt to the Iraqi setting, but later things changed completely due to the support and encouragement from the professors.”

Master’s student Riad Al-Azzani from Yemen said he feels at home on campus. “We don’t feel like strangers here. The Iraqi community makes us feel like we are at home, as if we were in Yemen,” he said, noting that academic systems are broadly similar, with the main difference being Iraq’s reliance on centralized ministerial exams instead of university-based tests.

Students said they spend most of their time studying in the dormitories and use holidays to explore the city. Over time, they have become familiar with local landmarks and colloquial expressions that were initially hard to follow.

Commenting on everyday differences, Syrian student Ali Fadel pointed to contrasting urban layouts. “In Syria, we have vertical construction, but here it’s horizontal with two-floor buildings,” he said, adding that he now knows various parts of Hilla and has picked up local terms.

Mohammed Mansour, assistant to the university president, said 51 of the new arrivals are enrolled in undergraduate programs and 19 in graduate studies at the University of Babil this year.