Establishment of the Chinese Language Department at the College of Languages for the Academic Year 2025–2026
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced the central admission guide for the academic year 2025–2026.
The guide includes the scientific departments at the College of Languages, which are: English, French, Turkish, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Persian, Hebrew, and Syriac in addition to the newly established Chinese Language Department.
The Chinese Language Department is the first new department to be established in Iraq since the founding of the College of Languages in 1963. Notably, after Dr Ali Adnan Mashoush was appointed Dean of the College in 2023, he worked diligently to establish the department and obtain the necessary approvals.
The Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Naeem Al-Aboudi, played a key role in supporting the department’s establishment by granting special exemptions regarding specialized staff and facilitating visits from ministry committees in the Directorate of Studies and Planning to the College of Languages to issue formal approvals. The Presidency of the University of Baghdad, represented by Professor Dr. Baha Ibrahim, along with university staff and specialized committees, also contributed to fulfilling all requirements.
The department will be available to students admitted to the College of Languages this year. They may register and select it as their first choice among the scientific departments. Priority will be given to applicants with the highest grades, since the ministry’s plan allows for the admission of only 20 students in the first year.
The establishment of the Chinese Language Department is a significant step, given the importance of supplying the labor market with Chinese language translators, especially with the presence of major Chinese companies operating in Iraq.
