This document provides information about Soran University's split-site PhD program. It discusses what a split-site degree is, general admission requirements, the candidate selection process, and administration of the program budget. Students in the split-site program will conduct research and study for one year at an approved international partner university, while their degree is awarded by Soran University. The program aims to provide international research opportunities for Soran students through academic partnerships with other institutions.

1. Academic Relations/ Soran University
1
 What is a Split-Site
Research Degree?
 General Admission
Requirements
 Candidate Selection
Process
 Commencement
 Manner of Spending
the Project Budget
 Follow-up and
Quality Assurance
A GUIDE TO SPLIT-SITE
Ph.D. PROGRAMME
Soran, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq
academic.relations@soran.edu.iq
Soran University
Academic Relations Directorate
The New Ph.D. Pathway in Soran University

2. Academic Relations/ Soran University
1
Soran University
Soran University, founded in 2009, is a new generation public funded university. With its four
faculties (Science, Arts, Education, and Law) and 15 departments, it has a strong
strategy for expansion through academic research and development.
The University is continuously breaking new grounds in its quest for excellence in knowledge and has
strong international academic partnerships, which have led to the establishment of world-class
research and development centres, including biometrics and information security, as well as an
international Centre for Language and Academic Development (CLAD).
Academic Relations
The Directorate of Academic Relations works under personal supervision of Dr Howri
Mansurbeg, the Vice-president for Scientific Affairs at Soran University, and i s directed
by Hewa Kurdistani.
The academic relations directorate coordinates the establishment and improvement of
the University's formal bilateral relationships for academic collaboration and exchange. This
covers both the university and departmental arrangements. It also sets out to generate a
foundation for international cooperation enabling academics and students from Soran
University to work together with partner institutions on projects of mutual interest.

3. Academic Relations/ Soran University
2
What is a Split-Site Research Degree?
Soran University Split-Site Research Degree describes a joint research programme leading to a
PhD for students registered at Soran. Our partner academic institution provides access to
resources and a supervisor. The final award is given by Soran University.
Supervision of the split-site programme is highly individual and is carried out by a
combination of e- mail, telephone, video conferences and exchange visits by the two
supervisors to their partner universities. All exchange visits are funded by Soran University.
The split-site student will be required to spend at least one year at the partner university.
General Admission Requirements:
1. A master’s degree in a relevant discipline from a university recognised by the Ministry of
Higher Education and Scientific Research of Kurdistan Regional Government.
2. English Language Proficiency (TOFEL or IELTS).
Admission requirements demand a TOFEL score of 550 (PB) and an IELTS (academic) band score
of 6; lower scores may be accepted as conditional split-site candidates, the English Scores must
meet the requirements after one year of the study.
Soran University Split-site PhD candidates will research and study at international host
university and centre of excellence as non-registered student, or research visitors.

4. Academic Relations/ Soran University
3
Split-Site Ph.D Regulation
As approved by the Office of Prime Minister, Order No. 4834/ 4 May 2010
1- Preliminary Steps to Seat Announcement
Step1. The local supervisor (Soran University supervisor) will write a research proposal and
submit it to the scientific committee in the appropriate department at Soran University.
The proposal should include:
 The title of the research.
 An abstract of no less than 75 words and no more than 120 words.
 The value of the project for the Kurdistan Region, directly or indirectly.
 Research Methodology.
 Availability of any necessary equipment and apparatus are available in the local and/or
the partner universities.
 The necessary training/ education course the student is to follow.
 The budget breakdown the project to include the following points in detail:
a) The travel expenses of both the local and external supervisors’ approved visits to
each other’s laboratory and work locations to assess availability of the
requirements needed for the programme to succeed.
b) The expense of the equipment and apparatus needed for the research, and the
preparation of test locations in both universities.
c) The registration fees, tuition fee and any other charges from the partner
university.
d) The travel expenses of the student to the partner university, twice throughout
the four-year period of the study.
e) The living expenses of the student in the partner university (a six-month
language course if needed + a one year’s work and research).
f) The travel expenses of the local supervisor to the partner university for one
month.
g) The thesis production cost.
h) The expense of the evaluating committee, both local and external examiners.
i) The cost of the viva committee.

5. Academic Relations/ Soran University
4
j) An amount for unforeseen costs.
NB: the total external expenses of the project, including the student’s salary, the university
fees, the student’s expenses aboard and the travel expenses of the external supervisor to
Kurdistan Should not exceed $50,000 (Fifty Thousand USD).
Step 2. The Scientific committee of the department must respond formally, in writing, to the
local supervisor concerning the approval or disapproval of the research proposal.
Step 3. After obtaining approval, the local supervisor should begin making formal contacts with
an external supervisor (outside Iraq), so that both supervisors can review the draft proposal,
sign it, and finally resubmit it to the scientific committee of the department.
Step 4. If there is a memorandum of understanding between the national and international
universities, it is possible to make use of it by asking the external university’s authorities (or
research center’s authorities) to fill out a cooperation form for the Split-Site Ph.D programme
and sign it. In case this memorandum does not exist, a special confirmation form for this
particular project should be filled in and signed by the foreign university, agreeing to host the
student for one year, assignment of the supervisor to work on the project and permission for
the use of laboratories and/or other facilities.
Step 5. The scientific committee of the department should submit the proposal, signed by both
supervisors, via the college post-graduate unit, to a special scientific committee for the
programme in the local university. The confirmed admission forms from the foreign university
should also be included.
Step 6. The special scientific committee for the new Ph.D system in the local university will go
through the documents submitted. In case of any deficiency, the committee will request the
missing document(s); if the required documents are available, the committee will record it (in
the minutes) and submit it to the president of the University, and he, in turn, will submit it to
the university board who will confirm the minutes and announce the seat.

6. Academic Relations/ Soran University
5
2. Candidate Selection Process
a) Applications will fill in application forms and submit required documents.
b) After reviewing the forms and documents, the scientific committee in the university will
arrange interviews for the candidates.
c) With the attendance of the head of the scientific department, local and external
supervisors (in case of not being able to physically attend, the external supervisor may
participate via video or audio-conferencing), and the heads of both the faculty and
university postgraduate units, the university scientific committee will interview all the
candidates and shortlist them according to a point-calculation system, thereby selecting
the most appropriate candidate for the project.
3. Commencement
a) After announcing the name of the selected candidate, a contract will be signed between
the student and the legal unit of the university, in the contract, the rights and
obligations of all parties will be defined.
b) The expense of the project will be the responsibility of the party that most benefits from
the student. For this purpose, the student is to bring an official letter from his/her
institution (university, ministry, office, or private sector); otherwise the applicant must
pay all costs. If the candidate cannot fulfill the contract within a month, another
candidate shall be selected as a replacement.
c) In order for universities to cover the expenses of these projects, they are required to set
these expenses in their annual budget under the item “other expenses-scholarship
section”.
d) A university order document regarding the student’s commencement will be issued, and
accordingly, an administrative order will be issued by his/her faculty. The
commencement of the student will also be recorded in the scientific department at
Soran University.

7. Academic Relations/ Soran University
6
4. Administration of the Project Budget
a) A bank account in the university will be opened specifically for this project; spending
throughout the four years will be solely from this account.
b) Spending will be according to the budged items only specified in the project dossier.
c) To access monies in the account, the local supervisor, following the guidelines, must
specify the amount required to the university authorities. After being authorisation, the
money will be disbursed under the signature of the university president.
5. Follow-up and Quality Assurance
a) The student will have a dossier in the faculty’s postgraduate study unit and another in
the directorate of postgraduate study in the university. Both parties are responsible for
following up the progress of the project.
b) The Quality Assurance process is followed to the guidelines of the reform pathway of
Higher Education and Scientific Research in Kurdistan Region- Appendix P4 for 2010,
issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
For further information
Please contact us:
Academic relations
Soran University
Soran/ Erbil
Kurdistan Region
Iraq
E-mail: academic.relations@soran.edu.iq
Tel: +964 (0)66 264 6502
Web: www.soran.edu.iq
If you require this publication in an
alternative format, please contact us.