The American University Of Kurdistan

The American University of Kurdistan (AUK) is a private, non-profit educational institution located in Dihok, Iraq, registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and focused on providing American-style higher education in the region. Established as a foreign-owned academic institution, AUK has developed a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs to advance educational initiatives that promote American academic values and methodologies in Iraq. The university primarily serves as an educational entity that delivers higher education programs aligned with U.S. educational standards, with a mission of fostering independent thinking, civic engagement, and sustainable academic development in the region.

Through multiple federal grant awards totaling over $5.8 million in 2023-2024 alone, AUK has consistently received project grants under CFDA 19.600 from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs to support its "Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq" initiatives. These grants enable AUK to operate educational facilities, develop curricula benchmarked to U.S. standards, administer admissions and student services, and promote civic engagement. The grants, ranging from cooperative agreements to project grants, have specific performance periods typically spanning 2-5 years, with the most recent award of $2.1 million covering the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2026. The university's grant-funded work focuses on strengthening the U.S.-Iraq relationship by developing Iraqi civil society through sustainable academic programs that emphasize American educational approaches and values. Over the past four years, AUK has received cumulative grant funding exceeding $15 million to support these strategic educational objectives.