The University of Massachusetts at Amherst reversed a decision it made earlier this month to ban Iranian students from taking certain engineering and science courses. The university backed down after student groups and organizations protested the school's decision.

UMass Amherst released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying it reversed its decision to ban Iranian students from engineering and science programs. Instead, the university will develop individualized plans for Iranian students to comply with federal sanctions.

"This approach reflects the university's longstanding commitment to wide access to educational opportunities," Michael Malone, vice chancellor for research and engagement, said in the statement. "We have always believed that excluding students from admission conflicts with our institutional values and principles. It is now clear, after further consultation and deliberation, that we can adopt a less restrictive policy."

Instead, the university will develop individualized plans for Iranian students to comply with federal sanctions.

"The decision to revise the university's approach follows consultation with the State Department and outside counsel," UMass Amherst explained in its statement.

On Feb. 6, UMass Amherst released a statement concerning Iranian graduate students, arguing U.S. sanctions against Iranian students forced the university to prevent them from enrolling. The school cited the "Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012," which prevents Iranian students from enrolling on engineering and science fields if they plan a career in Iran's nuclear and oil industries.

"The University has determined that these sanctions pose a significant challenge to our ability to provide a full program of education and research for Iranian students in certain disciplines and programs," the statement said, adding that to follow the law they must ban students from enrolling College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences.

Students, in protest, formed a Facebook group called "No to the UMass Educational Ban on Iranian Nationals" on Tuesday and started a Change.org petition. The Iranian Graduate Student Association, which started the petition, called UMass Amherst's decision "the most expansive and potentially discriminatory interpretation" of the law.

The National Iranian American Council also released a statement condemning the university's ban.

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