The Islamic Azad University (IAU; , Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private university system headquartered in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of universities in the world.
History Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University is the world's fifth-largest university. It was approved and ratified by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1982, having been founded and established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The first large-scale private university in the Islamic Republic, Islamic Azad expanded rapidly in the 1990s, overtaking regular state universities in terms of total enrollment by the early 2000s. IAU has an enrollment of over 1.5 million students. IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective, growing physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. IAU has two independent and 31 state university branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: the U.A.E., the United Kingdom, Lebanon and Afghanistan. The university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth $20–25 billion.
The Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that , thousands of new students were enrolled annually. Not relying on government funding, the university receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees.
The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and Ministry of Health and Medical Education for medical education.
Endowment controversy Iran's supreme leader declared the financial endowment of Islamic Azad University was "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution.
Governance The Board of Founders The Board of Trustees The President of the university The University Council
Board of Founders The board consists of nine people, including Ali Akbar Velayati (Head of Board), Abdollah Jassbi, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, Hassan Khomeini, Mohsen Qomi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili, Hamid Mirzadeh and one vacant position.
Board of trustees Members include: Three members of full-time associated or higher rank professor faculty of the universities approved by the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution (Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Farhad Rahbar, Fereidoun Azizi) Three members of the founding board, including at least one member of the clergy (Ali Akbar Velayati (Head of Board), Abdollah Jassbi, Hassan Khomeini) The Ministers of Science, Research and Technology and Health and Medical Education or their representatives The head of the Supreme Leader's representative in universities or his deputy The president of the university (Board Secretary)
Board of directors The administration of the university is under the Rector of the University Board of Trustees, and the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and the decision of the President of the board of trustees is appointed for a term of four years.
Presidents President Tenure Alma mater Speciality Abdollah Jassbi 1982–2012 Aston University Industrial Engineering and Management Farhad Daneshjoo 2012–2013 University of Westminster Civil and Earthquake Engineering Hamid Mirzadeh 2013–2017 University of New South Wales Polymer Engineering and Biomaterials Ali Mohammad Noorian (acting) 2017–2017 University of Wales Electrical Engineering and Physics Farhad Rahbar 2017–2018 University of Tehran Theoretical Economics Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi 2018–2025 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Applied Physics and Advanced Materials
Organization and administration
Central Organization (University System): Vice Presidency for Research, Technology and Innovation Vice Presidency for Student and Cultural Affairs Vice Presidency for Development and Resource Management (Financial and Administrative Affairs) Vice Presidency for International Affairs and Non-Iranian Students Vice Presidency for Science, Engineering and Agriculture (Academic and Post Graduate Affairs) Vice Presidency for Medical Sciences Vice Presidency for Humanities and Arts Vice Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs and Social Relations Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training (Sama) Research Institute and Laboratory Networks Science and Technology Park Center of Admissions Center for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Center for Provincial Board of Trustees Center for Audit of the Board of Trustees Center of Construction and Real Estate Center of Monitoring, Inspection and Complaints Policy Institute of Strategic Studies Law Office Cultural Center of Imam Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution Knowledge Based Economy and Finance Council Trading Commission Research and Technology Fund
Branches and campuses The Islamic Azad University has two independent and 31 state university branches with 367 campuses in Iran, and four branches overseas, as well as a range of research centers, hospitals, laboratories, workshops, sports facilities, recreational areas and ICT facilities. It now welcomes not only local but also international students. There are 1051 Sama schools affiliated to the university, along with 118 skill and entrepreneurship colleges.
Branches are listed below.
BranchTypeFoundedEnrollmentScience and ResearchIndependent Comprehensive1984~ 50,000Central TehranComprehensive, Head of Tehran state universities1982~ 50,000NajafabadIndependent Comprehensive1985~ 20,000South TehranComprehensive1985~ 40,000North TehranComprehensive1985~ 40,000Tehran MedicalComprehensive1985~ 25,000KarajComprehensive1984~ 40,000TabrizComprehensive1982~ 20,000QazvinComprehensive1992~ 15,000MashhadComprehensive1982~ 30,000IsfahanComprehensive1983~ 20,000
Campuses in the City of Tehran Branch Type Founded Enrollment Central Organization University System 1982 N/A Science and Research Independent Comprehensive 1984~ 50,000 Central Tehran Comprehensive, Head of Tehran state universities 1982~ 50,000 South Tehran Comprehensive 1985~ 40,000 North Tehran Comprehensive 1985~ 40,000 West Tehran Semi Comprehensive 1994~ 20,000East Tehran Semi Comprehensive 2001~ 10,000 Medical Tehran Medicine, Dental, Pharmaceutical Science & Biology 1985~ 25,000Electronic Electronic 2008~ 20,000Fereshtegan International People with special needs 2019~ 1,000Farshchian Islamic Iranian Art Islamic Iranian Art 2018~ 1,000
Two-year institutions Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: 118 skill and entrepreneurship colleges Skills Training Schools
Educational institutions (K–12) Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: Sama Schools (1051 pre schools, primary schools, secondary schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and university-preparatory schools)
Overseas branches The Azad University in Oxford (AUO) at the outskirts of the city of Oxford in the UK was established in 2004 to support IAU's international collaboration activities. Through its links with the UK universities and research centers, the AUO provides services to the students and staff of IAU as well as other students and organisations around the world.
In 1995, a branch was opened in Dubai.
International offices The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, UAE, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
State universities IAU has 31 state universities (provincial universities) located throughout the provinces of Iran. Digits in parentheses indicate the number of branches in the current province.
Islamic Azad University, Alborz Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Province (8) Islamic Azad University, East Azerbaijan Province (27) Islamic Azad University, West Azerbaijan Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province (11) Islamic Azad University, Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Fars Province (30) Islamic Azad University, Gilan Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Golestan Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Hormozgan Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Ilam Province (5) Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Province (24) Islamic Azad University, Kerman Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Province (8) Islamic Azad University, North Khorasan Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Razavi Khorasan Province (14) Islamic Azad University, South Khorasan Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan Province (17) Islamic Azad University, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Kurdistan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Lorestan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Markazi Province (15) Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province (14) Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Qom Province (1) Islamic Azad University, Semnan Province (7) Islamic Azad University, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (7) Islamic Azad University, Tehran Province (24) Islamic Azad University, Yazd Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Province (4)
Admissions From the establishment of Islamic Azad University in 1982 to 2013, the admission process of students was through Islamic Azad University's entrance exam which was designed, held, and scored independently by the private university system. Post-2013, its entrance exam was merged with the Public University System. It holds the national entrance exam and some students who get admitted through this process would be exempt from paying any tuitions. However, Islamic Azad University requires tuition which varies by different factors such as program, degree, and location.
The university accepts nearly 320,000 students annually (10,000 PhD, 3,000 Professional Doctorate and Medicine, 57,000 Masters, 200,000 Bachelors and 50,000 Associates).
Distribution of students In the academic year 2021–2022:
Field of study Percent Humanities and Social Sciences 50.11% Engineering and Technology 32.32% Arts and Architecture 8.72% Medical Science and Veterinary Medicine 4.46% Basic Sciences 2.97% Agriculture and Natural Resources 1.42% Total 100%
Level of study (degree) Percent Associate 12.97% Bachelor's 64.23% Master's 16.52% Professional Doctorate 1.67% Residency (medicine) 0.01% Ph.D. 4.58% Total 100%
Distribution of graduates In the academic year 2021–2022:
Field of study Percent Humanities 50.71% Engineering 30.54% Arts and Architecture 8.99% Basic Sciences 2.47% Agriculture and Natural Resources 1.66% Medical Sciences 1.33% Veterinary 1.01% Applied Sciences, Training and General Majors 3.30% Total 100%
Level of study (degree) Percent Associate 28.02% Bachelor's 56.30% Master's 14.87% Professional Doctorate 0.44% Ph.D. 0.35% Total 100%
Medical centers IAU' medical centers include:
(Not included Veterinary Medicine and Clinical and Health Psychology)
107 branches in medical sciences 1669 faculty members 43,728 medical sciences students 72 majors in different levels
There are 825 active beds in 10 hospitals in Iran, and has 1273 approval beds. Each medical center serves as the primary teaching site for that campus's medical school. Some hospitals are listed below: Farhikhtegan Hospital in Tehran, Iran Bou-Ali (Avicenna) Hospital in Tehran, Iran Amiralmomenin Hospital in Tehran, Iran Javaheri Hospital in Tehran, Iran 22 Baham Hospital in Mashhad, Iran Aria Hospital in Mashhad, Iran Yazd Hospital Khatamalanbia Hospital Rhazes Hospital Katalem Hospital
Main library The Islamic Azad University Libraries Affairs manages various libraries for over 360 branches of Islamic Azad Universities nationwide. These libraries provide valuable services to more than 1.2 million students, faculty, and researchers.
Journals The IAU branches are publishing 508 scientific journals, of which 145 are in the English Language.
Rankings U.S. News & World Report rankings