Study in Iran

Who this applies to

Students at Iranian universities. Persian (Farsi) medium (+ English in medical/international programs); state (MSRT/Ministry of Health) + private (Islamic Azad) + Payame Noor (distance).

Governing authority

Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT); medical universities under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Degree system

Bachelor (Karshenasi) · Master (Karshenasi Arshad) · PhD (Doctora). State, Islamic Azad (huge private network), and Payame Noor (distance) sectors.

Admission

How

National university entrance examination 'Konkur' (کنکور) — highly competitive; top flagships admit only the top ~1% (Sharif: top ~800 of ~500,000). International students apply directly.

Language

Persian (Farsi); English in many medical/international programs.

Tuition

Public

State universities largely tuition-free for nationals (admission via Konkur).

Private

Islamic Azad & non-state fee-paying.

Note

~2,183 HEIs in 2022; merger program targets ~400; Islamic Azad University is one of the world's largest private university systems.

Student visa & residence permit

Student visa for non-nationals (notable inflow from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq).

Scholarships

Government & institutional.

Sources & references

• system counts — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Iran (2026-06-12)
• MSRT/Konkur — https://wenr.wes.org/education-system-profiles/education-in-iran/ (2026-06-12)