The Islamic Azad University (IAU; fa, دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, ''Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi'') is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

university system A university system is a set of multiple affiliated universities and colleges that are usually geographically distributed. Typically, all member universities in a university system share a common component among all of their various names. Usually, ...

headquartered in

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of

universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...

s, and

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior sec ...

s in the world. Besides

, the university has international satellite branches in countries such as

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

, the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

and England.

History

Headquartered in

, Iran, the Islamic Azad University is the world's sixth-largest

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. It was approved and ratified by the

Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR; fa, شورای عالی انقلاب فرهنگی, shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi) is a conservative-dominated body based in Qom, set up at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini. Its decisions can ...

in 1982, having been founded and established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. It has an enrollment of 1 million students. Since its inception in 1982, it has grown both physically and academically to become one of the largest higher education institutions globally. Over the years, IAU has promoted 'higher education for all' as its key objective. IAU has two independent and 31 state university branches across Iran, and four branches in other countries: the

U.A.E. The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and

. Over the years, 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 today thousands of students are enrolling every year. Not relying on government funding, it receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees. The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the

Ministry of Science, Research and Technology The Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) is the government ministry of science, research and technology in the Islamic Republic of Iran. State-run (non-medical) universities of Iran are under the direct supervision of Iran's Mini ...

and

Ministry of Health and Medical Education The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) has executive responsibility for health and medical education within the Iranian government. The MOHME comprises five departments headed by deputy ministers: # Research and Technology #Educati ...

for medical education. The university admits students through the National Wide Entrance Examination held by the National (Iranian) Organization of Educational Testing.

Endowment controversy

Iran's supreme leader The Supreme Leader of Iran ( fa, رهبر ایران, rahbar-e irān) is the List of heads of state of Iran, head of state of the Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran. The Supreme Leader directs the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, executiv ...

has declared the

financial endowment A financial endowment is a legal structure for managing, and in many cases indefinitely perpetuating, a pool of financial, real estate, or other investments for a specific purpose according to the will of its founders and donors. Endowments are o ...

of Islamic Azad University to be "religiously illegitimate and unlawful", prompting a change within the administration of the institution.

Governance

* The Board of Founders * The

Board of Trustees A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

* The President of the university * The University Council

Board of Founders

The board consists of nine people, including

Ali Akbar Velayati Ali Akbar Velayati ( fa, علی‌اکبر ولایتی ; born 24 June 1945, Tehran) is an Iranian conservative politician and physician. He is currently member of the Expediency Discernment Council. Velayati is a distinguished professor at Shahi ...

(Head of Board),

Abdollah Jassbi Abdollah Jafarali Jassbi (born 25 November 1944) is an Iranian academic and politician who was president of Azad University from the establishment of the university in 1982 until his resignation in 2012. He was also a presidential candidate in 19 ...

, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, Hassan Khomeini,

Mohsen Qomi Mohsen Qomi ( fa, محسن قمی) is an Iranian cleric, conservative politician and a member of the Assembly of Experts. Career Qomi is a cleric and has the title of Hojjatal Islam. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Islamic Coali ...

, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,

Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili Sayyid Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili ( fa, سید عبدالکریم موسوی اردبیلی, 28 January 1926 – 23 November 2016) was an Iranian reformist politician and Twelver shi'a marja. Political career Ardebili was a supporter of Ayatoll ...

Hamid Mirzadeh Hamid Mirzadeh ( fa, حمید میرزاده, born November 29, 1950) is an Iranian politician and academic who was the 3rd president of the Islamic Azad University system. Early life and education He was born on 29 November 1950 in Sirjan, Kerm ...

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 The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR; fa, شورای عالی انقلاب فرهنگی, shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi) is a conservative-dominated body based in Qom, set up at the time of Ayatollah Khomeini. Its decisions can ...

(

Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi (Persian: محمد مهدی طهرانچی, born 1965 in Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian theoretical physicist, professor at laser and plasma research institute and department of physics of Shahid Beheshti University and membe ...

, Farhad Rahbar, Fereidoun Azizi) * Three members of the founding board, including at least one member of the

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

(

(Head of Board),

, 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 the Rector of the University Board of Trustees and approved the proposal of the

and the decision of the President of the board of trustees is appointed for a term of four years. All Islamic Azad University campuses are governed by the Regents of the university.

Presidents

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 321 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 767 Sama schools affiliated to the university, along with 116 skill and entrepreneurship colleges. These campuses are under the direct control of the board of trustees and the President. The best known and famous branches are listed below. The most distinguished, most highly ranked and most prestigious, are Central Tehran and Science and Research.

Campuses in the City of Tehran

Two-year institutions

Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: * 116 skill and entrepreneurship colleges * Skills Training Schools

Educational institutions (
K-12 K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993, well known worldwide mainly for its heavyweight division fights and Grand Prix tournaments. In January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, acquired ...
)

Vice Presidency for General Education and Skills Training: * Sama Schools (767 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 Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

International offices

The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, the UK,

UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

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 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, Bushehr 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:

Distribution of graduates

In the academic year 2021–2022:

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 A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...

. 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 Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of R ...

, Iran * Aria Hospital in Mashhad, Iran * Yazd Hospital * Khatamalanbia Hospital * Rhazes Hospital * Katalem Hospital

Rankings

'' U.S. News & World Report'' rankings

:2023 Best Global Universities Ranking *Global Ranking: 394 *Regional (Asia) Ranking: 77 *Country Ranking: 2 :Subject ranking *Agricultural Sciences: 117 *Artificial Intelligence: 55 *Biology and Biochemistry: 299 *Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 136 *Chemical Engineering: 36 *Chemistry: 136 *Civil Engineering: 14 *Clinical Medicine: 644 *Computer Science: 234 *Condensed Matter Physics: 124 *Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 110 *Energy and Fuels: 40 *Engineering: 37 *Environment/Ecology: 367 *Food Science and Technology: 84 *Geosciences: 385 *Materials Science: 267 *Mathematics: 29 *Mechanical Engineering: 4 *Optics: 83 *Pharmacology and Toxicology: 181 *Physical Chemistry: 90 *Physics: 200 *Plant and Animal Science: 356 *Polymer Science: 9 *Water Resources: 30 :2022 Best Global Universities Ranking *Global Ranking: 434 *Regional (Asia) Ranking: 75 *Country Ranking: 2 :Subject ranking *Agricultural Sciences: 114 *Biology and Biochemistry: 379 *Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 152 *Chemical Engineering: 36 *Chemistry: 145 *Civil Engineering: 15 *Clinical Medicine: 694 *Computer Science: 160 *Condensed Matter Physics: 116 *Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 115 *Energy and Fuels: 36 *Engineering: 44 *Environment/Ecology: 378 *Food Science and Technology: 77 *Geosciences: 346 *Materials Science: 244 *Mathematics: 45 *Mechanical Engineering: 3 *Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 247 *Optics: 118 *Pharmacology and Toxicology: 229 *Physical Chemistry: 98 *Physics: 205 *Plant and Animal Science: 389 *Polymer Science: 27 :2021 Best Global Universities Ranking *Global Ranking: 445 *Regional (Asia) Ranking: 72 *Country Ranking: 2 :Subject ranking *Agricultural Sciences: 117 *Biology and Biochemistry: 441 *Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology: 176 *Chemical Engineering: 29 *Chemistry: 110 *Civil Engineering: 23 *Clinical Medicine: 725 *Computer Science: 193 *Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 105 *Energy and Fuels: 39 *Engineering: 47 *Environment/Ecology: 373 *Materials Science: 232 *Mathematics: 31 *Mechanical Engineering: 1 *Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 204 *Physics: 228 *Plant and Animal Science: 397 :2020 Best Global Universities Ranking *Global Ranking: 454 *Regional (Asia) Ranking: 69 *Country Ranking: 2 :Subject ranking *Agricultural Sciences: 84 *Biology and Biochemistry: 466 *Chemistry: 121 *Civil Engineering: 35 *Computer Science: 110 *Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 93 *Engineering: 44 *Materials Science: 225 *Mathematics: 29 *Mechanical Engineering: 5 *Physics: 235 *Plant and Animal Science: 432 2018 Best Global Universities Ranking *Global Ranking: 497 *Regional (Asia) Ranking: 76 *Country Ranking: 2 :Subject ranking *Agricultural Sciences: 132 *Chemistry: 136 *Computer Science: 119 *Engineering: 38 *Materials Science: 104 *Mathematics: 21 *Physics: 369

CWUR - The Center for World University Rankings

2021-2022 Ranking: *World Rank: 372 *National Rank: 1 *Quality of Education Rank: NA *Alumni Employment Rank: NA *Quality of Faculty Rank: NA *Research Performance Rank: 342 *Overall Score: 75.7

SciVisions rankings

2017: International rank: 938, National rank: 5, Regional Rank: 24 ( SRBIAU)

SCImago The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator is a measure of the prestige of scholarly journals that accounts for both the number of citations received by a journal and the prestige of the journals where the citations come from. Rationale Citatio ...
rankings

2013: International rank: 87, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 1 2012: International rank: 231, National rank: 1, Regional Rank: 2

CWTS Leiden Ranking

2014: World rank: 252, Country rank: 11, Regional rank: 194

URAP – University Ranking by Academic Performance

2013: World rank: 161, Country rank: 1, Regional rank: 25 2012: World rank: 226, Country rank: 2, Regional rank: 34

ISC rankings

Gallery

File:بیمارستان فرهیختگان.jpg, Science and Research, Tehran File:Srbiau hotel.jpg, Science and Research, Tehran File:Iaum.jpg,

File:Niau.jpg,

Najafabad Najafabad ( fa, نجف‌آباد, also Romanized as Najafābād) is a city and capital of Najafabad County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 293,275, in 90,158 families. It is located west of Isfahan and is increas ...

File:IAU Lahijan.jpg,

Lahijan Lahijan ( fa, لاهیجان, Lāhijān, also known as, Lāyjon in Gilaki) is a city near the Caspian Sea and the capital of Lahijan County, Gilan Province, Iran. According to the 2016 census, its population was 167,544 in 58,378 families. La ...

File:RIAU_central_administration_building.jpg,

Roudehen Rudehen ( fa, رودهن, also Romanized as Rūdehen, Rūd-e Hen, and Rūdīān) is a city and capital of Rudehen District, in Damavand County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 19,535, in 5,693 families. Rudehen ...

File:Azad-University-Isfahan-Khorasgan.jpg,

Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...

File:Dehaqan-gate.jpg, Dehaqan

References

External links

* *
Alumni of Islamic Azad University
{{Coord, 35.7328, N, 51.3889, E, source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title 1982 establishments in Iran Educational institutions established in 1982 Engineering universities and colleges in Iran