Islamic Azad University

The Islamic Azad University 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 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 and Ministry of Health and Medical Education for medical education.

Endowment controversy

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, 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
Three members of the founding board, including at least one member of the clergy
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 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

Organization and administration

Central Organization :

Vice Presidency for Research, Technology and Innovation
Vice Presidency for Student and Cultural Affairs
Vice Presidency for Development and Resource Management
Vice Presidency for International Affairs and Non-Iranian Students
Vice Presidency for Science, Engineering and Agriculture
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
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.

Branch	Type	Founded	Enrollment
Science and Research	Independent Comprehensive	1984	~ 50,000
Central Tehran	Comprehensive, Head of Tehran state universities	1982	~ 50,000
Najafabad	Independent Comprehensive	1985	~ 20,000
South Tehran	Comprehensive	1985	~ 40,000
North Tehran	Comprehensive	1985	~ 40,000
Tehran Medical	Comprehensive	1985	~ 25,000
Karaj	Comprehensive	1984	~ 40,000
Tabriz	Comprehensive	1982	~ 20,000
Qazvin	Comprehensive	1992	~ 15,000
Mashhad	Comprehensive	1982	~ 30,000
Isfahan	Comprehensive	1983	~ 20,000

Campuses in the City of Tehran

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
Overseas branches

The Azad University in Oxford 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 located throughout the provinces of Iran. Digits in parentheses indicate the number of branches in the current province.

Islamic Azad University, Alborz Province
Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Province
Islamic Azad University, East Azerbaijan Province
Islamic Azad University, West Azerbaijan Province
Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province
Islamic Azad University, Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province
Islamic Azad University, Fars Province
Islamic Azad University, Gilan Province
Islamic Azad University, Golestan Province
Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Province
Islamic Azad University, Hormozgan Province
Islamic Azad University, Ilam Province
Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Province
Islamic Azad University, Kerman Province
Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Province
Islamic Azad University, North Khorasan Province
Islamic Azad University, Razavi Khorasan Province
Islamic Azad University, South Khorasan Province
Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan Province
Islamic Azad University, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province
Islamic Azad University, Kurdistan Province
Islamic Azad University, Lorestan Province
Islamic Azad University, Markazi Province
Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province
Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Province
Islamic Azad University, Qom Province
Islamic Azad University, Semnan Province
Islamic Azad University, Sistan and Baluchestan Province
Islamic Azad University, Tehran Province
Islamic Azad University, Yazd Province
Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Province
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.

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	Percent
Associate	12.97%
Bachelor's	64.23%
Master's	16.52%
Professional Doctorate	1.67%
Residency	0.01%
Ph.D.	4.58%
Total	100%

Distribution of graduates