General Overview
More than 50% of the country’s 66 million population is under the age of 25, which creates huge demand within the education system. In particular, admissions to post-secondary courses are highly competitive and university places are won through the National Entrance Examination (Konkur). There are currently well over 1 million students pursuing courses in Iranian universities, over half of these at private universities. Iran has 52 state universities and 28 medical universities, as well as a significant number of government research institutes. There are 25 private universities, including the Islamic Azad University, which has branches all over the country.
Primary education in Iran is compulsory under the Iranian constitution. As a general rule, primary, secondary and higher education is free, although private schools and universities do exist and are permitted to charge tuition fees. All schools are single-sex.
School education in Iran is divided into the following cycles.
1) Pre-school (1 year cycle, children aged 5)
2) Primary (5 year cycle, children aged 6-10)
3) Middle (Guidance) (3 year cycle, children aged 11-13)
4) Secondary (3 year cycle, students aged 14-17)
5) Pre-university (1 year cycle, students aged 18)
There are qualifying examinations to pass from one educational cycle to the next and national exams are conducted at the end of each grade of the secondary cycle. Special provision is made within the educational system for gifted and special needs children, as well as for minority groups, refuges and for non-formal education.
Pre-school education
This is non-compulsory and children proceed automatically to primary education at the age of 6.
Primary education
Children begin primary education aged 6 and are given a broad-ranging general education. There is a national exam at the end of the 5 years, which students have to pass to enter into the Guidance cycle.
Elementary education is mandatory under the constitution. In general, education is free of charge but private schools are allowed to charge fees for tuition.
Middle/Guidance cycle
This three-year phase provides students with general education, and encourages them to think about the options for secondary education. Students must sit a regional exam at the end of the Guidance cycle in order to proceed to secondary education level.
Secondary education
Secondary education is divided into two branches: ‘theoretical’ studies and technical & vocational studies. The academic or ‘theoretical’ branch comprises four subject areas: literature & culture, socio-economic studies, mathematics & physics, experimental sciences. The technical branch is more vocational in structure and is divided into the following three sectors: technical, business & vocational, agriculture. National exams are conducted at the end of each academic year during this secondary cycle. Students complete a number of units during their three years of secondary education, and must obtain 96 units within this time in order to be awarded the High School diploma (Diplom-e Mottevasseteh).
Pre-University education: Students wishing to enter Higher Education must take a one-year pre-university course, at the end of which they may obtain a ‘Pre-University Certificate’. This certificate then qualifies students to sit for the highly competitive National Entrance Exam (Konkur), in order to gain a place at university.
Universities
Admission to state universities is based on successful placing in the competitive National Entrance Exam (Konkur). The first degree (Licence/Kar-Shenasi) usually takes four years and is awarded on a credit system (153 units and an overall score of 12 or more out of 20). Masters degrees usually take two years to complete, and Ph.D students may study for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years.
There are forty-four universities of various types, 15 in Tehran and 29 in 14 other provinces, as well as a number of higher education colleges.
Applicants do not have to produce specific educational certificates to enter the university, but its entrance examinations match those of other universities. Certificates issued by the IOU should be recognised upon evaluation by the Culture and Higher Education Ministry.
All returnees holding an Iranian birth certificate have to show all their documents from foreign schools to the Ministry of Education and after evaluation the ministry would decide whether they could continue their education in Iran.
Recognition of foreign diplomas
The Ministry of Education is mandated to evaluate and then approve the diplomas.
Contact details
Ministry of Education / International and Scientific Cooperation
Address: 62 Eastern Sarv Avenue, Saadat Abad Blvd.
Tehran 198170, Iran
Phone: (+9821) 2092797 - 2092767-2092817-2092827
Fax: (+9821) 2092807
Vocational Training
There are many private vocational training centres in Iran and the Iranian Government is actively promoting these centres.
A list of schools and other institutions related to education/training is available in all municipalities through the Techinical and Vocational Training Centres (T.V.T.O).
T.V.T.O. has played an important role in the field of training skillful experts and specialists for industrial, agricultural, provision, service offering and commercial parts. TVTO has one central headquarter, 31 provincial offices throughout the country, plus one specialized instructor training center.
Training Fields:
| Auto Mechanic |
Electronic |
Administrative Affairs |
Commercial & Financial Affairs |
| Electric |
Health & Safety |
Installations |
Transportation |
| Training Services |
Welding |
Wood Industries |
Printing Industries |
| Handicraft & Artistic Industries |
Metallic Industries |
Textile Industries |
Cloth Designing & Sewing |
| Civil |
Food Industries |
Information & Communication Technology |
Nonmetallic Minerals |
List of T.V.T.O Offices.
Eastern Azarbaijan
Head Office - Management
Gharamak junction, at the beginning of the Machinsazi Rd., Sento
0411- 2898931-5 |
Weastern Azarbaijan
Head Office - Management
Hejrat allay, Construction St., Orumiyeh
0441- 2248631-3 Ardebil |
Head Office - Management
Besat town (Karshenasan), Ardabil
0451- 7713601-3 Isfehan |
Head Office - Management
Kargar St., Hezar Garib St., Isfehan 0311-
6687623
Fax: 6683630 |
Ilam
Head Office - Management
Beside the Shahrdary passenagers bus station, Chalesara boulevard, Madar Sq., Ilam
0841- 223145& 2226081-4 Fax:2222620 |
Bushehr
Head Office - Management
Opposite Zeytun apartment blocks, Shahid Motahari St., Bushehr
0771- 5554293-8 |
Tehran
Head Office - Management
No.61, in the corner of Pir Gamali alley, before Somaeh, at thae beginning of the Shariati St., Pich Shemiran, Enghelab St.
021- 77601013& 77512030 |
Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiyari
Head Office - Management
Beside the pedestrian bridge, Saman gate, Shahrekord
0381- 2226200& 2228400 Tex:2228950 |
Khorasan Razavi
Head Office - Management
At the beginning of the Gharani boulevard, Ferdosi Sq., Mashhad
0511- 7286001-3 |
Northern Khorasan
Head Office - Management
Opposite Iran central insurance, eastern Taleghani St., Bojnurd
0584- 2233005-6 Fax:2223719 |
Southern Khorasan
Head Office - Management
Corner Fath No. 7, Fath St.
0561- 4447444 |
Kuzestan
Head Office - Management
After Karun prison, Sepidar Rd., Ahvaz
0611- 22722228 |
Zanjan
Head Office - Management
Beside way and transportation office, northern corner of broad casting, Khoramshahr St., Zanjan
0241- 7271802 |
Semnan
Head Office - Management
17 Shahrivar boulevard, Semnan
0231- 4462590-2 |
Sistan & Baluchestan
Head Office - Management
Danesh junction, Daneshgah St., Zahedan
0541- 2442100& 2447170 |
Fars
Head Office - Management
Astaneh intersection, Sibuyeh boulevard, Shiraz
0711- 7385134 Fax:7387679 |
Qazvin
Head Office - Management
At the corner of Golha alley, Modares boulevard, Qazvin
0281- 3336824& 3353001-4 |
Qom
Head Office - Management
Corner alley No.49, Day No.19 St., Qom
0251- 7716582& 7721408 |
Karaj
Head Office - Management
Helal Ahmar St., Shahid Beheshti St., Karaj
0261- 4425081 |
Kordestan
Head Office - Management
Keshavarzi St., Sanandaj
0871- 3284305 |
Kerman
Head Office - Management
Gomhuri Islami boulevard, kilometer 4, Kerman
2110251-5 |
Kermanshah Head Office - Management
Hafezieh junction, Shahid Beheshti boulevard, Kermanshah
8363939- 8362424 Fax:8359051 |
Kohkiluih & Boyerahmad
Head Office - Management
Beside Yasuj Shiraz highway police station, Sarabtave, Yasuj
0741- 2252645& 2252640-41 Fax:2280632 |
Gilan
Head Office - Management
Corner 115 St., Golsar St., Rasht
0131- 7721545 Fax:7721546 |
Golestan
Head Office - Management
Ending Hesam boulevard, 5 Azar St., Gorgan
0171- 2240672&82 |
Lorestan
Head Office - Management
At the end of Jalale ale Ahmad St., corner 60-m, Khoram Abad
0661- 3215030 |
Mazandaran Head Office - Management
Mola Majdedin St., Shohada Sq., Sari
0151- 3256490& 3256493 |
Markazi
Head Office - Management
Before Imam Hussein Sq., Ghaem Magham St., Arak
0861- 2269001-4 |
In conjunction with the T.V.T.O there are a also a number of non-Governmental organisations that may provide vocational training. Below is a list of organisations that may provide vocational training.
Research Center for Technology and Training
Kargar St., Hezar Jerib St., Shiraz Sq., Esfahan , Iran
P.O. Box : 81465-751
Tel : 0311-6693178
Fax : 0311-6681181
OMID E MEHR focuses on providing care, support, education and training for disadvantaged girls and young women in Tehran, aged from 15 to 25. These are women who have typically been put into care from an early age, or who have run away from abusive homes, or who live in extreme poverty.
Contact Details
Eshrat Gholipour
Boniad-e-Khayrieh Omid-e-Mehr
Vahid Dastgerdi Ave (Zafar)
15 Shahid Omrani Ave.,Tehran - Iran
Tel +98 21 2225 6420
Fax +98 21 2222 6919
gholipour@omid-e-mehr.org
Special Education
There are a number of special edcuation centres and schools that provide a range of activities and education to cater for special circumstances.
The following is a list of government and non-governmental organisations that may be able to provide these services.
Roodaki Center for the Blind
The Roodaki centre for the blind provide Braille books, Braille Library with over 4000 members, audio cassette library,
No. 53, Zahiroleslam St., Baharestan Square, Jomhouri St., Tehran 11469149-11, Iran.
Tel: +98 21 3311 2152
Fax: +98 21 3311 1294
Email: roodaki.center@gmail.com
Web: www.roodaki.org
Special Education Organization (SEO)
The Special Education Organisation provide inclusive and integrated education, vocational skills training, assessment planning and research activities.
Street address: No. 30, Shahid Mozafar, St. Vali Asr Ave., Tehran, Iran.
Postal address: PO Box 14155-3334, Tehran 14164, Iran.
Phone: +98 21 6412015
Fax: +98 21 6412130
Email: sapak@mail.dci.co.ir
Web: www.seo.medu.ir
State Welfare Organization
Fayazbakhsh Street, PO Box 11365-9187, Tehran, Iran.
Tel: +98 21 6706984
Fax: +98 21 6702197
Web: www.behzisty.ir
SPASDI
The organization aims at offering timely rehabilitation services to the children and young adults under 16 years. The therapy-center is located in the center of Tehran. The services are 100% free of charge.
Address: No. 4, Javahery Alley, Between Forsat Cross & Nosrat, North Kargar Ave., Tehran 14188, Iran
Telephone: (+98) 21-693-5533 - Email: info@tavanyab.com
Contact Details
Ministry of Education / International and Scientific Cooperation
Address: 62 Eastern Sarv Avenue, Saadat Abad Blvd.
Tehran 198170, Iran
Phone: (+9821) 2092797 - 2092767-2092817-2092827
Fax: (+9821) 2092807
