Tehran – Nearly 60,000 foreign students are currently studying at Iranian universities, compared to 35,000 students from past Iranian grades, which began on September 22, 2024.
Despite existing challenges, Iran was able to attract students from 101 countries, the IRNA cited Saeed Habiba, head of the student affairs organization.
Their positive records in the scientific capabilities of the country’s universities and international cooperation are a valuable opportunity that must be seized to transform the presence of foreign students into national discourse and strategic plans, officials said.
These students are primarily from Afghanistan, India, Iraq and Pakistan.
In 2024, Hashem Dadashpour, former head of the Student Affairs Organization, said the organization will provide new services to foreign students studying at universities in the country.
He added that the online language learning system will be launched for applicants to take Persian language courses before they enter Iran and prepare to study at the university.
In September 2023, Dadashpour said the Ministry of Science plans to increase the number of international students from now on to around 320,000 by 2026 from around 100,000.
“Strengthening scientific authority, developing public diplomacy, and expanding Persian language are three main reasons why international students are attracted,” Dadashpour said.
World University Rankings
The 2024 World University Rankings (WUR) report by the Islamic World Science Citation Centre (ISC) includes 69 to 72 Iranian universities in 2023.
A total of 426 universities from 31 Islamic countries are listed in the rankings, with Turkey having 102 universities and Iran, 72 universities, and Pakistan having 39 universities positioned first to third.
The University of Tehran rankings have been changed from 501-600 in 2023 to 401-500 in 2024. The university is first placed in the country.
Tehran Medical University is second in the ranking. The university’s global rankings are 501-600, up from 601-700 in 2023.
The rankings for Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences have improved from 801-900 in 2023 to 601-700 in 2024, ranking third in the country.
Sharif University of Technology and Turbiat Modernes University are located in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Shanghai University Rankings 2025 has placed six Iranian universities in 1,000 institutions around the world, starting from nine in 2024.
Tehran University School of Medicine and Tehran University are one of the top 500 universities around the world and rank between 401 and 500 worldwide. Tarbiat Modares University ranks between 701 and 800.
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Sharif Institute of Technology rank 801-900. Iranian Medical University ranks between 901 and 1000.
The July edition of the Webometrics World rankings includes 64 medical universities in Iran, which remain the same as the January edition, of which 11 have made progress in rankings compared to the January edition.
Tehran University of Medicine (485) is the only university ranked among the top 500 institutions in the world, Mehr news agency reported.
Among the universities in Iran, Mazandaran Medical University, Kermansha University School of Medicine and Yazd University Medical University improved their rankings with positions 1002, 961 and 948, respectively.
Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, ILAM University of Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Albors University of Medicine, Kordestan University of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, and Malage University of Medicine, may be other universities.
Times Higher Education (The) includes 34 Iranian universities among the top universities pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 33 universities in 2024.
The Iranian School of Medicine, which has the Global Rankings 301-400, is the first in the country to be placed.
Alzahra University, Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (ranked 401-600) will be second in the list.
Iran’s University of Medical Sciences ranks 48th in terms of health and well-being and reduction inequality, quality education goals.
Alzara University and Carman University Medical University rank 85th and 89th in gender equality, respectively.
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences ranks 30th in Health and Happiness.
Amilkavir Institute of Technology and Shahid Beheshti University are ranked 46th and 60th in industry, innovation and infrastructure.
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