Islamic Azad University: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

Established in 1982, the Islamic Azad University (IAU) stands as a significant entity in Iranian higher education. Conceptualized by Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a prominent figure in Iranian politics, the university has grown from a nominally private technical and engineering institution into a comprehensive system of universities and community colleges. With a vast network of campuses both in Iran and abroad, and a substantial student body, IAU has become a focal point in the interplay between Iranian politics and education.

Historical Context and Establishment

The Islamic Azad University (IAU) was established in 1982 by a decree of Ayatollah Khomeini. Initially conceived as a private technical and engineering university, the institution's foundation is closely linked to Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani, a member of Ayatollah Khomeini’s inner circle and two-term former president, played the leading role in conceptualizing and establishing Islamic Azad University, and went on to serve as head of the university’s founder’s committee, akin to chairman of the board, for over three decades until his death in January 2017. Rafsanjani's vision and subsequent leadership were instrumental in shaping the university's trajectory.

Expansion and Growth

Upon assuming the presidency in 1989, Rafsanjani’s administration lifted restrictions on private universities, catalyzing a massive expansion in IAU’s size and scope. The lifting of restrictions on private universities during Rafsanjani's presidency marked a turning point, leading to a significant increase in the university's size and scope. IAU has grown into a comprehensive system of universities and community colleges, offering a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degrees at its over 400 campuses both in Iran and abroad. Today, IAU boasts over 400 campuses both in Iran and abroad, offering a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a student body of 1.62 million, IAU ranks as the world’s fourth largest university in terms of enrollment.

Financial Aspects

IAU’s expansion has also enabled it to amass $20-$25 billion in assets. Tuition fees and charitable gifts constitute the bulk of its revenue streams, which it has used to purchase and develop 10 million square meters of building and university space situated upon 35 million square meters of property. The university's financial strength is derived from tuition fees and charitable gifts, which have been strategically invested in expanding its infrastructure.

Political Influence and Ideological Shifts

Because of its prodigious holdings and ability to influence a large number of Iranian students, Islamic Azad University has been a focal point in the ongoing power struggle between Iranian hard-liners and reformists. The university's influence extends beyond academics, making it a significant player in Iranian politics. Numerous members of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, the body tasked with cleansing Iranian higher education of Western influence in order to bring it in line with Shi’a Islam, were among the university’s founders, including current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Khomeini’s son, Ahmed Khomeini. The remaining founders, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mir Hossein Mousavi, former Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili, and Abdollah Jasbi, were all affiliated with reformist and pragmatist factions. As a result, “the university's curriculum, hiring practices, campus environment, and general orientation took on a relatively progressive quality. …When it came to factional fights, the university either took a neutral or anti-hardline stance.”

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As Rafsanjani’s ties to reformist politics grew during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian conservatives and hard-liners increasingly came to worry about the school’s potential to serve as a reformist stronghold. The tide turned following the bitterly contested 2009 presidential election. Ahmadinejad’s backers accused IAU of contributing to the 2009 Green Movement protests that rocked Iran, and successfully pressured the university to sever its ties to Mousavi, the defeated presidential candidate and Green Movement leader. Emboldened, Ahmadinejad petitioned parliament for the ability to remove the university’s board and president, a Rafsanjani ally. Fearing a hostile takeover by a determined Ahmadinejad, Rafsanjani re-registered IAU as a private non-profit organization. The battle over IAU’s direction was effectively settled in January 2017 following Rafsanjani’s death, with the hard-line faction coming out on top.

In 2021, IAU underwent wide-scale personnel changes as the leadership purged individuals viewed as insufficiently committed to the regime. The former head of the recruitment board at IAU wrote in his resignation letter in September 2021 that 1800 people were referred to the authorities for severance pay and 325 people were fired. The purge reportedly targeted professors from provinces with substantial non-Shi’a populations in addition to those who adopted more moderate political positions. Bijan Abdolkarimi, a philosophy teacher with over twenty years of experience, was fired, he claims, because of a speech he gave that was interpreted as supporting the massive street protests that rocked Iran after the disputed reelection of Ahmadinejad in 2009. He was accused of “defending the Pahlavi monarchy.” In turn, an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) news presenter was fired from his post for expressing disappointment at the university’s decision to fire Abdolkarimi, indicating the ongoing personnel changes within that institution. The efforts to reduce the number of religious minorities at the school also affected students. IAU sent a letter to Shima Mirshekarlu, explaining that she was banned from continuing her studies due to her Bahai faith. These purges at the academic institution, occurring under Velayati’s watch, are reminiscent of the Ahmadinejad era (2005-2013), which saw the firing of dozens of professors. Although it remains unclear how IAU’s policies will impact its foreign branches, professors that do not comport with the precepts of Khomeinism will likely not be tolerated.

Dissemination of Ideology

The growth of the Islamic Azad University system and sheer quantity of enrolled students has made the university a large-scale mechanism to disseminate regime ideology and inculcate loyalty to Khomeinism at home and abroad through its official branch campuses and partnership agreements with international universities. The university's extensive network and large student population have positioned it as a tool for promoting specific ideologies.

International Presence and Partnerships

According to World Atlas, Islamic Azad University ranks as the fifth largest university in the world in terms of total number of students enrolled, with over 1.5 million as of 2018. Iranian officials operate Islamic Azad University branches in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Lebanon and Afghanistan. The school also maintains international offices at local universities in Russia, Italy, Germany, Tanzania, and Armenia, and has plans to offer more branch campuses in Malaysia, Canada, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the near future.

IAU’s partnerships with international universities, such as Moscow Synergy University (Russia), Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy), University of Essen (Germany) and University of Nottingham (Germany) enable its students to undertake sabbaticals and research opportunities at foreign universities, and for non-Iranian students to pursue research opportunities in Iran. In July 2017, Ali Akbar Velayati, Supreme Leader Khamenei’s chief foreign policy advisor, announced plans for IAU to open new branches in Lebanon and Iraq. and the West in general. Velayati went on to declare that the Basij, the IRGC’s paramilitary wing tasked with channeling popular support for the Islamic Republican regime, should have a leadership role in the Islamic revival on IAU campuses. The Basij should be an “all-encompassing presence in Azad University’s cultural, ideological and social activities. … The Student Basij is a pillar of universities and student campuses, the cultural department of Azad University will be a headquarters of Basij because we believe that Basij is the most capable organization in the cultural and ideological fields,” said Velayati.

Islamic Azad University, Dezful

Established in 1987, Islamic Azad University, Dezful is a for-profit private higher education institution located in the large city of Dezful (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants), Khuzestan. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Islamic Azad University, Dezful (IAU) is a large-sized (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational Iranian higher education institution officially affiliated with the Islamic religion. Islamic Azad University, Dezful (IAU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in several areas of study. This 38-year-old Iranian higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this Iranian higher education organization an extremely selective institution.

Academic Programs and Structure

The Islamic Azad University (IAU; Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private university system headquartered in Tehran, Iran. 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. The Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that today thousands of students are enrolling every year.

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. 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. Branches are listed below. 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. IAU has 31 state universities (provincial universities) located throughout the provinces of Iran.

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. 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. The Islamic Azad University Libraries Affairs manages various libraries for over 360 branches of Islamic Azad Universities nationwide. The IAU branches are publishing 508 scientific journals, of which 145 are in the English Language.

Islamic Azad University History Islamic Azad University abbreviated as IAU is an Iranian higher education university system with multiple campuses in various cities of Iran. The university is privately held and established in 1982 by by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The institution is one of the largest university systems in the world and enrols over 1 million students.Islamic Azad University Programs, Courses, and SchoolsIslamic Azad University offers a range of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels across multiple campuses. The subject offerings include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Arts and Design, and Natural Sciences.Islamic Azad University also offers programs in Civil Engineering, Business Management, Developmental Studies, Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Social Sciences, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, Information Systems, Material Sciences, Plant and Animal Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Biology, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.Islamic Azad University CampusesIslamic Azad University has its main administrative headquarters located in Tehran, Iran with over 31 university branches and 400 plus research centers and smaller campuses located throughout the country. The university also maintains one campus in Oxford, UK with a number of international offices in Russia, Italy, UAE, Germany, Afghanistan, and Lebanon.Islamic Azad University offers state of the art facilities for students which include expensive modern teaching facilities, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, student housing, and sports courts and grounds. The university also offers dining options, student union, banks and ATMs, health centers, recreational centers, and student support services.Islamic Azad University AchievementsIslamic Azad University is ranked 445th globally and 2nd nationally by US News and World Report Rankings. The university also ranked 72nd in the Asia regional rankings published by US News and World Report. The university is also accredited by Ministry of Science Research and Technology of Iran.Islamic Azad University is also ranked 87th globally by SCImago Rankings and 1st nationally and in Asia. The university is also consistently ranked amongst top universities in the world to study Agricultural Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, and Clinical Medicine by US News and World Report.Islamic Azad University USPIslamic Azad University is affiliated to a number of government and professional bodies such as Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and International Association of Universities. The university admits over 350000 students each year and has a high acceptance rate.

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Financial Accessibility and Tuition Inflation

Islamic Azad University was established with the supposed promise of widening access to higher education across Iranian society. Today, however, that founding mission is unsurprisingly in tatters. Rampant tuition inflation - especially in medical fields - has transformed the university into what students call a “money-making machine,” prioritizing revenue over learning and turning higher education into an exclusive privilege for the wealthy. According to state-affiliated reports, and following recent decisions by the university’s central board of trustees, annual tuition for medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy for the 2025-2026 academic year has been set between 200 and 218 million tomans. In Iran’s current economic climate, these figures have provoked widespread alarm and protest among students and families. A central grievance is the absence of meaningful student support systems. Unlike many higher-education systems worldwide - including private institutions that still provide scholarships, loans, and flexible payment plans - students at Islamic Azad face relentless annual increases with no viable financial aid. When the cost of a single degree equals several years’ income for an average household, access becomes a function of wealth rather than merit. Islamic Azad sits on substantial assets - land, construction projects, even industrial holdings - yet the university appears to favor an immediate revenue route: charging students. Rather than leveraging existing assets to fund scholarships or income-generating projects that could subsidize tuition, administrators have chosen to make students the primary funding source. The continuation of this policy will have broad social impacts: reduced access to higher education, increased educational emigration, and growing public distrust in academic institutions. Real reform in education, and the restoration of equal access, requires replacing the corrupt system that has turned universities into profit machines at the expense of the nation’s youth.

Accreditation and Oversight

The Islamic Azad University (IAU) is a private university system in Iran, established in 1982 by the charter of the Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution(SCCR), which is the chief and highest responsible body for accreditation of any higher education institutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In other words, SCCR is a supreme body over the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Oxford Branch

The Azad University in Oxford (AUO) is one of the IAU overseas branches located at the outskirts of Oxford city in the UK. It has been established in 2004 to support the IAU international collaboration activities. Through its links with the UK universities and research centres, the AUO provides a number of services to the students and staff of IAU as well as other students and organisations around the world.

Islamic Azad University Germi

Islamic Azad University Germi is an institution that aims to provide quality education in Iran. With a global rank of 20641 and a score of 15.77, the university offers a variety of programs designed to meet the academic needs of its students. The institution emphasizes the importance of research and community engagement, encouraging students to participate in initiatives that benefit society. The collaborative learning environment fosters critical thinking and innovation among students, preparing them for future challenges. Currently, Islamic Azad University Germi is under review for further recognition.

IAU-UAE Branch

Islamic Azad University (IAU) is a private, non-profit university with a branch in Dubai, UAE. The IAU-UAE branch is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive academic environment where students can pursue academic excellence, engage in research, and contribute to the diverse community. The IAU-UAE branch provides a vibrant campus environment with state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated faculty, and a supportive environment.

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