Shiraz University
دانشگاه شیراز
The former Pahlavi University on the Eram hills of Shiraz, one of Iran's oldest modern universities, founded in 1946.
- Students
- 17,000
- Tuition
- €980
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1946
- QS World Ranking
- 791-800
- 2027 edition
About Shiraz University
Shiraz University was established in 1946 in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province in southern Iran. It grew from a health institute into a full university, known as Pahlavi University before 1979, and in the 1960s and 1970s the University of Pennsylvania helped shape its American-style academic system. Its medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing schools later became the separate Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, and its former electronics college became Shiraz University of Technology.
Today the university reports about 17,000 students, about 700 faculty members, 80 bachelor's programmes, 183 master's programmes, 102 PhD programmes and one professional degree, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. It is organised into 15 faculties, from Science, Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine to Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Engineering, Arts and Architecture, Law and Political Sciences, and Literature and Humanities, plus a faculty of agriculture in Darab. It describes its research strengths as reservoir engineering, solar energy, nanotechnology, biotechnology and IT, and it pioneered several of Iran's first doctoral programmes.
Most students are Iranian and enter through the national entrance exam. International students start with a semester of Persian at the university's AZFA Persian language centre before moving into Persian-taught degrees. Shiraz suits applicants who want a comprehensive public university in a historic, relatively relaxed city, and who are ready to study in Persian.
دارالعلم در دارالعلم
“A Dar al-Elm (house of learning) in a Dar al-Elm (a former epithet of Shiraz)” — university motto
Why students choose Shiraz University
A broad comprehensive university with 15 faculties, including rarer fields such as veterinary medicine and petroleum, gas and chemical engineering.
A structured start for international students: a first-semester Persian course (AZFA) at the university's own language centre.
Published fees for international students, from EUR 490 to EUR 900 per semester for bachelor's degrees (2025-26).
A main campus on the Eram hills next to Eram Garden, in a city near Persepolis and the tombs of Hafez and Saadi.
Admissions
International entry for 2027 (Iranian academic year starting autumn 2027)
Selectivity
Shiraz University does not publish an acceptance rate. Iranian students are placed through the national university entrance exam (Konkur); international admission needs approval from Iran's Student Affairs Organization, the relevant department and faculty, and the university's Vice-Chancellor of Education.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school diploma (international applicants) | Official certificates and transcripts showing completion of your latest qualification, translated into Persian and English and legally certified at an Iranian embassy or consulate |
|---|---|
| Persian language | Complete the university's AZFA Persian course in the first semester before starting the degree |
Deadlines
Shiraz University does not publish fixed international deadlines on its English admissions pages; admitted-student lists are announced by semester. Contact international.admission@shirazu.ac.ir for 2027 dates.
How to apply
Complete the admission application on the website of Iran's Student Affairs Organization (saorg.ir) and upload your documents to Shiraz University: a scan of your passport bio page (valid at least six months, with two blank pages), a 3x4 photo, your latest diploma or transcripts notarised by the Iranian embassy in your country, and a CV. After admission, the Fars consular affairs office at the university's international campus issues the student visa once your Student Affairs Organization tracking code is approved; on arrival you register in person and apply for a student residence permit.
What admissions looks for
- Official, certified documents showing you have fully completed your previous qualification.
- Approval from Iran's Student Affairs Organization to study as an international student.
- Approval by the relevant department and faculty, and by the Vice-Chancellor of Education, for your chosen field.
- Readiness to complete a semester of Persian before starting the degree.
Tips for applying to Shiraz University
- 1 Get your diploma and transcripts translated into Persian and English and certified at an Iranian embassy or consulate before applying.
- 2 Keep file sizes small: the university asks for a photo under 50 KB and a diploma scan and CV under 100 KB each.
- 3 Plan to open an Iranian bank account on arrival: the university says you need one to pay by card, and the UK government says non-Iranian bank cards do not work in Iran.
- 4 Tell the admissions office your arrival date if you want airport pickup and university housing booked for you.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in EUR
Shiraz University sets two fee groups for international students: students funded by their home government's scholarships pay higher rates than self-financed students. No university scholarship scheme is described on its English admissions pages. All registered students are insured and can use the university's two clinics.
- EUR 595 self-financed; EUR 850 government-funded
- AZFA Persian course (first semester)
- EUR 560-700 self-financed; EUR 800-1,000 government-funded
- Master's tuition per semester
- EUR 675 and EUR 400 per semester
- Single dormitory and canteen
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
The university's one professional degree programme, taught in its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Petroleum, gas and chemical engineering
A dedicated faculty, backed by a research institute for offshore petroleum and gas industries and reservoir engineering research.
Agricultural sciences
One of the university's oldest colleges (1953), with a second agriculture faculty in Darab.
Persian Language and Literature
Taught in the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, alongside the AZFA Persian centre for non-Persian speakers.
Physics and astronomy
Supported by the Abu Reihan Biruni Observatory, set up in 1975, and an astronomy and astrophysics research institute.
Research
- Research institutes for social sciences, nanotechnology, biotechnology, offshore petroleum and gas industries, and astronomy, astrophysics and astronomical instruments.
- The Abu Reihan Biruni Observatory, established in 1975 by Yousef Sobouti.
- The university names reservoir engineering, solar energy, nanotechnology, biotechnology and IT among its main research areas.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Arts and Architecture
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Faculty of Materials and Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Engineering
- Faculty of Modern Technologies
- Faculty of Literature and Humanities
- Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Social Sciences
Student life
The main campus sits on the Eram hills next to Eram Garden, with other campuses around Shiraz linked by university buses; students also use the city's metro, buses and apps such as Snapp and Tapsi. International students can live in separate boys' and girls' dormitories, and have access to indoor and outdoor sports facilities, study halls, a computer centre and a wellness station. All registered students are insured and can use two university clinics. The admissions office can arrange airport pickup and runs an introductory workshop for new arrivals.
- Eram hills main campus beside the historic Eram Garden.
- University bus services between all campuses.
- Separate boys' (Iransara) and girls' dormitories for international students.
- Airport pickup and an introductory 'introduce Shiraz University' workshop for new international students.
Housing. International students can live in the university's single-sex dormitories, booked through the International Students Administration; a single room costs EUR 675 per semester.
Location
Shiraz, a city of almost 2 million, is known for its gardens, poets' tombs and mild spring and autumn weather, with Persepolis nearby and skiing about 75 km away in winter. The university describes it as green, safe and laid-back. Practical limits apply: the UK government currently advises against all travel to Iran and says non-Iranian bank cards do not work there, so plan to bring euros or US dollars and open a local account. Check your own government's advice.
Nearest airport: Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport (SYZ)
Notable alumni
- KD Katayoon DeheshPlant biologist and member of the Leopoldina; began her studies at Pahlavi University
- FK Fatemeh KeshavarzScholar of Persian literature and Rumi; BA in Persian language and literature (1976)
- HB Hossein BaharvandStem cell and developmental biologist; BSc in biology (1994)
- SR Sohrab RohaniChemical engineer and professor at the University of Western Ontario; BSc (1973)
- SH Safdar HosseiniFormer Iranian minister of economy and of labour; bachelor's in agriculture
- AM Ata'ollah MohajeraniFormer minister of culture and author; master's in history and Iranian culture
- MD Mina DastgheibPoet with 12 published collections; Shiraz University graduate
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shiraz University cost for international students?
For 2025-26, self-financed bachelor's students pay EUR 490 to EUR 630 per semester and home-government-funded students EUR 700 to EUR 900, after a first-semester Persian course costing EUR 595 or EUR 850.
Is Shiraz University taught in English?
Degrees are taught in Persian: all international students must complete the university's Persian course in their first semester. Subject to department approval, students may later submit dissertations in English.
How do I apply to Shiraz University as an international student?
Apply through Iran's Student Affairs Organization website and upload your passport, photo, notarised diploma or transcripts and CV to the university. Once your tracking code is approved, the university's consular office issues your student visa.
Is Shiraz University the same as Shiraz University of Medical Sciences?
No. The medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing schools were separated to form Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, so Shiraz University itself does not teach medicine.
Can I use my foreign bank card in Shiraz?
No. The UK government says non-Iranian debit and cash cards do not work in Iran, and Shiraz University advises opening an Iranian bank account on arrival (currently with Bank Mellat) to pay by card and use ATMs.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- Shiraz University: English home page and faculties (archived June 2026)
- Shiraz University: History (archived June 2026)
- Shiraz University Admission and International Students Affairs: home (archived February 2026)
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