University of Tabriz
دانشگاه تبریز
Iran's second-oldest university, set on a large green campus in Tabriz, with more than 3,200 international students.
- Students
- 25,000
- Founded
- 1947
- QS World Ranking
- #686
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
- 6,000,000 m2 (600 ha), as stated by the university
About UT
The University of Tabriz began its activities in 1947 and describes itself as Iran's second-oldest university. It started with faculties of Literature and Medicine and has grown into a comprehensive university with more than 20 faculties, research centres, centres of excellence and an international campus, located in Tabriz in the north-west of the country.
Faculties range from agriculture, veterinary medicine and the natural sciences to electrical and computer, civil, mechanical, and chemical and petroleum engineering, as well as economics, law and social sciences, education and psychology, geography and planning, and Persian and foreign languages. Its Faculty of Agriculture, founded in 1955, describes itself as the second such faculty in Iran after the University of Tehran's.
The university's international office reported more than 25,000 students and more than 3,200 international students in 2025. Iranian students are admitted through the national entrance examination; international students apply directly to the university's Office of International Students and usually begin with a Persian language course. The campus is large and self-contained, with dormitories, dining halls, sports facilities and shops.
Why students choose UT
A large, green campus that the university describes as 6,000,000 square metres, with dormitories, dining halls, gyms, a cinema and a health centre.
The Shahriar Scholarship can cover all or part of tuition, a Persian language course and dormitory costs for outstanding international students.
A broad spread of faculties, from veterinary medicine and agriculture to engineering, law and the humanities.
A Persian Language Training Center prepares international students before degree study.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
No acceptance rate is published. Iranian applicants are admitted through the national entrance examination. International applications are screened by the Office of International Students and then accepted or rejected by the relevant academic departments; for the second semester of 2023-2024 the university reported about 1,000 applications.
Typical entry requirements
| International applicants | Secondary-school (or previous degree) documents reviewed by the academic department; requirements and capacities are published per programme by the Office of International Students |
|---|---|
| Iranian applicants | Placement through the national entrance examination |
Deadlines
- Shahriar Scholarship (2025-2026 call, past) Non-binding Passed19 February 2025
Application window 10-19 February (non-extendable), for the first semester.
- International admission window, second semester 2023-2024 (reference, past) Non-bindingAbout three weeks from 15 December 2023
The university's news report says the admission system was open for three weeks from 15 December 2023; more than 340 new international students enrolled for that semester.
Dates for 2027 entry are not yet published. The university's English home page links a 'Call for International Student Admissions at the University of Tabriz 2026' (posted July 2026 on int.tabrizu.ac.ir), but the international office's site could not be reached, so the dates above are past reference dates from archived official pages. Check the Office of International Students at int.tabrizu.ac.ir.
How to apply
International students register their application in the university's online admission system through the Office of International Students (International Academic Cooperation Directorate). After initial screening, files go to the academic departments for a decision; admitted students then obtain a study visa and residence through the university's consular office and register. Most programmes are taught in Persian, so students usually start with the Persian Language Training Center; some groups have separate classes in English.
What admissions looks for
- Academic documents that meet the requirements the department sets for each programme.
- For the Shahriar Scholarship, a grade of at least 16/20 (75/100 or B+) and the age limit for the level.
- Doctoral scholarship applicants need an ISI article (or a higher grade, or a book in the humanities).
Tips for applying to UT
- 1 Plan for Persian: the Shahriar Scholarship starts after the Persian language course, and most teaching is in Persian.
- 2 Apply for the Shahriar Scholarship in its short February window if you want tuition and dormitory support.
- 3 The scholarship does not cover food or family members' costs, so budget for these separately.
- 4 Admission windows are short (about three weeks), so follow the Office of International Students' announcements closely.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in IRR
The Shahriar Scholarship is awarded each year to outstanding international students at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level. It can cover the registration fee for a Persian language course (up to 6 months), all or part of tuition for the standard programme length (4 years for a bachelor's), and dormitory costs at the rate for Iranian students; it does not cover food or family costs and cannot be combined with other Iranian government scholarships. International tuition fees are set by the university's Board of Trustees but were not available on the pages checked.
- Age 26 or under; grade 16/20, 75/100 or B+
- Shahriar Scholarship, undergraduate eligibility
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters
Agriculture
The Faculty of Agriculture dates from 1955 and, per the university, has 10 departments, 61 majors and over 2,200 students.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical engineering has been taught since 1958; the faculty has 7 departments and 24 majors.
Civil Engineering
One of three faculties formed from the Faculty of Engineering in 2003; alumnus Kaveh Madani took his BSc here.
Veterinary Medicine
A dedicated Faculty of Veterinary Medicine within the university.
Research
- The university lists centres of excellence in photonics, cereal molecular breeding and clean chemistry.
- Research centres include the Research Institute for Applied Physics and Astronomy and the Research Center of Biosciences and Biotechnology.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Faculty of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Physics
- Faculty of Mathematical Sciences
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Economics, Management and Business
- Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
Student life
The University of Tabriz describes its campus as a small town: a large green site with tree-lined streets, dormitories, dining halls, a bakery and market, a book fair, well-equipped gyms, a cinema, counselling and health centres and cultural centres. International students are supported by the Office of International Students, a consular office for visas and residence, and the Persian Language Training Center. The university also runs an international campus, Aras International Campus.
- Dormitories, dining halls and shops on the main campus.
- Gyms and a cinema on campus.
- Persian Language Training Center for new international students.
- Students from countries including Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan and China.
Housing. The campus has dormitories; Shahriar Scholarship holders pay dormitory rates set for Iranian students.
Location
Tabriz is the capital of East Azerbaijan Province in north-west Iran. The university's main campus is on 29 Bahman Boulevard in the city and, according to the university, has extensive green areas with tree-lined inner streets.
Nearest airport: Tabriz International Airport (TBZ)
Notable alumni
- SB Samad BehrangiWriter of children's stories and social critic; BA in English
- KM Kaveh MadaniWater scientist and director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health; BSc in civil engineering, 2003
- AM Adela MohseniAfghan women's rights activist; BA in judicial law
- AG Azim GheychisazMountaineer and member of Iran's national team; studied physical education
Frequently asked questions
Is the University of Tabriz taught in English?
Mostly no: teaching is mainly in Persian and international students usually start at the Persian Language Training Center, although some groups have separate English classes.
How do international students apply to the University of Tabriz?
Through the online admission system of the Office of International Students; academic departments decide on each file, then the consular office helps with the study visa and residence.
Does the University of Tabriz offer scholarships?
Yes, the Shahriar Scholarship can cover a Persian course, all or part of tuition and dormitory costs for outstanding international students; undergraduates need a grade of at least 16/20 and must be 26 or under.
How old is the University of Tabriz?
It began its activities in 1947 and describes itself as Iran's second-oldest university.
How many international students does the University of Tabriz have?
More than 3,200, out of more than 25,000 students, according to its international office's 2025 statistics.
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.
- University of Tabriz: About the university (archived English page)
- University of Tabriz: International Academic Cooperation Directorate (archived)
- University of Tabriz: Office of International Students (archived)
- University of Tabriz: Shahriar Scholarship for international students 2025-2026 (archived)
- University of Tabriz news: Fourth call for Shahriar Scholarships (archived)
- University of Tabriz news: More than 340 new international students, second semester 2024 (archived)
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