"TIIAME" National Research University
"Toshkent irrigatsiya va qishloq xo'jaligini mexanizatsiyalash muhandislari instituti" Milliy tadqiqot universiteti
Tashkent's century-old school for water, irrigation and farm engineering, now Uzbekistan's highest-ranked university.
- Students
- 11,055
- 10,256 undergraduates
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Tuition
- $1,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1923
About TIIAME
The Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers traces its history to 1923, when a land-reclamation (melioration) engineering programme was created within the technical faculty of Turkestan State University. On 11 November 1934 two Central Asian irrigation institutes were merged into the institute that became today's TIIAME, and in 2021 a presidential decree made it a national research university.
TIIAME trains engineers and specialists for water management, irrigation and drainage, agricultural mechanisation, energy, land resources and cadastre, ecology and law, and economics. It has 7 faculties, 36 departments and around 40 bachelor's programmes, with more than 11,000 students, of whom 329 are international. Most bachelor's teaching is in Uzbek and Russian, but English philology, economics, accounting and audit, and tourism are also taught in English. The university opened a branch in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2024.
The university's focus is practical: 24 teaching and research laboratories, a 70-hectare training and research centre, and research in smart irrigation, soil science, mechatronics, renewable energy and precision agriculture. It suits students who want to work on water, food and climate problems in Central Asia at a low cost.
Why students choose TIIAME
TIIAME is the top-ranked university in Uzbekistan in both the QS 2027 (=458) and THE 2026 rankings.
International bachelor's fees for 2026/2027 are USD 2,000 a year for the first year (USD 1,800 for CIS and Azerbaijani citizens), falling to USD 1,500 from the second year.
Its 70-hectare training and research centre and 24 laboratories support hands-on work in smart irrigation, renewable energy and agricultural automation.
The university reports partnerships with more than 80 universities and organisations in 26 countries, including Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus projects.
Admissions
2026/2027 academic year (current published information)
Selectivity
TIIAME does not publish an acceptance rate. Uzbek applicants are admitted on national test scores against programme quotas; foreign applicants are admitted after an interview run by the university.
Typical entry requirements
| Foreign applicants | Completed general secondary (or secondary specialised/vocational) education equivalent to Uzbek requirements, plus a successful admission interview |
|---|---|
| Uzbek applicants | National test score above the programme's passing score; for 2025/26, contract-basis passing scores ranged from the mid-50s for some engineering programmes (e.g. 56.7 for Artificial Intelligence) to 165.5 for English philology (Uzbek-medium) |
| English language | No English test score is published. Most programmes are taught in Uzbek and/or Russian; English philology, economics, accounting and audit, and tourism are also offered in English. |
Deadlines
- Uzbek national test registration (2025 cycle) Non-binding Passed25 June 2025
Past. Registration ran 5-25 June 2025; tests were held in July-August, and applicants then had 15 days to choose a university and programme.
TIIAME has not published a deadline for foreign applicants, and its admissions page still describes the 2025 cycle for Uzbek applicants. Contact the university's international cooperation office well before the autumn intake.
How to apply
Foreign applicants submit to the university an application, original school documents showing subjects and grades, a medical certificate, a national passport with a valid visa (or birth certificate) and six 4x6 cm photos, then attend an admission interview. Uzbek applicants register for the national test, then choose a university and programme based on their results.
What admissions looks for
- Secondary education that is equivalent to Uzbek general secondary or specialised secondary education.
- A successful admission interview for foreign applicants.
- For Uzbek applicants, national test scores above each programme's passing score within the programme quota.
- A medical certificate: Uzbek health rules list conditions that bar admission.
Tips for applying to TIIAME
- 1 Check the language of your programme: only a few bachelor's programmes (English philology, economics, accounting and audit, tourism) are taught in English.
- 2 Budget for fees in US dollars but pay in Uzbek som: payments are made at the Central Bank of Uzbekistan's rate on the day you pay.
- 3 The USD 500 dormitory fee is charged separately from tuition, so add it if you want a room in student housing.
- 4 Bring original school documents with subjects and grades, and six 4x6 cm photos; these are on the official document list.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
TIIAME does not publish scholarships for international students. Uzbek students on contract places pay an annual fee in som, and the university reports employer-funded stipend programmes for more than 100 students.
- UZS 8,000,000 to 11,500,000 a year depending on programme
- Uzbek full-time bachelor's contract fee, 2026/2027 (first year)
- USD 1,500 a year
- Distance-learning bachelor's for foreign students, 2026/2027
- More than 100 students
- Employer stipend programmes
Academics
Hydromelioration and water management
The university's founding field: land-reclamation engineering was first taught here in 1923.
Hydrotechnical construction
Taught since 1946, when the faculty was set up on the initiative of T. A. Kolpakova, the first woman irrigation engineer.
Agricultural mechanisation
One of the two original faculties of the 1934 institute; the university has built its own mini electric tractor and agricultural drone.
Land resources, geodesy and cadastre
Faculty founded in 1945 as Land Management, now covering geodesy, geoinformatics, cartography and remote sensing.
Economics (English-taught option)
One of the few bachelor's programmes offered in Uzbek, Russian and English.
Research
- The Institute of Fundamental and Applied Research, created within TIIAME in 2022, brings in diaspora scientists from the US, Germany, China and elsewhere.
- More than 38 research projects were carried out in 2024 alone, according to the university.
- TIIAME reports ranking 10th worldwide for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) in the THE Impact Rankings 2026.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Hydrotechnical Construction
- Faculty of Ecology and Law
- Faculty of Agricultural Mechanization
- Faculty of Energy
- Faculty of Land Resources and Cadastre
- Faculty of Hydromelioration
- Faculty of Economics
The university reports department branches in more than 25 companies and employer-funded stipend programmes for more than 100 students.
Student life
TIIAME's main campus is on Qori Niyoziy street in central Tashkent, near the Hamid Olimjon stop. Recent investment has added two student dormitories, a digital library, an IT incubator, smart classrooms and new sports facilities. Dormitory places are applied for online through the government's my.gov.uz portal from 1 August, with priority groups placed first; 55 to 65 percent of the remaining places go to first-year students. Students can join volunteering, sports and youth union activities.
- Two new student dormitories, a digital library and an IT incubator were opened in recent years.
- 329 international students study at TIIAME, according to the university.
- A 70-hectare training and research centre for field and lab work.
- A branch campus in Almaty, Kazakhstan, opened in 2024, with a Bishkek branch planned for 2028.
Housing. Dormitory rooms are allocated through applications on my.gov.uz from 1 August; foreign students pay USD 500 a year for a place.
Location
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. TIIAME's main campus sits at 39 Qori Niyoziy street, served by the Hamid Olimjon stop and several city bus routes, so the city centre is easy to reach. The university also opened a branch in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2024.
Nearest airport: Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
Notable alumni
- SM Shavkat MirziyoyevPresident of Uzbekistan; graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration in 1981
- RN Rahmon NabiyevSecond President of Tajikistan; studied engineering at the institute
- UB Uktam BarnoevDeputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and regional governor; studied at the institute from 1981 to 1986
- MY Musa YerniyazovChairman of the Parliament of Karakalpakstan and Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan's Senate; graduated in 1971
- MK Myrzageldy KemelKazakh writer; graduated in 1971
- LN Larbie Nii AdjeiGhanaian irrigation engineer and Member of Parliament
Frequently asked questions
How much does TIIAME cost for international students?
For 2026/2027, the first-year bachelor's contract is USD 2,000 (USD 1,800 for CIS and Azerbaijani citizens), then USD 1,500 a year from the second year. A dormitory place costs another USD 500 a year.
Is TIIAME taught in English?
Mostly not. Bachelor's programmes are taught in Uzbek and Russian, but English philology, economics, accounting and audit, and tourism are offered in English.
How do foreign students get admitted to TIIAME?
Foreign applicants are admitted after an interview run by the university, based on secondary school documents, a medical certificate and a passport with a visa.
What is TIIAME's world ranking?
TIIAME is joint 458th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and in the 501-600 band of THE World University Rankings 2026, first in Uzbekistan in both.
Does TIIAME have student housing?
Yes. Students apply for dormitory places through my.gov.uz from 1 August, and foreign students pay USD 500 a year.
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.
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