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Education System of Islamic Republic of Iran
The official language of instruction in Iran is Farsi/Persian. In most private schools (queir-entefaai) English and/or French are taught. The English language is taught as the second language in all public schools (entefaai), starting with 7th grade and is compulsory through the secondary-level years.
Primary school (Dabestan)
This level includes grades 1 to 5, for children ages 6 to 11. Dabestan lasts 5 years and upon its completion, students take a nation-wide examination. Those who pass the exam proceed to the next cycle.
Middle school (Raahnamaai)
Also known as Lower Secondary School (Guidance), this level would be equivalent to middle school in the United States, including grades 6 to 8. This level lasts 3 years from the age of 11 to 14. Study of English as a foreign language begins in grade 7. Upon completion of the middle school level, students take a region-wide exam administered by the local provisional board of education, which they must pass to move on to the secondary level.
Secondary school (Dabirestan)
Equivalent to U.S. high school grades 9 to 12, is Dabirestan, which lasts 4 years including a post-diploma Pish-daneshgahi year focused on preparation for university admissions. Students can choose subjects within one of two tracks: academic/general fields such as physics-mathematics, socio-economics, literature and culture, and experimental sciences; or technical/vocational fields in such areas as business and agriculture. Curriculum varies depending on the path students choose; however, English language courses are mandatory for everyone at this level. Students are required to complete three years and obtain their diplomas before eligible to participate in the pish-daneshgahi fourth year studies required to apply for higher education. Students are in secondary school from the ages of 14 to 17.
The first year of the academic path starts with the first year in general studies, which includes many different classes such as Persian, English, French, Islamic ethics, mathematics, economics, social/experimental sciences, etc. Students proceed to the second year upon passing final tests. In the second year, students are placed in a subject area of focus based on their grades and exam results; they will continue to focus on this area through the third year of study. Students must pass national examinations in all subjects that they are taking each year prior to moving to the next academic level. Upon completing three years of Dabirestan and passing the third-year exam a certificate/diploma is awarded; however, students cannot proceed to university study until they have completed the Pish-daneshgahi and have taken the Concours exam.
Students in the vocational/technical path of Dabirestan pursue specific skill-sets (kaar-daanesh), and after successful completion of the first year, based on aptitude, interest, and grades, they select a specialization. Following their third year of study and successful completion examinations, students receive a vocational diploma/degree qualifying them to work in their area of specialization. They can also, if they choose, take the entrance examination for the Pish-daneshgahi pre-university year in order to continue to higher education.
Pre-university (Pish-daneshgaahi)
Pish-daneshgaahi is the fourth-year extension to secondary school. It lasts one year and it is an intensive study cycle in which students prepare for the national university entrance examination, known as the Concour. This level includes a range of studies in math, sciences, Islamic studies, and foreign languages.
The Concour determines students’ chances to enter public and some private universities in the country. It is an extremely difficult examination and every year only a small minority of the students who take it are successful in passing.
Higher Education:
The higher education system in Iran consists of private, public, and state-affiliated universities. All state-run universities except medical schools are under the direct supervision of the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Medical schools are supervised by the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education.
There are currently over 50 public universities in addition to the over 40 public institutions specializing in medical study and 290 sizeable private postsecondary institutions in Iran. Counting branch campuses, technical institutes, and religious colleges, the government oversees over 1,500 postsecondary campuses. To begin operations, institutions of higher education must receive authorization from their supervising ministry.
Tuition at public universities is free. Private institutions typically charge fees. The largest private institution in Iran is Azad University, which enrolls more students at its over 360 campuses in Iran and overseas than all the public universities combined.
Distance learning degree study is provided mainly by the University of Payam-e- Nour, though some other universities also offer distance programs. The university’s aim is to offer public higher education to remote areas and to employed professionals. To be admitted, students must pass the Concour entrance tests. The bachelor’s programs take four years and may take longer in some cases. Degrees are offered in 18 disciplines in fields such as education, mathematics, chemistry, and Persian literature.
University Programs and Degrees:
University levels in Iran are divided into:
1. Associate’s degree (Kardaani, formerly Fogh-Diplom) after two years of study.
2. Bachelor’s degree (Karshenaasi or Licence) after four years of undergraduate studies. Most universities in Iran follow the credit/semester system and are designed similarly to the U.S. education system aside from the current grading scale. The bachelor’s degree requires 130 to 140 credits.
3. Master’s degree (Kaarshenaasi Arshad or Fogh-Licence) after two years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree, requiring 32 to 36 semester units. Students must pass a final examination, prepare a thesis and defend it successfully before an advisory committee.
4. Unlike in the United States, doctorate programs (Doctora) in Iran always require completion of a master’s degree prior to entry. Students must complete 60 semester units and pass a comprehensive examination before entering the research phase of the program, during which they prepare and defend their dissertation.
