Admission & Requirements


General Conditions

Citizenship and Residence
(A) The applicant must not hold Iranian nationality.
 Note 1:  Applicants with dual nationality (Iranian and non-Iranian) cannot be accepted as international (non-Iranian) students.
 Note 2: The admission of applicants whose parents are Iranian but who hold a passport and citizenship of another country is strictly prohibited.

(B) The applicant must not be under any legal ban on residing in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The necessary residency permit must be endorsed by the competent authorities. Furthermore, the applicant must possess a certificate of competence issued by the representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in their country of origin or by a foreign embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(C) The applicant must not be prohibited from residing in Iran or specifically in the city of Maragheh.

(D) Scholarship recipients must not have resided in Iran prior to commencing their degree program.

(E) All applicants – whether scholarship recipients or self-funded (regular) students – may finalize their admission at the University of Maragheh and begin their studies only after receiving an educational passport issued by the embassy of their home country, obtaining the required educational visa, and submitting the competence confirmation documents issued by the Student Affairs Organization.

 Note 3:  Regarding the valid identification documents of nationals of Afghanistan and Iraq, the latest bylaws of the Student Affairs Office of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology shall be consulted.

 Requirements for Admission and Academic Credential Verification 

(A) The applicant must not be legally prohibited from enrolling in a higher education program.
(B) Enrollment must be feasible in the applicant's chosen fields of study.

 Note 1:  Admission is only possible in fields where no legal restrictions exist regarding the enrollment of foreign nationals in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
 Note 2:  Concurrent study at other universities or in any other academic programs within Iran is strictly forbidden.

(C) The applicant must possess the required previous academic qualifications (a high school diploma for undergraduate applicants, a bachelor’s degree for master’s applicants, and a master’s degree for doctoral applicants).

 Note 3:  All certificates and transcripts issued by foreign schools and universities must be endorsed by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the respective country, or by the embassy of that country, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. If the documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by a certified Persian translation.
 Note 4:  High school diplomas issued in Afghanistan, required for undergraduate admission, must also be approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, as well as by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kabul.
 Note 5:  Applicants holding an associate degree may only be admitted to undergraduate programs. The adaptation of previously completed courses to the new program is the responsibility of the relevant academic department.
 Note 6:  Admission of non-Iranian nationals residing in Iran is permitted in accordance with the regulations and bylaws of the Ministry of Interior, as outlined in the official guidebook for the national university entrance examination (Konkur) administered by the National Organization of Educational Testing.

(D) In addition to the documents listed above, applicants applying for a study scholarship from the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran must provide an official letter of introduction from the Scholarship Board for Non-Iranian Students of the respective ministry.

 Note 7:  If an applicant receives or holds a scholarship from the University of Maragheh, they are required to present this introduction letter to the Admissions Office and the Head of the International Students Office.

(F) Applicants for master's and doctoral programs must obtain the approval of a prospective supervisor. The admission must also be approved by the Office of Education and Graduate Studies and the Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Maragheh. This approval must be submitted to the Office of International and Scientific Cooperation at the University of Maragheh.

 Health Certificate 

(A) Possession of a valid physical and mental health certificate issued by an authorized representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the applicant's home country and confirmed by the certified physician of the University of Maragheh.

 Financial Capacity for Education 

(A) Possession of a valid scholarship certificate for scholarship applicants.
(B) Possession of sufficient financial resources to cover university tuition fees and living expenses in Maragheh for regular (self-funded) students.

 Note 1:  The University of Maragheh is not obligated to cover any living expenses for scholarship applicants.

 Persian Language Proficiency 

Adequate proficiency in Persian, verified by an accredited Persian language proficiency test certificate.

(A) The assessment of Persian language proficiency is conducted in two ways:
1) The proficiency level of non-Iranian applicants who have completed their previous academic degrees in Iran is automatically accepted.
2) The proficiency level of other non-Iranian applicants who have not completed their prior education in Iran must be evaluated by one of the accredited Persian language teaching centers. (These include universities and higher education centers authorized to offer Persian language and literature courses with the approval of the Scholarship Board for Non-Iranian Students.)

 Note 2:  Upon acceptance to the University of Maragheh and before the start of their main academic program, applicants will begin Persian language training at one of the university-affiliated centers.
 Note 3:  Applicants who do not possess sufficient Persian knowledge must attend a Persian Language and Literature course at an accredited Persian language center prior to starting their degree program.
 Note 4:  The cost of Persian language and literature training for scholarship recipients is covered by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology or the institution providing the scholarship.
 Note 5:  The cost of Persian language and literature training for regular (self-funded) students must be covered by the students themselves.
 Note 6:  Applicants who fail the Persian language course are permitted to re-enroll for a second time, subject to the center's approval and upon payment of the applicable fees. This renewal is allowed only once. These applicants will not receive scholarship assistance during this additional period.
 Note 7:  Regular students are allowed to repeat the Persian language course without restriction, provided they pay the tuition fees themselves.

 English Language Proficiency 

(A) Non-native English-speaking Ph.D. candidates (i.e., from countries where English is not the official language), as well as those who have not completed their undergraduate and graduate studies at English-medium universities, are required to take one of the following examinations and achieve the minimum passing score:
TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, MSRT/MCHE, MHLE, TOLIMO, Cambridge First Certificate, Cambridge Advanced Certificate, Cambridge Proficiency Certificate, English Language GCSE, O-Level, International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL), or European Baccalaureate.

(B) Applicants for undergraduate and master's programs must have a foundational knowledge of English and may be required to complete prerequisite language courses if necessary.

 Important Note on Compliance:  If it is proven that a scholarship recipient has, from the outset, failed to meet the general requirements of these regulations, the Scholarship Board will decide whether the student should be dismissed or permitted to continue as a regular (self-funded) student. Furthermore, the student may be barred from progressing to a higher degree. Decisions regarding such students are ultimately made by the University Admissions Committee.

 Special Qualifications 

  Academic Credentials  

 Undergraduate Level 
(A) Applicants for undergraduate studies must hold a high school diploma, a pre-university certificate, or an equivalent qualification, all of which must be approved by the competent authorities.

 Note 1:  Applicants from countries where the high school diploma is not equivalent to that of the Islamic Republic of Iran are required to complete supplementary courses for a duration determined by the university and successfully finish pre-university programs. Subsequently, scholarship applicants will be recommended to the university by the Scholarship Council. The successful completion of these preparatory courses for regular applicants will be confirmed by the University Admissions Committee.
 Note 2:  Foreign nationals who have graduated from Iranian high schools overseas may continue their education at universities and higher education institutions in Iran.
 Note 3:  Foreign nationals who have graduated from high schools inside the Islamic Republic of Iran are exempt from these specific provisions and will be subject to the admission regulations applicable to Iranian applicants.
 Note 4:  Children of foreign diplomatic representatives who have completed their education in Iran will be exempt from Note 3, upon proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and approval of the Scholarship Board.

 Master’s Level 
(A) Applicants must hold a valid bachelor’s degree approved by the competent authorities.
(B) The respective academic department's assessment of the applicant's academic record must be obtained.
(C) Once the department approves the applicant's admission, a suitable supervisor must be identified.

 Ph.D. Level 
(A) Ph.D. applicants must hold a valid master’s degree approved by the competent authorities.
(B) The respective academic department's approval, based on established criteria, must be obtained.
(C) If the department approves the admission, it is necessary to designate a supervisor for the applicant.

  Application Deadline & Academic Calendar  

The deadline for submitting applications for regular (self-funded) students for each semester is six months prior to the start of that semester, in accordance with the University of Maragheh’s academic calendar. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed for the following semester. The timeline for inquiries and result announcements will be communicated accordingly.

  
 

 Tuition & Expenses 

Tuition fees and associated service fees are determined in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and the approvals of the Board of Trustees of the University of Maragheh. The exact amounts are announced to applicants at the beginning of each academic year. For detailed and up-to-date tuition information, please contact the Office of International and Scientific Cooperation.

 Visa Affairs 

During your stay in Iran as an international student, you may wish to plan trips requiring various types of visas. Instructions on how to obtain the appropriate visa for your specific purpose are provided upon request through the International Students Office.

 How to Apply 

 Procedure for Admitting Regular International Students at the University of Maragheh 

The International Students Administration Office of the University of Maragheh hereby announces that the university accepts applicants wishing to study as regular (self-funded) students (i.e., students who do not receive a scholarship from their respective governments). Applicants can initiate the application process by submitting the required documents to the designated email address.

 Required Documentation: 
- General Information Form (Form #1)
- A copy of the applicant's passport, clearly indicating non-Iranian nationality
- Academic degrees and transcripts from previous levels of education, duly certified by the competent authorities (e.g., the Ministry of Science of the home country, the Iranian Embassy in the home country, or Iranian consulates)
- A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Ph.D. applicants (including email address and phone number)


  Introduction to the International Affairs Office & Contact Information 

The University of Maragheh, committed to expanding its scientific and cultural interactions and attracting international talent, has designated the Vice-Presidency for International Affairs and the Office of International and Scientific Cooperation as the primary authority for handling matters related to non-Iranian students. This office is staffed by experienced experts who provide comprehensive guidance on the admission process, required documentation, study visa procurement, enrollment, and Persian language training courses. Additionally, specialized consulting on field selection and academic credential alignment is readily available through this office.

In recent years, the University of Maragheh has significantly increased its intake of international students, particularly from countries such as Iraq, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Pakistan, positioning itself as a leading destination for non-Iranian students in Iran.

 Contact Information: 

-  Official Website:  [www.maragheh.ac.ir](https://www.maragheh.ac.ir)
-  International Students Affairs Email (for submissions and inquiries):  `interstu@maragheh.ac.ir`
-  Student Integrated System Portal (for academic follow-ups after admission):  [hamava.maragheh.ac.ir](http://hamava.maragheh.ac.ir)
-  Postal Address:  University of Maragheh, Madar Square, University Boulevard, Maragheh, Iran. Postal Code: `83111-55181`
-  Phone:  `+98` (Please contact the relevant unit for specific and updated departmental extensions)


Last Updated: June 22, 2026 by Eng. Mohammad Vand Jalili, Website Manager