According to the latest report of the Higher Education Research and Planning Institute of the Ministry of Science of the Islamic Republic of Iran, there are currently about 2,569 universities in the country, including various types of universities (state universities, autonomous campuses affiliated with state universities, Islamic Azad universities, non-profit higher education institutions, distance learning universities (Payam Noor), comprehensive applied science universities, and virtual universities). Below, we will examine each type of university.
First: State or national universities
A “national” and “state” university is a university complex affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology or the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the cost of which is paid by the government.
In recent years, state universities have started to form subsidiary units called “autonomous or international campuses” that register students by paying a fee. The quality of campuses of different universities varies. In some universities, the professors and teaching team and the building where the course is held are completely the same as full-time students, and the education has the same quality as the full-time course. In some other universities, the educational system is completely different, and the quality of the campus is usually lower than the quality of the main courses.
"Virtual courses" are another platform for providing education in public universities. In virtual courses, students can register for education at the university via the Internet and choose their desired courses from the list of courses offered, use virtual sessions of the courses, and succeed in obtaining a degree. This type of center is suitable for people who do not have enough time to attend classrooms.
Currently, many public universities have started offering courses virtually.
Public universities have the best and highest level and rank among universities in Iran.
Second: Islamic Azad Universities
The Islamic Azad University is a non-governmental university that began its work in 1982 with the first university branch, the Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran. Today, the Islamic Azad University is one of the top universities in Iran and has a good position among the prestigious universities in the world. This university charges students for the educational services it provides and is privately run.
Third: Non-profit universities
Non-profit institutions are centers that use non-governmental funds and are run independently under the supervision of the institution's board of trustees. In these centers, education is paid. Because these universities are independent of the government sector, they have a lower academic level than other educational centers.
Fourth: Payam Noor Universities or Distance Education
In Iran, the distance education system is known as Payam Noor University. Payam Noor Universities are also state universities and operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, but their educational system is different from other state universities and is based on part-time education. In these universities, students can complete their course units in theory courses without attending classes and by attending final semester exams and succeed in obtaining a degree. Education in these universities is also not free, but they have lower tuition fees compared to open and non-profit universities.
Fifth: Comprehensive Universities of Applied Sciences
One of the universities affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, which was established with the aim of improving the level of skills and practical power of students in practical jobs, is the universities of applied sciences.
One of the good advantages of the university of applied sciences is the low tuition fees compared to the open university. Another advantage of this university is the high list of practical courses that familiarizes students with the practical points of the fields and prepares them to enter the labor market.
Sixth: Virtual Universities, Virtual Courses
These universities are a type of academic center where students can register at the university via the Internet and choose their desired courses from the list of courses offered, use virtual sessions of the courses and succeed in obtaining a degree. These types of centers are suitable for people who do not have enough time to attend classes.
Student admission to these centers is done through a national exam. Currently, in addition to national universities, several non-profit higher education institutions are offering courses virtually.