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University of Tehran

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The University of Tehran (UT) is the oldest and most prominent public collegiate university in Iran.

University of Tehran logo
University of Tehran logo

Located in the capital city, it is often called the "Mother University" due to its historical and political importance. It serves as a premier institute for producing knowledge among all OIC countries. The university offers a vast range of academic paths for students. There are more than 111 bachelor's degree programs available. Additionally, the school provides 177 master's degree programs and 156 PhD programs. Many of its various departments were originally absorbed from older institutions. These include the Dar al-Funun, founded in 1851, and the Tehran School of Political Sciences, established in 1899.

The university operates across several different locations throughout the region. The main campus is situated in the central part of Tehran. Its main gate on Enghelab Street features modern architecture that serves as the university logo.

University of Tehran in Tehran map (in black)
University of Tehran in Tehran map (in black)

Other campuses are spread across the city and its suburbs. The Baghe Negarestan Campus is located in the central eastern part of the city. The Northern Amirabad Campuses sit in the central western part of the city. There is also the Abureyhan Campus located in the suburbs of the capital.

The history of the university began with a specific plan in the early 1930s. On March 31, 1931, Minister of Court Abdolhossein Teymourtash contacted Isa Sedigh. Sedigh was a student completing his doctoral dissertation at Columbia University in New York. He was asked to outline a scheme to establish a new university. In 1933, Ali Asghar Hekmat addressed a cabinet meeting regarding this need. He argued that the capital lacked a university and lagged behind other great countries. Consequently, the government allocated an initial budget of 250,000 Tomans to begin construction.

University of Tehran Memorial Plate
University of Tehran Memorial Plate

Building the campus required careful planning by many different experts. Ali Asghar Hekmat worked with André Godard, a French architect serving as an engineer. They selected the Jalaliyeh garden for the university grounds by order of Rezā Shāh. This garden was founded in the early 1900s by Prince Jalal ad-dawlah. A team of architects created the master plan for the campus buildings. This team included Roland Dubrulle, Maxime Siroux, Alexandre Moser, Nicolai Markov, and Mohsen Foroughi. The University of Tehran officially inaugurated in 1934. In 1937, the university changed its policy to admit women as students.

University of Tehran, Fine Arts Faculty - 4
University of Tehran, Fine Arts Faculty - 4

As the university grew, its structure underwent significant changes and separations. In 1945, the Amir-abad campus was added after American troops left the property following World War II. The university also played a central role in the 1978-79 revolution. During the early 1980s, the curricula and staff underwent major revisions during the Cultural Revolution. In 1986, the Iranian parliament, known as the Majlis, made a major decision. They decided to separate the overcrowded College of Medicine into its own entity. This new institution is called the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). It now operates under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

The university is a massive center for scientific research and academic publishing. It hosts more than 3,500 active laboratories across its many centers and faculties. The university has been appointed as a "Center of Excellence" in many specific fields. These fields include topics like oil and gas, biotechnology, and sustainable urban planning.

The faculty of World Studies
The faculty of World Studies

In 2011, the university received a budget equivalent to 70 million dollars. This was the highest budget among all universities in Iran. The university also manages the University of Tehran Press. This press publishes more than one academic book every day on average. They have published over 5,000 books since they began.

Library services and historical collections are also vital to the university's mission. The Central Library and Documentation Center has been a member of the IFLA since 1967. This center serves more than 65,000 members and hosts 5,000 daily users. It manages 13 main collections, many of which were donated by professors. The library also holds a special collection of over 17,000 manuscripts. These historical documents are written in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish.

UT mosque minaret
UT mosque minaret

Finally, the university's emblem connects modern education to ancient history. The logo is based on a Sasanid period stucco relief from Ctesiphon. It features a motif placed between two eagle wings, symbolizing a monogram. Some scholars believe the script represents "Afzoot," meaning plentiful and increasing.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:University of Tehran logo.png
University of Tehran logo.png
File:University of Tehran in Tehran map (in black).GIF
University of Tehran in Tehran map (in black).GIF
File:University of Tehran Memorial Plate.jpg
University of Tehran Memorial Plate.jpg
File:University of Tehran, Fine Arts Faculty - 4.jpg
University of Tehran, Fine Arts Faculty - 4.jpg
File:The faculty of World Studies.jpeg
The faculty of World Studies.jpeg
File:UT mosque minaret.jpg
UT mosque minaret.jpg
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