International Office – Country Snapshot – Iran
Country Manager: Simon Hall
Email: MENA@warwick.ac.uk
Marketing Assistant: Sue Johnson
Email: MENA@warwick.ac.uk
Current number of students (Sept 07):
New enrolments in 2007:
21
8
Warwick in Iran Overview
The first visit on record from the International Office to Iran took place in December 2007. Warwick’s particularly high
research ratings are very attractive to students and there would appear to be significant amount of potential to recruit at
PGT and PGR level.
New Enrolments
Total
HEFP
UG
PGT
2003
2
1
0
1
2004
5
0
2
3
2005
8
2
0
4
2006
8
1
1
4
2007
8
1
0
7
PGR
0
0
2
2
0
What are students studying?
- PGR (6): Biology (1), Education (1), Maths (2), Law (1), Physics (1)
- PGT (10): Econs (2), Engineering (2), Education (1), MOAC (1), MBA (2), MSOR (1), Diabetes (1)
- UG (2): Engineering (1), PAIS (1)
- HEFP: Engineering (1)
Market Overview
- 2035 students from Iran in the UK in 2005 (HESA). Third largest market.
- Most popular subject areas: Engineering (25%), Computer Science (13%), Business (13%), Medicine (7%)
- Highly educated graduates. Extremely competitive to gain places at Iranian Institutions (concour)
Potential for Warwick
- Large demand for PGT and PGR, especially in sciences
- While there are other established players (Manchester, Birmingham), we are not yet a late entrant
- Very helpful current student body – happy to assist in visits
Higher Education System
In 2004, Iran had over 2.2 million students enrolled in universities. Some 1.1 million in various programs in Islamic Azad
university and the remainder in State universities. In addition the new enrolement numbers for the academic year 2004 were
290 thousand in Azad universities, and 250 thousand in State universities. Iran currently has 54 state operated universities,
and 42 state medical schools. These are primarily the top choice for students in national entrance exams, and have the
largest and most prestigious programs. There are 289 major private universities operating as well
Prestitgious Institutions
It should be noted that with the very high level of competition to secrue a place at an Iranian University, the calibre of most
graduates is very high, regardless of whether their gradutation GPA is borderline. The key thing to look at is the English
Language Requirement
-
University of Tehran
Sharif University of Technology
Amirkabir University of Technology
K.N.Toosi University of Technology
Iran University of Science and Technology
Isfahan University of Technology
Shiraz University
Ferdowsi University of Mashad and
Tabriz University
Shahid Beheshti University
Azad University
- Islamic Azad Universities are located throughout Iran. These are private institutions, but attract excellent students (i.e.
those who just miss the mark to go to state Universities). Recommend GPAs of approximatey1-2 points higher than
state universities.
Entry Qualifications
-
2:1 is equivalent to 14-16/20
1:1 is equivalent to 17+/20
2:2 is equivalent to 12-14/20
Please contact the International office before making offers to non prestigious or private universities
Transfers
Students who have completed year one from an Iranian University in Science or Engineering should be considered for
exemption from the foundation year for entry to Faculty of Science (Engineering)
English Language
Government has banned British Council Activities with public, including IELTS examinations. Presently there is only one
IELTS test centre (run by an Australian organisation in coordination with one of the Universities. Quite a few students will
opt for an IELTS test in Istanbul or Dubai.
There is one TOEFL centre in Tehran, however access again is very limited to take this test
WELT may be offered by our referral agent
Foundation Year
- Iranian students normally need to be accepted to the foundation year without necessarily being in possession of their
final school transcript
- If students do not leave school prior to the end of the school year they will be conscripted to the Iranian guard.
- We should accept students with an overall score of 16/20 and above plus the English Language requirement.
- There is a large market to be tapped into from other institutions offering foundation years. Particularly David Game,
Bellerbeys, Aspect, Kaplan, INTO. Recommend working with these institutions to recruit engineering and science
students.
Barriers to entry
- Low profile of Warwick in Iran
- Political instability
- Unable to work through British Council as activities restricted
- Difficulty in recruiting undergraduates as unable to visit schools. Most students take foundation year in Foundation
colleges in UK (Study Group, Aspect, Bellerbys, David Game)
Funding
- Primarily private funding
- Some funding available through Ministry of Science and Ministry of Health
Planned Activities in 2007/08
- December
o Public presentation (arranged through Ministry recognised local education agent)
o Meetings with British Council
o Possible visits to Universities (though presentations not officially permitted)
Agent
Mohammed Taksayeh
IMT (Sadr Mehr Iranian)
no. 305, Pasargad Bldg., Behrooz St., Mohseni Sq., Tehran, Iran
Email: mtaksayeh@imtgroups.com, mtaksayeh@yahoo.com
Phone: Tel: 2290 1869-22902861- 0912 159 1198
(Last updated February 2008)