University of Tehran

University of Tehran is the oldest and most prominent Iranian university located in Tehran, Iran.

The history of the University of Tehran dates back to the Qajar dynasty, when the first modern educational institutions were established in Iran. In 1851, the Dar ul-Funun (Polytechnic School) was founded in Tehran to train students in technical and scientific fields. The Dar ul-Funun was modeled on European polytechnics, and it played a major role in the modernization of Iran.

In the early 20th century, the Iranian government began to plan for the establishment of a comprehensive university in Tehran. In 1934, the University of Tehran was officially founded, and it merged several existing colleges and educational institutions. The first faculties of the university were law, literature, medicine, science, and technology.

The University of Tehran was quickly established as the leading university in Iran. It attracted the best students and faculty from all over the country. In the 1940s and 1950s, the University of Tehran expanded rapidly. New faculties and programs were added, and the student body grew significantly. The university also began to play a leading role in scientific research.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the University of Tehran became a center for student activism and dissent. The university was a major site of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and it has continued to be a center for political debate and activism in the years since.

Today, the University of Tehran is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Iran. The University of Tehran has played a major role in the development of Iran, and it continues to be a leading institution of higher education in the country.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, University of Tehran is positioned as the #368 top university in the world, which makes it the #2 top university in Iran. The university's global rank decreased by 8 points from last year.