1. Introduction

In 1990, the Faculty of Overseas of PNU was established to meet the demands of new categories of applicants for Persian Language and Literature programs of study worldwide at Bachelor, Master and specialized Ph.D Degree Levels. The aim of these programs is the development of the rich culture and literature of Iran among Iranians. Nationals of other countries, too, will be able to have a better understanding of the depth of the Iranian manner of thinking, culture and art through the Persian Language and Literature programs.

In the new organization of the university, the Faculty of Overseas was replaced by the International Study Center (2007) and then Office of Education, Center for Education and International Collaborations (2009). This implies that the Office of Education is authorized to offer all the degree programs of PNU.

Since the number of applicants for encompassing degree programs was increasing, the Office of Education has established international branches and study centers in industrial and business free zones in Iran, as well as developed the students' admission in different encompassing degree programs in Humanities, Basic Sciences and Engineering. The Office of Education provides opportunities for foreign applicants to study at this center as a student after passing the required courses and learning Persian language.

This office, due to offering special services and facilities to students, has gained an important position in attracting increasing graduate applicants around the world.

Facilitating taking academic courses by studying written and electronic multimedia materials, holding examinations at the consulates or via online with the help of International Study Center and representatives of this university and IRI embassies and consulates, as well as the IRI cultural and scientific consultations on student residence and also answering all students' questions at all degree levels through internet, has increased the motivation of continuing education via this Center.

Preparation and production of online materials for different degree programs in Persian, English, Arabic and …, and entering to the domain of world education with new methods, has provided the possibility of offering the efficient and varied degree programs according to the request and interest of young people and science seekers. The other program and future activity of Office of Education is as follows:

Using IT and ICT and initiating the intranet (satellite) to communicate with students and representatives of this university more quickly.

This Center currently has Iranian and non-Iranian students in 3 degree levels of Bachelor (18 programs/branches), Master (22 programs/branches) and Ph.D (8 programs) in 58 countries. The interest of applicants leads to establishing 22 International Study Centers in different countries and 2 International Study Centers (Kish and Asalooyeh) in the country.

This Center also helps the students to promote their scientific level by launching the tutorial classes in the residence of students.

2. Admission

Since it is impossible for most international students to enroll and take part in the National University Entrance Exam, the International Study Center provides opportunities for students to continue their studies through encompassing degree programs at three levels of Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. Applicants will be admitted at this university on the basis of their high school GPA (grade point average) or their encompassing programs exams results. This center also enrolls students provisionally on the basis of their secondary school or their Bachelor degree GPA (grade point average) at two levels of Bachelor and Master Degrees subsequently. The final exams of students of the Center are administered by the assistance of the Iranian consulates and embassies around the world. Having acquired necessary scores at the exams of encompassing semester (first semester), and having high educational background at university or high school levels with high GPA (grade point average), the encompassing students will become regular students.

 

3. Applicant’s Qualifications

  General:

·         Physical and psychological health

·         Applying for student visa if required (only non-Iranian applicants)

·         Not having any record in one’s respective or resident country

·         Leaving an undertaking note for the payment of tuition fee

 

Academic:

·         Submission of the verification issued by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology or the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Training of Iran for academic records (Applicants records will be sent to the mentioned ministries for confirmation).

·         Having the minimum high school GPA (grade point average) of 12 (out of 20) (or its equivalent in other educational systems, verified by PNU) for Bachelor degree.

·         Having the minimum Bachelor Degree GPA (grade point average) of 14 (out of 20) (or its equivalent in other educational systems, verified by PNU) for Master level.

·         Having the minimum Master Degree GPA (grade point average) of 16 (out of 20) for Ph.D level. (This level is only provided for the non-Iranians nationals).

 

4. Required Documents for Registration

·                     Completed registration form

·                     A copy of the last academic degree of the applicant that the average period mentioned in it and the IRI's representative (consulate and embassy) has confirmed it

·                     The details of scores of the last academic degree approved by official authorities

·                     A copy of the first page of passport and a copy of the passport pages which the details of issuing visa mentioned in it

·                     3 new passport photos

·                     3 recommendation letters from the previous faculty members (for the applicant of Ph.D)

·                     Certificate of financial support for guarantee the tuition fee payment

·                     One year visa for the country where the applicant wants to study (since the applicant requests for visa)

 

5. Language of International Study Center

The language of this Study Center is Persian.

 

6. Persian Language Courses

The following Persian Language courses are launched for non-Iranians nationals worldwide:

Basic Persian                                   4 months                           

Advanced Persian                             4 months          

Academic Persian                             4 months

 

 

7. Educational Calendar of International Study Center

The system of education in the International Study Center is the same as the system of higher education in Iran and has 2 academic semesters:

 

·     The beginning of the first semester is at 15-22 September and Ending at nearly 20 of January.

·     The beginning of the second semester is at 15-20 February and Ending at 30 of June.

 

8. Exam

The exams of students of the Center are administered by the assistance of the Iranian consulates and embassies around the world. For those students who can not attend the Iranian consulates and embassies, the International Study Center provides facilities on their living or work place to exam via online.

 

9. General Exam

After passing their courses at the Center, the students of each 3 degree levels will take the face-to-face General Exam based on the main and specialized courses by the Office of Education at the end of each semester.

 

·     Each student can only participate in the General Exam twice. Degree awarded to the student is subject to the acceptance in General Exam with respect to the other regulations.

·     In general, this Exam will be held at the end of each semester twice per year in Iran (at the Office of Education).

·     If the number of students at a country reached at least 15 people, the Exam will be held in that country with the presence of a representative from the Office of Education.

 

For General Exam, the minimum score in each course and GPA (grade point average) at Bachelor, Master and Ph.D Degree are as follows:

·     For Bachelor Degree, having the minimum 10 (out of 20) in each course and the minimum GPA (grade point average) of 12 (out of 20).

·     For Master Degree, having the minimum 12 (out of 20) in each course and the minimum GPA (grade point average) of 14 (out of 20).

·     For PhD Degree, having the minimum 14 (out of 20) in each course and the minimum GPA (grade point average) of 16 (out of 20).

 

10. Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for Bachelor and Master Degree is in 10 levels in different countries. The prices are in Euro and are set by the University Board of Trustees with increase of 10% annually. The non-Iranian students who learn the Persian Language as a second language can benefit from 80% of reduction for the payment of tuition fee with the approval of the relative authorities.

 

11. Recognition of Certificates

The graduates of this university will receive Official Certificate from Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. This certificate is valued for continuation of education in upper degrees in Iran and abroad and employment in all of the institutions and public organizations.