University of Tehran

University of Tehran

دانشگاه تهران Dāneshgāh-e Tehran
University of Tehran (UT) coat of arms
Motto	میاسای ز آموختن یک زمان
Motto in English	Rest not a moment from learning
Type	Public
Established	1934
Endowment	US$ 199.7 million (2014)
Chancellor	Mahmoud Nili Ahmadabadi
Vice-Chancellor	Mahmoud Kamarei
Administrative staff	3,679
Students	50448
Undergraduates	15,312
Postgraduates	18,360
Location	Tehran, Iran
Campus	Urban
Colours	Blue
Affiliations	FUIW
Website	ut.ac.ir

The University of Tehran (Persian: دانشگاه تهران‎‎), also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest modern university. It is also Iran's most prestigious university. Based on its historical, socio-cultural, and political pedigree, as well as its research and teaching profile, UT has been nicknamed "The mother university of Iran" (Persian: دانشگاه مادر‎‎) and it is the symbol of higher education in Iran. It is almost always ranked as the best university in Iran in national and international rankings. It is also the premier knowledge producing institute among all OIC countries. The university offers 111 bachelor's degree programs, 177 master's degree programs, and 156 Ph.D. programs. Many of the departments were absorbed into the University of Tehran from the Dar al-Funun established in 1851 and the Tehran School of Political Sciences established in 1899.

The main campus of the University is located in the central part of the city. However, other campuses are spread across the city as well as in the suburbs such as the Baghe Negarestan Campus at the central eastern part of the city, the Northern Amirabad Campuses at the central western part of the city and the Abureyhan Campus in the suburb of the capital. The main gate of the University with its specific design and modern architecture (at Enghelab Street at the main campus) is the logo of the University and in a more general sense, a logo of education in Iran. The University is one of the city's attractions, hosting many international and cultural events attracting academia, foreign tourists as well as local residents. The major festive of Friday Prayers of the capital is held at the University’s main campus every Friday.

Admission to the university's renowned undergraduate and graduate programs is very competitive and is limited to the top one percent of students who pass the national entrance examination administered yearly by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Tehran University consistently makes the number one choice of qualifying applicants among all other universities of Iran.

The first official step for the establishment of Tehran University occurred on 31 March 1931 when Minister of Court Abdolhossein Teymourtash wrote Issa Seddiq who was completing his doctoral dissertataion at Columbia University in New York to inquire as to requirements for the establishment of a University in Tehran. Sadiq considered the letter an invitation to outline a comprehensive scheme for the establishment of a University.