Islamic Azad University (Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi) is a private chain of universities in Iran.
Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University was founded in 1982 and currently has an enrollment of 1.5 million students, making it the world's second largest. Azad University has over 400 branches across the country and also in other countries. It has branches and universities in U.A.E, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Lebanon and Armenia and has plans to establish more branch campuses in Malaysia, Canada, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the near future. Over the years, the university has accumulated assets estimated to be worth between $20 and $25 billion.
The university system also operates a news agency similar to ANA, named "Azad News Agency".
Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that today thousands of students are enrolling every year. Not relying on government funding, it receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees.
The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Masters and doctorate programs have been offered in many different branches of Islamic Azad University.
Read more about Islamic Azad University: First Branch of Islamic Azad University, Controversy, Islamic Azad University Ranking
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