About 94,000 foreign students were studying in Iran in January 2023, including 56,000 from Iraq, according to the Student Affairs Organization.
Sources: Iran Student Affairs Organization and university officials, reported by Iranian news agencies · Namafar data team
Several Iranian bodies count foreign students, and each counts a different group of universities. This page states what each figure covers, with its source.
Iraqi students were the largest group in January 2023, with 56,000 of about 94,000. Students from Afghanistan numbered 33,000.
The universities of the Ministry of Science alone had 35,000 foreign students in 1403 (2024/25). A year earlier the number was 27,000.
| Year | Foreign students | Universities covered | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1399 (2020/21) | 57,675 | Ministry of Science, Islamic Azad and medical universities (not Al-Mustafa) | Mehr, SNN |
| Jan 2023 | about 94,000 | All universities in Iran | Mehr, Mashregh |
| 1402 (2023/24) | 27,000 | Universities of the Ministry of Science only | Mehr |
| 1403 (2024/25) | 35,000 | Universities of the Ministry of Science only | Mehr |
All figures in this table are confirmed by two sources. In 1399 about 30,600 of the students were at Ministry of Science universities. Islamic Azad University had about 25,000, and medical universities about 2,000.
Al-Mustafa International University, which teaches religious studies, is counted separately and is not included in these figures.
Officials gave several different figures for 1404 (2025/26) without saying what they cover, so none is shown.
About 94,000 foreign students were studying in Iranian universities in January 2023, according to the Student Affairs Organization.
56,000 Iraqi students were studying in Iran in January 2023, about 60% of all foreign students.
Most attend universities of the Ministry of Science or Islamic Azad University. A smaller number study at medical universities.