Iran Education System & Credential Evaluation

A guide to the Iran education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.

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Overview of the Iran Education System

Iran operates a 12-year system of general education divided into two main cycles. The Ministry of Education oversees primary and secondary schooling. Persian (Farsi) is the official language of instruction. The academic year runs from late September to late June. Iran has a large and well-developed higher education sector with over 100 state universities and many private institutions.

Structure of the Education System

Primary Education — 6 Years (Ages 6–12, Grades 1–6)

Compulsory and free. Covers Persian language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Quran and Religious Education, Arts, and Physical Education.

Lower Secondary Education — 3 Years (Ages 12–15, Grades 7–9)

Compulsory. Students study a broad curriculum. At the end of Grade 9, students sit the national final examinations administered by the Ministry of Education.

Upper Secondary Education — 3 Years (Ages 15–18, Grades 10–12)

Students choose a branch: Mathematics and Physics, Experimental Sciences, Humanities, or Technical/Vocational. Culminates in the national Pre-University Examination (Konkur) at Grade 12, awarding the Diplom (Diploma of Secondary Education) — equivalent to a US high school diploma. University admission is through the highly competitive National University Entrance Examination (Konkur).

University Education

Bachelor's degrees (Karshenasi) take 4 years. Master's degrees (Karshenasi-e Arshad) are 2 years. PhD programs (Doktora) are 4 years. Major institutions include University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology, and Isfahan University of Technology.

Grade Conversion Scale for Iran

Grade Scale	Description	US Equivalent
17–20	Excellent (Ali)	A
14–16.9	Good (Khub)	B
12–13.9	Average (Motavasset)	C
10–11.9	Pass (Ghabolqabool)	D
0–9.9	Fail (Rad)	F

Key Credentials

Diplom (Diploma of Secondary Education) — Grade 12; equivalent to a US high school diploma
Karshenasi (Bachelor's degree) — 4 years
Karshenasi-e Arshad (Master's degree) — 2 years
Doktora (PhD) — 4 years

US Equivalency of Iran Credentials

The Diplom is equivalent to a US high school diploma
A 4-year Karshenasi is equivalent to a US Bachelor's degree
A Karshenasi-e Arshad is equivalent to a US Master's degree
A Doktora is equivalent to a US PhD

Why You Need a Credential Evaluation

A formal credential evaluation is required for US university admissions, employment-based immigration petitions (H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, L-1), and professional licensing.

If your documents are in Persian (Farsi)

All Iran academic documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Persian (Farsi)-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.