The University of Guilan (UG) is a leading public university in northern Iran, focused on higher education and research. Founded in 1974 in Rasht as the Graduate School of Business, the university became the seventeenth university to be recognized in Iran in 1976, following approval by the Higher Education Council. Early on, it benefited from an academic cooperation agreement between Iran and Germany, which launched with about 400 students across nine disciplines.
The university has grown steadily and now includes 14 faculties and two research institutes, making it the largest university in northern Iran. It serves over 14,000 students, with about 40 percent in graduate programs. UG offers more than 58 undergraduate, 188 master’s, and 80 doctoral programs across diverse disciplines, balancing academic tradition with modern research and technology.
The University of Guilan’s mission is to advance, produce, and share knowledge. It is committed to enhancing the quality and diversity of its education and research, while providing a supportive environment for students, faculty, and researchers. Through ongoing development, UG aims to contribute to both national and international academic communities.
Located in Rasht, the capital of Guilan Province, about 30 kilometers from the Caspian Sea, the university benefits from Guilan’s distinctive natural environment. Forests, rivers, agricultural areas, and a humid climate support academic life and offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research, particularly in environmental studies, agriculture, and regional development.
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