and university-preparatory schools) Overseas branches The Azad University in Oxford (AUO) at the outskirts of the city of Oxford in the UK, was established in 2004 to support IAU's international collaboration activities. Through its links with the UK universities and research centers, the AUO provides services to the students and staff of IAU as well as other students and organisations around the world. In 1995, a branch was opened in Dubai. International offices The Islamic Azad University has international offices in Russia, Italy, Germany, the UK, UAE, Lebanon and Afghanistan. State universities IAU has 31 state universities (provincial universities) located throughout the provinces of Iran. Digits in parentheses indicate the number of branches in current province. Islamic Azad University, Alborz Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Province (8) Islamic Azad University, East Azerbaijan Province (27) Islamic Azad University, West Azerbaijan Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Province (11) Islamic Azad University, Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Fars Province (30) Islamic Azad University, Gilan Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Golestan Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Hamadan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Hormozgan Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Ilam Province (5) Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Province (24) Islamic Azad University, Kerman Province (12) Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Province (8) Islamic Azad University, North Khorasan Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Razavi Khorasan Province (14) Islamic Azad University, South Khorasan Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Khuzestan Province (17) Islamic Azad University, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province (3) Islamic Azad University, Kurdistan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Lorestan Province (6) Islamic Azad University, Markazi Province (15) Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran Province (14) Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Province (4) Islamic Azad University, Qom Province (1) Islamic Azad University, Semnan Province (7) Islamic Azad University, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (7) Islamic Azad University, Tehran Province (24) Islamic Azad University, Yazd Province (10) Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Province (4) Admissions From the establishment of Islamic Azad University in 1982 to 2013, the admission process of students was through Islamic Azad University's entrance exam which was designed, held, and scored independently by the private university system. Post-2013, its entrance exam was merged with the Public University System. It holds the national entrance exam and some students who get admitted through this process would be exempt from paying any tuitions. However, Islamic Azad University requires tuition which varies by different factors such as program, degree, and location.