As economic, social, and political pressures in Iran intensify, emigration is becoming a widespread response across all segments of society. From skilled workers to business owners, many Iranians are exploring ways to leave the country in search of stability and opportunity elsewhere. A significant portion of this trend includes the youth, with many young Iranians choosing education as their path to emigration. In response, Iranian authorities are taking increasingly stringent measures to curb this migration, targeting the very institutions that assist students in studying abroad.
A Rising Trend of Educational Migration
Educational migration has become a favored option for young Iranians seeking opportunities abroad. Facing limited job prospects, economic instability, and political constraints, many young people view foreign universities as their gateway to a brighter future. However, Iranian officials have responded with policies designed to stem the flow of youth leaving the country. These measures include hikes in the costs to release academic degrees, repeated cancellations of English proficiency exams, currency restrictions, and crackdowns on agencies that facilitate study abroad programs.
In recent days, local media reported that Iran’s judicial system had begun actively targeting institutions that aid students in studying abroad. According to Valiollah Mahboodi, Deputy Public Law Attorney of Tehran, institutions not directly supervised by the Ministry of Science or the Ministry of Health are considered “unauthorized.” This categorization allows authorities to seal these institutions, block their websites, and prevent them from continuing their services. Mahboodi claims that this is part of a campaign to “protect public rights and prevent crime.” The judiciary justifies these actions by accusing unauthorized institutions of exploiting students’ emigration desires for financial gain and violating citizens’ rights.
Systematic Hurdles for Aspiring Students
Many of these institutions are private agencies that facilitate student placements abroad, capitalizing on the growing demand among young Iranians to study overseas. With rigorous regulations and financial burdens imposed on them, students often find themselves resorting to these private entities despite high costs and risks. Authorities argue that such agencies exploit vulnerable students and families for significant profit, yet the root of the issue remains unaddressed: the factors motivating this emigration trend.
In early October, the Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that 60 student-sending agencies had their licenses revoked in the past three years, leaving only 120 government-approved agencies operational. These organizations are governed by a working group made up of representatives from multiple ministries, including Science, Health, Foreign Affairs, Information, Justice, and Islamic Guidance, all of whom scrutinize applications for operating licenses. Any agency operating outside this group’s approval is deemed illegal.
Religious and Ideological Requirements for Overseas Students
Students seeking to study abroad through government-approved channels must meet strict ideological requirements. According to Iran’s Law on Sending Students Abroad, only those who demonstrate allegiance to the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic are eligible for legal support. Additionally, female students with a bachelor’s degree or higher are only permitted to study abroad if they are married and accompanied by their spouse.
Given these restrictions, many students choose to apply privately or independently. However, by circumventing government channels, these students and the universities they attend are labeled “unauthorized.” As a result, degrees obtained from these foreign institutions are often not recognized by Iran’s Ministry of Science, making it difficult for these graduates to return and work in Iran with foreign credentials.
Financial and Logistical Obstacles
In recent years, Iranian authorities have escalated financial barriers to deter student emigration. According to the Ministry of Science’s latest guidelines, graduates must pay a substantial fee to “release” their degrees, which are held by the government to ensure compliance with post-graduation requirements. For instance, bachelor’s degree holders must pay 40 million tomans per year of study to release their degrees, while master’s graduates face a 50 million toman annual fee. The costs are significantly higher for medical fields, reaching up to 120 million tomans per year for dentistry, which translates into a minimum of 500 million tomans for a full medical program.
Additionally, repeated cancellations of the IELTS exam—an English language proficiency test required by many foreign universities—have added to the burdens on aspiring emigrants. This cancellation forces students to incur extra travel costs by going to neighboring countries such as Turkey to take the test.
Official Rhetoric and the Realities of Youth Emigration
Despite the measures taken, authorities have been reluctant to acknowledge the root causes driving young Iranians abroad. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has publicly criticized those who leave the country after completing their education, accusing them of serving foreign powers. He argues that these individuals “are nurtured and develop in Iran, but when they reach their prime, they depart and offer the benefits of their talents to others.” Yet, his comments ignore the pervasive challenges within Iran that push young people to seek opportunities elsewhere.
According to data from the Iranian Migration Observatory, economic instability, political repression, social dissatisfaction, and an employment crisis are significant factors driving the emigration trend. Instead of addressing these underlying issues, the government has focused on punitive measures to control the outflow, such as prohibiting protesting students from leaving the country and implementing currency restrictions for those seeking to study abroad.
Conclusion
As Iran’s economic and social conditions worsen, the desire to emigrate has grown stronger, particularly among the younger population. Despite the government’s efforts to impose restrictions, the determination of many Iranians to seek a better life outside their homeland persists. The choice to leave is not merely an individual decision but a reflection of the broader disillusionment with the prospects within Iran. If the current conditions remain unaddressed, this trend is likely to continue, leaving Iran’s future with a shrinking talent pool and an increasingly frustrated youth.