Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported on August 1 that an official with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) has said 397 foreign students are studying at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the academic center.

Deputy for International Affairs of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Shapour Badi’i reportedly said on July 31 that the proximity to countries such as Tajikistan and Afghanistan and the common language are of great importance when it comes to enrollment of foreign students because they could become health ambassadors of Iran in their countries.

The Mashhad University of Medical Sciences signed memoranda of understanding with Iraq in terms of sending professors and accepting students, Badi’i said, adding that the faculties of nursing, midwifery, and pharmacy of the university will pursue international programs with the neighboring country.

According to the academic official, the international department of the university tries to help improve the health system of neighboring states by the use of educational relations and medical education.

He also emphasized that the enhancement of cooperation in the health system should be given more importance because the COVID-19 pandemic proved the healthcare system in different countries is interconnected.

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) is a medical school in Iran.  Located in Razavi Khorasan province in the city of Mashhad, it was established in 1949 with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and separated in 1986 from its parent institution by national legislation.

The university is currently ranked as one of the best in the Middle East.  In 2001, its department of Medicine was ranked first among the Iranian universities.  The latest rankings put Mashhad University in 3rd place nationally.

MUMS reportedly has 8 faculties, operates 32 hospitals plus 179 rural and 147 urban health care centers.  Its faculties include 600 teaching staff, 1700 physicians, 140 dentists, 130 pharmacists, and 25,402 staff employees.