Konkur Arshad

Overview

Konkur Arshad (کنکور ارشد) is the common name for Iran's national entrance exam for non-continuous master's programmes (آزمون کارشناسی ارشد ناپیوسته), meaning master's degrees taken after a separate bachelor's degree. It is run once a year by the National Organization for Educational Testing (سازمان سنجش آموزش کشور, known as Sanjesh). One exam covers master's places at universities and higher education institutions across Iran, including Islamic Azad University.

The exam is still held. The official Sanjesh site (sanjesh.org) could not be read when this page was checked, so the facts below come from national news reports of Sanjesh announcements. Medical-sciences master's programmes have a separate exam and are not covered here.

Iranian sources use the Solar Hijri calendar. Dates below are converted to Gregorian; Iranian year 1405 runs from March 2026 to March 2027.

Who can apply

You need a bachelor's degree, or must be completing one, and must meet the eligibility conditions in the official guidebook for that year, including having no military service problem. Sanjesh publishes the guidebook when registration opens.

For the 1405 (2026) exam:

• Anyone admitted to a daytime (full-time, state-funded) master's place in the 1404 (2025) round could not register again, whether or not they enrolled.

• Graduates and current students of non-daytime master's programmes could take part if they met the other conditions.

Exam pattern

The exam is a written, multiple-choice test. Candidates register in an exam group for their field, and each field has its own set of subjects and weights. The 1405 exam was held over three sessions: Thursday morning and afternoon, and Friday morning. Morning sessions started at 7:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions at 2:30 p.m.

Marking and results

Final selection is based on 80% of the exam score and 20% of your "effective GPA" (معدل مؤثر) from your bachelor's degree. The GPA is standardised before it is applied. If your bachelor's was itself non-continuous, the average of your associate and bachelor's GPAs is used. Fields with a practical, project or written component use adjusted criteria.

To be allowed to choose a field, you need a minimum score in that field. Eligible candidates can list up to 100 programme-and-university choices in order of preference.

Important dates

For the 1405 (2026) exam:

• Registration: 16 to 23 Azar 1404 (7 to 14 December 2025), online only.

• Admission cards: from 22 Tir 1405 (13 July 2026).

• Exam held: Thursday 25 Tir and Friday 26 Tir 1405 (16 and 17 July 2026).

• Initial results: 3 Shahrivar 1405 (25 August 2026). Of 651,250 registered candidates, more than 497,000 qualified to choose a field.

• Choice-of-field guidebook: 4 Shahrivar 1405 (26 August 2026). Choice form: 5 to 10 Shahrivar 1405 (27 August to 1 September 2026).

Islamic Azad University candidates follow the Azad exam centre's own choice procedure and deadlines.

How to apply

1. Read the guidebook on sanjesh.org when registration opens.

2. Register and pay online during the registration window. Registration is online only.

3. Print your admission card. On exam day, bring it with your original national ID card or a birth certificate with a photo. Exam doors close 30 minutes before each session starts.

4. If you qualify after the initial results, fill in the online choice form with your preferred programmes.

After the exam

The initial results show whether you may choose fields. Final admission is announced after the choice stage. Sanjesh warns that if your stated GPA turns out not to match your records after admission, the admission is cancelled.

Preparation tips

• Your bachelor's GPA counts for 20% of the final score, so make sure the GPA you enter at registration exactly matches your transcript.

• Check your exam group's subjects and weights in the official guidebook before you plan your study.

• Watch Sanjesh announcements closely for the exam date, admission cards and the choice-of-field window.