Overview
Iran runs national comprehensive exams for students in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy during their studies: a Basic Sciences exam (علوم پایه) and a Pre-internship exam (پیش کارورزی). These are administered nationally under Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, through the Medical Education Assessment Center (sanjeshp.ir), with individual medical universities — such as Isfahan University of Medical Sciences — publishing exam announcements, candidate lists and guidebooks for their own students through their educational deputy offices.
Who can take it
Students of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy at Iranian medical universities take these exams at defined points in their programme: the Basic Sciences exam after completing the basic sciences stage of the curriculum, and the Pre-internship exam before starting clinical internship (کارورزی).
Structure or exam pattern
| Exam | Point in the programme |
|---|---|
| Basic Sciences (علوم پایه) | Comprehensive exam covering the basic sciences stage of medical, dental or pharmacy study |
| Pre-internship (پیش کارورزی) | Comprehensive exam taken before a student is permitted to begin clinical internship |
The Medical Education Assessment Center publishes separate exam guidebooks for each discipline (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy) and stage (basic sciences, pre-internship).
What it covers
Each exam is comprehensive across the basic-science or pre-clinical coursework a student has completed up to that stage, specific to their discipline (medicine, dentistry or pharmacy).
Recognition
Passing the relevant exam is a requirement set by Iran's Ministry of Health for a student to proceed — from the basic sciences stage into further study, and from pre-internship into clinical internship.
How to register
Registration, admission cards, results and related services are handled through the Medical Education Assessment Center's national portal (sanjeshp.ir); individual universities also publish local announcements and candidate lists through their own educational deputy offices.
Preparation tips
Because these are national comprehensive exams covering an entire stage of the curriculum, the exam guidebooks the Medical Education Assessment Center and individual universities publish for each discipline and stage are the primary reference for what to prepare.
Who administers the Basic Sciences and Pre-internship exams in Iran?
Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, through the Medical Education Assessment Center (sanjeshp.ir), with individual medical universities handling local administration for their own students.
What is the difference between the Basic Sciences and Pre-internship exams?
The Basic Sciences exam covers the basic-science stage of medical, dental or pharmacy study. The Pre-internship exam is taken later, before a student begins clinical internship.
Are these exams the same for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy students?
No. The Medical Education Assessment Center publishes separate guidebooks and candidate lists for each discipline.