The Islamic Azad University (IAU) (Persian: دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi), commonly referred to as Azad University is the world's third largest private university system based in Iran. Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University was founded in 1982 and established by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, currently has an enrollment of 1.5 million students, making it the world's third largest. Azad University has over 300 branches across the country and also in other countries. It has branches and universities in U.A.E, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Lebanon and Armenia and has plans to establish more branch campuses in Malaysia, Canada, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the near future. Islamic Azad University's activities quickly expanded throughout the country, so that today thousands of students are enrolling every year. Not relying on government funding, it receives charitable donations and charges tuition fees. The certificates issued by this university are recognized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Azad University admits students through the National Wide Entrance Examination held by the National (Iranian) Organization of Educational Testing.