International Programs

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

The International Affairs Office of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences serves as the central hub for the coordination, management, and support of all international students. As the main authority overseeing global student affairs, the Office works closely with the School of Medicine to ensure high academic standards, seamless administrative processes, and comprehensive support throughout the duration of study.

The Office’s core functions include:

• Global Recruitment and Admissions: Managing the entire international admissions process, selecting academically distinguished and highly motivated candidates worldwide through a transparent, merit-based system.

• Academic Coordination and Curriculum Implementation: Ensuring the effective delivery of the seven-year M.D. curriculum, monitoring student progress, and providing language and cultural adaptation support.

• Comprehensive Student Support: Offering academic advising, visa and residency guidance, cultural orientation, and continuous communication with faculty to ensure a smooth academic journey.

• Academic Quality and Standards Assurance: Safeguarding the integrity, credibility, and international recognition of the M.D. degree, ensuring alignment with national regulations and globally accepted medical education benchmarks.

Through these coordinated efforts, the International Affairs Office ensures that international students receive a structured, high-quality, and fully supported educational experience from enrollment to graduation.

Our Commitment

Shahroud University of Medical Sciences is dedicated to creating an inclusive, academically rigorous, and professionally supportive environment for international students. Through structured guidance, high educational standards, and ethical medical training, the University prepares its graduates to become competent, responsible, and globally competitive physicians.

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program

Shahroud University of Medical Sciences (SHMU) offers a seven-year integrated Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program and welcomes qualified international applicants for enrollment. The program is designed to educate competent, responsible, and ethically grounded physicians in full compliance with the standards of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran and internationally recognized medical education benchmarks.

The official language of instruction is Persian.

All pre-clinical and clinical courses are delivered in Persian. Therefore, international students must possess — or be prepared to acquire — sufficient Persian proficiency to follow coursework effectively and communicate professionally with patients during clinical training.

To facilitate this, SHMU offers a Persian language preparatory course in the first year covering medical terminology, academic reading and writing skills, and clinical communication. The course tuition is 400 USD and includes all necessary instructional materials. Completion ensures smooth integration into the M.D. curriculum

Location

Shahroud, Semnan Province, Iran

Duration and Structure

The M.D. program is a seven-year (14-semester) integrated professional degree:

Phase	Duration (Semesters/Time)	Focus
Basic Medical Sciences (Pre-clinical)	5 Semesters	Establishment of foundational knowledge in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, etc.
Physiopathology	3 Semesters	Bridging basic sciences with disease processes.
Externship	4 Semesters	Intensive practical training in core medical and surgical specialties.
Internship (Houseman ship)	2 Semesters	Final supervised practical training leading to licensure eligibility.

Clinical training takes place in affiliated teaching hospitals and clinical departments in Shahroud. Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.