History
Initiating our mission in 1995 under the name of "The Center for Studies of Religions", we followed some internal educational programs. In a four-year period, these programs covered English, Sanskrit and Hebrew languages, and the students followed academic studies along with their seminary studies.
Education
URD offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees. Students can choose from up to 30 degree combinations in the study of religions, denominations, sects, cults and newly-emerged religious or mystical movements with a distinctive regional focus and global relevance, taught by well-educated teachers in specialist faculties.
Research
Religions and Denominations Research Center
Given the importance of research activities among the objectives of the establishment of the "University of Religions and Denominations", the governing body of this educational center allocated a specialized "Research Center" as an affiliated department to proceed academic researches on religions and denominations.
Short Courses
Student services
URD takes student services seriously and offers many sources of support and advice on matters ranging from accommodation and finance to exam worries.
Housing services
The University of Religions and Denominations suggests foreign applicants in need of accommodation and dormitory facilities two options:
- University Managed Accommodation
- Private Rented Accommodation
Library services
The URD Library is the richest in Iran, with more than 125000 items and extensive electronic resources including books, digital or audiovisual materials in both classical and live languages like Arabic, English, French, German and Sanskrit in addition to Persian, as the only specialist library for the study of all religions and denominations in the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world.
Campus life
URD offers a friendly, vibrant campus in the heart of the world's most significant Shiite city. Qom's rich cultural and social life is literally on its doorstep. It offers students an unparalleled environment in which to live and study, being a center for Shiite seminary schools, a style-setting center of multi-cultural life and intellectual hub. URD, s small size and low ratio of staff to students makes it a unique center for anyone interested in studying on Shiism, with the holy shrine of Shiite renowned Imam Reza's sister close by.