Known as the oldest university in Iran, Dar ul-Funun School ("house of knowledge of methods") in Tehran was first established by the creative endeavor of Amir Kabir during the kingdom of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. He recognized the country’s essential need of higher education after a trip to Russia. Therefore; after his nomination as the great vizier, he chose a place near the royal place to construct the university The University was opened in 1851, thirteen days before the assassination of Amir Kabir. Natural sciences, pharmacology, physics, chemistry, mineralogy along with Military science were among the topics that were taught in this school. Some other school subjects including English, Russian, Painting and music were also added to the curriculum. Dar ul-Funun School remained for 80 years and although still applicable, it was wiped out in 1929. In this year, Mirza Yahya Khan, the head of educational ministry destroyed the university and constructed the current building with a new design under the supervision of Russian engineers.
