The history of Tarbiat Moaalem University goes back to some 80 years ago when it was initially founded, in 1919, as the Central Teachers Institute. The objective of this institute was to train teachers for primary schools.

   With the increase in the number of schools in Tehran and other major cities, there was a growing demand for ‘trained’ teachers. Consequently, in 1928 the Central Teachers Institute changed to the Higher Institute for Tarbiat Moaalem. The newly established institute had two separate divisions: Science and Humanities. The Science division comprised three branches—Natural Sciences,  Physics & Chemistry, and Mathematics—and the division for Humanities had two main branches—Philosophy & Persian Literature, and History & Geography.

   In 1933, the institute changed its name from the Higher Institute for Tarbiat Moaalem to Tarbiat Moaalem College. After the establishment of Tehran University in 1933, the literature division of the Tarbiat Moaalem College turned into the College of Literature and its Science Division changed to the College of Sciences of Tehran University, and the Tarbiat Moaalem College practically lost its independence, although it continued to exist in name. In 1958, however, the bill for the independent organization of the college was passed in both Houses of the Parliament and the Tarbiat Moaalem College was re-established as an independent higher institution. The college was dissolved again in 1963, according to an article approved by the government, and another institution—the Institution for Tarbiat Moaalem and Educational Research — took its place. In the summer of 1967, the code for the enactment of the Tarbiat Moaalem College’s articles of association, which had already been approved by the Senate and the National Parliament, was communicated. According to this code, the college had the objectives of training qualified teachers and carrying out educational research. It consisted of the four following institutes:

1. Institute for Tarbiat Moaalem

2. Institute for Training Educational Directors and Counselors

3. Institute for the Teaching of Mathematics

4. Institute for Educational Research

   In the winter of 1967, following the establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education in Iran, Tarbiat Moaalem College was granted university status. In 1974, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Higher Education and the approval of the Council for the Expansion of Higher Education, Tarbiat Moaalem College turned into Tarbiat Moaalem University. The University’s first board of trustees was established in accordance with the 1967 code for the board of trustees at Tehran University.

   One of the major objectives of Tarbiat Moaalem University was the expansion and dissemination of Tarbiat Moaalem programmes nationwide. To this end, in 1974 Zahedan, Sanandaj and Yazd Tarbiat Moaalem Colleges began their activities under the supervision of Tarbiat Moaalem University.

   In October 1975, two other Tarbiat Moaalem Colleges (Arak and Kashan) fell under the supervision of Tarbiat Moaalem University. The College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences  as well as  part of the University Science Complex were also annexed to the university in 1983. Two other branches of the university were established in Sabzavar and Tabriz in 1987 and 1989, respectively. Finally, all the branches of the university were given independent status in 1990 in accordance with the directives of the Council for the Expansion of Higher Education.