TEHRAN: (News Desk) – US sanctions have disrupted the plans of Iranian students hoping to study abroad after the suspension of major English-language proficiency tests in Iran.
Among those affected is 32-year-old Nikki, who had planned to study psychology in Italy but was left devastated after learning that her scheduled TOEFL exam had been cancelled.
The TOEFL test, administered by the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS), is required by many universities worldwide. ETS said testing in Iran was suspended after the US Treasury stopped issuing the licences needed to conduct the exams.
Although Iranian students can still take TOEFL tests abroad, the option is proving difficult for many because of travel and examination costs. Alternative tests, including PTE and the increasingly popular Duolingo English Test, have also reportedly been suspended in Iran.
Nikki said she was considering travelling to Armenia to sit the exam but would need to borrow money to cover the expenses. She said funds originally intended for dental treatment would now have to be spent on the exam and travel.
The disruption has triggered a scramble among Iranian students on online groups, where they are discussing cheaper and faster options in neighbouring countries including Armenia, Iraq and Turkey. Some students have warned that travelling abroad for an English test is affordable only for wealthier families.
The crisis comes as Iran faces severe economic pressure. The Iranian rial has fallen sharply, while soaring inflation has further reduced household purchasing power, making overseas travel increasingly difficult.
Iranian officials have condemned the suspension. Science Minister Hossein Simaei Saraf criticised the restrictions, saying they demonstrated that US measures were affecting ordinary Iranians across different areas of life.
For other students, the disruption has compounded uncertainty over their academic futures. Leila, a 32-year-old Tehran resident who secured a place in a graduate arts programme in Berlin, said she had already postponed her studies because of the war.
Unable to afford travelling abroad for the required test, Leila said she may now pursue higher education inside Iran instead.
The suspension has added another hurdle for Iranian students seeking opportunities overseas, forcing many to reconsider plans they had spent years preparing for.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.