In 2012, in order to merge all teacher-training colleges, the Iranian Ministry of Education changed the name of Tarbiat Mo'allem (Persian: تربیت معلم) to Farhangian (Persian: فرهنگیان) and promoted colleges to the university status.

Farhangian University has centers (branches) located throughout the provinces of Iran.

It is an umbrella organization with around 100 branches and 70,000 enrolled student teachers throughout the country.

The branches are teacher education centers that existed long before the university organization took shape.

Farhangian University, affiliated with the Ministry of Education and run by the board of trustees, has legal, financial, and administrative autonomy.