Welcome to the British Institute of Persian Studies
Welcome to the website of the British Institute of Persian Studies. We are an academic body founded in 1961, associated with and financially supported by the British Academy. We promote scholarship and research in all aspects of Iranian Studies. A purpose-built institute was opened in Tehran in 1976 on land leased from the British Embassy in Qolhak. Why are Persian Studies important? Great cultures and dynasties have originated in what is now Iran.
Many distinguished scholars have explored the rich heritage, history and language of Iran. Although Oriental Studies have been under pressure in the UK for economic reasons, and despite the interruption in contacts for a period because of the Revolution, there are many British scholars, young and old, who are working on academic research relating to Iran in a number of disciplines: from art history and archaeology, to history and the social sciences. The work is now increasingly carried out in conjunction with Iranian scholars. The Institute currently has three 'umbrella' programmes:
* Socio-economic transformation in the later prehistory of Iran
* Kingship in Persian cultural history
* Modern Iran: national identities- history, myth and literature
BIPS currently sponsors a series of academic projects including studies in:
- Socio-economic transformations in the Sialk Plain
- Darabgird Sasanian Project
- Sasanian coins
- The Gorgan and Tammishe Sasanian walls
- Persian Gulf in Prehistory and history
- Pre-Mongol architecture
- Survey of stone lion tombs
- Shi’a crescent
- Early nineteenth century Qajar history
London office:
The British Institute of Persian Studies
The British Academy
10 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AH
Tel: 020 7969 5203
Fax: 020 7969 5401
Email: bips@britac.ac.uk
Tehran office:
The British Institute of Persian Studies
1553 Dr Ali Shariati Avenue
Qolhak
Tehran 19396-13661
Tel: (009821) 2260 1937
Fax: (009821) 2260 4901
Email: bips@parsonline.net