Isfahan University of Technology (IUT) (دانشگاه صنعتی اصفهان) is one of the most prestigious engineering universities in Iran. It is located 15 Kilometers north west of Isfahan and is one of the major universities and research poles in Iran in the fields of science, engineering and agriculture. It covers about 23 square kilometers and has its dorms, shopping center, sports & recreation centers and medical centers on the campus. Isfahan university of technology is not to be confused with University of Isfahan which is located in south side Isfahan. The university was founded in 1974 and admitted its first students in 1977. It was founded as Aryamehr University of Technology Isfahan branch and was renamed after the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Plans were to make the institution the largest university in the middle east that weren't completed because of political changes in the country. The university was designed and planned directly based on models of MIT and University of Illinois at Chicago. Today the university offers degrees in B.S., M.Sc., and PhD levels in several branches of Science and Engineering.