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Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Almaty, Kazakhstan

An ornate historic university lecture hall with steep tiers of polished wooden seating, tall windows and a decorated ceiling.

A comprehensive public research university in Almaty and one of the oldest and largest in Kazakhstan, offering programs across the natural sciences, IT and mathematics, humanities, economics, law and international relations. Instruction is in Kazakh, Russian and English, with a number of English-medium programs for international students.

Last updated

Full admissions guideal-Farabi KazNU vs Nazarbayev University: Choosing Between Kazakhstan's Top Two7 min read · verified 24 June 2026

Location

Almaty

Established

1934

Degree levels

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Instruction

English-taught

Rankings

Rankings are published annually by their respective organisations and change every year. Confirm the current-year position on the official ranking website before relying on it.

How to apply

Direct via KazNU

Admission tests

Requirements change from one intake to the next — confirm the current ones on Al-Farabi Kazakh National University’s official site (opens in a new tab) before you apply.

Applying to universities in Russia & the CIS

Application platform
Direct via university / official government admission portal
Intakes
September
Student visa
Russian Student Visa (type O)
Working while studying
Full-time students at state-accredited universities may work without a separate work permit; verify current rules on the official source.

Official sources: Official Russian Government admission portal · Government of Kazakhstan. Visa and work rules change — verify on the official source before relying on them.

Popular fields of study

Biology and BiotechnologyPhysics and TechnologyInformation Technology and MathematicsEconomics and BusinessLawInternational Relations
Visit official website

Source: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University official website. Details here are for guidance only — tuition, deadlines, rankings and eligibility change every academic year, so confirm on the official university site before applying.

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