Top Universities in Kazakhstan for International Students

Studying in Kazakhstan as an international student

Kazakhstan hosts a growing number of universities that admit international students across foundation, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Programmes are offered in different languages depending on the institution and the course, and several universities also run an English medium of instruction.

Admission routes, tuition, intake dates, and document requirements are set by each university and can change from year to year, so treat the points below as a starting map and confirm the current details on the official university website before you apply.

Nazarbayev University (Astana)

Nazarbayev University is located in Astana and describes itself as an English-medium research university offering foundation, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes. Its admissions pages set out the standardised tests, English-language evidence, and application steps it expects from international applicants for each level.

The university publishes its own admission requirements, deadlines, and any tuition or funding details on its official site — check those directly, because they are reviewed each cycle.

• Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
• Medium of instruction: English (per the university's official site)
• Levels: foundation, undergraduate, master's, doctoral

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty)

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (commonly abbreviated KazNU) is based in Almaty and is one of Kazakhstan's largest public universities. Its official admissions information states that teaching is offered in Kazakh, Russian, and English, and that applicants who do not yet know the language of instruction may be placed on a preparatory course first.

For international applicants, the university runs a dedicated foreign-applicant admissions section covering rules of admission, programmes, tuition, and visa-related documents — verify these on the official admissions portal as they are updated each year.

• Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Languages of instruction: Kazakh, Russian, English (per the official site)
• Has a dedicated foreign-applicant admissions section

How international admission usually works

Across Kazakhstani universities, international applicants are generally assessed on their school or degree qualifications and, where relevant, recognised standardised tests, with English-language evidence required for English-medium programmes. Where a student does not meet the language requirement, a preparatory or foundation year is a common route.

Each university sets its own exact criteria, intake calendar, and fee schedule, so use the official admissions page of the specific university you are interested in rather than assuming one set of rules applies everywhere.

Rankings — read them with attribution

Some Kazakhstani universities appear in international rankings published by bodies such as QS and THE (Times Higher Education). A ranking is the opinion of the body that issued it, measured against that body's own criteria, and ranking positions move year to year.

Use rankings only as one input alongside the programme content, language of instruction, location, and cost — and always check the latest position on the ranking body's own website rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere.

Verify before you apply

Tuition fees, deadlines, entry requirements, and the documents needed for a student visa change every academic year. This guide is general information, not admission or immigration advice.

Always confirm the current requirements on the official university website and, for entry to the country, the official government source before you make any decision or payment.