Study and find schools in Kyrgyzstan

Studying in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country in Central Asia whose universities teach in Kyrgyz, Russian and, increasingly, English. The National Statistical Committee puts the population at 7.5 million on 1 August 2026. For international students it offers degree programmes in several languages, medical and language studies among them, and two very different student cities: the capital Bishkek in the north and Osh in the south.

The language of study is the first decision. Osh State University, for example, lets foreign applicants choose programmes taught in Kyrgyz, Russian or English, while the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek teaches primarily in English. Admission documents must be submitted with translations into Kyrgyz or Russian.

The education system in Kyrgyzstan

Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, which licenses universities and their programmes. AUCA, for instance, states that it teaches on the basis of licences issued by the ministry. Universities offer several levels:

• Bachelor's degrees and specialist degrees
• Master's degrees and doctoral (PhD) studies
• Secondary vocational programmes taught in colleges, many of them attached to universities
• Preparatory programmes for students who need to improve their language or academic level

Vocational colleges take students after grade 9 or grade 11. At Osh State University's colleges, programmes last 1 year and 10 months after grade 11 (with the national ORT test) or 2 years and 10 months after grade 9. Kyrgyz school leavers take the ORT national test to enter higher education; foreign applicants follow separate admission rules described below.

Universities also run international programmes. AUCA was founded in 1993 and has a partnership with Bard College in the United States, started in 2008, through which it states it was the first university in Central Asia to offer US-accredited liberal arts degrees.

Admission and recognition

A foreign student needs a completed secondary education. The key step is recognition: the Ministry of Education and Science evaluates foreign school certificates and issues a certificate confirming the level of education. Osh State University states that it does not admit foreign citizens without this ministry certificate.

Under the admission regulation of Osh State University, a foreign applicant is admitted after:

• Passing the preliminary document check and reaching the required score
• Holding a visa that meets the requirements of the migration law
• Passing entrance exams, which may be oral or written exams, interviews or paper, computer or online tests
• Signing a tuition contract with the university, renewed for each academic year

The school certificate and the passport must be submitted with notarised translations into Kyrgyz or Russian. Private and international universities such as AUCA run their own application systems and entrance exams, so check the requirements of each programme.

Student visa and residence

Most foreign students need a visa to study in Kyrgyzstan, and the rules depend on nationality. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs runs an e-Visa portal where travellers can check whether they need a visa and apply online; an e-Visa gives the same right to enter as a sticker visa, and each traveller, including children, needs a separate one. After arrival, universities handle registration and visa extensions for their students: Osh State University processes extensions of registration and visas by order of the rector. Check the current requirements for your nationality on the e-Visa portal and with your university's international office before you travel.

Costs

Tuition for foreign students is set by each university. At Osh State University the cost is determined by the university and fixed in an individual contract, and it publishes a separate fee table for foreign students for the 2026-27 academic year. The student also pays for accommodation, meals, registration and visa extensions and medical insurance. Ask your university for its current fee table in writing before you sign the contract.

Where to study

Bishkek, the capital, is home to AUCA, which offers bachelor's programmes in fields such as business administration, economics, international and business law, journalism, psychology and software engineering, and master's programmes including an MBA and an LL.M. AUCA reports more than 50 exchange programmes in over 24 countries. Manas International Airport is a 25-minute drive from the city centre.

Osh, in the south, is home to Osh State University, a state university with institutes and colleges covering philology, law, natural sciences, mathematics and IT, economics, oriental studies and medicine, including a faculty of international medicine. It has announced admission for the 2026-27 academic year in a wide range of programmes.

Law, education, medicine and the natural sciences are among the subjects most often offered by the Kyrgyz schools in our directory.

Practical life

Plan for housing early: AUCA notes that its dormitory is only one of the housing options in Bishkek, and Osh State University runs student dormitories. Medical insurance is the student's responsibility at Osh State University, so arrange cover before you arrive. Kyrgyzstan's mountains, with peaks over 7,000 metres according to AUCA, also make the country a destination for hiking and outdoor sports.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Kyrgyzstan?

Yes. AUCA teaches primarily in English, and Osh State University lets foreign applicants choose programmes in Kyrgyz, Russian or English. Many other programmes are taught in Russian or Kyrgyz.

Do I need to have my school certificate recognised?

Yes. The Ministry of Education and Science evaluates foreign certificates, and Osh State University does not admit foreign citizens without the ministry's certificate confirming the level of education.

Do I need a visa to study in Kyrgyzstan?

Most foreign students do; the requirement depends on nationality. You can check and apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal, and your university handles registration and visa extensions after arrival.

How much does it cost to study in Kyrgyzstan?

Each university sets its own fees for foreign students. Osh State University publishes a fee table for foreign students for 2026-27 and fixes the amount in an individual contract; accommodation, meals, visas and insurance are paid separately.