Universities in Kyrgyzstan

Universities in Kyrgyzstan teach in Kyrgyz, Russian and, at some institutions, English. Higher education works under licences from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic: the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), for example, states that it teaches on the basis of licences issued by the ministry. For international students, the main draws are degree programmes in several languages, medicine and other professional fields, and two different student cities, the capital Bishkek in the north and Osh in the south.

How Kyrgyz universities work

Universities offer several levels of study, often within one institution. Osh State University (OshSU), a state university, lists:

• Undergraduate and specialist higher education
• Master's degrees
• Doctoral (PhD) studies
• Secondary vocational programmes in its own colleges

College programmes at OshSU 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 to enter higher education, but some creative and sports programmes do not require it, and foreign applicants follow separate admission rules.

Alongside the national system there are international programmes. AUCA, founded in 1993, has worked with Bard College in the United States since 2008 and states that it was the first university in Central Asia to offer US-accredited liberal arts degrees. AUCA also runs a preparatory programme, the New Generation Academy (NGA).

Admission for international students

A foreign applicant needs a completed secondary general or secondary vocational education. The key step is recognition: the Ministry of Education and Science evaluates foreign documents and issues a certificate confirming the level of education, and OshSU does not admit foreign citizens without it. Under OshSU's admission regulation, a foreign applicant also needs:

• A visa that meets the requirements of the migration law
• A pass in the entrance exams, which may be oral or written exams, interviews, or paper, computer or online tests
• Notarised translations of the school certificate and passport into Kyrgyz or Russian
• A tuition contract with the university, signed for one academic year at a time

Foreign applicants at OshSU can choose programmes taught in Kyrgyz, Russian or English. AUCA runs its own admission exams: for the spring 2027 intake, the exam date is 7 November 2026.

Most foreign students need a visa, depending on nationality. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs runs an e-Visa portal; an e-Visa gives the same right to enter as a visa in the passport, and every traveller needs a separate one. After arrival, universities such as OshSU handle the extension of registration and visas.

Costs and funding

Each university sets its own fees for foreign students. At OshSU the cost is determined by the university and stated in an individual contract, and the university publishes a fee table for foreign students for the 2026-27 academic year. Accommodation, meals, the extension of registration and visas, and medical insurance are paid by the student. AUCA offers financial aid for undergraduate programmes. Ask for the current fees in writing before signing a contract.

How to choose a university

• Language of instruction: Kyrgyz, Russian or English, which varies by programme
• Type of degree: national degrees licensed by the ministry, or international programmes such as AUCA's US-accredited liberal arts degrees
• City: Bishkek, the capital, or Osh in the south
• Recognition at home: check how your country recognises the degree, especially for medicine and other regulated professions
• Housing: ask about dormitories early; AUCA notes that its dormitory is only one of the housing options in Bishkek, and OshSU runs student dormitories

Our directory lists one university in each city. In Bishkek, AUCA teaches primarily in English and offers bachelor's programmes such as business administration, economics, international and business law, software engineering and television, cinema and media arts, and master's programmes including an MBA and an LL.M.; it reports over 50 exchange programmes in more than 24 countries. In Osh, OshSU announced admission for the 2026-27 academic year in fields ranging from philology, law and education to information technology, robotics and artificial intelligence, and it has a faculty of international medicine.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English at a university in Kyrgyzstan?

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

Do I need to have my school certificate recognised?

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

How much does a degree in Kyrgyzstan cost?

Fees are set by each university. Osh State University fixes the cost in an individual contract and publishes a fee table for foreign students for 2026-27; housing, meals, visa extensions and insurance are extra.

Do I need a visa to study in Kyrgyzstan?

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