Universities in Kazakhstan

Universities in Kazakhstan are overseen by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, which is responsible for higher and postgraduate education, language policy and quality assurance through its own Education Quality Assurance Committee. The system follows the European model: in 2010 Kazakhstan became a full member of the European Higher Education Area, the first Central Asian country to do so, according to the national recognition centre ENIC Kazakhstan.

For international students this means degrees organised in ECTS credits and, at several universities, teaching in English alongside Kazakh and Russian. Our directory lists three universities in Kazakhstan, all in the Almaty area: KIMEP University and Kazakh-American University in Almaty, and SDU University in Kaskelen.

How Kazakh universities work

Degrees follow three cycles. At SDU University, for example, a bachelor's degree requires 240 ECTS credits, a master's degree 120 and a PhD 180. Programmes carry national codes: bachelor's programmes start with 6B (such as 6B04104 Finance) and doctoral programmes with 8D (such as 8D06102 Computer Science).

Students choose their courses each semester; at SDU a student takes between 20 and 42 ECTS credits per semester and pays for them before the semester starts. The academic year has two main semesters, autumn from September and spring from January. Universities that teach in English run foundation programmes or language courses for applicants whose level is not yet high enough.

Language of instruction varies by university and programme. SDU, which opened in 1996, offers 61 programmes (29 bachelor's, 24 master's and 8 doctoral) and states that 70% of them are taught in English and 30% in English, Kazakh or Russian. KIMEP University has a business college, a School of Law and a faculty of computer science and artificial intelligence, and runs Executive MBA and Mini MBA programmes.

Admission for international students

There is no central application system for foreign applicants: you apply to each university. SDU's procedure is typical of English-taught programmes:

• An online application with passport, school certificate and transcript, a recommendation letter and a motivation letter
• A non-refundable student fee of 200 USD
• An English placement test and an online interview; IELTS 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in each section) replaces the test
• An acceptance letter, after which the university supports the visa application

SDU's deadlines for 2026 are 31 July for the autumn intake and 30 November for the spring intake. Admission comes first: only admitted students can apply for a student visa, and on arrival they must register with the immigration authorities within three working days.

Foreign school and university certificates must be recognised in Kazakhstan. ENIC Kazakhstan handles the recognition (nostrification) of foreign secondary, vocational, higher and postgraduate qualifications; you can apply through the eGov.kz portal or a public service centre, with a notarised translation if the document is in a foreign language. At SDU, international students must complete this procedure during their first semester.

Costs and funding

There is no single national fee for international students. Each university publishes its own fees, and at SDU the fee differs by programme and depends on the number of ECTS credits taken each semester; SDU publishes separate fee tables for the 2026-27 academic year for bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes. Budget also for the application fee, visa and registration, housing and health insurance.

Funding usually comes from the university itself. SDU, for example, runs a programme for outstanding students that gives full or partial grants or a dormitory place, provided the student keeps a minimum GPA each semester. Ask each university about its own scholarships and discounts for international students.

How to choose a university

• Language: the share of programmes taught in English, Kazakh or Russian, and whether a foundation year is available
• Degree level: bachelor's, master's, PhD or executive programmes such as an MBA
• Quality assurance: programme or institutional accreditation, such as KIMEP's FIBAA accreditation, which KIMEP reports is valid until 2033
• Location: central Almaty or a campus outside the city, such as SDU in Kaskelen
• Housing: on-campus dormitories, such as SDU's Student House for 1,280 residents
• Recognition: whether your previous diploma needs nostrification, and whether the degree will be recognised at home

Frequently asked questions

Can I study at a Kazakh university in English?

Yes, at several universities. At SDU University, 70% of programmes are taught in English, and admission requires an English placement test or IELTS 5.5.

Are Kazakh degrees compatible with European degrees?

Kazakhstan has been a full member of the European Higher Education Area since 2010, and universities use ECTS credits: 240 for a bachelor's, 120 for a master's and 180 for a PhD at SDU.

Do I need to have my diploma recognised?

Yes. Foreign education documents must go through recognition (nostrification), which can be requested on eGov.kz; at SDU this must be done within the first semester.

How much does a university in Kazakhstan cost?

Each university sets its own fees. At SDU they depend on the programme and the number of ECTS credits taken each semester, plus a 200 USD application fee.