Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s largest economy and a fast-growing academic hub, offering affordable tuition, English-taught programs, and a major English-medium MBBS/MD route — at a fraction of Western costs. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranks #1 in Central Asia, while Nazarbayev University is English-medium and offers fully-funded scholarships. Non-EU students get a C9 student visa using a university invitation letter, and international students may work part-time. This guide gives a clear overview — confirm details with the Study in Kazakhstan portal and your university.
Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Students Choose Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan offers affordable tuition, English-taught programs, fully-funded scholarships (Nazarbayev University), a major English-medium MBBS/MD route, and a crossroads-of-Europe-and-Asia setting — with rapidly growing international enrollment.
Affordable — + English programs
Full scholarships — Nazarbayev
MBBS/MD — English-medium
How to help: Weigh Kazakhstan’s affordability, English options, and scholarships against learning some Russian for daily life — for funded study or affordable medicine, it’s a strong Central Asian choice.
Good to know: Nazarbayev University offers fully-funded scholarships (tuition, accommodation, living allowance) — worth targeting if you qualify.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the System
Leaders include Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU — #1 in Central Asia, Almaty), the English-medium research-focused Nazarbayev University (Astana), L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, KIMEP (English, business), and Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University. Apply directly or via the Study in Kazakhstan portal.
Al-Farabi (KazNU) — #1 Central Asia
Nazarbayev — English, research
KIMEP / medical — + others
How to help: Choose by field — Nazarbayev/KIMEP for English-taught study, KazNU for breadth, Asfendiyarov for medicine — and apply directly or through the Study in Kazakhstan portal.
Watch out: For medicine, confirm the university is WHO/WDOMS-listed and recognized where you’ll practice.
Step 3 of 10
Get the C9 Student Visa
After admission, your university provides an invitation letter, which you use to apply for a C9 student visa at a Kazakh embassy/consulate (fee usually around $200; an interview may be required). You’ll show the invitation, proof of funds, and health insurance.
C9 visa — the student visa
Invitation letter — + funds proof
~$200 — typical fee
How to help: Get your university’s invitation letter, then apply for the C9 student visa at a Kazakh mission with funds proof and insurance — an interview may be required.
Good to know: The invitation letter underpins the C9 visa — apply as soon as you’re admitted.
Step 4 of 10
Apply to Universities
Apply directly to universities or via the Study in Kazakhstan portal (studyin.kz). Most universities open for the September intake around June–August; Nazarbayev University runs its own cycle (February–March). English programs require English proof; some programs don’t.
Apply directly / portal — studyin.kz
June–August — most universities
Nazarbayev — Feb–March
How to help: Apply directly or via studyin.kz by the intake deadlines (June–August for most; Feb–March for Nazarbayev), with English proof for English programs.
Good to know: Some programs need no English test; English-taught programs (Nazarbayev, KIMEP) require TOEFL/IELTS — check your program.
Step 5 of 10
Plan for Tuition & Scholarships
Tuition is affordable: roughly $1,500–5,000/year at public universities. Nazarbayev University offers fully-funded scholarships (tuition, accommodation, living allowance); KIMEP, KazNU, and others offer merit-based partial-to-full waivers. Some bilateral agreements (e.g., with India, China) also fund students.
Tuition — ~$1,500–5,000/yr
Nazarbayev — fully funded
Merit waivers — KIMEP, KazNU
How to help: Budget the affordable tuition, and pursue Nazarbayev’s full scholarships or merit waivers at KIMEP/KazNU — plus any bilateral-agreement funding.
Good to know: Beyond Nazarbayev, universities like KIMEP offer up to 100% merit-based tuition coverage — apply early with strong academics.
Step 6 of 10
Meet the Financial Requirement
For the visa you show proof of funds (commonly around $3,000) covering tuition and living, plus health insurance. Living costs are very low ($200–500/month; hostels $50–150/month). Confirm the exact amount with the Kazakh mission.
Funds — ~$3,000 (proof)
Insurance — required
Low living — $200–500/mo
How to help: Prepare proof of funds (~$3,000) and health insurance — living costs are very low, so budgeting is manageable; confirm specifics with the mission.
Good to know: Confirm the exact funds figure with the Kazakh mission — it varies by nationality and program.
Step 7 of 10
Meet Language Requirements
Many programs are taught in English (Nazarbayev, KIMEP, and others; medicine widely in English), proven via TOEFL/IELTS. Others are in Russian or Kazakh. Even in English programs, some Russian greatly helps daily life and clinical work.
English — Nazarbayev, KIMEP, medicine
Russian/Kazakh — other programs
Some Russian — helps daily life
How to help: Confirm your program’s language — choose an English-taught program (TOEFL/IELTS) or prepare Russian/Kazakh — and pick up some Russian for daily life.
Good to know: Even in English programs, some Russian markedly helps daily life (and clinical rotations in medicine).
Step 8 of 10
Prepare for the Move
After arriving, complete your registration, arrange hostel or private housing, and set up banking and insurance. Hostels are very cheap ($50–150/month); most international students are based in Almaty or Astana. Winters are cold — pack accordingly.
Registration — on arrival
Hostels — $50–150/month
Cities — Almaty, Astana
How to help: Handle arrival admin — registration, hostel/housing, banking, insurance — and settle into Almaty or Astana; hostels are very affordable.
Good to know: University hostels are very cheap ($50–150/month) — a real saving; pack for cold winters.
Step 9 of 10
Understand Work Rules
Kazakhstan’s legislation allows international students to work part-time while studying, which can help cover living costs — but rules vary by program and visa type, so confirm your specific conditions before taking a job.
Work — part-time allowed
Helps — cover living costs
Confirm — your visa conditions
How to help: You may work part-time under Kazakh law (useful for living costs) — but confirm your specific visa/program conditions before starting any job.
Good to know: Work rules vary by program and visa type — check your specific conditions with your university and immigration.
Step 10 of 10
Thrive & Work After Study
Kazakhstan’s energy, technology, and finance sectors, and its crossroads location, offer regional opportunities. For medical graduates, verify recognition and pass the licensing exam where you’ll practice. Confirm the current post-study work pathway if you want to stay.
Energy, tech, finance — regional roles
Medicine — verify recognition
Post-study — confirm pathway
How to help: Use Kazakhstan’s energy/tech/finance sectors and regional links, verify medical recognition/licensing where relevant, and confirm the current post-study work pathway.
Watch out: For medicine, verify recognition and pass your target country’s licensing exam — the essential step to practice.
Quick Reference
Studying in Kazakhstan: The Essentials
A snapshot — figures and recognition vary, so confirm with the Study in Kazakhstan portal, your university, and the Kazakh mission.
- The systemAl-Farabi Kazakh National University (#1 in Central Asia), Nazarbayev University (English, research), L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, KIMEP (English, business), and Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University; apply directly or via studyin.kz.
- The visaAfter admission, the university issues an invitation letter; you apply for a C9 student visa at a Kazakh mission (fee ~$200; an interview may be required) with proof of funds and insurance.
- Tuition & scholarships~$1,500–5,000/year at public universities; Nazarbayev University fully funds scholarships (tuition, accommodation, allowance); KIMEP/KazNU merit waivers; some bilateral-agreement funding.
- Money & languageProve ~$3,000 plus insurance (living costs low, $200–500/month); English programs (Nazarbayev, KIMEP, medicine; TOEFL/IELTS) or Russian/Kazakh; students may work part-time.
- After studyEnergy, tech, and finance sectors offer regional opportunities; medical graduates must verify recognition and pass the licensing exam where they’ll practice; confirm the post-study work pathway.
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal or immigration advice. Kazakh rules, tuition, and funds change (and medical-degree recognition varies); confirm all details with the Study in Kazakhstan portal, your university, and the Kazakh mission.
Studying in Kazakhstan