Kazakhstan is a Central Asian country and the world’s ninth-largest country by land area. It became independent on December 16, 1991. Its higher education system has adopted elements of the European model through the Bologna Process, including a three-level degree structure and ECTS credits.
Kazakhstan offers diverse landscapes and university programs for international students. This article introduces affordable universities in Kazakhstan and links to official pages where you can confirm the latest admissions and tuition details.
Affordable Schools in Kazakhstan for International Students
1. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) was founded in 1934. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it is ranked #166 and is the highest-ranked Kazakhstani university in that edition.
KazNU’s admissions website links to foreign-applicant guidance, current faculty information, and tuition schedules. Its published 2025–2026 bachelor’s tuition fees for foreign students start at 1,600,000 KZT per year. The applicable amount varies by faculty, language of instruction, and applicant category. The university also offers preparatory courses in Kazakh and Russian.
2. Eurasian National University
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition fees: $4,400–$5,000 per year for foreign undergraduate students (€3,700–€4,200)
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) was founded in 1996. It was created on the basis of existing institutions, including the Tselinograd Civil Engineering Institute and Akmola Pedagogical Institute.
ENU publishes separate tuition schedules for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study. For foreign citizens applying to bachelor’s programs in 2026, the published annual tuition fees range from $4,400 to $5,000, or from €3,700 to €4,200, depending on the field of study. Foreign applicants should use the university’s dedicated guidance page for current document and language requirements.
3. Satbayev Kazakh National Technical University
Satbayev University describes itself as Kazakhstan’s first technical university. Its foreign-applicant page lists programs in engineering, technology, architecture, design, and related fields.
According to the university’s guidance, foreign applicants apply with the required documents and complete an interview rather than an entrance examination or UNT. The page separately lists design and architecture under creative-exam programs, so applicants to those programs should confirm the additional requirement. The official 2025–2026 schedule for international bachelor’s students lists tuition starting at 1,700,000 KZT per year, with the amount varying by program.
4. Kazakh-British Technical University
KBTU is an English-language technical university in Almaty. Its current structure page lists schools including Energy and Petroleum Industry, Geology, Information Technology and Engineering, Business, and Economics.
KBTU publishes its 2025–2026 tuition fees as program-specific rates per academic credit rather than as a single university-wide annual amount. Applicants should review the official schedule and confirm the applicable rate and required number of credits for their selected program.
5. Karagandy Buketov University
The institution’s history traces back to a Teachers’ Institute founded in 1938; it became a state university in 1972. It has since received national status and is now known as Karagandy National Research University named after Academician E.A. Buketov.
The university publishes a 2025–2026 tuition schedule for full-time bachelor’s programs. Standard programs start at 769,200 KZT per year, while information and communication technology and engineering-related fields are listed at 812,500 KZT per year. International applicants should confirm whether a separate fee category applies to them before submitting an application.
6. Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages
The university was founded in 1941 as a specialized Institute of Foreign Languages. Its current structure includes five faculties: the Pedagogical Faculty of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Translation and Philology, Faculty of Management and International Communications, Faculty of International Relations, Law and Business, and Faculty of Oriental Studies.
The university publishes a separate tuition schedule for foreign undergraduate students. For 2025 admission, the listed annual fees start at 1,100,000 KZT and vary by program. International applicants should consult the official international-student and tuition pages for current admissions, tuition, and funding information.
7. Almaty Management University
Almaty Management University (AlmaU) traces its history to a management school established in 1988. Its official admissions page accepts documents online through Platonus and links to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral admissions information.
For 2025–2026, published bachelor’s tuition fees range from 2,600,000 to 3,200,000 KZT per year, depending on the program. Current dormitory prices start at 65,000 KZT per month at Student Point; Jastar Apartments lists rooms from 80,000 to 100,000 KZT per month.
FAQs: Studying in Kazakhstan
Can I Study English at Kazakh Universities?
Kazakh is the official language of Kazakhstan, and Russian has the status of a language of interethnic communication. English-taught options are available at some universities, but the language of instruction varies by program. Confirm the teaching language on the official program page before applying.
How Affordable Are Kazakh Universities?
Tuition varies by university, level of study, field, applicant category, and academic year. Among the universities included in this article, published bachelor’s tuition starts at 769,200 KZT per year at Karagandy Buketov University. Some universities charge a program-specific annual amount, while KBTU publishes tuition as a per-credit rate. Review each university’s official fee schedule before applying.
Will I Need to Prepare a Big Budget for Living Costs in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan’s official currency is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). Living costs vary by city, housing type, and lifestyle. Astana is the current name of the capital. Ask your university for current dormitory information and prepare a personal budget before enrolling.
We hope that this article on affordable universities in Kazakhstan was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
