School of Science and Humanities
PhD program in Eurasian Studies at Nazarbayev University is the first interdisciplinary, English-medium doctoral program in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Central Asia. It is designed according to the highest international standards and taught by highly-qualified faculty, but at the same time is adapted to the educational, social and intellectual environment of Kazakhstan and the wider region.
Our program combines a core curriculum of key concepts in the humanities and social sciences, practical training in necessary writing and research techniques and ethics, and rigorous subject-specific training across at least two disciplines. Students have the space, time and flexibility they need to write a doctoral thesis that makes an original contribution to the field. Funding opportunities for research abroad and co-supervision by NU and non-NU experts enables our students to develop a truly international profile.
The online registration period:
Early admission: from November 4, 2019, until February 16, 2020 (inclusive). The online registration is free of charge.
Regular admission: from February 17, 2020 until May 12, 2020 (inclusive). You need to make a payment to submit your application. The amount of the application fee depends on the program.
Applicants applying to the Program are expected to have:
- An undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
- A Master’s degree or equivalent
- During the application period final year students may submit official current transcript for consideration.
- A competitive CGPA in applicant’s Master’s (or equivalent) degree.
- High level of English proficiency
- The absolute minimum requirement for English language proficiency test reports for admission to the Program is:
- Overall IELTS test score of 7.0 (with sub-scores no less than 6.0) or the equivalent TOEFL score as posted on the ETS website;
- Applicants, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:
- – one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication, academic instruction and daily life;
- – an undergraduate and/or graduate degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English.
- The absolute minimum requirement for English language proficiency test reports for admission to the Program is:
- Strong reading, analytical, and mathematical skills as demonstrated by GRE test (recommended);
- High motivation and strong interest in the Program as outlined in a personal statement;
- Strong academic writing ability as demonstrated in a writing sample (academic paper, essay, published article);
- Relevant research interest and knowledge of research subject as demonstrated in a written research proposal;
- Three letters of recommendation.
Application package checklist:
- Complete Application form;
- National ID (for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and passport (for international applicants);
- Official document confirming name change (if applicable);
- Degree diplomas (Bachelor’s and Master’s or equivalents) with transcripts;
- During the application period final year students may upload official current transcript for consideration.
- IELTS or TOEFL certificate valid as of date of online documents submission;
- Document confirming English as the language of instruction (only for applicants who earned their degree in a program which was taught in English and request an exemption from submitting IELTS or TOEFL).
- Applicants should provide a detailed certificate/reference from the university indicating the number and list of subjects completed in English.
- GRE certificate valid as of date of online documents submission (recommended);
- Personal statement outlining the applicant’s prior educational career, statement of his/her interest in the Program, his/her long-term career goals, and how the program would help him/her to achieve these goals (250-500 words);
- Three confidential letters of recommendation written within the last two years (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy after receiving an email request);
- Writing sample (academic paper, essay, published article);
- Research proposal outlining the research topic the applicant would like to pursue in the Program (1500-2000 words);
- Consent for the Applicant’s personal data processing (according to the template in the applicant’s personal account).
Important:
- All required documents indicated above (excluding letters of recommendation) must be uploaded by candidates to the Personal account before the indicated deadline.
- All submitted documents shall be in English or with notarized English translation.
- Submission of a complete application package does not guarantee admission to the Program.
- Applicants recommended for admission must provide hard copies of all documents as requested by the Admissions Department within established period of time.
- Applicants who obtained their degree diplomas/certificates from foreign education institutions must request their official transcripts to be sent directly to the University: 010000, Astana, Kabanbay Batyr Ave., 53, Nazarbayev University, Admissions Department.
- Standardized test reports shall be sent by the official test administrator directly to the University.
- Nazarbayev University Institutional Codes:
- GRE – 6496
- TOEFL – 6762