Funding opportunities to study at Nazarbayev University
Applicants are awarded with grants based on the established admission criteria and in accordance with the decision of the Admissions Committees. Admission to Nazarbayev University is merit-based. NU offers full funding, fee-paying study, partial grant (or financial aid) opportunities. All types of grants are awarded for undergraduate and foundation year programs, master's, doctoral, and residency programs based on the competition results. If the applicant is not eligible for a grant he/she will be offered admission on a fee-paying basis or other funding options.
FULL FUNDING
The following grants are offered by the University:
| Grant Name | Grants are awarded to the following categories of applicants | Grants cover costs: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| within educational programs | of education | of stipend | ||
| State Grant | citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan | all educational programs, with the exception of short-term courses and trainings | yes | yes |
| Alash Grant | citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan | all educational programs, with the exception of short-term courses and trainings | yes | yes |
| Abay Kunanbaiuly Grant | foreign citizens, stateless persons, including persons of Kazakh nationality | all educational programs, with the exception of short-term courses and trainings | yes | yes |
| Ybyrai Altynsarin Grant | citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan from among certain categories of socially vulnerable segments of the population | all educational programs, with the exception of short-term courses and trainings | yes | yes |
Persons who already have a degree of an appropriate educational level under the state educational order and/or Bolashak international grant, shall not be awarded with the Grants to receive the same level of education.
Graduates of the University who have previously obtained a degree of the corresponding level of education under the Grant (Grants) are not eligible to participate in the competition for the award of the Grant (Grants) at the same level of education. The grants are also not available for the applicants who previously studied at Nazarbayev University and had been dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
Ybyrai Altynsarin Grant
“Ybyrai Altynsarin” grant is named after the most prominent Kazakh educator of the late 19th century – Ybyrai Altynsarin (1841–1889). Y.Altynsarin opened numerous Kazakh-Russian boarding schools, technical schools and schools for girls. He is also credited with authoring the first Kazakh grammar book and the first Kazakh-Russian newspaper.
The grant is provided to applicants from certain categories of socially vulnerable populations in Kazakhstan who meet all the admission requirements, are recommended for admission, but were unable to receive the State Grant. Only applicants who belong to one or more of the following categories can be eligible for the "Ybyray Altynsarin" grant :
Orphans or individuals who have been left without parental care and have not reached the age of twenty-nine, having lost their parents before reaching adulthood. Individuals with disabilities (I, II, III disability groups). Individuals from large families or families with four or more cohabiting children who have not reached the age of twenty-three, who are full or half siblings. Individuals who have one or both parents with disabilities (I, II, and III disability groups).
The grant is funded by Nazarbayev University and covers the tuition fee and monthly stipend. It does not cover the compensation of transportation. The grant is awarded for the entire duration of the relevant educational program. The number of grants is annually approved by Nazarbayev University. Vacant state grants can be re-allocated among holders of “Ybyrai Altynsarin” grant.
Abay Kunanbaiuly Grant
“Abay Kunanbaiuly” grant named after Abay Kunanbaiuly (1845-1904) a Kazakh poet, educator, composer, great thinker, philosopher, the founder of the Kazakh written literature. The grant is specifically designed and awarded to foreign citizens and stateless persons recommended for admission by the Admissions Committee of the respective program.
The grant is funded by Nazarbayev University and covers the tuition fee and monthly stipend. It does not cover the compensation of transportation. The grant is provided for an entire period of the specified program. The number of grants is annually approved by Nazarbayev University. Vacant state grants can be re-allocated among holders of “Abay Kunanbaiuly” grant, if a grant holder receives a citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Alash Grant
The word Alash reflects the concepts of "people" and "society." At the beginning of the 20th century, the main idea of the Kazakh people became the idea of Alash, aiming to unite the nation, keep the centuries-old values of the nation, and introduce the educated population to the experiences and achievements of advanced countries.
On the path of developing a modern independent Kazakhstan, the idea of Alash also holds significant importance in building a new and fair Kazakhstan, with educated and honest citizens as its creators. The ideals of Alash in history serve as an example of patriotism and loyal service to one's country. It is individuals with a solid education, broad knowledge, cultural and intellectual qualities, and patriotism towards their country who can become the leaders of present-day Kazakhstan.
The "Alash" grant is funded by Nazarbayev University, covering the cost of education and providing a monthly stipend. The grant is awarded for the entire duration of the relevant educational program. The number of grants is determined annually by Nazarbayev University. Vacant state grants can be re-allocated among holders of "Alash" grant. Only citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan are eligible for this grant.
State Grant
The Nazarbayev University educational Grant (State Grant) is available to the majority of applicants. The State Grant covers full tuition fees for most of the programs, a monthly stipend, and compensation of transportation in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The number of grants is annually approved by the decision of the Ministry of Science and High Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
FEE-PAYING STUDY AND OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS
Fee-paying study and Partial scholarships: 2023-2024
▼Fee-paying study 2023-2024
Admission to a fee-paying study is available to applicants/candidates who meet all admission requirements, recommended for admission but didn’t receive any of the grants mentioned above. Number of seats for a fee-paying study is approved annually by the Nazarbayev University depending on the capacity of the Schools.
Information about the tuition fees can be found by inserting your data into the Tuition fee calculator 2023-2024 academic year provided below.
For students who make a one-time advance payment of 100% of the tuition fee for one academic year or the entire payment amount specified in the Tuition agreement, an additional discount of 5% of the payment amount is provided.
▼Partial scholarships 2023-2024
Certain categories of students of Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program (NUFYP), undergraduate and graduate programs (except the programs of Graduate School of Business), enrolled on a fee-paying basis can be provided with a discount from 50% to 100% of the tuition fee, as can be seen in the tables below:
For Kazakh citizens
|
No. |
Categories of candidates |
Program of study |
| 1 |
Orphans or individuals left without the care of parents |
Foundation, undergraduate programs |
|
2 |
Individuals with 1,2,3 categories disabilities |
Foundation, undergraduate programs, мaster programs |
|
3 |
Individuals from large families, or families with four or more children living together, under the age of 23 years |
Foundation, undergraduate programs, мaster programs |
|
4 |
Individuals with one or both parents with disabilities of 1, 2, 3 categories |
Foundation, undergraduate programs, мaster programs |
|
5 |
Foundation and undergraduate program students |
Foundation, undergraduate programs |
|
6 |
Acting civil and public servants of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
Master programs |
|
7 |
Students of Master and Zero year of Graduate Programs |
Master programs |
For international candidates
No. Categories of candidates
1 Citizens from low income and lower-middle-income countries by the current World Bank classification*
2 Citizens from upper-middle-income countries by the current World Bank classification*
3 Citizens from high-income countries by the current World Bank classification*
*list of counties according to the World Bank classification: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups
For more information regarding paid tuition and partial scholarships please refer to Bursar’s office:
Phone: +7 (7172) 70 60 32, 70 91 99
Email: bursars_office@nu.edu.kz
Office 1.248B Block 1
53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave.
Tuition Fee Calculator 2023-2024
For more information about the tuition fee of GSB degree programs, we kindly ask you to visit the website gsb.nu.edu.kz.
Tuition fee for your program is
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Fee-paying study and Financial aid: 2024-2025
▼Background information
In light of the speech by the Head of State K.K. Tokayev at the meeting of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on January 11, 2022 (https://www.akorda.kz/ru/vystuplenie-glavy-gosudarstva-kk-tokaeva-na-zasedanii-mazhilisa-parlamenta-respubliki-kazahstan-1104414), the most important factor for the development of society as a whole and an unquestionable priority is to enhance access to quality education. The issue of accessibility of higher education remains relevant and is regularly highlighted by the Head of State in his messages to the people of Kazakhstan, including the address on September 1, 2022 (https://www.akorda.kz/en/president-kassym-jomart-tokayevs-state-of-the-nation-address-181857).
According to the Nazarbayev University Strategy for 2018-2030 (https://nu.edu.kz/about/index), the University's priority tasks and challenges include:
Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, the University plans to conduct a pilot project for undergraduate and foundation year programs. The main idea of the project is that in addition to grants within the state educational order, the funding system for educational programs at the University will work in such a way that part of the educational expenses is covered by the University and other funding sources, while the remaining part is paid by the student as tuition fees. According to the project, the tuition fees for undergraduate and foundation year programs are set based on the higher education market and have been established through analysis of leading universities in Kazakhstan and abroad.
▼Fee-paying study 2024-2025
Admission to fee-paying study is available to applicants/candidates who meet all admission requirements, have been recommended for admission, but did not receive any of the abovementioned grants. Nazarbayev University determines the number of quota positions for fee-paying study annually, depending on the capacity of the schools.
For students who make a one-time advance payment of 100% of the tuition fee for one academic year or the entire payment amount specified in the Tuition agreement, an additional financial aid of 5% of the payment amount is provided.
Undergraduate and foundation year (NUFYP) programs
The following tuition fees have been approved by the Board of Trustees of the University:
| Name | Tuition fees per one academic year: | |
|---|---|---|
| For citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and stateless persons | For foreign citizens | |
| Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program (NUFYP) | 2 250 000 tenge | 5 000 USD |
| Undergraduate programs | 2 900 000 tenge | 6 500 USD |
Graduate programs, including zero year of graduate programs
Certain categories of students of master’s (except the programs of Graduate School of Business), enrolled on a fee-paying basis can be provided with a discount from 50% to 100% of the tuition fees:
Information about the tuition fees can be found by inserting your data into the Tuition fee calculator 2024-2025 academic year provided below.
▼Financial aid 2024-2025
Students who do not meet the criteria for full grants may be eligible to receive various levels of financial aid from the University.
For students of undergraduate and foundation year programs, financial aid is provided at the rates of 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the tuition fee.
The amount of financial aid is determined as follows:
If there are vacant grants available, students can be transferred from fee-paying study to a vacant grant.
For international students in undergraduate and foundation year programs, as well as for students arriving independently within the academic mobility programs at Nazarbayev University for fee-paying study, financial aid is provided based on the student category (see below):
|
No. |
Categories of candidates |
| 1 |
Citizens from low income and lower-middle-income countries by the current World Bank classification* |
|
2 |
Citizens from upper-middle-income countries by the current World Bank classification* |
|
3 |
Citizens from high-income countries by the current World Bank classification* |
*list of counties according to the World Bank classification:
https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groupsFor more information regarding paid tuition and partial scholarships please refer to Bursar’s office:
Phone: +7 (7172) 70 60 32, 70 91 99
Email: bursars_office@nu.edu.kz
Office 1.248B Block 1
53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave.
Tuition Fee Calculator 2024-2025
For more information about the tuition fee of GSB degree programs, we kindly ask you to visit the website gsb.nu.edu.kz.