Step 1. Create your Personal account
Go to the admissions.nu.edu.kz portal and press the “Sign Up” button and fill out the required information in English. Please select the undergraduate program when choosing the academic level.
After completing the application, confirm it by clicking on the link sent to your email inbox.
Be sure to read the instructions about the application procedure given in your personal account.
Applicants eligible to participate in the competition belong to the following categories:
- Individuals who are students in the final year of secondary education institutions or in the final year of technical, vocational, or post-secondary education programs;
- Individuals currently enrolled in higher education institutions;
- Individuals who have completed secondary, post-secondary, or higher education.
Step 2. Fill out the application form
Open the Foundation and Undergraduate Programs link on the “My Application Forms” page and fill out the Foundation and Undergraduate Application Form that includes a consent form for personal data processing. Make sure you have entered all the required information in the correct manner and press the “Upload” button.
Step 3. Submit the required documents
After filling out the application form, you are required to upload to your personal account:
- a scanned copy of proof of your studies at a final grade/course with a photo (according to the template in one of the languages, the handwritten text will not be accepted) or a scanned version of a certificate/diploma with transcripts if you have already completed a relevant level of study.
- a scanned copy of national ID card and/or passport. The copies from eGov or any other platforms/electronic services are not accepted. Important: to take the entry exam, an applicant must have an original of a passport or a national identity card that was uploaded to your personal account;
Upload a 3×4 photo for documents to the “Profile” section in your personal account. - The format of requested documents is available in a personal account.
Step 4. Pay the application fee and submit the application
To finalize the application process, please click on the “PAY AND SUBMIT APPLICATION” button in your personal account under the “My Application Forms” section. The application fee shall be paid online through the payment options available in the personal account. The use of other payment methods for the application fee are not acceptable.
The application fee is 10,000 tenge. The application fee is increased 3 times from the established amount when paid within the last two weeks before the first officially-approved during the extension period for accepting applications for participation in the admission process (30 000 tenge).
The application fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the application outcome or payment errors.
If you don’t have a personal card, you may use the card of another person.
After submission, applicants cannot make any changes in their applications and submitted documents.
The Admissions Office will check your application and contact you if there is an issue with the application or inform you of any missing documents and the deadlines to submit them. Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be considered in the competition.
Step 5. Submit IELTS/ TOEFL certificate (only after paying the application fee and submitting the application)
In order to provide IELTS/TOEFL certificates, applicants should fulfill the following requirements:
- Send an official electronic report of a valid IELTS/TOEFL certificate via the test administrator directly to NU;
- Upload a scanned copy and insert the TRF number into the “Upload IELTS/TOEFL results” section of your personal account. Applicants can submit any number of certificates for the competition, but the last certificate uploaded to their personal account will be considered.
IELTS/TOEFL certificates are considered without superscoring.
Take care when entering information regarding codes for test certificate submission via the test administrator or the test center. See below:
- Code for IELTS: NU, Admissions Office
- Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
Detailed instructions about providing IELTS/TOEFL certificates are available in applicants’ personal accounts.
- Minimum requirements for language test results are available in the “Entry examinations and requirements” section;
- Tests taken remotely, such as IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and TOEFL PDT, are not considered in the competition;
- All provided certificates must be valid by August 1, 2026 – the beginning of the respective academic year.
- The deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the “Important dates” section.
- Please note that submitting IELTS/TOEFL certificates to NU’s electronic database is not the responsibility of the university. You should contact the test center independently and ensure your certificate has been sent. Please allow at least 7-10 working days for this process. If the certificate is received after the deadline specified by the Admissions Department, results will not be considered in the competition.
Further steps
All programs (a-z)
Find your program
At NU, you can follow your dreams, develop your skills, and realize your ambitions through our world-class, high-quality academic programs.
Admission Requirements
The following requirements apply for enrollment in NU’s Foundation program
NUFYP (Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program) – a one-year intensive preparatory program for admission to the University’s Undergraduate Program
Please note that regular admissions is classified as a full tuition-based category, implying fee-paying study
| Categories | IELTS/TOEFL | Entry requirements | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUET applicants | IELTS – 5.5; writing & reading – 5.5, listening & speaking – 5.0 or TOEFL iBT equivalent | 120 out of 240 (50 per subject: Mathematics / Critical Thinking and Problem Solving subjects) |
|
| SAT/ACT applicants | Digital SAT Reasoning Test – 1140 OR ACT – 24 composite score | ONLY FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS *SAT/ACT certificates are considered without superscoring. **Only Digital SAT test is considered in the competition. |
The following requirements are required to enroll in NU’s undergraduate programs
The undergraduate program is a four-year higher education program leading to an academic bachelor’s degree.
| Categories | IELTS/TOEFL | Entry requirements | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUET applicants | IELTS – 6.0; writing -6.0; reading & listening & speaking – 5.5 or TOEFL iBT equivalent | 120 total score and 50,50 passing scores per subject (Mathematics, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) for participation in the competition. Applicants with a minimum passing score can be considered for NUFYP program |
|
| SAT/ACT applicants | Digital SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 OR ACT – 26 composite score | SAT/ACT test results are valid if their results do not expire by the 1st of August of the relevant academic year to which Applicants are applying. Within this admission competition, the SAT and ACT certificates expiration period is two years. The last accepted SAT/ACT test date is December 2025. *SAT/ACT certificates are considered without superscoring. **Only Digital SAT test is considered in the competition. | |
| IB Diploma holders* | 30 total score and 4, 4, 5 for 3 subjects of HL | *Only IB Diploma holders who have the final results of IB Diploma by the deadline of application period can participate in the competition under this category (Within this admission competition, IB diploma expiration period is two years). Diplomas of 2024 and 2025 years are considered in the competition. **IB Diploma holders also may choose to participate in the competition by the one of the following categories: “SAT/ACT applicants” or “NUET applicants” or "Winners of International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads (see the minimum requirements for these categories on the website) | |
| A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders* | A-level/NIS 12 Grade Certificate results not less than ABB for any subjects | *Only A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders who have the final results of A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate by the deadline of application period can participate in the competition under this category (Within this admission competition, A-level and NIS grade 12 Certificate expiration period is two years). Certificates of 2024 and 2025 are considered in the competition. **A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders also may choose to participate in the competition by the one of the following categories: “SAT/ACT applicants” or “NUET applicants” or "Winners of International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads" (see the minimum requirements for these categories on the website). | |
| Winners of International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads | Required, no minimum score | Republic Olympiad: Gold and silver medals (I, II place) for the current academic year International Olympiad*: Gold, silver and bronze medals (I, II, III place) for the last three years | List of International Subject Olympiads:
List of Republican Subject Olympiads of the Republic of Kazakhstan
|
For detailed information:
All provided certificates must be valid by August 1, 2026, the beginning of the respective academic year;
The deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the “Important dates” section;
IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and TOEFL PDT results are not considered in the competition;
IELTS/TOEFL tests must be taken in person at the test center (not remotely).
IELTS/TOEFL certificates are considered without superscoring.
Only applicants who provide IELTS/TOEFL results that meet the minimum requirements and are submitted within the specified deadline can be allowed to take the NUET exam (see below).
Applicants who provide IELTS/TOEFL results that meet the minimum requirements within the prescribed period and are allowed to take the NUET exam can later provide additional IELTS/TOEFL results to improve their language test scores. The deadline will be published in the “Important Dates” section.
In case of applying for both Foundation program and Undergraduate programs according to the “NUET applicants” category, an applicant is invited to the test once and takes it 1 time. Therefore, it is important to indicate in the application form the same city for passing the test. Foundation and Undergraduate programs’ Admission Committees will consider the results of one exam.
Applicants are informed about examination date and venue, information on format, as well as required documents and Rules of conduct during the examination via email approximately 5 days prior to the exams.
If a violation of rules or conditions of passing the test occurs, the applicant’s results are canceled . In this case, the applicant is excluded from the competition. Disqualified applicants will not be able to enroll to NU in the future.
SAT/ACT test results are valid if their results do not expire by the 1st of August of the relevant academic year to which Applicants are applying. Within this admission competition, the SAT and ACT certificates expiration period is two years. The last accepted SAT/ACT test date is December 2025.
**Subject to change for the 2026 intake.
Important Dates
NUFYP and undergraduate programs
Application deadline
NUET Applicants (NUFYP and Undergraduate programs, including international): September 27–November 20, 2025 (2 p.m. Astana time)
International Applicants (Undergraduate programs only and International SAT/ACT applicants for NUFYP): September 27– February 10, 2026 (2 p.m. Astana time)
Other Categories ((Undergraduate programs only) (SAT/ACT applicants, IB Diploma holders, A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders, Winners of international/republican Olympiads)): September 27– January 28, 2026 (2 p.m. Astana time)
Provision of IELTS/TOEFL results
NUET Applicants (NUFYP and Undergraduate programs, including international):
IELTS/TOEFL: December 12, 2025
(3 p.m. Astana time)
International Applicants (Undergraduate programs only and International SAT/ACT applicants for NUFYP):
IELTS/TOEFL: February 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Astana time)
SAT/ACT: February 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Astana time)
Other Categories ((Undergraduate programs only) (SAT/ACT applicants, IB Diploma holders, A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders, Winners of international/republican Olympiads)):
IELTS/TOEFL: February 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Astana time)
SAT/ACT: February 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Astana time)
Latest SAT: December 6, 2025
Latest ACT: December 13, 2025
Dates of NUET 2026
February 1, 2026 : Astana, Kostanay, Aktau, Kokshetau, Oskemen;
February 8, 2026: Astana, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Turkestan;
February 15, 2026: Almaty, Taldykorgan, Atyrau, Petropavl, Oral;
February 22, 2026: Karagandy, Pavlodar, Taraz, Semey, Aktobe;
Razida Kenes
School of Mining and Geosciences • BSc Petroleum Engineering, 2023
Sabira Baidildina
Center for Preparatory Studies • Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program (NUFYP)
Announcements
FAQ
What does NUFYP mean?
NUFYP (Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program) is a one-year intensive program at the Center for Preparatory Studies of Nazarbayev University. The program provides intensive personal development, study skills, mathematics, and academic-language proficiency preparation for the undergraduate programs of Nazarbayev University. Education in this program is available under the state grant or other forms of funding, as well as on a fee-paying basis. Following the results of study in the Foundation Year Program, students are accepted to Nazarbayev University undergraduate programs.
Can a 10th-grade student apply to NUFYP?
No, he/she cannot. Only final-year students and graduates of secondary/post-secondary educational organizations can take part in the competition for admission to NUFYP. In other words, to participate in the competition for admission to NUFYP, an applicant must be a student of a final grade/course or have graduated from a school or postsecondary educational organization. In order to confirm their status, applicants provide a verification letter from the school (spravka) or school diploma.
Is it possible to combine studies in high school and NUFYP at Nazarbayev University?
Combining studies is not possible. At the time of enrollment and study at NU, a student of NUFYP must be a graduate of a secondary/post-secondary educational organization. NUFYP is a full-time program.
What is the language of instruction at Nazarbayev University?
The language of instruction at Nazarbayev University is English.
Is it compulsory to enroll in NUFYP?
Admission to NUFYP after high school/college is optional. Applicants can enroll directly in the undergraduate program.
