Step 1. Create your Personal account
The applicant should go to the admissions.nu.edu.kz portal, press the “Sign Up” button and fill out the required information in English. When selecting the academic level, the applicant should choose the Undergraduate program
After completing the application, the applicant is required to confirm it by clicking on the link sent to the applicant’s email address.
The applicant should read the instructions about the application procedure provided in the personal account.
The following applicants may apply for regular admission:
- 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
The applicant should open the “Foundation and Undergraduate Programs” link on the “My Application Forms” page and fill out the Application Form, which includes a consent form for personal data processing. The applicant should ensure that all required information has been entered in the correct manner and then click the “Upload” button.
Step 3. Submit the required documents
After filling out the application form, the applicant is required to upload the following documents to the personal account:
- A certificate from an educational institution according to the sample in the Personal account of applicant (in case the applicant is a current student of the final grade (course) at the time of online application) or a scanned version of a certificate/diploma with transcripts if the applicant has 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.
- A 3×4 photo for documents uploaded to the “Profile” section of the personal account.
- Transcript for the last completed academic year, or a high school diploma of general secondary education / college diploma with supplement, or its international equivalent (certificate/diploma), if available.
- The format of requested documents is available in the personal account.
Step 4. Pay the application fee and submit the application
To finalize the application process, the applicant is required to click the “PAY AND SUBMIT APPLICATION” button in the “My Application Forms” section of the personal account. 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 preceding the first officially approved application deadline or 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 the applicant does not have a personal bank card, another person’s bank card may be used to pay the application fee.
After submission, the applicant cannot make any changes in the application and submitted documents.
The Admissions Office will review the application and contact the applicant if there is an issue with the application or inform the applicant of any missing documents and the deadlines to submit them. Incomplete or improperly completed applications that remain uncorrected will not be considered in the admission process.
Important: Applicants are recommended to check the Spam folder, as a notification from the University may end up there.
Step 5. Submit IELTS/ TOEFL certificate (only after paying the application fee and submitting the application)
In order to provide IELTS/TOEFL certificates, the applicant 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 the personal account. Applicant can submit any number of certificates, but only the last certificate uploaded to their personal account will be considered.
IELTS/TOEFL certificates are considered without superscoring.
Important information about codes for submitting test results through the Test Administrator or Test Center:
- Code for IELTS: NU, Admissions Office
- Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
Detailed instructions about providing IELTS/TOEFL certificates are available in the applicants’ personal accounts.
- Minimum requirements for language test results are available in the “Admission requirements” section;
- Tests taken remotely, such as IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and TOEFL PDT, are not considered in the admission process;
- All provided certificates must be valid by August 1, 2027 – the beginning of the respective academic year.
- The deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the “Important dates” section.
- Submitting IELTS/TOEFL certificates to NU’s electronic database is not the responsibility of the University. Applicant should contact the Test Center independently and ensure the certificate has been sent. Please note that this process may take at least 7–10 business days. If the certificate is received after the deadline specified by the Admissions Office, results will not be considered.
Further steps
The applicant who has received an admission offer under the regular admission process may either accept it or submit a separate application for financial support. To accept a regular admission offer, the applicant must confirm the enrollment and pay the guarantee fee in the Personal Account. If the applicant accepts this offer, the application for financial support will not be considered.
Detailed information on application for financial support can be found in the “Financial Support and Scholarships” section.
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
This is the Regular Admission, to see the requirements for Financial aid and scholarships please follow the link.
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.
| Entry requirements | Notes | |
| English Proficiency Test | IELTS – 6.0;* writing -6.0; reading & listening & speaking – 5.5 or
the equivalent TOEFL score as posted on the ETS website; |
Code for IELTS: NU, Admissions Office Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
|
| Academic Results
(one of the results) | GPA – 4.0 out of 5.0 |
|
| UNT in English Overall score: 85
|
| |
| Digital SAT: 1240 or ACT: 26 |
SAT — 7915 ACT — 5521 | |
| IB Diploma results: 27 total score and 4, 4, 4 for 3 subjects of HL |
| |
| A-level/NIS 12 Grade Certificate results not less than BBB for any three subjects | ||
| Transfer Students: CGPA 2.0 out of 4.0 |
|
*An overall IELTS score of 5.5 (with no subscore below 5.5) may be considered for conditional admission. Applicable only to regular admission.
The following requirements apply for enrollment in NU’s Foundation year program
NUFYP (Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program) – a one-year intensive preparatory program for admission to the university’s undergraduate program
| Entry requirements | Note | |
| English Proficiency Test | IELTS – 5.5;* writing & reading – 5.5, listening & speaking – 5.0
or the equivalent TOEFL score as posted on the ETS website; |
Code for IELTS: NU, Admissions Office Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
|
| Academic Results
(one of the results) | GPA – 3.5 out of 5.0 |
|
| UNT in English Overall score: 75 1. Mathematical literacy: 7 out of 10 2. Reading literacy: 7 out of 10 |
| |
| Digital SAT: 1140 or ACT: 24 |
SAT — 7915 ACT — 5521 | |
- *An overall IELTS score of 5.0 (with no subscore below 5.0) may be considered for conditional admission. Applicable only to regular admission.
For detailed information:
- All provided certificates must be valid by August 1, 2027, the beginning of the respective academic year;
- The deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the “Important dates” section;
Important Dates
Application submission to Foundation and Undergraduate programs: on a rolling basis
For the 2026–2027 academic year (Mid-year intake):
Application submission period: August 18, 2026 – November 28, 2026 (until 14:00 Astana time)
For the 2027–2028 academic year:
For citizens of Kazakhstan and international applicantsfrom countries eligible for visa issuance upon arrival : October 2026 – August 2027
For international applicants from countries requiring a visa prior to entering Kazakhstan: To be announced later
For the 2026–2027 academic year (Mid-year intake):
Deadline for submitting test results to NU (IELTS/TOEFL & SAT/ACT): November 28, 2026 (until 23:59 Astana time)
For the 2027–2028 academic year:
To be announced later
Razida Kenes
School of Mining and Geosciences • BSc Petroleum Engineering, 2023
Sabira Baidildina
Center for Preparatory Studies • Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program (NUFYP)
Tuition fees
Foundation
The tuition fee for the Foundation Year Program is $12,000 for the 2026/2027 academic year for both local and international students.
To learn more about tuition fees, please contact us at bursars_office@nu.edu.kz.
Undergraduate
The tuition fee for undergraduate programs is $15,000 for the 2026/2027 academic year for both local and international students.
To learn more about tuition fees, please contact us at bursars_office@nu.edu.kz.
This is the Regular Admission, to see the requirements for Financial aid and scholarships please follow the page Financial Aid & Scholarships
Cost of living
The average monthly cost of attendance at Nazarbayev University is approximately USD 400, depending on the student’s lifestyle and personal spending habits. This estimate covers essential living expenses while studying on campus.
Accommodation is guaranteed for international students.
Estimated monthly expenses (USD):
- On-campus dining: ~USD 300
- Dormitory accommodation: ~USD 55
- Transportation: ~USD 15
- Laundry services: ~USD 8
- Sports center membership: ~USD 10
- Additional medical insurance: ~USD 5
These costs reflect a comfortable student lifestyle with access to campus infrastructure, dining facilities, healthcare services, and sports amenities. Actual expenses may vary depending on individual preferences.
Other opportunities
Mid-year Intake on a fee-paying basis
The undergraduate program, with a mid-year start, is an additional admission period in which applicants will be enrolled on a fee-paying basis for the spring semester.
The following applicants can participate in the selection process:
- Applicants who have already graduated from secondary schools
- Current students of other universities
Applicants may participate in the undergraduate programs mid-year intake competition on a fee-paying basis under the following categories:
- Full tuition based applicants (fee-paying)
- NUET applicants
- SAT/ACT applicants
- IВ Diploma holders
- A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders
- Winners of International or Republican Subject Olympiads
- Transfer students
The admission requirements for each category are aligned with those of the undergraduate admission process, with the exception of the NUET applicants category.
For NUET applicants category, only NUET scores obtained during the current calendar year will be accepted. The minimum requirement is an overall NUET score of 130, with a minimum score of 60 in Mathematics and 60 in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.
For the Mid-Year Intake, SAT and ACT certificates are valid for two years. The latest accepted test dates are:
- SAT: December 6, 2025
- ACT: February 13, 2025
To apply, applicants must create a personal account at admissions.nu.edu.kz.
Important: Applicants applying and recommended for enrollment in the spring semester of the undergraduate programs on a fee-paying basis do not participate in selection for awarding an educational grant “NU” and other grants.
Deadline for submission of application:
- November 28, 2026 (2 p.m. Astana time)
Deadline for submission of test results to NU:
- IELTS/TOEFL & SAT/ACT – November 28, 2026 (11:59 p.m Astana time)
The test must be sent to the university address via the test administrator, using the institutional code for NU.
NU, Admissions Office– for IELTS
6762 – for TOEFL
7915 – for SAT
5521 – for ACT
Transfer Students (on a fee-paying basis)
Applicants under the “Transfer Students” category will be considered for admission to the undergraduate programs of Nazarbayev University on a fee-paying basis only. Applicants must have successfully completed at least one semester of an undergraduate program at a foreign or Kazakhstani university.
Applications are evaluated based on the university’s CGPA and IELTS/TOEFL results, and the respective School will determine the course of study and possible credit transfer.
Minimum admission requirements:
- Minimum CGPA: 2.0 out of 4.0*
- English language requirement**:
- IELTS: no less than 6.0 overall (Writing – 6.0, Listening – 5.5, Reading – 5.5, Speaking – 5.5); or
- TOEFL: an equivalent score as published on the ETS website.
IELTS/TOEFL test results must be provided within 3 weeks after the application submission.
* At the discretion of the respective School, applicants with a CGPA lower than 2.0 may be considered for admission.
**Applicants who have completed at least one semester at a university where English is the language of instruction are exempt from submitting IELTS/TOEFL results.
Non-Degree Study
Non-degree study (NDS) – an educational option allowing a student to study with no commitment to obtain a degree.
Students are entitled to all benefits available to university students in accordance with the conditions set by the university. The study plan fully corresponds to the bachelor’s degree programs, depending on the chosen major. However, the education is offered exclusively on a fee-paying basis. The cost varies depending on the number of credits (ECTS) of the courses chosen.
Students studying with this option can become degree-pursuing students upon meeting certain criteria according to the internal documents of the university.
To take part in the competition for NDS, applicants must apply to the undergraduate program according to the admission policy and procedures within the application period. At the same time, their results may not meet the entry requirements of the undergraduate program, but are not lower than the results indicated below:
- IELTS results with a total score of 6.5 or an equivalent TOEFL result – a total score of 79 (no minimum requirements for sections);
And also by a category:
- SAT/ACT applicants: Digital SAT – 1150, ACT – 23;
- A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders: BBB in any subjects;
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma holders: total score – 27 and 4, 4, 4 for three high level subjects
- UNT certificate in English: Mathematical literacy: 9,
Reading literacy: 9; - NUET – 110 (40,40).
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.
