Nazarbayev University, the leading research university in Central Asia and the Caucasus, expanded its doctoral support program to 200 grants — nearly double the number offered in previous years. Priority is given to physical sciences, computer science, engineering and medicine.
The program is funded through a combination of state grants, university resources and support from the NU Impact Foundation. As part of the expansion, Nazarbayev University is establishing a Doctoral Institute to centralize support for PhD candidates, strengthen academic supervision and promote interdisciplinary research.
“We aim to have over 1,000 PhD and professional doctorate students at NU. To achieve this, we will continue to fund increases in doctoral enrollment in the coming years. To manage this growth, we are launching a Doctoral Institute — a new academic structure designed to provide centralized support for doctoral students, strengthen mentorship, and broaden the range of doctoral programs. The Institute will also foster interdisciplinary research and enhance the international integration of early-career scholars,” said Dr. Luis Ramon Rojas-Solórzano, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies.
Doctoral education plays a critical role in preparing talent for universities, research institutes and R&D centers. In many countries, particularly in STEM fields, doctoral students make up a significant share of the research workforce. The near doubling of PhD grants reflects Kazakhstan’s strategic focus on advancing science and addressing national and regional priorities.
The expansion of doctoral programs coincides with Nazarbayev University’s growing international recognition. This year, the university climbed 100 positions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, entering the 401–500 band. Also, NU is represented in three subject areas of the Shanghai Ranking and continues to be recognized as the leading university in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In the Leiden Ranking 2025, which evaluates universities solely on the quality of scientific research, NU ranked 39-44 range globally in Biomedical and Health Sciences subject.
Online applications for doctoral (PhD) programs for the 2026–27 academic year are currently open and will remain available through March.
