Student Mobility is in-person or online academic, research, and/or cultural experience that a student is undertaking at the Host Institution for a period of time (up to one academic year), which was formally approved and supported by his/her Home Institution (with written confirmation) on a free or fee-paying basis.
Please note: Student mobility is an additional opportunity. It is not a requirement.
Types of Student Mobility
Advantages of having mobility experience
Educational
- Acceptance and understanding of different cultural and community perspectives
- Language acquisition or practice
- Practice communication
- Multi-faceted approaches to learning
- Problem-solving skills
- Broader general knowledge and outlook
Personal
- Increased self-esteem and self-awareness
- Maturity and social poise
- Agility, adaptation, and travel/survival skills
- Development of new friendships
- Reassessment of home and family
Is Student Mobility at NU free of charge?
Mobility opportunities provided by NU based on NU cooperation links usually include only a tuition fee waiver at the Host Institution. Other expenses are covered by the student.
What expenses to consider for a mobility program?
- 2-way airfare
- Accommodation
- Food expenses/costs
- Visa fee
- Medical insurance
- Miscellaneous expenses
- Additional university fees
External funding opportunities for mobility can be found. Here are examples:
Eligibility and Participation
- Be currently enrolled at NU as a degree-seeking student
- Undergraduate students must have completed at least one academic year at NU and graduate students must have completed at least one semester at NU
- An applicant must be in good academic and disciplinary standing (i.e., not on probation or conditional status, and should not have academic or/and disciplinary sanctions)
- Have a CGPA of 3.0 and above
- Have no incomplete grades in any courses
- Be above 18 years old on the day of application for the Mobility Program
- An applicant must demonstrate to the School Committee that he/she fulfills all of the requirements of the Host Institution and NU program
Please note that the choice of the courses for study at the host institution should be coordinated and approved for credit transfer towards the program of study at NU SCHOOL
If an NU student studies on a state grant, the length of study at NU should not change or exceed the standard duration of the academic program – 4 years for undergraduate students and 2 years for graduate students
If a student happens to earn a scholarship or win an external exchange program, it is requested to contact the academic manager and School adviser ASAP.
Application Process
Upon return
- After completing the academic mobility, students are responsible for transferring credits earned during the exchange and inquiring about sending the transcript from the partner institution to the Department of Internationalization (mobility@nu.edu.kz).
- Feedback from students who participated in academic mobility should be provided to DI.
- NU Outgoing exchange Students should start attending classes at NU no later than the first week of the new semester at NU.
If students return to NU after the start of a term, it is their responsibility to make arrangements with their NU professors regarding the missed class periods and to make up coursework that is missed.
NU does not guarantee that absences due to mobility will be considered excused.
School Managers
Graduate School of Business
Aziza Bakytzhanova
aziza.bakytzhanova@nu.edu.kz
Graduate School of Education
Elmira Tukanayeva
elmira.tukanayeva@nu.edu.kz
Graduate School of Public Policy
Zhibek Shymbay
zhibek.shymbay@nu.edu.kz
School of Engineering
Fatima Akhmetova
fatima.akhmetova@nu.edu.kz
School of Sciences and Humanities
Nurgul Burgenbay nurgul.burgenbay@nu.edu.kz
School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence
Diana Maratova
d.maratova@nu.edu.kz
School of Medicine
Academic Affairs Office
nusom_academic@nusom.nu.edu.kz
Frequently Asked Questions
What opportunities are available for NU students wishing to participate in student mobility programs?
Student Exchange, Study Abroad, Short-term Study, Research Internship and Cultural Mobility based on agreements with Partner Universities.
What institutions have partnership agreements with NU on Student Mobility?
The list of our partners can be found here.
What are the requirements for participation in student mobility programs for applicants?
- To complete at least one year (for undergraduate students) / one semester (for Master’s and Ph.D. students) of studies at NU;
- To have no incomplete grades in any course;
- To have no incomplete grades in any course;
- To have a CGPA of 3.00 and above;
- To be 18 years old on the day of the application.
Who announces, and how is the possibility of participation in mobility programs announced?
Each School announces the exchange opportunities at the beginning of the new semester (whether it is the Fall semester or the Spring one)
What does the student application process look like?
At the start of each semester, NU Schools notify their students about forthcoming mobility opportunities, requirements, and deadlines. If the student meets the minimum requirements (see question 3 above), then he/she should start preparing the application package. The package consists of the following items:
- application form;
- resume or CV;
- statement of purpose;
- official transcript of the academic record;
- recommendation from a faculty advisor.
Once the package is ready, students should submit all items to their respective school managers.
How does the student selection process go?
- The school selection committee does the screening of all candidates and makes a shortlist of selected students.
- The shortlist is transferred to the partner institution.
- Partner institutions might also do additional screening of candidates and call them for an interview. Then, they make the final list of accepted students.
- The partner institution sends the final list of selected students to the Department of Internationalization and maintains direct contact with accepted students.
Can students participate in Student Mobility programs on their own?
Yes, NU students can participate in Student Mobility programs on their own. However, if the mobility program is credit-bearing, the respective NU School must approve the process.
What options are available if the Host University does not have an agreement on Student Mobility programs with NU?
In this case, only certain Summer School opportunities that allow student mobility without the Inter-Institutional agreement are available.
Does NU have an agreement within the Erasmus+ program
Yes, NU has a limited number of inter-institutional agreements for Student Mobility programs within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.
Is the Student Mobility program free for students?
Mobility opportunities provided by NU based on NU cooperation links usually include a tuition fee waiver. Other expenses (2-way airfare, accommodation, food expenses/costs, visa fee, medical insurance, miscellaneous expenses and additional university fees) are covered by the student. Partial funding can be considered by Schools.
What are the benefits of participating in Student Mobility programs?
Participating in Student Mobility programs can offer benefits such as exposure to new cultures, languages, and educational systems, access to specialized facilities and resources, networking opportunities, and personal and professional growth.
Do academic credits earned during Mobility programs at the Host Institution transfer to NU?
Yes, they can be transferred if they meet the requirements of the Academic Policies and Procedures for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies of Nazarbayev University.
What are some challenges associated with student mobility?
Challenges can include cultural adjustment, language barriers, homesickness, differences in educational systems, administrative complexities related to visa and travel regulations, and financial differences for living expenses.
How long do student mobility programs usually last?
The duration of student mobility programs can vary widely, ranging from short-term programs lasting a few weeks to a full academic year for longer student exchange or study abroad types of mobility.
Do I need to know the local language to participate in an academic mobility program?
Many courses at Host Institutions are usually offered in English, while some of them might require proficiency in the local language. Always check the language requirements of the specific program/course you’re interested in.
Can I participate in academic mobility if I have a family or dependents?
There are no restrictions for students with families or dependents, however, visa issues and all costs for their expenses should be borne by students.
