8. English-Taught Programs in Kazakhstan — The 2026 Reference List

One of the biggest objections to studying in Central Asia used to be language. "Do I have to learn Russian first?" "Will the lectures actually be translated?" "Is this English-taught business legitimate?"

Fair questions. Five years ago, the answer was complicated. In 2026, it is not. Kazakhstan now offers more than 200 fully English-medium programs at recognised universities — and the list is growing every cycle.

Here is what you need to know, sorted the way most students search for it.

The universities that teach in English

100% English-medium institutions

• Nazarbayev University (Astana) — every program

• Astana IT University — IT and digital

• Kazakh-British Technical University (Almaty) — engineering, IT, finance, business

Foreign branch campuses — fully English by default

This is the newest and arguably the strongest category. Every Western branch campus on Kazakhstani soil teaches 100% in English because that is how their home institution operates. The diploma comes from Cardiff, Coventry or NYFA — the language requirements match the home university's standards.

• Cardiff University Kazakhstan (Astana) — computer science, business administration, civil engineering, geology, mineral exploration

• Coventry University Kazakhstan (Astana) — business, computing, Global Business MBA

• New York Film Academy Kazakhstan (Kaskelen) — filmmaking, screenwriting, acting, 3D animation, VFX, game design

• City University of Hong Kong @ Satbayev University (Almaty) — engineering, AI, joint master's programs

• Heriot-Watt University (Aktobe) — engineering, business, science

• De Montfort University (Almaty) — business, IT, creative industries

• University of Arizona micro-campus (Petropavlovsk) — biotechnology, information science

Predominantly English programs

• KIMEP University (Almaty) — business, law, journalism, social sciences

• Suleyman Demirel University — engineering, IT, business

• Astana Medical University — MBBS, dentistry, pharmacy

• Karaganda Medical University — international medical faculty

• Al-Farabi KazNU — selected programs in IR, medicine and humanities

• Eurasian National University (Astana) — selected programs in IR, journalism and economics

• Narxoz University — selected business and economics tracks

• Satbayev University — selected engineering programs

Bachelor's programs in English — the most common fields

• Business Administration / International Business

• Economics and Finance

• Computer Science / Software Engineering

• Data Science and AI

• Cybersecurity

• International Relations and Diplomacy

• Journalism and Media

• Political Science

• Law (LL.B.)

• Medicine (MBBS)

• Dentistry

• Pharmacy

• Civil and Mechanical Engineering

• Petroleum Engineering

• Architecture

• Mathematics and Applied Math

Master's and PhD programs in English

Postgraduate options are even broader. Nazarbayev University, KIMEP and KBTU offer English-medium master's degrees across business (MBA, MA, MSc), public policy, education, computer science and engineering. PhDs are typically structured on the US model — three to five years, with coursework, comprehensive exams and dissertation.

What language test do you need?

The most common requirements:

• IELTS Academic: 6.0–6.5 for most programs, 7.0 for Nazarbayev University and a handful of competitive master's tracks

• TOEFL iBT: 80+ for most programs, 90–100+ for top-tier

• Duolingo English Test: 105+ accepted at many universities

• Internal English test: accepted at SDU, KazNU, ENU for some programs

• Native English speakers / prior English-medium education: exemption possible — check each university

If you studied your secondary school in English, attach an official letter from your school confirming the medium of instruction. Many universities will waive the test entirely.

Do you need to learn Russian or Kazakh anyway?

For the classroom, no. For life, yes — at least basic conversational level. Shopping, public transport, hospitals and the occasional bureaucratic office still run mostly in Russian. Kazakh is gaining ground every year, especially in Astana and outside the big cities.

Most universities offer free Russian and Kazakh language courses for international students. Take them. The student who learns 200 words of Russian in semester one becomes the student who eats better, makes more friends and pays less for taxis. It really is that simple.

A reference table of well-known English programs

Program

University

Length

Annual tuition (USD)

BSc Computer Science

Nazarbayev University

4 years

Scholarship

BBA International Business

KIMEP

4 years

6,500

BSc Petroleum Engineering

KBTU

4 years

5,500

BA International Relations

KazNU

4 years

3,200

BSc Software Engineering

AITU

4 years

4,200

MBBS General Medicine

Astana Medical

5 years

4,500

MSc Data Science

Nazarbayev University

2 years

Scholarship

MBA

KIMEP

2 years

11,000 (total)

LL.M. International Law

KazNU

1.5 years

3,800

PhD Computer Science

AITU

3 years

4,500

How to apply

1. Decide on the program and university (you can rank multiple)

2. Prepare your transcripts and English test results

3. Apply via studyinkz.kz for scholarship + admission, or directly via the university's admissions office for self-funded study

4. Submit a motivation letter — generic templates will not survive review

5. Sit the entrance exam if required

6. Receive your offer and proceed with visa application (see Blog 4)

Final encouragement

English-medium study in Kazakhstan is no longer the exotic side option — it is mainstream. Apply with the same care you would for a UK or Australian degree, and you will find the door wide open.

Official applications and resources

All international study applications and accredited programme listings in Kazakhstan are coordinated through the official portal of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: studyinkz.kz.

studyinkz.kz is the single authoritative source for accredited universities, current scholarship deadlines, foreign branch campus admissions and the official invitation letter required for the C9 student visa. Apply through any other channel only after verifying that your programme is listed on studyinkz.kz.