Kazakhstan Eyes Increasing Number of International Students to 100,000
Kazakhstan is setting an ambitious target: triple its international student population from 35,000 to 100,000. The announcement was made by Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek, signaling a major strategic push to make Kazakhstan a leading destination for international education in Central Asia.
The Strategy
The plan centers on two parallel tracks. First, expanding branches of leading foreign universities across Kazakhstan's regions, bringing internationally recognized academic programs closer to local and regional students. Second, transforming existing Kazakhstani universities to meet international standards — improving faculty quality, research output, and campus infrastructure.
Cardiff University's branch in Astana serves as a model success story. With 317 enrolled students and an average IELTS score exceeding 7.5, the branch demonstrates that Kazakhstan can attract and retain high-calibre students who might otherwise study overseas.
Focus Areas
The initiative prioritizes disciplines aligned with Kazakhstan's strategic development needs:
- Engineering and Technical Fields — to support infrastructure and industrial growth
- Pedagogy — addressing a domestic demand for qualified teachers
- Information Technology — reflecting the global importance of digital skills
Key Numbers
- 35,000+ international students currently enrolled in Kazakhstan
- Target: 100,000 international students
- 90,000+ grants allocated in 2025; 72,000 bachelor's grants for 2026
- 27 universities selected to participate in the AI-Sana program
The AI-Sana program is a government initiative supporting the integration of artificial intelligence into university curricula — positioning Kazakhstan as a forward-thinking education hub.
For international students considering Kazakhstan as a study destination, this expansion represents exciting opportunities: more program choices, more campuses, and a government actively investing in the quality of the student experience.
