2. Kazakhstan Government Scholarship 2026–2027 — A Complete Application Guide

There is a particular kind of scholarship that sounds too good on paper and falls apart when you read the fine print. The Kazakhstan Government Scholarship is not one of them — but only if you apply correctly. Every year the inbox at studyinkz.com fills up with rejected applicants who simply missed a checkbox or uploaded the wrong file.

Let's walk through it the way I would explain it to a friend over coffee.

What is the Kazakhstan Government Scholarship?

It is the official fully-funded scholarship program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, open to non-Kazakhstani citizens for bachelor's, master's and doctoral study at more than 36 state universities across the country.

What it actually covers

• Full tuition fees for the entire program

• Free dormitory accommodation

• A monthly stipend (paid in KZT)

• Mandatory medical insurance during study

That is the rare "fully funded" that actually means fully funded. There is no hidden registration fee, no "living deposit," no surprise tuition top-up in year three.

How many places are available in 2026–2027?

The current quota stands at approximately 550 awards: 490 at bachelor's level, 50 at master's level and 10 at PhD level. Numbers shift slightly year to year, but the distribution has been stable since 2023.

Who can apply?

• Citizens of any country except the Republic of Kazakhstan

• Ethnic Kazakhs who are not Kazakhstani citizens are eligible

• Bachelor's applicants: completed (or about to complete) secondary education with strong academics

• Master's applicants: a relevant bachelor's degree

• PhD applicants: a relevant master's degree and a clear research direction

You do not need an offer from a Kazakhstani university first — the scholarship and admission are processed in a single application.

The application timeline

The 2026 cycle opens on 30 March 2026 and closes on 31 May 2026 at 23:59 Astana time. That is roughly nine weeks. Do not aim to submit in the final week. Servers slow down, embassies close on weekends and your IELTS score will arrive late. (It always does.)

All applications go through a single online portal: studyinkz.kz. Paper is not accepted.

Documents you will need

• Scanned passport (valid for at least 18 more months on the day you arrive)

• Secondary school transcript and diploma (translated into Kazakh, Russian or English)

• For master's/PhD: bachelor's or master's diploma and transcript

• Language proficiency proof — IELTS, TOEFL, or a Kazakh/Russian-medium school certificate

• Medical certificate (Form 086-U or equivalent)

• Motivation letter (typically 500–800 words)

• Two academic or professional reference letters

• Recent passport-style photograph

• Police clearance certificate from your home country

How the selection actually works

Stage one is a documentation review — your file either meets the criteria or it does not. Stage two is an entrance examination, conducted online for international applicants. It tests subject knowledge relevant to your chosen program, plus a language section.

The cut-off score varies by university and major. Medicine, IT and international relations are competitive every year. Programs in agriculture, geology and pedagogy are typically less crowded — worth knowing if you want to maximise your chances.

What I see applicants get wrong

Choosing the "famous" university only

Listing Nazarbayev University, KIMEP and Al-Farabi as your only three options is a popular mistake. The portal lets you rank multiple universities. Use the full list — your scholarship is for studying in Kazakhstan, not for studying at a specific brand name.

Submitting a generic motivation letter

Reviewers can spot a template at a glance. Mention Kazakhstan specifically — the program, the city, the industry. "I want to study in your country because of its rich culture" is invisible filler.

Underestimating the medical certificate

Form 086-U has a specific format. A generic GP letter from home will be rejected. Get a proper student-mobility medical certificate stamped by an authorised clinic.

Ignoring the language test deadline

IELTS results take 13 days. TOEFL iBT can take longer. Schedule your test by mid-April at the latest. If you wait until May you are gambling.

After you are accepted

Selected candidates receive an electronic invitation letter, which is used to apply for a C9 student visa at the Kazakhstani embassy or consulate in their home country. We have a separate guide on the visa process — see Blog 4.

You will need to arrive before the start of the academic year, typically the first week of September, register with the Migration Service within three days of crossing the border, and complete a short medical screening at your host university.

Final, slightly opinionated note

This scholarship is not a lottery. Applicants who treat it as a serious project — not a side bet — get through at very high rates. Read the eligibility rules twice, prepare your documents two months early, write a motivation letter that actually mentions Kazakhstan, and you have done more than 80% of your competition.

Helpful link:Apply on the official portal.

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.