More than 35,000 international students study in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is rapidly strengthening its position as one of the leading educational hubs in the Eurasian region. In the 2025 academic year, 35,075 international students from 88 countries are studying at the nation’s universities. This number demonstrates the steady growth of internationalization and the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s higher education system.

The 11% increase in the number of foreign students compared to last year clearly shows that Kazakhstan is forming a full-fledged educational center offering high-quality academic programs, an international academic environment, and broad professional development opportunities.

The structure of international students also shows a significant expansion in geography. The top contributing countries are:
🔹 India – 9,959
🔹 Turkmenistan – 9,089
🔹 Uzbekistan – 4,136
🔹 China – 3,367
🔹 Russia – 2,426

A large share of students from South Asia, Central Asia, and China demonstrates rising demand for Kazakhstan’s competitive programs in medicine, engineering, IT, and socio-economic fields.

Key advantages for international applicants include:
🔹 more affordable tuition fees compared with many countries in the region;
🔹 recognition of Kazakhstani university diplomas and international partnerships;
🔹 improved infrastructure and a stronger focus on practical training.

Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent have become the three major centers attracting international students:
🔹 Almaty – 18,195 students
🔹 Astana – 4,292
🔹 Shymkent – 3,645

Almaty hosts the largest educational cluster in Central Asia, including national universities, medical schools, and private institutions. Astana is strengthening its role as an intellectual hub through the development of research centers and international education initiatives. Shymkent is emerging as an industrial-educational pillar in the south of the country.

Together, these three cities allow Kazakhstan to compete with Tashkent, Bishkek, and Baku for regional leadership.

National universities have become strategic drivers in attracting foreign students.
Top 5 universities by number of international students:

1. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University – 4,497

2. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University – 2,687

3. L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University – 2,483

4. Satbayev University – 1,759

5. M.Auezov South Kazakhstan University – 1,730

Their strong international student base reflects growing trust in the quality of academic programs, strengthened scientific infrastructure, development of new training areas, and the expansion of international partnerships and joint research projects.

Most in-demand fields of study:
🔹 Healthcare and Medicine – 12,950
🔹 Education – 5,943
🔹 Business and Law – 4,539
🔹 Engineering – 3,374
🔹 Information Technology – 2,141

This distribution highlights global demand for technical, medical, and IT fields, and confirms Kazakhstan’s role in training specialists for South and Central Asian markets.

Overall, Kazakhstan continues to steadily strengthen its position as a regional leader in the export of educational services.

Recent higher education reforms—opening branches of leading foreign universities, development of scientific clusters, updated standards, and expansion of international academic networks—are creating conditions for sustainable growth of the sector’s export potential. The data clearly show that Kazakhstan is not only among the major educational centers of Central Asia, but is also building its own academic hub that influences regional workforce development.

The Ministry will continue its policy of openness, internationalization, and integration into the global academic space.