Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty opened on 15 January 1934 and was granted research university status by a Government decree of 25 July 2022.[1] It was Kazakhstan’s highest-ranked institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027, tied at 177th.[2][3] The university now also uses the name “Farabi University”.[4]
International students pay tuition on a contract basis, with 100 % of the first year due before the study visa invitation; payment can be made in tenge or in US dollars.[5] The university publishes its 2025–2026 fee tables as PDF files, which we could not open, so we give no amounts here.[6] Teaching is in Kazakh, Russian and English.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Әл-Фараби атындағы Қазақ ұлттық университеті); also branded Farabi University[4] |
| Location | Almaty, Kazakhstan (71 al-Farabi Avenue, 050040)[7] |
| Founded | 15 January 1934 (opened with 54 students)[1] |
| Status | Research university by Government decree of 25 July 2022; classified as a national university in 2001 (Wikipedia)[1] |
| Students | “30K+ students worldwide” (university home page); 19,584 full-time equivalent (THE 2027 data as listed by xuanxiao.org)[8] |
| Programmes | 140+ undergraduate and 250+ postgraduate programmes[8] |
| Faculties | 16[1] |
| Languages of teaching | Kazakh, Russian and English[5] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =177 (highest in Kazakhstan; 18 Kazakh universities ranked)[2] |
| QS Asia 2027 | 46th, down eight places[4] |
| Tuition, foreign citizens | Paid basis; fee tables for 2025–2026 are PDF files that could not be read; abbreviated programmes cost 70 % of the full price[6] |
| Entry test, bachelor’s (foreign applicants) | Online test in two stages: general subjects (threshold 13 of 20) and language of instruction[9] |
| Official website | welcome.kaznu.kz |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
KazNU opened on 15 January 1934 with 54 students; its first faculties were physics, mathematics and biology.[1] Wikipedia gives an official opening date of 15 January 1934, and also cites a resolution of 13 November 1933 as a founding date.[10] A Government decree of 25 July 2022 gave it the status of a research university.[1] The same page counts 16 faculties.[1]
The campus is at 71 al-Farabi Avenue in Almaty.[7]
How is Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, KazNU is tied at 177th, the highest-ranked institution in Kazakhstan.[2][3] The aggregator xuanxiao.org records this as a fall of 11 places from the 2026 edition; Wikipedia lists 166th for 2026.[3][10] Eighteen Kazakh universities appear in the 2027 world table.[2]
In the separate regional QS Asia 2027 table (3 November 2026) KazNU is 46th, down eight places.[4] The same aggregator lists Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 at 1401–1600.[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
See the Kazakhstan ranking for the other universities in the country.
What can you study at KazNU?
The university lists more than 140 undergraduate and more than 250 postgraduate programmes.[8] Wikipedia names faculties including Biology and Biotechnology, Physics and Technology, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Philology and World Languages, Journalism, Information Technology, History, Archaeology and Ethnology, Philosophy and Political Science, Law, Oriental Studies, International Relations, Mechanics and Mathematics, Geography and Environmental Sciences, and a Higher School of Medicine and one of Economics and Business.[10]
Study is full-time at all faculties. Bachelor’s takes four academic years, a master’s one or two, and PhD studies three or four, depending on the faculty. Many programmes run in English as well as Kazakh and Russian.[11] KazNU also lists MBA and DBA programmes on its admissions site.[8]
How much does KazNU cost for international students?
Foreign citizens study on a paid basis, except those admitted under intergovernmental agreements. Non-citizens of Kazakh nationality pay Kazakhstani prices.[6] Abbreviated programmes for foreign students, including those based on secondary vocational education, cost 70 % of the full-time price.[6]
The university publishes separate fee tables for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and Farabi Business School programmes. The English admissions page links tables for 2025–2026, but the files could not be opened for this page, and the section heading still refers to 2022–2023.[6] We therefore state no tuition amount. Ask the admissions office (welcome@kaznu.kz) for the current table before you apply. Third-party listings quote very different figures and we have not used them.
How payment works
You sign a contract for the whole study period and pay 100 % of the first year’s tuition before the admission order is issued. Payment can be made in tenge through Kazakhstani banks or in US dollars via SWIFT.[5] The visa invitation costs 0.5 monthly calculation index (about 2,500 tenge, roughly $6, on the university’s page).[12]
Grants: the university states that educational grants are issued by the Ministry of Education; the page does not describe how they are awarded and we found no KazNU scholarship page for foreign students.[5]
How do you apply to KazNU as a foreign student?
- Complete the online form in your personal account and attach a passport copy, a diploma copy with apostille, a transcript and your chosen specialty.[5]
- Pass the entrance step. For bachelor’s programmes this is an online test in two stages: general subjects (threshold 13 of 20) and proficiency in the language of instruction. For master’s and doctoral programmes it is an oral interview on Zoom.[9] Only one attempt is given for the bachelor’s test.[9]
- After the enrolment order, the contract is drawn up at the Office of Internationalization and Recruitment, you pay 100 % of the first year’s tuition and request a visa invitation.[12]
- Non-CIS students need a C-9 study visa from a Kazakh embassy before arrival; the page says it cannot be changed to a study visa inside Kazakhstan.[12] Since 1 January 2024 foreign students must complete fingerprint and genomic registration with the migration police.[12]
Originals of education documents need a notarised Kazakh translation made in Kazakhstan, and diplomas an apostille; a medical certificate, a fluorography image and an HIV test follow after arrival.[5] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which language level do you need?
Teaching is in Kazakh, Russian and English. Applicants who do not know one of these languages are enrolled in the preparatory faculty first.[5] A preparatory course in Kazakh and Russian runs from 1 September to 30 May for programmes taught in those languages.[6] Foreign bachelor’s applicants take a language test in the chosen language of instruction: English needs 21 of 30 correct answers (70 %); Russian or Kazakh needs 15 of 30 (50 %).[9]
For healthcare programmes taught in English the interview requires an English certificate with these minimums: IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL iBT 35, TOEFL ITP 417, TOEIC 550 or Duolingo 80. Indian applicants to medicine also need a NEET certificate.[5] SAT, ACT or IB holders are admitted to paid places with scores converted to the national scale.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranked?
Is Farabi University the same as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University?
Yes, the university uses both names; the Astana Times calls it “Farabi (Al-Farabi) University”.[4] We found no source on a legal change of name.
How much does KazNU cost for foreigners?
What language is KazNU taught in?
Do foreign applicants take an entrance exam?
Bachelor’s applicants take an online two-stage test (general subjects and language); master’s and doctoral applicants have an oral interview on Zoom.[9]
More about studying in Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Kazakhstan
- L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
- Kazakh-British Technical University
- Nazarbayev University
- Satbayev University
Sources
[1] KazNU Bishkek branch: About the university (page without a date, written for the 90th anniversary in 2024; founding date and 2022 decree)
[2] The Times of Central Asia: Kazakhstan’s Top Three Universities Slip in QS Asia Rankings (article of 5 Nov 2026; states KazNU tied for 177th and 18 Kazakh universities in QS World 2027)
[3] xuanxiao.org: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (ranking aggregator) (QS World 2027 edition =177, THE 2027, students (FTE); aggregator, page without a date)
[4] The Astana Times: Kazakhstan Retains Central Asia’s Top University Rankings as Nazarbayev University Climbs 62 Places (article of 3 Nov 2026 on QS Asia 2027)
[5] KazNU: Admission rules for foreign citizens (page without a date)
[6] KazNU: For foreign students (page without a date; fee tables linked as PDF files for 2025–2026)
[7] KazNU: Address (page without a date)
[8] KazNU: Admissions 2026, home page (page without a date; shows “Admissions 2026” and © 2026)
[9] KazNU: Selection criteria for educational programmes (international applicants) (page without a date)
[10] Wikipedia: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (faculties, founding dates, QS 2026 (secondary source))
[11] KazNU: Educational programmes for international applicants (page without a date)
[12] KazNU: Guidelines for international students (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.