L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) is a national university in Astana, formed on 23 May 1996 by merging two institutes.[1] It lists the QS World University Rankings 2027 position 338 on its home page.[2]
For the 2026 admission year ENU publishes tuition for foreign citizens in US dollars and euros: from $4,400 to $5,000 a year for bachelor’s programmes, $3,600 to $6,200 for master’s and $7,500 for doctoral programmes.[3][4][5] Citizens of Kazakhstan pay in tenge at lower rates. Admission of foreign citizens is by online interview.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU)[2] |
| Location | Astana, Kazakhstan (2 Satbayev Street, ENU educational building)[2] |
| Type | National research university; the 2026 fee documents name the operator as NJSC “L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University”[1] |
| Founded | 23 May 1996, by merging the Akmola Civil Engineering Institute and the Akmola Pedagogical Institute; national status by Presidential Decree of 5 July 2001[1] |
| Students | 15,794 (Wikipedia, year not stated); 25,914 full-time equivalent (THE 2027 data as listed by xuanxiao.org)[1] |
| Faculties and schools | 15 units, including Law, International Relations, Philology, History, Mechanics and Mathematics, Transport and Energy, Architecture and Civil Engineering, and institutes for Digital Sciences and AI, Natural Sciences and Physical and Technical Sciences[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =338[2] |
| QS Asia 2027 | 62nd[8] |
| Tuition 2026 admission, bachelor’s (foreign citizens) | $4,400–$5,000 per academic year (€3,700–€4,200)[3] |
| Tuition 2026 admission, master’s (foreign citizens) | $3,600 (industry-specific) · $5,800–$6,200 (scientific-pedagogical) per academic year[4] |
| Tuition 2026 admission, doctoral (foreign citizens) | $7,500 (€6,700) per academic year[5] |
| Preparatory (foundation) programme | 700,000 KZT per academic year; 9 months; Kazakh and Russian language[9] |
| Scholarships for fee-paying foreigners | Kultegin (bachelor’s, 2 places) and Gumilyov (master’s, 2 places): free tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend[10] |
| Official website | enu.kz |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
ENU was created on 23 May 1996 by merging the Akmola Civil Engineering Institute and the Akmola Pedagogical Institute. In 2000 it merged with the Academy of Diplomacy of the Ministry of International Relations and was renamed L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian State University. A Presidential Decree of 5 July 2001 gave it national university status and its present name.[1]
The university lists 15 academic units, among them the Faculties of Law, International Relations, Philology, History, Mechanics and Mathematics, Transport and Energy, and Architecture and Civil Engineering, the Institutes of Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, Natural Sciences and Physical and Technical Sciences, and graduate schools of Economics and Tourism, Education, and Journalism and Social Sciences. It also has a Military Department and a Higher College.[7] The address is 2 Satbayev Street in Astana.[2]
Student numbers differ by source: Wikipedia gives 15,794 (13,267 undergraduate and 2,527 postgraduate, year not stated), while the aggregator xuanxiao.org lists 25,914 full-time equivalent from THE 2027 data.[1][11] The university’s own pages we read give no figure.
How is ENU ranked?
ENU’s home page lists the QS World University Rankings 2027 position 338; the aggregator xuanxiao.org shows the same value as a tie (=338).[2][11] In the regional QS Asia 2027 table, published on 3 November 2026, the Astana Times reports ENU at 62nd; the university’s home page still shows 61st for the 2026 edition.[8][2]
The aggregator also lists Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 at 1601–1800 and U.S. News Best Global Universities 2027 at =1,868.[11] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
See the Kazakhstan ranking for how ENU compares with the other universities in the country.
What can you study at ENU?
The university is organised in these units:[7]
- Faculties: Law; International Relations; Philology; Mechanics and Mathematics; Transport and Energy; Architecture and Civil Engineering; History.
- Institutes: Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence; Natural Sciences; Physical and Technical Sciences.
- Graduate schools: Economics and Tourism; Education; Journalism and Social Sciences.
- Other: Military Department and Higher College ENU.
Foreign citizens can apply to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral (PhD) programmes.[6] The fee lists group programmes by field of education: pedagogical sciences, arts and humanities, social sciences and journalism, business, management and law, natural sciences and mathematics, information and communication technologies, engineering and construction, and services.[3]
How much does ENU cost for foreign students?
| Level and field (2026 admission) | Foreign citizens per academic year | Citizens of Kazakhstan per year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s: pedagogical sciences | $4,400 / €3,700 | 1,600,000 KZT |
| Bachelor’s: social sciences, journalism; natural sciences, mathematics; engineering and construction | $4,600 / €3,850 | 1,750,000 KZT |
| Bachelor’s: arts and humanities; services | $4,800 / €4,000 | 1,800,000–1,850,000 KZT |
| Bachelor’s: business, management and law; ICT; international relations | $5,000 / €4,200 | 1,900,000 KZT |
| Master’s, industry-specific | $3,600 / €3,000 | 1,200,000 KZT |
| Master’s, scientific-pedagogical | $5,800 / €4,900 ($6,200 / €5,250 for international relations) | 2,100,000–2,300,000 KZT |
| Doctoral (all fields) | $7,500 / €6,700 | 3,000,000 KZT |
These prices come from the Board of Directors’ price lists approved on 27 March 2026 for the 2026 admission year.[3][4][5] The master’s list is labelled “admission 2025” on the admissions page, but the document itself says 2026. Industry-specific master’s programmes are not offered in pedagogical sciences or arts and humanities.[4] The preparatory (foundation) programme costs 700,000 KZT per academic year; the page gives no year label.[9]
Scholarships
Two scholarships exist for foreign students who already pay fees: Kultegin (bachelor’s, 2 places) and Gumilyov (master’s, 2 places). They cover free tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend, are awarded in an annual two-stage competition, and ask for strong academic results and an active part in university life.[10]
How do you apply to ENU as a foreign citizen?
Admission of foreign citizens runs through an interview.[6]
- Register online in the AIS Platonus system (“Applicant” module, “Application for an interview”) or attend the Admission Committee in Astana. Tick “A study visa is required” if you need one.
- Take the online interview; results are published by faculty.
- After a successful interview, study the Rules of Admission and the Offer Agreement.
- Enrol offline: AIS Platonus registration, contract and payment.
For the bachelor’s and master’s interview you need an application to the Rector, the education document, a passport copy (notarised translation if not in Kazakh or Russian), a photo, a medical certificate (form 075/u) with fluorography, and HIV and tuberculosis results. For enrolment a solvency certificate is added. Doctoral applicants also submit a language certificate, a list of publications from the last three years, a research plan and an essay.[6] The preparatory programme is also admitted by a recorded online interview with a pass mark of 50 points.[9] We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which language level do you need?
The pages we read do not state the language of instruction for bachelor’s and master’s programmes; the site itself is offered in Kazakh, Russian and English.[2] The preparatory programme for foreign citizens teaches Kazakh and Russian in a level-based course over nine months.[9]
Doctoral applicants must provide a certificate in English, German or French: for English IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL iBT 35, TOEFL ITP 417, TOEIC 550 or Duolingo 80; for German DSH or TestDaF at B1 or higher; for French TFI, DELF, DALF or TCF at B1 or higher.[6] Documents not in Kazakh or Russian need a notarised translation.[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at ENU for international students?
How is L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University ranked?
Are there scholarships for foreign students at ENU?
Yes, for fee-paying foreign students: Kultegin (bachelor’s) and Gumilyov (master’s), two places each, covering tuition, accommodation and a stipend.[10]
How do I apply to ENU as a foreign student?
Register in AIS Platonus, take the online interview, accept the Offer Agreement, then enrol offline with contract and payment.[6]
Is there a preparatory year for foreign students?
Yes. The 9-month programme teaches Kazakh and Russian and costs 700,000 KZT per academic year.[9]
More about studying in Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Kazakhstan
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
- Kazakh-British Technical University
- Nazarbayev University
- Satbayev University
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (history, merger and student numbers (secondary source))
[2] ENU: Home page (page without a date; address and rankings list)
[3] ENU: Price list of paid tuition, bachelor’s, 2026 admission (PDF) (approved 27 Mar 2026, Board minutes No. 03/26)
[4] ENU: Price list of paid tuition, master’s, 2026 admission (PDF) (approved 27 Mar 2026; linked as “admission 2025” on the admissions page)
[5] ENU: Price list of paid tuition, doctoral, 2026 admission (PDF) (approved 27 Mar 2026, Board minutes No. 03/26)
[6] ENU: Admission for foreign citizens (page without a date; footer © 2026)
[7] ENU: Faculties (page without a date)
[8] 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)
[9] ENU: Foundation (preparatory) programme for foreign citizens (page without a date)
[10] ENU: Kultegin and Gumilyov scholarships for foreign students (page without a date; footer © 2026)
[11] xuanxiao.org: L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ranking aggregator) (QS World 2027 edition =338, THE 2027, students (FTE); aggregator, page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.