Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Әл-Фараби атындағы Қазақ ұлттық университеті
Kazakhstan's oldest classical university, now branded Farabi University, with Almaty's largest campus and fees for international students of about 2 million tenge a year.
- Students
- 20,321
- International
- 26%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 4.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- KZT 1.8M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1934
About Farabi University (KazNU)
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, branded as KazNU Farabi University, opened in Almaty in January 1934 and is Kazakhstan's oldest classical university. It is named after the medieval philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi, known as the "Second Teacher" after Aristotle. The legal name used on its 2026-27 fee schedules is still NAO "Al-Farabi Kazakh National University"; QS lists it as Farabi University. A government decree of 25 July 2022 gave it research-university status.
The university teaches across 15 faculties plus a business school. These run from mechanics and mathematics, physics and technology, chemistry, biology and IT and AI, to law, journalism, international relations, Oriental studies, philology, history, and medicine and health care. Degrees are taught in Kazakh, Russian and, for many programmes, English, and international students pay different fees depending on the language of instruction. Times Higher Education's 2026 data count about 20,300 students.
Admission for international bachelor's applicants is by the university's own tests rather than Kazakhstan's national UNT: a test in core subjects for the chosen programme plus a check of your proficiency in the language of instruction. It suits students who want an affordable, large, comprehensive university in Kazakhstan's largest city, particularly those studying Russian or Kazakh, Oriental studies, international relations or the sciences.
Why students choose Farabi University (KazNU)
Tuition for international bachelor's students in 2026-27 is 1.8–2.6 million tenge a year, depending on the programme, language of instruction and home region.
International applicants take the university's own entrance tests and a language check instead of Kazakhstan's national UNT.
Year-round intensive Kazakh, Russian and English courses (for example at the Glossa Center, from 130,000 tenge a month) can prepare you for study in any of the three languages.
The university holds national research-university status and runs a Brain Institute, an Agrobiostation and a technology commercialisation centre.
Admissions
Autumn 2027 intake (international bachelor's applicants)
Selectivity
The university does not publish an acceptance rate. International bachelor's applicants are ranked on their entrance-test scores and enrolled according to scores and the places available.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate (any country) | Original certificate and grade sheet, apostilled, with a notarised Kazakh translation made in Kazakhstan; admission is decided by the university's subject and language tests |
|---|---|
| English-taught Healthcare programme | Valid IELTS Academic 5.0 (or TOEFL iBT 35, TOEFL ITP 417, TOEIC 550, Duolingo 80) to be admitted to the interview |
| English language | IELTS 5 · TOEFL iBT 35 These minimums apply to the English-taught Healthcare programme. For other bachelor's programmes, your proficiency in the language of instruction (Kazakh, Russian or English) is tested by the university during selection. |
Deadlines
- Autumn intake (2026 window; same dates expected for autumn 2027) Non-binding Passed20 August 2026
Applications 15 May – 20 August, per the Foreign Applicants admissions page (English, Russian and Kazakh versions all give 20 August). A general 'For International Students' page still says 30 July, so aim to apply by the end of July, also leaving time for the student-visa invitation (at least 14 working days).
- Spring intake (spring 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 months5 December 2026
Application window 16 October – 5 December 2026.
The university publishes recurring annual windows: 15 May to 20 August for the autumn intake and 16 October to 5 December for the spring intake. The official Foreign Applicants page gives 20 August; an older general page says 30 July, so applying by the end of July is the safe choice. Documents submitted after the deadlines are not considered. For autumn 2027 entry, expect applications to open on 15 May 2027.
How to apply
Register online on the university portal (or in person at the Keremet student service centre, or by email to international@kaznu.kz), complete the application form and upload your passport, apostilled school certificate and transcript. Then sit the university's subject and language tests, sign a contract for the full period of study and pay 100% of the first year's fees within five days. After the enrolment order is issued, the university arranges a student-visa invitation, which takes at least 14 working days.
What admissions looks for
- Knowledge of the core subjects for your chosen programme, measured by the university's general education subject test.
- Proficiency in the language you will study in: Kazakh, Russian or English.
- A complete, correctly legalised document set: apostilled certificates with notarised Kazakh translations made in Kazakhstan.
- For English-taught Healthcare, a valid English certificate and a successful interview.
Tips for applying to Farabi University (KazNU)
- 1 Get your documents translated into Kazakh and notarised in Kazakhstan; translations made abroad are not accepted, and citizens of China must apostille documents at home first.
- 2 Download the exam programme for your faculty from the foreign applicants page and prepare for the subject test.
- 3 Decide your language of instruction early: English-taught places cost 200,000 tenge a year more than Kazakh- or Russian-taught ones.
- 4 Budget to pay the whole first year up front within five days of signing your contract, in tenge or in US dollars by SWIFT.
- 5 Ethnic Kazakhs who are not Kazakhstani citizens are charged Kazakhstani prices, so check whether this applies to you.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KZT
International bachelor's students normally study on a fee-paying contract. The university notes that educational grants are provided by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education, and ethnic Kazakhs without Kazakhstani citizenship are admitted at Kazakhstani prices.
- 1,800,000 KZT a year
- Near abroad (CIS), Kazakh/Russian-taught, most faculties
- 2,200,000 KZT a year
- Far abroad, English-taught, most faculties
- 2,600,000 KZT a year
- Medicine and Dentistry, far abroad, English-taught
- 130,000 KZT a month
- Intensive language courses (group)
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (autumn and spring intakes)
Medicine and Dentistry
Offered in English for international students (2.2–2.6 million tenge a year), with admission by interview and a minimum English certificate.
International Relations
A dedicated Faculty of International Relations; former foreign minister Kanat Saudabayev is among the university's graduates.
Oriental Studies
A separate Faculty of Oriental Studies with its own entrance-test programme for bachelor's applicants.
Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Taught in the Faculty of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, at the standard 1.8–2.2 million tenge international fee.
Journalism
A dedicated faculty; film producer Gulnara Sarsenova graduated in journalism from the university.
Mechanics and Mathematics
One of the university's core science faculties, with bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes.
Research
- Research-university status and a 2022–2026 development programme were approved by government decree on 25 July 2022.
- Research units include the Brain Institute, an Agrobiostation run by the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, the FARABI HUB and a Center for Technology Commercialization.
- The university publishes its own research bulletin, Al-Farabi News Letters.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence
- Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
- Faculty of Physics and Technology
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology
- Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Care
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of International Relations
- Faculty of Oriental Studies
- Faculty of Journalism
- Higher School of Economics and Business
Student life
Student life is centred on the main campus on Al-Farabi Avenue in Almaty, with student residences, a canteen chain and coffee houses, a sports club, a university museum and a student legal clinic. Youth organisations and an art centre run events, and there is an Office of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and psychological support. International students get help from the Department of Internationalization and Recruitment in the Keremet service centre. A Language Tandem programme and several language centres help newcomers learn Kazakh and Russian.
- Keremet student service centre handles visas, registration and documents in one place.
- Language Tandem and language centres (Glossa, Language Park, British Educational and Research Center).
- SportClub, ART-center, museum and Student Legal Clinic.
- Campus student residences and a chain of canteens and coffee houses.
Housing. The university operates student residences on campus; check availability and prices with the admissions office when you apply.
Location
Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city, at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in the south-east of the country. The main campus sits at 71 Al-Farabi Avenue, a major road through the south of the city. Russian and Kazakh are both widely spoken, and winters are snowy.
Nearest airport: Almaty International Airport (ALA)
Notable alumni
- OS Olzhas SuleimenovPoet and leader of the Nevada-Semipalatinsk anti-nuclear movement; studied at Kazakh State University
- KS Kanat SaudabayevFormer State Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan; philosophy graduate of Kazakh State University
- AK Abish KekilbayevWriter and former State Secretary of Kazakhstan
- MM Mukhtar MagauinKazakh writer; graduated from Kazakh State University in 1962
- ON Oleg NovachukBusinessman, CEO of KAZ Minerals; studied at Kazakh State University
- GS Gulnara SarsenovaFilm producer; graduated in journalism from Kazakh State University
Frequently asked questions
Is Farabi University the same as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University?
Yes. Farabi University is the brand used by Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty; its legal name on 2026-27 documents is still Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
How much does Farabi University cost for international students?
For 2026-27, bachelor's tuition is 1.8–2.2 million tenge a year for most faculties, depending on your region and the language of instruction, and up to 2.6 million tenge for Medicine and Dentistry taught in English.
Do international students need the UNT to enter KazNU?
No. International bachelor's applicants take the university's own test in core subjects plus a test of the language of instruction, and are ranked on those scores.
What are the application deadlines for international students?
The Foreign Applicants page gives 15 May to 20 August for the autumn intake (another page says 30 July, so applying by the end of July is safest) and 16 October to 5 December for the spring intake.
What English score do I need?
For the English-taught Healthcare programme you need at least IELTS Academic 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 35 to be invited to the interview; for other programmes your language is tested during selection.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Farabi University (KazNU) in the QS World University Rankings 2027.