Buketov Karaganda National Research University
Академик Е.А. Бөкетов атындағы Қарағанды ұлттық зерттеу университеті
Central Kazakhstan's big classical university, founded as a teachers' institute in 1938 and named after chemist Yevney Buketov.
- Tuition
- KZT 869.2K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1938
- QS World Ranking
- 951-1000
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About Buketov University
Buketov University began in 1938 as the Karaganda Teachers' Institute, with 117 students training as history and Kazakh language teachers. It became a pedagogical institute in 1952 and Karaganda State University in 1972, when chemist Yevney Buketov became its first rector; the university was named after him in the early 1990s and now carries the title of national research university. The university says it was among the first in Kazakhstan to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum in Bologna in 2005.
It is a broad classical university organised into twelve faculties: Biology and Geography, History, Foreign Languages, Mathematics and Information Technology, Pedagogy, Physics and Technology, Physical Culture and Sports, Philology, Philosophy and Psychology, Chemistry, Economics, and Law, plus a military department. Bachelor's programmes range from teacher education and translation studies to chemical technology, pharmaceutical engineering, IT and law, and since 2008 the university has run multilingual groups taught in Kazakh, Russian and English.
For international students, Buketov offers one-year Kazakh, Russian and English language foundation programmes, a four-year degree in Russian as a Foreign Language, and exchange study. It suits students who want an affordable, traditional Kazakh university in an industrial city, and who are ready to study mainly in Kazakh or Russian.
Why students choose Buketov University
Paid bachelor's tuition for 2026-27 is KZT 869,200 a year for most programmes and KZT 918,100 for IT and engineering.
One-year Kazakh, Russian or English foundation programmes bring beginners to at least B1 level before degree study.
Foreign citizens are admitted through an interview during the calendar year rather than the national UNT exam.
The House of Students complex has six residential buildings with 2,400 beds on the campus, plus a gym and leisure centre.
Admissions
Admission 2026-27 (latest published rules); 2027-28 rules not yet published
Selectivity
No acceptance rate is published. Kazakh school leavers compete for state grants and paid places through the Unified National Test (UNT), with university threshold scores; foreign citizens are admitted on a paid basis after an interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Kazakh general secondary education | UNT score at or above the university's threshold for the programme group |
|---|---|
| Foreign secondary education | Interview (online or in person) assessing understanding of the chosen programme; paid basis |
| Language | Study in Kazakh or Russian (some multilingual groups include English); one-year language foundation programmes available |
Deadlines
Foreign citizens can be interviewed throughout the calendar year and enrol up to five days before the start of the next academic period (semesters start in autumn and spring). Kazakh applicants follow the national UNT and admission calendar.
How to apply
Kazakh applicants take the UNT and apply to the admissions committee; interviews, creative and special exams are registered through the university's applicant system (talapker.karnu-buketov.edu.kz). Foreign citizens contact the admissions committee or International Cooperation Department and are admitted after an interview held online or in person during the calendar year; enrolment must be completed at least five days before the next academic period starts.
What admissions looks for
- For Kazakh applicants, UNT results above the threshold set by the university.
- For foreign applicants, general understanding of the chosen programme and knowledge of its subject area, shown at interview.
- Results in creative or special exams for arts, sport and some teacher-education programmes.
- Enough command of Kazakh or Russian, or completion of a language foundation year.
Tips for applying to Buketov University
- 1 If you don't speak Kazakh or Russian, plan on the one-year language foundation programme before your degree.
- 2 Prepare for the admission interview: it tests your understanding of the programme's field, not just your documents.
- 3 Budget with the 2026-27 price list: fees differ by programme group (KZT 869,200 vs 918,100 for IT and engineering).
- 4 Apply for a place in the House of Students through the online portal as soon as you are admitted.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KZT
Kazakh citizens compete for state educational grants through the UNT, and the university publishes vacant grants for current students. It also grants tuition benefits to eligible categories of students under its internal regulation (apply to the rector with supporting documents).
- KZT 14,500 (KZT 15,300 for ICT and engineering)
- Credit price, paid bachelor's 2026-27
- KZT 100,000-130,000 for students; KZT 40,000 for preparatory trainees
- House of Students, per room per academic year
Academics
Academic calendar: Two 15-week semesters, plus an optional 6-week summer semester
Linguistics and foreign languages
The university reports a 301-350 band for Linguistics in the QS subject rankings 2026; programmes include translation studies and foreign philology (English, Chinese).
Russian as a Foreign Language (bachelor's)
A four-year, 240-credit programme for international students that trains teachers of Russian and targets C1 proficiency.
Chemistry and chemical technology
The university's first rector, Yevney Buketov, was a chemist, and it offers fundamental chemistry, chemical technology and pharmaceutical manufacturing engineering.
Law
Jurisprudence, international law and judicial and prosecutorial activities, taught in the main building.
Teacher education
The university's original mission since 1938, with programmes from pre-school teaching to physics-informatics.
Research
- The Faculty of Chemistry has an accredited engineering laboratory for physico-chemical research methods.
- The university publishes the Bulletin of the Karaganda University and the Eurasian Physical Technical Journal.
- A Technology and Innovation Support Center and research centres and laboratories support applied research.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Biology and Geography
- Faculty of History
- Faculty of Foreign Languages
- Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology
- Pedagogical Faculty
- Faculty of Physics and Technology
- Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Law
Student life
Most faculties sit on or near Universitetskaya and Mukanova streets in the south-east of Karaganda, where the House of Students complex houses up to 2,400 students in double and triple rooms with their own toilet, alongside the Ayuli gym, the Zhastar Ortalygy leisure centre and a university clinic. Students can join student self-government, volunteer projects, creative clubs such as the folk dance ensemble Zhargyn, and recreational sports. The university also runs museums of its history, archaeology and nature.
- House of Students: six nine-storey buildings with 2,400 beds.
- Folk dance ensemble Zhargyn won the National Delphic Games of Kazakhstan in 2007.
- Museums of university history, archaeology and nature.
- Military department offering officer training alongside degrees.
Housing. Places in the House of Students are allocated by a placement committee through an online application; rooms cost KZT 100,000-130,000 per academic year for students.
Location
Karaganda is a large industrial city in central Kazakhstan and the regional centre of the Karaganda Region. The university's teaching buildings and dormitories are mainly in the south-east of the city, a residential area with shops, pharmacies and bus links to the centre; the main building is at 28 Universitetskaya Street. Several academic buildings are on Mukanova, Gogol and Karbysheva streets, all served by city buses, and the university has its own clinic on campus.
Nearest airport: Sary-Arka Airport, Karaganda (KGF)
Notable alumni
- KA Kaisha AtakhanovaBiologist studying the genetic effects of nuclear radiation; Goldman Environmental Prize 2005
- SQ Salidat QaiyrbekovaKazakhstan's Minister of Healthcare 2010-2014
- EE Ermukhamet ErtisbaevPolitician and diplomat, former ambassador to Georgia and Belarus; history graduate (1978)
- DK Dmitriy KarpovDecathlete with a personal best of 8,725 points (2004)
- OS Olga SafronovaSprinter; Olympic semifinalist at London 2012 and Asian indoor medallist
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Buketov University?
For 2026-27, paid full-time bachelor's places cost KZT 869,200 a year, or KZT 918,100 for IT and engineering programmes.
Do foreign students need to take the UNT?
No. Foreign citizens are admitted on a paid basis after an interview with the admissions committee, held online or in person during the year.
What language are classes taught in?
Mainly Kazakh and Russian, with some multilingual groups that include English. International students can take a one-year Kazakh, Russian or English foundation programme first.
Does Buketov University have dormitories?
Yes. The House of Students complex has six buildings with 2,400 beds; rooms cost KZT 100,000-130,000 per academic year for students.
Is Buketov University ranked?
It is in the 951-1000 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the university reports 181st place in QS Asia 2026.
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.
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