L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Л.Н. Гумилёв атындағы Еуразия ұлттық университеті
The largest university in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, with strengths in international relations, law and IT.
- Students
- 23,205
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- KZT 1.6M
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1996
About ENU
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) was founded on 23 May 1996 by merging the Akmola Civil Engineering Institute and the Akmola Pedagogical Institute, and gained national university status in 2001. It is named after the historian and ethnologist Lev Gumilyov and is the largest higher education institution in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital. In 2000 it absorbed the Academy of Diplomacy of Kazakhstan's foreign ministry, which helps explain its strength in international relations.
ENU teaches across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and military science, through faculties such as Information Technologies, Law, International Relations, Economics, Journalism and Political Science, Mechanics and Mathematics, Physics and Technical Sciences, and Architecture and Construction. The university says it has more than 460 foreign partner universities and a representation office in the European Union.
Kazakh citizens are admitted through the Unified National Testing (UNT) and can compete for state educational grants, while foreign citizens apply directly to ENU and sit an online interview. Documents must be translated into Kazakh or Russian, and ENU's Foundation Department helps foreign students build their Kazakh and Russian before degree study. It suits students who want to study in Kazakhstan's capital at a comparatively modest fee.
Why students choose ENU
International Relations (6B03102) builds on the former Academy of Diplomacy that merged into ENU in 2000.
Foreign applicants are selected by an online interview rather than an entrance exam, with two application windows a year.
Tuition for foreign citizens is published in US dollars and ranges from US$4,400 to US$5,000 a year for bachelor's programmes (2026 admission).
Top-performing foreign bachelor's students on a paid contract can compete for the Kultegin scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend.
Admissions
2026 admission (previous cycle); 2027 admission expected to follow the same spring and summer windows
Selectivity
ENU does not publish an acceptance rate. Kazakh applicants compete on UNT scores, with 2026-27 passing scores by programme group such as 115 for International Relations, 110 for Information Technologies and 100 for Law; foreign applicants are selected through an online interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Kazakh school certificate + UNT | UNT score at or above the programme group's passing score for 2026-27, e.g. 110 for Information Technologies (Mathematics and Computer Science), 115 for International Relations (World History and a foreign language), 100 for Law |
|---|---|
| Foreign secondary school certificate | Education document with notarised Kazakh or Russian translation, plus a successful online interview; medical certificates and a proof of solvency are required for enrolment |
Deadlines
- Foreign citizens, first window (2026 admission) Non-binding Passed1-31 March 2026
Previous cycle. Online interviews 6-10 April 2026.
- Foreign citizens, second window (2026 admission) Non-binding Passed15 June - 25 July 2026
Previous cycle. Online interviews 14-26 July 2026; contract, payment and enrolment by 28 August 2026.
These are the 2026 admission dates published on ENU's page for foreign citizens; both windows have closed. Dates for 2027 admission had not been posted when checked; the 2026 pattern (March and June-July windows) is the best guide.
How to apply
Foreign citizens register in the AIS Platonus system (edu.enu.kz, Applicant module, Application for an interview) or apply in person at the Admissions Committee, 13A Kazhymukan Street, Astana. Upload the application to the Rector, education document and passport (with notarised translation into Kazakh or Russian if needed), a photo and medical certificates, then sit the online interview. After passing, sign the contract, pay and enrol in person; mark 'A study visa is required' if you need a visa.
What admissions looks for
- For Kazakh applicants, a UNT score above the passing score for the programme group, in the two profile subjects the group requires.
- For foreign applicants, performance in the online interview, which follows a published interview programme for each programme group.
- Complete, correctly translated documents, including medical certificates for HIV and tuberculosis.
- For the Kultegin scholarship, the highest academic performance and active participation in university social and research activities.
Tips for applying to ENU
- 1 Download the interview programme for your programme group from the relevant faculty's website before your interview.
- 2 Arrange notarised Kazakh or Russian translations of your school certificate and passport well ahead of the deadline.
- 3 If you need to improve your Kazakh or Russian, consider ENU's Foundation Department, which prepares international students for university study.
- 4 Bring a certificate of solvency for enrolment and allow time for the mandatory medical examination on arrival in Kazakhstan.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in KZT
Foreign citizens pay fees set in US dollars or euros: US$4,400 (Pedagogical Sciences) to US$5,000 (Business, Management and Law, ICT, International Relations) a year for bachelor's programmes admitted in 2026. Kazakh citizens can compete for state educational grants on UNT results. Foreign students enrolled on a contract can compete for the Kultegin scholarship (two bachelor's places), which provides free tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend; ENU also publishes discounts for fee-paying students.
- US$4,400 to US$5,000 (EUR 3,700 to 4,200) per year
- Foreign citizens, bachelor's tuition (2026 admission)
- 2 places: free tuition, accommodation and monthly stipend
- Kultegin scholarship for foreign bachelor's students
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
International Relations (6B03102)
Rooted in the former Academy of Diplomacy; UNT passing score 115 and a separate, higher fee band (1,900,000 KZT or US$5,000).
Information Systems, Computer Engineering and Software, Artificial Intelligence Technologies
IT programmes in group B057 with a 2026-27 UNT passing score of 110 (Mathematics and Computer Science).
Information Security and Cryptology
Specialised programmes (6B06306, 6B06307) within ENU's ICT group.
Jurisprudence and International Law
Law programmes in group B049, including an international law track and a prosecutorial and investigative track.
Journalism and Digital Media Management
Admission by creative exam, with a 2026-27 passing score of 123.
Research
- ENU has 28 scientific institutions, including the Eurasian Mathematical Institute and the Institute of Physics and High Technologies.
- A study-museum dedicated to Lev Gumilyov opened at ENU in 2002.
- A Kazakh branch of Moscow State University was opened on the basis of ENU in 2000.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Information Technologies
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
- Faculty of Journalism and Political Science
- Faculty of Transport and Energy
- Faculty of Architecture and Construction
- Faculty of International Relations
- Faculty of Physics and Technical Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Student life
ENU's campus sits in central Astana, and the university stresses its social environment and active student life. Students from abroad can start in the Foundation Department, which has taught learners from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Türkiye, Mongolia, China, France, Egypt, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Nigeria, and supports their cultural adaptation. A Department of Student and Service Housing runs the student residences and works with student councils on residence life.
- More than 460 foreign partner universities and opportunities to study abroad.
- The Foundation Department supports international students with language preparation and adaptation.
- A Military Department offers military training alongside degree study.
- Student residences are managed by the Department of Student and Service Housing.
Housing. ENU has student residences managed by its Department of Student and Service Housing; foreign scholarship holders receive accommodation.
Location
Astana is Kazakhstan's capital, a planned city of government buildings and new districts on the steppe. ENU's main address is 2 Satbayev Street, with the Admissions Committee at 13A Kazhymukan Street. Foreign students must complete a medical examination after arriving in Kazakhstan and, if needed, request a study visa through ENU's AIS Platonus system.
Nearest airport: Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ), Astana
Notable alumni
- SN Saiasat NurbekKazakhstan's Minister of Science and Higher Education (from 2022); graduated from ENU in 2004
- AŞ Arman ŞaqqalievMinister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan (from 2023); law graduate of ENU (1998)
- JQ Jenis QasymbekÄkim (mayor) of Astana since December 2022; graduated from ENU in 2001
- ZS Zülfia SüleimenovaFormer Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources; bachelor's and master's from ENU
- AR Ashat RaqymjanovChairman of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party; graduated from ENU in 2005
Frequently asked questions
How much does ENU cost for international students?
For 2026 admission, foreign citizens pay US$4,400 to US$5,000 a year for bachelor's programmes (EUR 3,700 to 4,200), depending on the field. Kazakh citizens pay 1,600,000 to 1,900,000 KZT a year.
How do foreign students get into ENU?
Submit documents online through AIS Platonus or in person, then take an online interview. For 2026 admission, the windows were 1-31 March and 15 June-25 July, with enrolment by 28 August.
What UNT score do I need for ENU?
It depends on the programme group. For 2026-27 passing scores included 115 for International Relations, 110 for Information Technologies and 100 for Law.
Does ENU offer scholarships to foreign students?
Yes. After enrolling on a contract, foreign bachelor's students can compete for the Kultegin scholarship (two places), which covers tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend.
Do I need to speak Kazakh or Russian to study at ENU?
ENU requires foreign applicants' documents to be translated into Kazakh or Russian, and its Foundation Department offers preparation in those languages. Check the language of instruction for your chosen programme with the Admissions Committee.
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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