Khazar University
Xəzər Universiteti
Azerbaijan's first private university, founded in 1991 to teach mainly in English on a Western credit model.
- Students
- 4,000
- International
- 10%
- of students
- Tuition
- $5,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1991
About Khazar
Khazar University was established by government resolution on 18 March 1991 as Azerbaijan University, with English as its medium of instruction, and renamed Khazar (after the Azerbaijani name for the Caspian Sea) in 1992. Founded by mathematician and poet Hamlet Isakhanli, it describes itself as the first private university in Azerbaijan and the former Soviet Union, and the first in the country to use a flexible credit-based model and to be made up of multiple independent schools.
Today Khazar has around 4,000 students, more than 10% of them international and more than 20% graduate students, taught by around 350 instructors and researchers. Undergraduate teaching is organised in the School of Science and Engineering, the School of Economics and Management, the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, and the Hasvet School of Veterinary Medicine. International students can choose from bachelor's programmes in computing, petroleum, chemical, civil and mechanical engineering, business, economics, psychology, international relations, architecture, design and veterinary medicine.
Khazar's pitch is an English-medium, Western-style education at modest fees in Baku, with student exchanges at more than 80 partner universities and a dual degree option with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança in Portugal. It suits students who want a small, internationally minded private university in the Caucasus, and who are comfortable with a straightforward document-based application rather than entrance exams.
Why students choose Khazar
English is the primary language of instruction, a founding principle written into the 1991 government resolution that created the university.
International tuition is USD 5,000 a year for all programmes (USD 6,000 for Veterinary Medicine), with an early-bird rate of USD 4,500.
International applicants take no entrance exam: admission is based on your school certificate, transcripts, a statement of purpose and CV.
Student exchanges with more than 80 universities worldwide, including Erasmus+ and Mevlana mobility and a dual degree with Portugal's Polytechnic Institute of Bragança.
Admissions
Autumn 2027 entry for international students (the 2026-27 cycle ran from 9 January to 31 August 2026)
Selectivity
Khazar does not publish an acceptance rate. Azerbaijani applicants are admitted through the State Examination Center's national entrance tests, on state-funded or paid places. International applicants apply directly; the university says its process is holistic with no set minimum GPA, and there are no entrance exams for international students.
Typical entry requirements
| Secondary school certificate (international applicants) | Completed secondary education before the start of the academic year, with transcripts, a statement of purpose, a CV, a medical examination certificate and a USD 25 application fee; documents must be translated and apostilled or notarised |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijani applicants | Required score in the State Examination Center entrance tests for the chosen specialty group |
| English language | TOEFL or IELTS scores are optional for international bachelor's applicants. All new students sit an English placement test at the start of the year and are grouped by level. |
Deadlines
- First cycle (Early Bird) Non-binding Passed1 June 2026, 18:00 Baku time (2026-27 cycle)
Opened 9 January 2026. Early-bird tuition of USD 4,500 a year (USD 5,400 for Veterinary Medicine), as stated on the Fees and Funding and How to Apply pages; one older answer in the FAQ still quotes USD 3,750. Results announced shortly after the deadline.
- Second cycle Non-binding Passed31 August 2026, 18:00 Baku time (2026-27 cycle)
Tuition of USD 5,000 a year (USD 6,000 for Veterinary Medicine).
Dates for the 2027-28 intake are not yet published. Khazar says its international application period opens in January each year and runs until August; the dates above are from the 2026-27 cycle.
How to apply
Choose one programme from the published list, fill in the online application form, and submit it with all required documents directly to the International Affairs Office. Only one major can be chosen per application. After accepting the offer, international students must register on the government portal.edu.az by early September and obtain a student visa from an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate.
What admissions looks for
- Academic performance in your secondary school record.
- Extracurricular activities.
- Letters of recommendation and a personal statement or statement of purpose.
- A programme choice that fits your background, since each applicant may apply to only one major.
Tips for applying to Khazar
- 1 Apply in the early-bird cycle (January to 1 June) to lock in the lower tuition rate of USD 4,500 a year.
- 2 Get your certificates translated and apostilled or notarised before applying: untranslated or unapostilled documents will not be recognised at the final stage.
- 3 Use a clear email subject line as instructed: your name, 'Khazar International Admission', the year and the document name.
- 4 You don't apply separately for Khazar's merit scholarships: if you are eligible, it is stated in your offer letter. Check the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant if you are from an eligible country.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Khazar offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships and tuition waivers to international students, notified in the offer of admission and reviewed each year. Eligible international students can also apply for the Azerbaijani government's Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant, which covers tuition, flights, a monthly allowance, insurance and visa costs. Domestic students can receive scholarships based on entrance exam points and family circumstances.
- 100 per year, across Azerbaijani universities
- Heydar Aliyev International Education Grants
- USD 25 (non-refundable)
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring), credit-based; bachelor's degrees take 4 years
BS Petroleum Engineering
Backed by the university's oil and gas engineering and oil and gas fields simulation laboratories, in the capital of an oil-producing country.
BS Veterinary Medicine
Taught in the Hasvet School of Veterinary Medicine, the only programme with a higher international fee (USD 6,000).
BS Computer Science
Eligible for Khazar's dual degree with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança in Portugal, alongside Computer Engineering and Chemical Engineering.
BS International Relations
Supported by the Institute of Politics and clubs such as the Res Publika Diplomatic Club and Model UN.
BA Translation
Linked to Khazar's Translation Studies Center and its Dictionary and Encyclopedia Center, in operation since 1996.
BA Architecture
One of Khazar's creative programmes, alongside BA Design.
Research
- Research areas include alternative energy and energy efficiency, reservoir engineering, biomedical engineering, molecular biology and South Caucasus archaeology.
- Research centres include the Eurasia Production Industry Knowledge Center, the Institute of Education Policy, the Khazar Computing Research Center and the Translation Studies Center.
- The eiLink Research and Development Center and labs for renewable energy, biomedical engineering and oil and gas simulation support applied work.
Schools & faculties
- School of Science and Engineering
- School of Economics and Management
- School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
- Hasvet School of Veterinary Medicine
- Graduate School of Science, Art and Technology
- Graduate School of Economics and Business
Student life
Khazar's main Neftchilar Campus is in Baku, with a university dormitory close to the campus and Neftchilar metro station in shared rooms of two to four students, with shared kitchens, laundry, a lounge and a study room. Canteens in each building serve hot and cold food. More than 20 student clubs range from the Res Publika Diplomatic Club and Debate Club to chess, volleyball and Model UN, and the university's football team played in the national premier league from 1998 to 2004. International students start with an Orientation Day covering banking, healthcare and Azerbaijani language courses.
- More than 20 student clubs, including the Krook Chess Club, Khazar Debate Club and Khazar MUN Club.
- A chess club run by Azerbaijani chess master Afag Khudaverdiyeva.
- Erasmus+ and Mevlana exchanges and a dual degree with Portugal's Polytechnic Institute of Bragança.
- Support services including a career center, student ombudsman, healthcare center and psychological counselling.
Housing. The university dormitory near the Neftchilar Campus costs international students USD 90-140 a month in shared rooms, allocated first come, first served.
Location
Baku sits on the Absheron peninsula on the Caspian Sea and, with more than two million people, is the largest city in the Caucasus. Known as the City of Winds, it has mild winters and hot summers, a metro and bus network paid with a BakiKart, and events such as the Baku International Jazz Festival and the Baku City Circuit race. International students need a student visa and must then apply for a temporary residence permit.
Nearest airport: Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD)
Notable alumni
- NJ Nigar JamalSinger who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 for Azerbaijan; studied economics and management at Khazar (did not complete the degree)
- VM Vugar MustafayevMinister of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan; MBA programme at Khazar
- AH Adnan HajizadehYouth activist and blogger; law degree from Khazar
- SM Soltan MammadovMember of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan; graduate of Khazar's Faculty of Public Health Management
- BH Bakhtiyar HajiyevActivist and blogger; master of science from Khazar
- NB Nargiz Birk-PetersenTelevision presenter who co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2012; studied law at Khazar before moving to the US
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Khazar University for international students?
USD 5,000 a year for all programmes and USD 6,000 for Veterinary Medicine. Early-bird applicants pay USD 4,500 (USD 5,400 for Veterinary Medicine).
Does Khazar University teach in English?
Yes. English is the primary language of instruction, and new students take an English placement test and are grouped by level.
Is there an entrance exam for international students at Khazar?
No. International applicants are assessed on their school documents, statement of purpose, CV and other submitted materials. Azerbaijani students enter through the State Examination Center tests.
When is the Khazar University application deadline?
The international application period opens in January and runs until August. For 2026-27 the early-bird deadline was 1 June 2026 and the final deadline 31 August 2026; 2027-28 dates have not yet been announced.
Does Khazar University have dormitories?
Yes. The university dormitory near the Neftchilar Campus costs international students USD 90-140 a month in rooms shared by two to four people.
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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