In September, the country climbed eight places to 73rd in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index, recording the biggest improvement in Central and Southern Asia. Kazakhstan’s presence in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has also expanded, with 10 universities included in the 2027 edition – twice as many as the previous year.
Against this backdrop, Nazarbayev University has emerged as one of the country’s fastest-rising institutions. Over the past two years, the University has climbed roughly 200 places in the THE World University Rankings and entered the global top 400.
The question now is whether that rise can translate into greater international visibility – and ultimately encourage more international students to consider Kazakhstan as a study destination.
For Kazakhstan, this question is particularly relevant. The country is not yet a traditional hub for international student mobility, but the growing profile of its universities, the expansion of English-medium education and deeper international partnerships are gradually putting it on the global education map.
There are already signs of growing international interest. This year, Nazarbayev University recorded its largest-ever intake of international students, while more than 95% of its graduates are employed – another factor likely to matter to prospective students weighing where to study.
The University was ranked in the 501-600 band in 2025, moved to 401-500 the following year and reached 376-400 in the 2027 ranking. According to an analysis by measuresHE, Nazarbayev University was among the three biggest risers within the global top 400, alongside Germany’s Constructor University and Canada’s Université Laval.
The rise has come as competition in the ranking intensifies. This year’s THE World University Rankings includes a record 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories – 106 more institutions than the previous year. Over the past two years, Nazarbayev University has moved from the top 23% to the top 17.4% globally. It is also the highest-ranked university in Kazakhstan and Central Asia and ranks first among universities from CIS countries represented in the ranking.
But for prospective international students, rankings tell only part of the story. They can make a university more visible internationally, but what happens next depends on what sits behind the ranking: research, teaching quality, international opportunities and career prospects.
From research to international reputation
Research Quality remains one of Nazarbayev University’s strongest indicators. In the latest ranking, the University scored 84.1 in this category, which measures the impact and strength of its research.
On this measure, the University performs at a level comparable with universities ranked considerably higher overall, including the University of Geneva (163rd in THE WUR), the University of Arizona (139th) and the University of Rochester (136th).
But research matters beyond league tables. International publications, joint projects and participation in global academic networks can also build recognition beyond a university’s home country.
The University has been expanding research collaboration with international partners, participating in joint publications and grant initiatives, and creating more opportunities for academic mobility. International partnerships serve a similar purpose, strengthening its presence in the global academic community while broadening opportunities for students.
Recent examples include a joint academic programme between Nazarbayev University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), as well as a four-party agreement between Nazarbayev University, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to deepen cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
Nazarbayev University is also one of the 15 founding members of the Asian Universities Alliance, alongside institutions including Tsinghua University, the National University of Singapore, the University of Tokyo and King Saud University.
For a young university in Central Asia, such partnerships do more than expand a list of international connections. They strengthen its visibility in the global academic community while opening up new academic and research opportunities for students.
Teaching impact: international recognition of academic quality
International visibility, however, needs to be backed by academic quality.
Nazarbayev University has undergone an institutional review by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), with its institutional accreditation running until July 2030. Programmes across fields ranging from medicine and education to business, public policy and engineering also hold international accreditations.
Most recently, seven STEM programmes at the University received ABET accreditation, providing international recognition that the programmes meet established quality standards in engineering, computing, natural and applied sciences.
The University’s educational role also extends beyond its own campus. The Graduate School of Education has long served as a platform for the training and professional development of education professionals in Kazakhstan through degree programmes, research and continuing professional development.
Rankings alone do not determine where students choose to study. What they can do is make a university more visible to an international audience
Nazarbayev University also invests in the professional development of its faculty. To date, 78 faculty members have gained professional recognition from Advance HE, including 40 Fellows, 34 Senior Fellows and four Principal Fellows. The recognition reflects their experience and contribution to teaching and learning in higher education.
Will students follow?
Rankings alone do not determine where students choose to study. What they can do is make a university more visible to an international audience. A prospective student who might never previously have considered a university in Kazakhstan suddenly has a reason to take a closer look.
From there, other factors take over: the quality of teaching and research, international programmes, mobility opportunities, affordability and career prospects.
Nazarbayev University says it is seeking to broaden the geographic diversity of its international student community while expanding the support available to students coming from abroad.
“We are continuing to broaden the geographic diversity of our international student community and, importantly, to make studying at Nazarbayev University accessible to students from different backgrounds. International students can benefit from a range of support, including scholarships and partial tuition grants, stipends and health insurance, as well as affordable on-campus accommodation starting from $145 US dollars per semester,” said Assel Uvaliyeva, vice president of Nazarbayev University.
In a relatively short period, the University has evolved from a new institution built around an international model of higher education into a research university in the THE global top 400, with academic and research links spanning Europe and Asia.
The next question for Nazarbayev University, then, is not simply how much further it can climb in global rankings. More interesting is whether its growing international visibility can change the geography of student choice – and persuade more young people from around the world to consider Kazakhstan as a place to study.
If it can, the University’s rise could become part of a much bigger story: the emergence of Kazakhstan, and Central Asia more broadly, on the global education map.
About the author: Daniyar Sutzhanov is the general manager of the press office of Nazarbayev University. He has 16 years of experience in communications, public administration, and education. He has held communications and international cooperation roles at Kazakhstan’s central bank, the executive office of the President, and the Ministry of Culture. He holds an MSc in Educational Leadership and a degree in International Relations.
