Admission to Nazarbayev University programs is based on the principle of meritocracy, which implies the selection of applicants on the basis of their academic achievements, providing everyone with equal opportunities at admission, and facilitating the selection of the most promising and talented

students without the influence of external factors. Thus, the requirements for admission to the programs of Nazarbayev University are the same for all applicants regardless of citizenship, social status, the status of the educational organization, the graduate of which the applicant is, etc.

The application deadline for most of the categories is April 17, 2023. Please check the deadline depending on the category in “Important deadlines” section. Nazarbayev University do not consider *TOEFL iBT Home Edition, Duolingo test results.

There are several different categories of applicants to Undergraduate programs:

1. SAT/ACT applicants;
2. NUET applicants;
3. A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificates graduates;
4. IB Diploma Programme final year students or graduates;
5. Transfer students;
6. Winners of the International and/or Republican Olympiads;
7. NUFYP graduates.

You can check the criterias of each category in the Admission Policy and Procedures to the undergraduate program of the autonomous organization of education Nazarbayev University.

To participate in the competition of the undergraduate program applicants, except NUFYP graduates, apply on the admissions portal (www.admissions.nu.edu.kz).

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.

Here are the links that might be useful to read:

Selection process and enrollment:
https://nu.edu.kz/admissions/typesofstudy/undergraduate

Useful information and quick links:

Https://nu.edu.kz/admissions/typesofstudy/undergraduate

Glossary: https://nu.edu.kz/admissions/typesofstudy/undergraduate

1. SAT/ACT applicants

Minimum entry requirements:

• IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) OR TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21) and above;
• SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 or ACT – 26 composite score and above;
• Interview is not required.

List of the documents for online registration:

• Application form;
• Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16;
• School graduates - scan notarized copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent. Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
• Motivation letter in English;
• A valid electronic SAT Reasoning Test certificate (must be valid and passed no more than 3 years ago at the moment of online document submission) or ACT certificate (electronic or paper versions (with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT / ACT results through the College Board/ACT). In case the applicant provides several valid SAT Reasoning Test certificates, the Superscoring will be applied (using the highest scores across all examination sections of the test to obtain the best score);
• A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account.
In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.


2. NUET applicants

Minimum entry requirements:

• IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) OR TOEFL iBT* – 79 (reading– 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21) and above;
• NUET - 130 minimum total score and 60, 60 Minimum passing scores per subject (Mathematics, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving);
• Interview is not required.

List of the documents for online registration:

• Application form;
• Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16;
• School graduates -Scan notarized copy of nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent. Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
• Motivation letter in English;
• A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.

NUET (Nazarbayev University Entrance Test) – test that evaluates academic training for studying at the University.
NUET is held in 2 subject sections - Mathematics and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.
Number of questions – 60.
Test content – multiple-choice questions.
Test duration – 120 minutes. Minimum passing score – 130 in total for 2 subjects, while minimum passing score for each of the subjects shall not be less than 60.
Test results are available in 6 weeks in a Personal account.
The number of tasks and duration of the entry examination are subject for change by Test administrators.
Information about access to the entry examination is placed in the applicant’s Personal account.
Applicants are informed about examination date and venue, information on format , as well as required documents and Rules of conduct during the examination via email one week prior to the exams.
Examination schedule is published in the “Important dates” section.
If a violation of rules or conditions of passing the test occurs, the applicant's results are cancelled. In this case, the applicant is excluded from the competition. Disqualified applicants will not be able to enroll to NU in the future.
There is no appeal procedure.
NUET for all applicants is free of charge.

3. A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificates graduates

Minimum entry requirements:

• IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (6.0 in each sub-score) OR TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21);
• A-level/NIS 12 Grade Certificates - not less than ABB for any subjects;
• Interview is not required.

*A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificates holders can also participate in the competition in the "SAT/ACT applicants" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).

List of the documents for online registration:

• Application form;
• Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16;
• NIS graduates - scan notarized copy of the NIS Grade 12 Certificate with final grades and scan notarized copy of high school diploma with transcript;

Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account of applicant;
A-level graduates - scan notarized copy of A-level Certificate, scan notarized copy of certificate stating completion of school;

• Motivation letter in English;
• Electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of school;
• A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account.
In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.


4. IB Diploma Programme graduates

Minimum entry requirements:

• IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (6.0 in each sub-score) OR TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21);
• IB DP 30 total score and 4, 4, 5 for 3 subjects of HL;
• Interview is not required.

* IB DP holders can also participate in the competition in the "SAT/ACT applicants" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).

List of the documents for online registration:

• Application form;
• Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16;
• IB Diploma Program graduates - scan notarized copy of IB Diploma Programme with transcript or predicted scores acknowledged by the school with obligation to submit the hard copy of the document in due time;

Current final year student - a certificate from an educational institution according to the sample in personal account;

• Motivation letter in English;
• A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.


5. Transfer Students

Minimum entry requirements:

• IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (6.0 in each sub-score) OR TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21);
• SAT Reasoning Test** or ACT SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 OR ACT – 26 composite score;
• GPA 2.75 out of 4.0;
• Interview is not required.

List of the documents for online registration:

• Application form;
• Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16;
• School graduates - scan notarized copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent. Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
• Motivation letter in English;
• A valid electronic SAT Reasoning Test certificate (must be valid and passed no more than 3 years ago at the moment of online document submission) without a writting part or ACT certificate without writing (electronic or paper versions (with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT / ACT results through the College Board/ACT). In case the applicant provides several valid SAT Reasoning Test certificates, the Superscoring will be applied (using the highest scores across all examination sections of the test to obtain the best score).
• A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
• Scan notarized copy of the transcript from the university attended in original language and English or academic reports with predicted scores acknowledged by the university attended;
• An electronic copy of the course description of studied courses/subjects from the university attended in both English and original languages.

All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.

Transfer credits of applicants who apply to Nazarbayev University, who are studying or completed undergraduate program are identified by the Admissions Committee. The maximum allowed number of transferable credits is 72 ECTS. Credits are transferred, but grades are not assigned to transferred courses. The grades received at the previous institution(s) will not be calculated into a student’s grade point average (GPA) or cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at the University.

*Applicants/students who have successfully completed at least one academic year of an undergraduate program at a university with the English language as an official language of instruction and included in the list of top 200 universities according to the Times Higher Education World University or QS World University ranking at the time of application, are exempt from submitting SAT and IELTS/TOEFL results.

**The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT and ACT scores

6. Winners of International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads

Minimum requirements for the winners:

Republic Olympiad:
Medal type gold and silver medals (I, II place) for the current academic year
IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score*
Interview with Admission Committee is required

International Olympiad:
Medal type gold, silver and bronze medals (I, II, III place) for the last three
years
IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score, results are reviewed by the Admissions Committee
Interview with Admission Committee is required

List of International Subject Olympiads considered for application:
International Mathematics Olympiad – IMO
International Physics Olympiad – IPHO
International Chemistry Olympiad -IChO
International Biology Olympiad IBO
International Olympiad in Informatics – IOI
International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
International Mendeleyev Chemistry Olympiad

List of Republican Subject Olympiads of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Republican Mathematics Olympiad
Republican Physics Olympiad
Republican Chemistry Olympiad
Republican Biology Olympiad
Republican Informatics Olympiad

Applicants can apply with both Republican and International Olympiads.
*IELTS or TOEFL iBT results are reviewed by the Admissions Committee


7. NUFYP graduates

NUFYP (Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program) – a one year intensive program at the Center for Preparatory Studies of Nazarbayev University.
NUFYP graduates do not apply directly on the admissions portal and do
not have the Personal account. Application package of documents for enrollment of
NUFYP graduates is waived. All data and documents on NUFYP graduates category
is stored in the Office of the Registrar database.