Why study in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is chosen by Indian students mainly for medicine, often called MBBS in India and 'Medicine' or 'General Medicine' in Kazakhstan. The Embassy of India in Astana says medical universities have separate departments that teach foreign students in English. It also notes that more than 10,000 Indian medical students are in the country, by a conservative estimate.
Since 2023, medicine has been taught as Continuous Integrated Medical Education (CIME): bachelor's, master's and internship combined, leading to a 'Master of Medicine' degree. From the 2026–27 academic year, Kazakhstan's standard medical course is seven years. International students may be able to finish in six years on a fast-track pathway, under conditions set by the authorities.
To practise in India later, you must meet the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021. NMC does not publish or endorse any list of foreign universities, so you must check each university and programme against these rules yourself. Nazarbayev University, KIMEP and Al-Farabi also teach engineering, computing and business in English.
- Medical universities have separate English-medium departments for foreign students (Embassy of India)
- 13 universities were licensed for CIME medical programmes as of 11 December 2025 (Embassy of India list)
- Medicine tuition of ₸2.6m–2.75m a year at Al-Farabi KazNU and Astana Medical University (English medium)
- Graduates can sit the licensing exam run by the National Centre of Independent Testing in Kazakh, Russian or English
- English-taught engineering, computing and business degrees at Nazarbayev University, KIMEP and Al-Farabi KazNU
Popular universities in Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Almaty · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University
Almaty · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
Astana Medical University
Astana · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
Semey Medical University
Semey · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
Karaganda Medical University
Karaganda · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
South Kazakhstan Medical Academy
Shymkent · On Embassy's CIME licence list (Dec 2025)
Nazarbayev University
Astana · English-medium research university
KIMEP University
Almaty · Business, social sciences and computing
Popular programmes
- Medicine (General Medicine)
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Public Health
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Finance
- Business Administration
Courses from our Course Finder
6B10114 Medicine
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · MBBS / Medicine
6B06104 Computer Science
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · Bachelor’s · 4 years
6B06107 Data Science
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · Bachelor’s · 4 years
6B06110 Software Engineering
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · Bachelor’s · 4 years
6B04106 Finance
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · Bachelor’s · 4 years
7M06115 Data Science
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University · Almaty · Master’s · 2 years
Cost of studying: financial breakdown
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medicine tuition | ₸2.6m–2.75m / yr; about US$4,100 / yr at SemeyEnglish medium. KazNU 2026–27 and Astana Medical University 2025–26 price lists; Semey Medical University estimate |
| Undergraduate tuition (non-medical) | ₸2.2m / yr at KazNU; US$15,000 / yr at Nazarbayev UniversityKazNU English-medium rate for 2026–27 |
| Postgraduate tuition | ₸2.7m–3m / yr at KazNU; US$16,000 / yr at Nazarbayev UniversityKazNU 2026–27 English-medium master's rates |
| Accommodation | From about US$800 / yrSemey Medical University estimate. The Embassy advises getting a written hostel guarantee before you enrol |
| Health insurance | US$75 / yrEmbassy of India-negotiated package: cover up to US$50,000 and the mandatory yearly medical check |
| Student visa fee | Set by the Embassy of KazakhstanCheck the current fee when you apply |
| Other yearly costs | About US$300, plus up to US$100 for medical checksSemey Medical University estimate |
Typical tuition in rupees: ≈ ₹5–6 lakh per year (European Central Bank and Bank of Russia reference rates, 9 October 2026).
Application checklist
- 1Qualify NEET-UG. NMC treats the result as your eligibility certificate, and it stays valid for three years
- 2Check the programme against NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021: at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same university, English medium, and a licence to practise in Kazakhstan
- 3Plan for a seven-year medical course. Do not assume a six-year fast-track will be available or recognised
- 4Get course, fee and internship details directly from the university, not only from an agent
- 5Pay fees directly into the university's bank account, and insist on a university receipt for every payment
- 6Prepare your passport and Class 12 certificate, with notarised translations into Kazakh or Russian and an apostille or consular legalisation
- 7Prepare medical documents. Universities ask for an HIV-negative certificate, a medical certificate and hepatitis B vaccination
- 8Get the university's invitation letter, then apply for a C9 student visa at the Embassy of Kazakhstan
- 9Get a written hostel guarantee from the university before you travel
- 10Register with the local migration police within five calendar days of every arrival
Student visa: C9 Student Visa
Indian students need a C9 study visa, which Kazakhstan issues to people studying at its educational institutions. Your university first arranges an invitation through the migration service. You then apply at the Embassy of Kazakhstan before you travel.
What you’ll need
- Invitation letter arranged by your Kazakh university
- Valid passport
- Completed visa application form and photo
- Payment of the consular fee
- Notarised translations of your documents into Kazakh or Russian
- Registration with the local migration police within five calendar days of arrival
Work and employment options
- While you study
- Any work is subject to Kazakhstan's labour and migration laws. Check with your university before taking a job.
- After you graduate
- Medical graduates can sit the licensing exam run by the National Centre of Independent Testing, held in Kazakh, Russian and English. Practising or working in Kazakhstan is subject to its labour and immigration laws.
- Most Indian graduates return home. To practise in India, you must pass NMC's screening test or NExT and complete a 12-month supervised internship in India
- In Kazakhstan, graduates can sit the National Centre of Independent Testing licensing exam in Kazakh, Russian or English
- CIME graduates in Medicine, Paediatrics and Dentistry go on to a mandatory residency programme to specialise
- If you plan to take USMLE or PLAB, check that your university meets those countries' requirements before you enrol
Good to know: From 2026–27 Kazakhstan's standard medical course is seven years. The Embassy of India (advisory of 1 October 2026) has no official confirmation yet that six-year fast-track graduates get a licence to practise.
Scholarships to explore
- Government of Kazakhstan Scholarship Programme (run by the Center for International Programs): 490 bachelor's, 50 master's and 10 PhD places for 2026. Check eligibility on bolashak.gov.kz
- Nazarbayev University Abai Kunanbayev Scholarship: merit-based for top international candidates, covering tuition, medical insurance and a monthly stipend
- Nazarbayev University: 5% off tuition when you pay the full year's fee in one payment
Official sources · checked 10 October 2026
- National Medical Commission: FAQs on FMGL Regulations, 2021 (opens in a new tab)
- National Medical Commission: For Students to Study Abroad (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Astana: Medical Education and Course Duration in Kazakhstan (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Astana: Education in Kazakhstan (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Astana: Accredited medical universities with CIME licence (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Astana: Medical Insurance for Indian Students (opens in a new tab)
- Otandastar Foundation: Migration Committee message on C9 student visas (opens in a new tab)
Figures are indicative planning ranges and change often. Always confirm fees, funds and visa rules on the university and official government websites before you apply.