Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

TBA

Bachelor's Scholarship•Kazakhstan · Astana

Nazarbayev University “Abay Kunanbayev” Scholarship

Nazarbayev University

Application Deadline

Closed · March 17, 2026

Reopens ~Mar 2027

Official Page

The “Abay Kunanbayev” Scholarship is Nazarbayev University’s merit-based award for international students at its English-medium campus in Astana, Kazakhstan. Named after the Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbaiuly, it is granted to the strongest international candidates as recommended by each school’s admissions committee. There is no separate scholarship form: every international applicant to a degree program is automatically considered for it during admission. Kazakhstani citizens are funded through the parallel state educational grant, so the university’s degree programs are effectively tuition-free for admitted students on either track.

Benefits & funding

  • Full tuition coverage for the program duration.
  • Monthly stipend (amount set by degree level and adjusted by semester GPA).
  • Basic medical insurance for the length of study.
  • On-campus housing is guaranteed for international students.

Eligibility

  • International (non-Kazakhstani) applicants admitted to a Nazarbayev University degree program.
  • Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels are all eligible.
  • Award is merit-based, on the recommendation of the admitting school’s admissions committee.
  • Applicants must meet the university’s academic and English-language entry requirements.

Can you apply?

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  • Education required

    High School · Bachelor · Master

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Application process

  1. 1
    Choose a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD program at Nazarbayev University.
  2. 2
    Submit an online admission application through the NU admissions portal by the program’s funded-track (grant) deadline.
  3. 3
    Provide required documents, test scores and English-language evidence.
  4. 4
    Sit any required entrance tests or interviews and complete school-level review.
  5. 5
    Admitted top candidates are recommended for the scholarship — no separate scholarship application is needed.

Program timeline

  1. Undergraduate / Foundation international funded-track deadline (2026–27 cycle)

    Feb 10, 2026

  2. Master’s grant (funded) deadline

    Feb 13, 2026

  3. PhD funded-track deadline

    Mar 17, 2026

  4. Academic year begins

    2026-08/09

  5. Applications for the next academic year typically reopen in the autumn.