Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almatı)

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) was founded in 1934 in Almaty and is the highest-ranked university in Kazakhstan. According to QS and IQAA rankings it holds 1st place in the country and 1st place in Central Asia (the only Top-40 university in the region per QS Asia). In the QS World University Rankings 2026 it stands at #166 globally and #38 in the QS Asia University Rankings. It is placed in the 801–1000 band in the Times Higher Education ranking and is not ranked in the Shanghai (ARWU) ranking.

The average dormitory fee is approximately 700–800 USD per year (~60–70 USD per month); higher-comfort options are available for up to 230 USD per month. English preparatory courses are offered in three options: 6 months — 1,800 USD, 8 months — 2,500 USD, and 10 months — 3,000 USD (for 2026). Tuition and preparatory fees are paid in advance. Persons of Kazakh ethnicity who are not citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan are accepted at Kazakhstani citizen prices.