Study Transfer from Kazakhstan: from Almaty, Astana, Karaganda and More to Europe

Which Medical Universities Exist in Kazakhstan?

This is the complete overview of institutions featured on international placement portals for an English-language medicine programme. Transfers from all of them are in principle possible.

State Universities

• Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU), Almaty — the largest and most well-known medical university in the country. Medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, with English-language study groups.
• Astana Medical University, Astana — state university in the capital, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy in English.
• Semey Medical University, Semey — English-language programme; official tuition fee 4,100 US dollars per academic year.
• South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA), Shymkent — medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy in English.
• West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe — medicine, dentistry, pharmacy in English.
• Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda — large international cohort, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy.
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Medicine, Almaty — comprehensive university with a medical faculty and pharmacy.
• Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, Higher School of Medicine, Kokshetau — medicine, officially a five-year bachelor programme followed by internship.
• Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkestan — international university with a medical faculty.
• M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, Petropavl — medical faculty in the north of the country.
• Kazakh Medical University of Continuing Education (KazMUNO), Almaty — primarily postgraduate programmes.

Private and Autonomous Universities

• Kazakh-Russian Medical University (KRMU), Almaty — private university, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy in English.
• Caspian University, International School of Medicine (CISM), Almaty — private, medicine in English. Frequently mislocated to Aktau on placement portals — the campus is in Almaty.
• International Medical School at the University of International Business (IMS/UIB), Almaty — private, medicine in English.
• Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana — autonomous university with a six-year undergraduate and a graduate MD programme; at 15,000 to 30,000 US dollars per academic year, by far the most expensive option in the country.

English-language undergraduate medicine programmes could not be confirmed for Zhezkazgan, Taraz, and Pavlodar — these locations appear on some portals without a verifiable programme for international students.

What Studying in Kazakhstan Costs

State universities charge approximately 3,500 to 6,500 US dollars per academic year, equivalent to around 3,200 to 6,000 euros. Nazarbayev University stands apart at 15,000 US dollars for the undergraduate programme and 25,000 to 30,000 US dollars for the MD programme.

Living costs are low: the DAAD cites approximately 100 euros per month for a room in a shared flat and 200 to 300 euros for a private apartment in the capital. Dormitory places are difficult to obtain for international students.

Important caveat: the fee figures from international placement portals sometimes differ by 30 per cent. The only fees currently confirmed by the universities themselves are those of Semey and Nazarbayev University. Treat every other figure as an indication rather than a price — and if you want to know what a place actually costs at a university we work with, ask us.

Why Students Transfer from Kazakhstan to Europe

Accreditation Is a Case-by-Case Matter

Kazakhstan has two accreditation agencies recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education: IAAR and ECAQA. This does not mean that every university in the country is accredited — it differs from institution to institution. We look into that for you during the free consultation.

Language in the Clinical Phase

Instruction takes place in English-language study groups, but clinical work is conducted in Russian and Kazakh. Those who find themselves unable to participate at the bedside lose learning time precisely where it matters most.

Distance and Programme Structure

Four or more flying hours, a different academic system with a bachelor structure plus internship, and a time difference that makes staying in touch with home harder — over four or five remaining years of study, these are real factors.

Recognition Is Regulated

Kazakhstan is not an EU member and thus remains a third country. This has not been a disadvantage since the reform of March 2026: from 1 November 2026, the oral knowledge examination under Section 3 of the German Medical Licensing Act (Bundesärzteordnung) applies as the standard route to a nationwide Approbation. Details are in the article Approbation and Recognition.

How Do We Find the Right University for You?

You will not find a checklist, a document list or a set of dates on this page, and that is deliberate. What each university wants to see differs from one institution to the next and changes from year to year — and a transfer planned around an outdated detail costs exactly the time you were trying to save.

What we do instead is simple. Tell us where you stand: what you have studied so far, what you have already passed, and which countries you could imagine living in. We look at that individually and then tell you at which university and in which country we can place you — and where we can get you in predictably.

We always aim for the highest possible entry point, so that you continue rather than start over; in many cases that means one of the later study years. Through our network of official partner universities we have the widest choice of places in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and veterinary medicine, among them Foča in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Niš in Serbia and Malta. And you stay enrolled in Kazakhstan while we do it — you plan the move from a secure position, not from nothing.

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Where Can You Transfer from Kazakhstan?

University of East Sarajevo, Medical Faculty Foča (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

State faculty with its own university hospital, medicine and dentistry in English, listed in ANABIN, EU-compliantly accredited until 2033. 3,500 euros per academic year, academic year beginning in November, practical year optionally completed entirely at a German teaching hospital. To the Foča study guide.

MediCampus Europeo, Malta

EU location with English as the official language — linguistically the most straightforward option for anyone coming from an English-language programme. Campus in Il-Furjana near Valletta, Maltese MFHEA licence, clinical phase from the third year of study. 14,500 euros per year with a lump-sum payment, academic year beginning in October. To the Valletta location article.

University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine (Serbia)

Large state university with its own university hospital, medicine in English, six years, 360 ECTS, degree MD. 1,500 euros per quarter, i.e. 6,000 euros per academic year. To the Niš location article.

The complete list of all NC-free options in Europe is available in the study transfer article for Bulgaria.

What the Transfer Means Financially

Kazakh universities and our target destinations are priced closely together: Foča costs 3,500 euros per academic year, less than most Kazakh institutions; Niš costs 6,000 euros. The real advantage lies not in price, but in the degree, the proximity to home, and the English-language clinical environment. Living costs in Foča and Niš are realistically 450 to 500 euros per month. Our placement fee is success-based: if no study place is found, you incur no costs.

Why You Should Seek Advice as Early as Possible

• Places are limited. In higher years, a place only comes up when one becomes free — the earlier we know about you, the more options remain open.
• The academic years start at different times. Malta begins in October, Foča in November, Niš runs on a quarterly rhythm. The more lead time we have, the more calmly the move can be arranged.
• A move out of Central Asia needs a run-up. Everything takes longer from that distance than it does within the EU — which is exactly why we take that part off your hands rather than leaving you to work through it alone.

Looking at your situation takes a few days and costs nothing. Tell us what you have studied so far and where you could imagine going, and we will tell you at which university and in which country we can place you. Book a free study consultation — by phone or video call, together with your parents if you wish.