Nazarbayev University

About Us

Admission and progression are entirely merit-based and integrate professor-led teaching and research starting on day one as a freshman.

We’re more than a novelty. NU is providing a higher education that prepares graduates for success in an age of globalization and technological disruption. Our graduates receive world-class degrees in earth sciences, digital sciences, public administration, educational leadership, engineering, medicine, and more.

Nazarbayev University, established on the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2010, is the country’s flagship academic institution with aspirations to become a global-level research university. This is the first university in Kazakhstan which is guided by the principles of autonomy and academic freedom. The University’s autonomous status was granted by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 19 January, 2011 “On the status of “Nazarbayev University”, “Nazarbayev Intellectual schools” and “Nazarbayev Fund””.

Vision

To give Kazakhstan and the world the scientists, academics, managers, and entrepreneurs needed to prosper and develop.

Mission

To be a model for higher education reform and modern research in Kazakhstan and contribute to establishing Astana as an international innovation and knowledge hub.

Strategic goals

1. Higher Education Reform Leadership

   To ensure that the lessons of Nazarbayev University's experience are transferred and understood by other universities, schools, and research centers

2. Academic excellence

   To achieve Nazarbayev University's mission by developing and maintaining academic excellence

3. Research excellence

   To develop a program of world-class research by partnering with the world's best researchers and research institutions

4. A model for creating healthcare services

   To establish a healthcare system that will provide a model for healthcare services throughout Kazakhstan

5. Innovation and translating research into production

   To become Kazakhstan's main driver of innovation, leading the way for Nur Sultan to become a regional hub of innovation

Global Partnerships

NU’s global engagement is defined by the meaningful, mutually beneficial, and high-impact relationships with universities, research institutes, laboratories, clinical sites, and industry across the world.

These partnerships and networks open up unique global opportunities for our community, enabling our students, faculty, researchers, and staff to thrive in times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity and achieve their full potential

Research

Nazarbayev University scholars conduct research in many fields, and seek to expand human knowledge through innovation, analysis, and collaboration

5600+ International publications

13,8% Of publications in the top 10% most cited publications worldwide

270 Research and teaching laboratories

1100+ Publications by students

Students

Students are the top priority for NU. We strive to attract the most talented students from Kazakhstan and beyond. Merit-based admission and progression policies, academic integrity as DNA, and critical thinking skills have ensured the success of the graduates. NU will continue to grow while, of course, preserving quality. NU intends to increase the student population to 8000 by 2025, having the goal to expand the number of international students to 10%.

Faculty

NU places a high premium on faculty excellence and diversity. We are building an internationally competitive research-active faculty with many winners of awards and members of honorary and professional societies. All professors hold a western type PhD or equivalent highest-level degree in their respective fields. Our diverse faculty hails from 58 countries. NU faculty and teaching community consists of 521 full-time faculty (including 34 postdoctoral scholars) and 76 teaching assistants.

• 70% International

• 30% Local

• 6% Professors

• 19% Associate professors

• 34% Assistant professors

• 20% Instructors

• 12% Teaching fellows

• 5% Postdocs