From Grants to Global Campuses: How Kazakhstan’s Higher Education Has Changed in Seven Years

Kazakhstan has significantly expanded investment in higher education and research over the past seven years, increasing the number of state-funded study opportunities, raising student stipends, building new dormitories and developing partnerships with international universities, 24KZ reports.

The figures show changes not only in access to higher education, but also in research funding and the international presence of Kazakhstan’s universities.

More than 655,000 state-funded grants

Over the past seven years, Kazakhstan allocated 655,680 educational grants worth a total of 1.5 trillion tenge.

The grants have allowed hundreds of thousands of young people to pursue higher education without paying the full cost of tuition.

As Kazakhstan’s economy changes and demand for new skills grows, the focus is also shifting towards how closely university programmes correspond to labour-market needs.

Student stipends have increased 2.5-fold

Financial support for students has also increased. In 2019, the standard monthly student stipend stood at 20,949 tenge. It has since risen to 52,372 tenge, an increase of approximately 2.5 times.

Students pursuing teaching degrees now receive 84,000 tenge a month. Monthly stipends stand at 117,098 tenge for master’s students and 262,500 tenge for doctoral students.

Higher stipends help cover living costs such as accommodation, food and transportation, particularly for students who move to another city to study.

Dormitory shortage falls from 82,000 to 5,200 places

Student housing has seen one of the biggest changes. Over seven years, 267 student dormitories providing 66,104 places have opened across Kazakhstan. During the same period, the nationwide shortage of dormitory places fell from 82,000 to 5,200.

Housing remains particularly important for students coming from other regions. While a state grant can cover tuition, accommodation remains a major part of the cost of studying away from home.

The shortage has not been eliminated entirely, with another 5,200 places still needed.

Science funding has more than tripled

Kazakhstan has also substantially increased spending on research and development.

Domestic expenditure on R&D rose from 72.2 billion tenge in 2018 to 261.5 billion tenge in 2025 – an increase of 3.6 times.

The additional funding gives universities and research organisations greater resources for scientific work and reflects a broader effort to strengthen research and innovation alongside university education.

How effectively this investment translates into research results, new technologies and practical applications will be an important measure of its long-term impact.

Kazakhstan expands international university partnerships

Internationalisation has become another major part of the country’s higher education policy.

Nine branches of foreign universities were established in Kazakhstan in 2025, while 33 foreign university branches are currently operating in the country.

Institutions that began operating branches in September 2025 include the UK’s Cardiff University and Coventry University, South Korea’s Woosong University, Germany’s Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Italy’s Università Politecnica delle Marche and Russia’s MGIMO.

Since 2021, Kazakhstan has established 40 strategic university partnerships in different formats, including branches, franchises, partnerships, global campuses and consortiums.

These partnerships involve universities from the United Kingdom, the United States, China, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Poland.

Kazakh universities are also expanding abroad. Over the past three years, five branches or academic units have been established outside the country, including projects in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Russia.

From expanding access to improving outcomes

Taken together, the figures show a significant expansion of Kazakhstan’s higher education system. More state-funded places, higher stipends and additional student accommodation have improved access, while increased research spending and partnerships with foreign universities are broadening the role of universities beyond teaching.

The next test will be how effectively these investments translate into skills needed by the economy, stronger research and innovation, and international partnerships that bring lasting academic expertise to Kazakhstan.