Education System of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is located in central Asia, north west of China, a small portion lies west of Ural river in eastern most Europe. It is the ninth largest country in the world in size and popular central Asian adventure destination.

 The Ministry of Education administers the education system in Kazakhstan. The education system in Kazakhstan comprises kindergarten, primary education, secondary education and higher education. 

Children at the age of 5 may attend kindergarten education. This level of education aims to develop child physically, socially, intellectually and emotionally. It also prepares children for primary education.

Education in Kazakhstan is compulsory for children aged 6 to 15

Primary education in Kazakhstan is compulsory. Children at the age of 6/7 may enter primary school. Most of the primary schools in Kazakhstan are state-owned. Primary education is free of charge for all Kazakhstan citizens. 

Secondary education in Kazakhstan encompasses lower secondary education and higher secondary education.

Upon successful completion of primary education, students can go for lower secondary education. This educational level covers grades 5 to 9.

Curriculum: Kazakh or Russian language, chemistry, literature, mathematics, history, foreign language, first language, physics and biology.

Students who have completed lower secondary education are eligible to apply to high secondary school in Kazakhstan. This educational level lasts for 3 years and offers 3 educational tracks-

General secondary school-Gymnasium or Lyceum: Provides general education, and includes grades 10 to 12.

Vocational education at professional school: There are initial training schools and lycees.

Professional education at professional college: The colleges offer general and advanced academic as well as vocational education. The course of study lasts for 3 to 4 years. 

Students can choose any one track as per their choice. Students who pass this level are eligible to apply for higher education in Kazakhstan.

Tertiary education is offered by several higher education institutions in Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, the higher education institutions include universities, colleges, academies, higher schools, institutes, and conservatories.

Following are the tertiary level qualifications in Kazakhstan:

Students are required to complete their higher secondary education in order to gain admittance into the higher education in Kazakhstan. Students may also be required to undertake an entrance exam and submit a proof of proficiency in the language your study programme will be taught in. 

All the graduates of secondary schools are required to undertake an exam- “Edinoe Nacional'noe Testirovanie(Unified National Testing Exam)”. Students who pass the Unified national test obtain a diploma- the Certificat o Rezul'tatah EH. This certificate enables pupils to apply into the universities in Kazakhstan. 

The KAZTEST assesses the Kazakh language knowledge of the nationals of Kazakhstan and international puipls who wish to study in higher education institutions in Kazakhstan

International students must apply for student visa in order to study in Kazakhstan. In order to apply for the visa, students need an admission/acceptance letter from the institution in Kazakhstan. They can apply for visa at their nearest Kazakhstan embassy.