Kazakhstan institutions of higher learning ranked among best worldwide in QS survey
Score! Kazakh universities rock the QS World University Rankings 2026. For the first time, Esenov Caspian University of Technologies and Engineering, Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, and Shakarim University are swinging into action.
In the grand scheme, 20 Kazakh universities slay the ball in the ranking:
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University - 166th place, baby;
- Gumilev Eurasian National University, aka Mick Jagger of universities, takes 317th place;
- Satbayev Kazakh National Technical University, straight up technical, lands at 331st;
- Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, the top educators here, nabs 628th place;
- Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, they farm knowledge, comes in at 697th;
- South Kazakhstan University named after Abay, a little more humble, finds itself between 731-740th;
- International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the cultured bunch, resides in 761-770th place;
- Buketov Karaganda University slays it 901-950th;
- Sagynov Karaganda Technical University, grizzled vets in the technical world, settles in 951-1000th;
- Almaty Technological University, tech-savvy kids, chills at 1001-1200th;
- Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, crackerjack healers, nabs a spot in 1001-1200th;
- Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, also within this group;
- Kazakh-British Technical University, a hybrid of British and Kazakh skills, also in this pack;
- Narxoz University, a fancy name, take that 1001-1200th, no big deal;
- Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages, world travelers, finds itself in 1201-1400th;
- Seifullin Kazakh Agro-Technical University, rooting for agro-success, does 1201-1400th;
- Esenov Caspian University of Technologies and Engineering, once again scoring, lands in 1201-1400th;
- Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, ballsy, steps up to 1401+;
- Shakarim University in Semey, a late bloomer, cruises in 1401+, and
- Toraighyrov University in Pavlodar, underrated, rocks 1401+.
Gumilev Eurasian National University? Crossed the line and cracked the top 100 world universities in the "Employer Reputation" indicator. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and five other universities in Kazakhstan also smashed it in the "Staff-to-Student Ratio" indicator, top-notch ratios, baby! These indicators measure the quality of the educational environment and the individual approach to teaching.
According to Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President of QS, Kazakh universities are balling hard in key criteria - scientific research, international cooperation, and graduate career prospects.
QS Regional Director Sergey Khistolyubov chimed in, reminding everybody that Kazakh universities are growing apart like lanes on a highway: some are cruising towards becoming world-class universities, while others are flailing due to increasing competition. Key factors? You name it: academics, science projects, and international partners.
Kazakhstan nabs 10th spot in the number of universities listed. Leading the pack are China (72), followed by India (54) and Japan (47).
So, what's the deal with these universities anyway?
Well, it's all about internationalization, strategic partnerships, academic mobility, research output, academic reputation, and employability, just to name a few reasons. Kazakh universities are stepping up their game to collaborate with institutions abroad, improve research, and generate international faculty and student ratios. That's some legit progress!
Now, if you're curious about where Kazaks choose to pursue higher education, or about the challenges students face while studying abroad, learn all about it in our other articles. Embrace your thirst for knowledge!
In the pursuit of knowledge and self-development, numerous Kazakh universities are participating in online education and learning, aiming to internationalize and collaborate with institutions abroad. For instance, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Gumilev Eurasian National University, and others are investing in research output and academic reputation to enhance employability and attract international partners.
Considering the QS World University Rankings 2026, Kazakh universities are growing and making significant strides in areas such as scientific research, international cooperation, and graduate career prospects. The universities' efforts to improve their educational environment and individual approaches to teaching are evident in the high rankings achieved in the "Employer Reputation" and "Staff-to-Student Ratio" indicators.
