Applicants from Kazakhstan have an advantage that is rarely said out loud: virtually every destination is open — from the USA and the UK to Korea and Hong Kong, without the visa restrictions their neighbours face. Here is where Kazakhstani students actually go in 2026, where the grants are and how the process works.
Where Kazakhstani students go
The most popular destinations are Turkey, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and the UK; Korea and Hong Kong are growing fast, with universities coming to recruit students directly. The choice usually builds around three axes: budget (Turkey and China — from $1,000–2,000 per year), grants (Italy, Turkey, China, Hungary) and career plans (the UK and USA for those aiming at the global market).
Where the grants are
There are more grant routes for Kazakhstani students than commonly believed. Italy offers the income-based DSU scholarship. Turkey — the state Türkiye Bursları plus generous private-university discounts. China allocated 73 intergovernmental grants to Kazakhstan for 2026–2027 with a stipend of about ¥2,500 per month — apply via egov.kz or directly to the university. Hungary collects Stipendium Hungaricum applications until mid-January. Plus Korea’s GKS — Kazakhstan is on the list of participating countries.
Documents and apostille
The base package is almost universal: the school certificate (11 years of Kazakhstani school are accepted directly in Turkey, Korea, China, Hungary and most of Asia; the UK requires a Foundation year), an IELTS/TOEFL certificate and a motivation letter. The apostille for the certificate is issued online via egov.kz — allow a couple of weeks. Foreign universities do not need the ENT: admissions look at the GPA and the language certificate.
Costs by country
- Turkey (private universities) — from $2,000–3,000 per year, lower with university discounts.
- China — $1,700–7,000 (realistically free on grants).
- Italy (public universities) — a fee of €900–4,000; DSU can cover living costs.
- Korea — $3,000–6,000 per semester in Seoul, cheaper in the regions.
- UAE / Dubai — $7,000–20,000.
- UK — £10,000–25,000 plus living costs.
How to choose a country
The working formula: first the budget for all 4 years (not one!), then the language of instruction, then the post-graduation plan — stay in the country, return home or move on. And if you want the short route — we will tell you in a free consultation where a Kazakhstani applicant gets the maximum discount for their profile.
Apostille via egov.kz: done in about a week
Kazakhstan issues apostilles for school certificates and diplomas online through egov.kz - apply, pay the fee and collect the document at a service centre or electronically. Do it before you leave the country: handling it from abroad is slower. For Turkey the next step is denklik (recognition of your certificate), which we process in parallel with the application; for most of Europe an apostille plus a sworn translation is enough.
A twelve-month calendar that keeps you in control
September-November: shortlist countries, start language prep, apply for GKS (embassy track) and Stipendium Hungaricum. December-February: apostille, translations, CSC and Korean university-track applications. February-May: Turkish private universities - early applicants get the deepest discounts. June-July: offers, deposit, dormitory. July-August: visa or residence permit and tickets. Running several tracks at once means that by summer you choose between offers instead of waiting for a single answer.
Budget benchmarks by destination
| Destination | Tuition / year | Living / month |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey (private, with discount) | $2,500-6,000 | $300-500 |
| South Korea (no scholarship) | $3,000-6,000 | $500-900 |
| Hungary / China (on a grant) | $0 | $200-400 |
| UAE / United Kingdom | from $15,000 | from $700-1,000 |
Use these as planning figures; the exact calculation for your GPA and budget is what we do in a free consultation.
Visa or residence permit: how it works by country
Turkey - visa-free entry for up to 30 days, then a student ikamet issued in-country: the softest scenario. South Korea - a D-2 visa at the embassy in Astana against the Certificate of Admission, two to four weeks. China - an X1 visa on the JW201/JW202 form, converted into a residence permit after arrival. Hungary and the EU - a national D visa on admission, proof of housing and funds, up to six-eight weeks. The principle everywhere: the visa stage is a procedure, not a selection - with admission and finances in order, refusals are rare.
Dorm or rent
Take the dormitory in year one: faster adaptation, predictable budget, simpler contract - and apply for the room together with your deposit, because lists close by August. Benchmarks: Istanbul room from $200-350, Seoul goshiwon from $250-400, Budapest room €250-400, deposits of one-two months on private rentals. Moving to a flat makes sense from the second year, once you know the districts and have flatmates you trust.
Five steps this week
Order your transcript at school; start the apostille on egov.kz; shortlist three-five programs against your GPA and budget; book a language exam if Hungary, Korea or China is on the list; draft the motivation letter. A week of these steps turns plans into a live application - the rest runs on a calendar, not on stress.
The bottom line: applying from Kazakhstan is easier than almost anywhere in the region - online apostille, working cards and transfers, national quotas in the key scholarship programs. The only scarce resource is time: every strong window opens 8-12 months before September. Book a half-hour consultation and we will map your route and calendar while the early wave is still open.
One more practical note: run your tracks in parallel, not one after another. The same document package serves the scholarship contests and the discount applications, deadlines are spread across seasons - so by late spring you are choosing between offers instead of waiting for a single verdict. That is exactly how we run applications for our students from Almaty and Astana.
Need advice for your specific situation?
Talk to a consultant - free, no obligations.
FAQ
Turkey, China and Hungary: the Kazakhstani school certificate is accepted directly, most universities have no entrance exams, and prices are moderate.
No, foreign universities do not ask for the ENT. What matters is the certificate GPA, a language certificate and a motivation letter.
Türkiye Bursları (Turkey), DSU (Italy), Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary), GKS (Korea) and China’s intergovernmental quotas — 73 grants for 2026/27.
Online via egov.kz. The procedure takes up to a couple of weeks, so do it in advance — before university deadlines.
