Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cultural and academic heart, is a vibrant city set between snowy peaks and modern skylines—a crossroads where Silk Road heritage meets next-generation innovation. Families here champion ambitious education, proud of sending students from Almaty’s top universities to classrooms around the world, with a vision for bringing home the knowledge and networks driving Kazakhstan’s rapid transformation.

At Grad-Dreams, we are inspired by Almaty’s energy and global reach. With 22+ years of counseling expertise and a partnership network of 300+ leading universities worldwide, our local insight and people-first guidance are with Almaty students and families every step of their international journey—from selection to scholarships and beyond.

#Jewels of Almaty Academia: Top Local Universities

• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: Kazakhstan’s undisputed flagship (QS #150, THE #447 sustainability), world-ranked for engineering, sciences, business, and more—leading Central Asia for global research.
• Satbayev University: Elite technical, engineering, and STEM challenger (QS Asia #331), famous for innovation, research, and connections with international industry.
• Kazakh National Medical University: #6 national, leading in medicine and health sciences, recognized by MCI/WHO for international MBBS programs.
• KIMEP University: Renowned private institution for business, management, public administration, and international affairs, with English-medium programs and strong global jobs pipeline.
• Almaty Management University, Kazakh-British Technical University, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University: Top choices for business, IT, education, logistics, and technical careers—many with dual-degree options and foreign faculty.

Thousands of Almaty’s best and brightest head to global campuses annually—boosting their skills and bringing home world-class experience.

# Almaty Student Pulse: Trends & Top Destinations 

• Most Popular Study Destinations: Russia (hosts 61,000+ Kazakh students), China (12,000+), Turkey, Germany, UK, Czechia, USA, Canada, South Korea, Poland, Hungary, and Western Europe.
• Favorite Subjects: Medicine (top field), Engineering, Business, Computer Science, STEM, Management, International Relations, and the Arts.
• Stats Snapshot: Over 91,860 Kazakh students currently study abroad (2025 UNESCO), a majority from Almaty and Astana. Demand is booming with 4–6% annual outbound growth as English proficiency, state reforms, and scholarship access expand.

Almaty’s students are recognized for strong English, Kazakh, and Russian skills, competitive credentials, and adaptability. The Bolashak Scholarship and other government initiatives make global study accessible, with most students in Russia, Turkey, or China at the bachelor and master’s level but fast-growing interest in EU, UK, and US pathways.

# Almaty: all about numbers

• Current Students Abroad: 91,860+ Kazakhs (2025, UNESCO), most from Almaty.
• Annual Growth Rate: 4–6% (reflecting robust economic, policy, and language shifts).
• Projection: 100,000+ by 2026, especially in medicine, engineering, business, and STEM.

Outbound mobility now features more diversity—Almaty leads as students explore EU, UK, and North America for affordable, English-taught, and globally valued degrees.