Submission of applications for a master's degree in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Every year, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan allocates thousands of grants for study at the master's, doctoral and bachelor's level for citizens with high academic performance. This year, 13 thousand grants are provided for study at the master's level. To receive a free education, you need to submit an application and go through the competitive stages. We will tell you in more detail how to correctly go the path to admission to a grant for a master's degree.

Those who have already completed a bachelor's degree can apply for a grant for a master's degree. Master's degree in Kazakhstan is divided into scientific and pedagogical and specialized. Scientific and pedagogical master's degree, designed for two years, trains teachers and researchers for universities. Specialized master's degree, the duration of which is from one to one and a half years, is suitable for professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge in their field and applying for management positions. The choice of the type of master's degree determines the criteria for receiving a grant.

To apply, applicants must pass a comprehensive test (CT), which is conducted twice a year: in summer and autumn. In 2024, applications are accepted from June 1 to July 8 and from October 28 to November 10. Up-to-date news about the deadlines can be found on the website of the Ministry of Science and in the Telegram channel of the National Testing Center. Grants are distributed based on the test results, so if the attempt was unsuccessful, you can try again in the next intake.

To apply for CT, you must register on the Testcenter.kz website, indicating your IIN and email, select a master's program, specialty, language of instruction and location of the test, and then pay for the test (in 2024, the cost is 14,693 tenge). The application can be withdrawn or changed before the end of the admissions period.

Applicants can choose any specialty for the master's degree, regardless of the specialty in which the bachelor's degree was received. The comprehensive testing includes four blocks: a foreign language (English, French or German), a test of readiness to study in Kazakh or Russian and two specialized subjects. In some cases, an additional creative exam is required, which is conducted by the university itself. A full list of such specialties can be found in the Admission Rules.

The passing score varies depending on the program. For a scientific and pedagogical master's degree, you must score at least 75 points, and for a specialized one - at least 30. Those who successfully pass the CT will have to submit documents to one of the selected universities to participate in the grant competition. A student can indicate up to three universities in order of priority. If an applicant does not enter the first priority university, his application will be considered for the following universities from the list.

After the end of the document acceptance period, the Ministry publishes a list of grant holders. Those who are included in this list must sign an agreement with the university and complete the enrollment.