Minimum entry requirements for SAT/ACT applicants category

IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) or TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21)

SAT Reasoning Test* or ACT:
SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 or ACT – 26 composite score

Interview: At the request of the Admissions Committee

* The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT and ACT scores

**TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered

Minimum entry requirements for A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificates category*

IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (6.0 in each sub-score) or TOEFL iBT** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21)

A-level/NIS 12 Grade Certificates: no less than ABB for any subjects

Interview: At the request of the Admissions Committee

*A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificates holders can also participate in the competition in the "SAT/ACT applicants" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).    

**TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered

Minimum entry requirements for IВ Diploma Programme category*

IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) or TOEFL iBT – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21)

IB DP: 30 total score and 4, 4, 5 for 3 subjects of HL

Interview: At the request of the Admissions Committee

* IB DP holders can also participate in the competition in the "SAT/ACT applicants" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).

**TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered

Minimum requirements for transfer students*

IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) or TOEFL iBT*** – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21)

SAT Reasoning Test** or ACT:
SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 or ACT – 26 composite score

GPA/ Recommendation letters: 2.75 out of 4.0

Interview: At the request of the Admissions Committee

Transfer credits of applicants who apply to Nazarbayev University, who are studying or completed undergraduate program are identified by the Admissions Committee. The maximum allowed number of transferable credits is 72 ECTS. Credits are transferred, but grades are not assigned to transferred courses. The grades received at the previous institution(s) will not be calculated into a student’s grade point average (GPA) or cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at the University

*Applicants/students who have successfully completed at least one academic year of an undergraduate program at a university with the English language as an official language of instruction and included in the list of top 200 universities according to the Times Higher Education World University or QS World University ranking at the time of application, are exempt from submitting SAT and IELTS/TOEFL results.

**The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT and ACT scores

***TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered

List of International Subject Olympiads

• International Mathematics Olympiad – IMO
• International Physics Olympiad – IPHO
• International Chemistry Olympiad -IChO
• International Biology Olympiad IBO
• International Olympiad in Informatics – IOI
• International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
• International Mendeleyev Chemistry Olympiad

List of Republican Subject Olympiads of the Republic of Kazakhstan

• Republican Mathematics Olympiad
• Republican Physics Olympiad
• Republican Chemistry Olympiad
• Republican Biology Olympiad
• Republican Informatics Olympiad

* Applicants can apply with both Republican and International Olympiads

Minimum requirements for the winners of the International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads category for all Schools’ applicants*

Type of Olympiad:

• Republic Olympiad
• International Olympiad*

Medal type:

• Republic Olympiad - gold and silver medals (I, II place) for the current academic year
• International Olympiad* - gold, silver, and bronze medals (I, II, III place) for the last three years

Minimum requirements for IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score*

Interview with Admission Committee: Required

*IELTS or TOEFL iBT results are reviewed by the Admissions Committee individually, TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered

Minimum entry requirements for NUET applicants category for all NU Schools*

NUET:
Mathematics
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Minimum score in total: 130

Minimum passing scores per subject: 60

Minimum entry requirements for IELTS or TOEFL:
IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each sub- score) or TOEFL iBT - 79
(Reading – no less than 13, Listening – no less than 12, Speaking – no less than 18, Writing – no less than 21)

*TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered
NUET (Nazarbayev University Entrance Test) – test that evaluates academic training for studying at the University

• NUET is held in 2 subject sections - Mathematics and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.
• Number of questions – 60.
• Test content – multiple-choice questions.
• Test duration – 120 minutes. Minimum passing score – 130 in total for 2 subjects, while minimum passing score for each of the subjects shall not be less than 60.
• Test results are available in 6 weeks in a Personal account.
• The number of tasks and duration of the entry examination are subject for change by Test administrators.
• Information about access to the entry examination is placed in the applicant’s Personal account.
• Applicants are informed about examination date and venue, information on format , as well as required documents and Rules of conduct during the examination via email one week prior to the exams.
• Examination schedule is published in the “Important dates” section.
• If a violation of rules or conditions of passing the test occurs, the applicant's results are cancelled. In this case, the applicant is excluded from the competition. Disqualified applicants will not be able to enroll to NU in the future.
• There is no appeal procedure.
• NUET for all applicants is free of charge.