Studying Medicine (MBBS) in Kazakhstan — What Foreign Students Need to Know
Medicine is the one program where Google can ruin your decision. Search "MBBS abroad" and the results are 80% agents selling you something. So let me drop the sales pitch and tell you what is actually true about studying medicine in Kazakhstan in 2026.
Why students choose Kazakhstan for MBBS
Three reasons keep coming up in the student surveys we run at studyinkz.com.
- Tuition between USD 3,500 and USD 5,500 per year — a fraction of the cost of medicine in the UK, Australia or the Caribbean
- MBBS taught entirely in English at the major medical universities
- Programs recognised by the WHO Directory and listed on FAIMER, with NMC eligibility for Indian students who complete the FMGE/NExT exam
There is a fourth, quieter reason. Kazakhstan does not require you to learn a new alphabet just to read a vital-signs chart. Russian is the working clinical language, but English is used for textbooks, lectures and patient cases in international programs.
The major medical universities
Astana Medical University (AMU)
AMU is the most chosen destination for foreign MBBS students. The English-medium general medicine program is six years, the campus has international hostels, and the university has formal NMC training pathway support.
Karaganda Medical University
Located in the industrial heart of central Kazakhstan, KMU is one of the oldest medical schools in the country (1950). It runs a separate international faculty in English.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University — Faculty of Medicine and Health
KazNU's medicine program is younger but rapidly improving, with double-degree options and an international clinical rotation framework.
Semey Medical University
Strong in oncology and radiation medicine (yes, the historical reasons are tragic — but the expertise is real). Located in eastern Kazakhstan.
South Kazakhstan Medical Academy (SKMA), Shymkent
The most affordable accredited medical school in the country, popular among Pakistani, Bangladeshi and African students.
Program structure
A standard MBBS in Kazakhstan is a five- or six-year program — five at most universities, six at NU and a few others. The first two years are theory: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology. Years three and four bring clinical disciplines and small-group hospital rotations. Years five and six are clerkships in pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and emergency care.
Tuition and fees
University
Annual tuition (USD)
Hostel (per year)
Language
Astana Medical University
4,000–5,000
300–500
English
Karaganda Medical University
3,800–4,800
250–400
English
Al-Farabi KazNU Medicine
4,200–5,500
300–500
English
Semey Medical University
3,500–4,500
200–350
English
SKMA, Shymkent
3,200–4,200
200–300
English
Recognition — the question every parent asks
Yes, Kazakhstani medical degrees are recognised by:
- The World Health Organization (WHO World Directory of Medical Schools)
- FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research)
- Medical Council of India / National Medical Commission — eligible for FMGE / NExT licensing exam
- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) — for accredited programs
- Many African medical councils — Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia
The European Union does not automatically recognise Kazakhstani MBBS, but graduates regularly proceed to specialty training in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic after passing local equivalency exams.
Admission requirements
- High school certificate with strong grades in biology, chemistry and physics
- Minimum GPA of around 75% (varies by university)
- English proficiency — IELTS 5.5+, TOEFL iBT 65+, or institutional English test
- Medical fitness certificate including HIV, hepatitis B, tuberculosis screening
- Passport valid at least 18 months from start of program
Some universities run their own English entrance test. Plan for it.
Life as an international MBBS student
Foreign medicine students typically live in the international hostel attached to the medical campus. Rooms are usually shared by two to four students, with a common kitchen, study area and laundry. Hostel staff often speak basic English.
Food is a real consideration — most medical universities have a halal canteen, and Almaty, Astana and Shymkent all have established Indian, Pakistani and Arab restaurant scenes. Students from observant Muslim countries find the food culture comfortable. Students from East Asia and Africa sometimes spend the first month cooking their own.
Clinical exposure
Kazakhstani teaching hospitals are large, busy and modern by regional standards. Foreign students sit in on rounds, take histories with help from translators, observe surgeries and participate in OSCEs. Hands-on exposure increases steadily through the program — by year five, you are doing supervised consultations.
After graduation
Three main paths:
- Return home and sit the licensing exam (FMGE for India, MDCAT for Pakistan, etc.)
- Stay in Kazakhstan for internship and residency — possible but limited slots
- Apply for residency in the EU, US, or Middle East after sitting USMLE, PLAB or equivalent
The honest reality is that Kazakhstan is a strong choice if you intend to return home to practice, or if you plan to use your MBBS as a stepping stone to specialty exams elsewhere. If your only goal is to stay in Kazakhstan as a doctor for life, the path exists but it is narrow.
Five myths I want to clear up
Myth 1: All MBBS abroad programs are the same
They are not. Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China and the Caribbean offer very different clinical experiences and recognition profiles. Check FAIMER, WHO and your home council's list every single time.
Myth 2: The teaching is all in Russian
At accredited international programs, lectures, textbooks and exams are in English. Russian is needed for hospital communication, and you will pick it up — but it is not the teaching language.
Myth 3: It is unsafe for foreign students
Kazakhstan's medical cities are calm, multicultural and used to international students. Most parents who have visited revise this fear within 48 hours of arriving.
Myth 4: Agents are necessary
They are not. You can apply directly through universityof your choice's international admission office or via the studyin.kz portal.
Myth 5: Kazakhstani MBBS is somehow "easier"
It is not. The workload is brutal. Anyone telling you otherwise has not actually studied medicine here.
Official applications and resources
All international study applications and accredited programme listings in Kazakhstan are coordinated through the official portal of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: studyinkz.kz.
studyinkz.kz is the single authoritative source for accredited universities, current scholarship deadlines, foreign branch campus admissions and the official invitation letter required for the C9 student visa. Apply through any other channel only after verifying that your programme is listed on studyinkz.kz.
