Nazarbayev University and SOAS Launch Joint Master’s Programme in Global Affairs and Eurasian Studies

29 October, 2025, London – A new joint one-year Master’s Programme in Global Affairs and Eurasian Studies has been officially launched by Nazarbayev University (NU), Kazakhstan, and SOAS University of London.

The partnership was formally inaugurated at a signing ceremony held at SOAS, attended by Professor Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University, Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of SOAS, and representatives from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Professor Waqar Ahmad commented: “Nazarbayev University and SOAS are extraordinary institutions. I am delighted that we are joining forces to offer this unique Master’s programme, providing students with an exceptional opportunity to study and gain practical experience in global relations through carefully chosen placements.”

Professor Adam Habib added: “Today’s announcement demonstrates our shared commitment to making education more accessible across our regions. We are proud to move forward with this innovative joint programme, which will allow students to live and study in two world capitals — Astana and London. International collaboration lies at the very heart of SOAS’s mission, and this partnership is a shining example of that.”

Responding to the growing demand for English-language postgraduate education in Kazakhstan, the new programme will explore the geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as the political landscapes of Russia, China, and the broader Eurasian region. The curriculum is designed to equip students with advanced analytical tools, deep regional insight, and the knowledge required to navigate an increasingly complex global environment.

Students will complete the one-year programme across both institutions — spending the first semester at SOAS in London and the second semester at Nazarbayev University in Astana. The course offers a single tuition fee structure and includes an optional internship in a diplomatic mission or NGO setting. Each student will be co-supervised by academic mentors from both universities.

The joint Master’s in Global Affairs and Eurasian Studies will welcome its first cohort in September 2026.

This new partnership reflects the growing strength of educational cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, during his visit to Kazakhstan, Lord Alderdice, the UK Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, visited the campuses of several British universities operating in Kazakhstan, including De Montfort University Kazakhstan, Cardiff University Kazakhstan, Coventry University Kazakhstan, and Narxoz University, where a dual-degree programme is offered in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast.

These examples highlight the strong and dynamic educational ties between the two countries, creating opportunities for students not only from Kazakhstan but from around the world, and fostering a truly international academic community.