The Bolashak International Scholarship was established by Decree of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, N.A.Nazarbayev, on November 5, 1993.
The Bolashak program provides a unique opportunity for Kazakhstanis to complete both academic studies (bachelor's, master's, residency, doctoral studies) and internships in foreign companies and universities. It is important to keep in mind that the Bolashak International Scholarship is individual and is awarded once: for internships, for obtaining each degree (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Doctor of Philosophy), and for residency training.
Therefore, it is very important to study in detail all the directions and selection criteria. We hope that this material will help you make the right choice.
In order to choose a specialty and educational institution for training you need:
having determined the specialty and the country of training, to choose an educational institution from the List of leading higher educational institutions.
Within the framework of the Bolashak International Scholarship, citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan can enroll in the following programs: bachelor's degree, Master's degree, residency, doctoral degree and internship.
Students can enroll in these educational programs:
Self-enrolled applicant for academic studies;
Applicants from a rural locality for a Master's degree;
Engineering and technical staff for a Master's degree;
Medical professionals applying for a Master's degree;
Civil servants applying for a Master's degree;
Nuclear industry workers applying for a Master's degree;
Employees of the nuclear industry to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, a doctor by profession.
Internship categories:
Engineering and technical workers, employees of the agro-industrial complex;
Users of the artificial intelligence system;
Teachers of organizations of preschool, secondary, technical and vocational education, teachers and employees of organizations of higher and (or) postgraduate education;
Medical workers;
Government employees;
Media workers;
Cultural, tourism and sports workers;
Judges and court staff;
Employees of the nuclear industry.
Note that each category is characterized by certain requirements.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Self-enrolled applicants for a Bachelor's degree":
- unconditional admission to academic studies (except for financial conditions) at a leading foreign higher education institution included in the list;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of first, second and third degree diplomas obtained in the last 3 years from international Olympiads in general education subjects, international competitions of scientific projects and international competitions of performers, the list of which is determined by the Republican Commission, provided that their chosen specialty corresponds to the subject of the Olympiad or competition.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Self-enrolled applicants for a Master's degree":
- the presence of an unconditional invitation (except for financial conditions) from a foreign university included in the List of recommended universities;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is not taken into account.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Applicants from a rural locality for a master's degree":
- who has been registered at his place of residence and has been working in a rural locality of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the last 2 years;
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is at least 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00/4.33) or 4.00 out of 5.00;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- compliance of the specialty with the bachelor's/specialist's degree, the chosen specialty according to the list of related specialties.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Engineering and technical workers for a Master's degree":
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is at least 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00/4.33) or 4.00 out of 5.00;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- compliance of the specialty with the bachelor's/specialist's degree, the chosen specialty according to the list of related specialties.
An engineering and technical worker for a master's degree is an individual who organizes and manages the production process (production, procurement, storage, transportation, processing/processing), has a higher technical education, including in the field of information and communication technologies, as well as directly engaged in production activities in the organization, with a total experience in the chosen field of specialization is at least 1 year for training in technical specialties within the framework of the Bolashak scholarship.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Medical professionals for a Master's degree":
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is at least 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00/4.33) or 4.00 out of 5.00;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- compliance of the specialty with the bachelor's/specialist's degree, the chosen specialty according to the list of related specialties.
A medical worker for a master's degree is an applicant for a master's degree in medical specialties who, at the time of submitting documents for participation in the competitive selection, are persons engaged in professional activities and providing direct medical care in medical organizations with higher medical education, with at least 1 year of general medical experience.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Civil servants for a Master's degree":
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is at least 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00/4.33) or 4.00 out of 5.00;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- compliance of the specialty with the bachelor's/specialist's degree, the chosen specialty according to the list of related specialties.
A civil servant for a master's degree is an applicant for a master's degree who, at the time of submitting documents for participation in the competitive selection, are civil servants (with the exception of political civil servants) with a total work experience in public service of at least 3 years, including the last 12 months in the sending government agency.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Nuclear Industry Workers for a Master's degree":
- the average score on the application of a bachelor's or specialist's degree is at least 3.00 GPA (out of 4.00/4.33) or 4.00 out of 5.00;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- compliance of the specialty with the bachelor's/specialist's degree, the chosen specialty according to the list of related specialties.
Nuclear industry worker applying for a Master's degree – an individual engaged in labor activity in organizations of state regulation of atomic energy, subsurface use (exploration and production of uranium), the nuclear industry, or organizations of engineering surveys, technical consulting, scientific research in the field of nuclear energy, or organizations of design, construction and operation of infrastructure and basic installations, development and implementation of promising technologies and industries, attracting investments in the field of nuclear energy, or organizations engaged in the production of radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive isotopes and sources, the use of radiation technologies based on electron accelerators, the development and use of nuclear physics analysis methods, with a total work experience of at least 3 years, including in the chosen field of specialization at the time of submission of documents with the experience of actual work for the last 6 months for academic studies and internships under the Bolashak scholarship.
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Applicants for a doctorate and residency training":
- the presence of an unconditional invitation (except for financial conditions) from a foreign university included in the List of recommended universities;
- availability of an individual curriculum agreed with a leading foreign higher education institution (for doctoral studies);
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- an employer's application for specialist training with the condition of retaining a job (for employees of the nuclear industry to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, doctor in profile).
Requirements for applicants in the category of "Applicants for an internship under the Bolashak program":
- the presence of an unconditional invitation (with the exception of financial conditions) from a foreign organization accepting an internship;
- the presence of a certificate of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements;
- a certificate of passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- total work experience of at least 3 years, including the last 12 months in the chosen field of specialization;
- total work experience of at least 3 years, including the last 6 months in the chosen field of specialization (for the categories "Users of the artificial intelligence system" and "Employees of the nuclear industry").
The competition consists of 3 rounds.
The first and second rounds are organized and conducted by the administrator in cooperation with organizations and independent experts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In the first round, comprehensive testing is conducted, which is a qualifying round with admission to the next round. An applicant who has not reached the threshold score set by the working body in the first round is not allowed to participate in the second round.
The second round is conducted by arranging for applicants to undergo an anonymous personal interview with members of an independent expert commission. The composition, procedure and organization of the work of the independent expert commission are approved by the Working Body – the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In the second round, the applicant's level of professional training, theoretical knowledge and the availability of professional competencies in the chosen field of specialization are determined.
The working body submits the materials of applicants for the third round for consideration by the Republican Commission with the results of comprehensive testing and recommendations of the independent expert commission, as well as taking into account the ranking according to the competitive selection ranking table approved by the working body.
The Republican Commission reviews the results of the first and second rounds and makes a final decision on the award or refusal to award the Bolashak scholarship, which the applicant is notified about by posting information on the official Internet resource of the administrator within 3 (three) business days.
Any citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan applying for a bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), doctorate in profile, residency training and internships can become a participant in the program.
The deadlines for accepting documents and conducting a competitive selection are posted on the official website www.bolashak.gov.kz.
The deadlines for accepting documents and holding the competition are approved annually by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and posted in the mass media distributed throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan 10 calendar days before the start of the deadline for accepting documents. If you plan to become an applicant for the Bolashak scholarship, then you should prepare a package of documents in advance so that you do not miss important points in a hurry. So, what do you need?:
Self-enrolled applicants for a Bachelor's degree:
- completed application form;
- identity card and passport;
- a copy of the state-issued document on general secondary education or technical and vocational education, or post-secondary education with an attachment;
- a copy of the first, second and third degree diplomas received in the last 3 years from international Olympiads in general education subjects, international competitions of scientific projects and international competitions of performers, the list of which is determined by the Republican Commission, provided that their chosen specialty corresponds to the subject of the Olympiad or competition.;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in the Kazakh language with a result meeting the established minimum requirements;
- medical certificate of health on the form 072/y for persons traveling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional admission to academic studies (except for financial conditions), indicating the program, specialty, period of study, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages;
- a copy of the notarized consent of the legal representative (parents (parent), adoptive parents (adoptive parents), guardian or trustee, foster parent (foster parents), foster carer and other persons replacing them who, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provide care, education, upbringing, protection of the rights and interests of the child) of the applicant for the referral for training abroad (persons under the age of 18);
- copies of documents confirming the applicant's admission to academic studies free of charge, provided by a leading foreign higher education institution included in the list, as well as other foreign and/ or Kazakhstani organizations, with full coverage of expenses, including academic tuition fees for the entire period of academic study, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages, if available;
- motivation letter.
Self-enrolled applicants for a Master's degree:
- completed application form;
- identity card and passport;
- a bachelor's or specialist's degree with an attachment, as well as, in the case of studying at a foreign educational organization, a certificate of recognition and/or nostrification of an educational document or other document of recognition of an educational document, taking into account the specifics established by paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law.;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in the state language;
- medical certificate of health on the form 072/y for persons traveling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional enrollment in academic studies (except for financial conditions), indicating the program, specialty, period of study, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages;
- an official academic performance document issued by a foreign higher education institution /a standard certificate indicating the specialty, course (year of study), information about the assessment system used in this educational institution, as well as the average score of current academic performance in this educational institution, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages, if available, for persons studying for academic studies at leading foreign higher education institutions included in the List;
- motivation letter.
Applicants from rural settlements, engineering and technical workers, medical workers, civil servants, nuclear industry workers for a master's degree:
- completed application form;
- identity card and passport;
- a bachelor's or specialist's degree with an attachment, as well as, in the case of studying at a foreign educational organization, a certificate of recognition and/or nostrification of an educational document or other document of recognition of an educational document, taking into account the specifics established by paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law.;
- an electronic copy of the application of a legal entity of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its branch, representative office, with which the applicant has an employment relationship in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the employer), for the training of a specialist with the condition of retaining a job in a form approved by the working body for applicants participating in the competitive selection by category "government employees" and "nuclear industry workers";
- documents confirming employment, as well as an extract of the listed mandatory pension contributions for the period of employment required by these Rules.;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in the state language with a score of at least level B1;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in a foreign language with a result meeting the established minimum requirements;
- medical certificate of health on the form 072/y for persons traveling abroad;
- information about the applicant's place of residence from a rural locality obtained by the Administrator from the relevant state information systems and databases;
- motivation letter.
Applicants for a doctorate and residency degree:
- completed application form;
- identity card and passport;
- a bachelor's or specialist's degree with an attachment, as well as, in the case of studying at a foreign educational organization, a certificate of recognition and/or nostrification of an educational document or other document of recognition of an educational document, taking into account the specifics established by paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law.;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in the state language;
- medical certificate of health on the form 072/y for persons traveling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional enrollment in academic studies (except for financial conditions), indicating the program, specialty, period of study, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages;
- an official academic performance document issued by a foreign higher education institution /a standard certificate indicating the specialty, course (year of study), information about the assessment system used in this educational institution, as well as the average score of current academic performance in this educational institution, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages, if available, for persons studying for academic studies at leading foreign higher education institutions included in the List;
- an individual curriculum agreed with a leading foreign higher education institution included in the List and not exceeding the time limits set by this leading foreign higher education institution for obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, a doctor in profile with a notarized translation into the state or Russian languages;
- an electronic copy of the employer's application for specialist training with the condition of retaining a job (for employees of the nuclear industry to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, doctor in profile).
Applicants for internships:
- completed application form;
- identity card and passport;
- an employer's application for specialist training with the condition of retaining a job;
- a bachelor's or specialist's degree with an attachment, as well as, in the case of studying at a foreign educational organization, a certificate of recognition and/or nostrification of an educational document or other document of recognition of an educational document, taking into account the specifics established by paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law.;
- documents confirming employment, as well as an extract of the listed mandatory pension contributions for the period of employment required by these Rules.;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in a foreign language with a result meeting the established minimum requirements;
- a valid official certificate of the prescribed form on passing the exam in the state language;
- medical certificate of health on the form 072/y for persons traveling abroad;
- documents confirming the unconditional invitation (except for financial conditions) of a foreign organization accepting an internship, indicating the terms and cost (with a transcript of calculations) of the internship with notarized translations into the official or Russian languages;
- an internship program drawn up in accordance with the requirements established by the Working Body and approved by the sending and receiving organizations for the internship.
Those wishing to enroll in the Bolashak program can send the necessary documents online through the E-Government portal (www.egov.kz).
Within 90 calendar days from the date of the Republican Commission's decision to award you the Bolashak scholarship, you will conclude a training agreement/internship agreement with the Center for International Programs JSC. The contract is the basis for the transfer of funds related to the payment of all expenses related to the organization of training / internship.
To conclude training agreements/internship agreements and collateral, you need to arrive at the Office of Claims and Contractual Support of JSC "Center for International Programs" (Astana, 70 Syganak St., 5th floor).
You must have the following documents with you:
In order to ensure the fulfillment of obligations stipulated in the tuition agreement, the Scholarship Holder provides collateral for real estate, the estimated value of which is not less than the total tuition fee of the Scholarship Holder. A pledge agreement for immovable property is concluded between the Company and the owner of the immovable property.
At the same time, the alienation of immovable property, which is security for the fulfillment of contractual obligations, is not allowed from the date of awarding the Bolashak international scholarship by the Scholarship Holder and (or) his close relatives.
The subject of an immovable property pledge agreement is any immovable property to which ownership is registered without any restrictions or encumbrances.
At the same time, the year of construction of the immovable property should not exceed 50 years as of the date of conclusion of the pledge agreement.
The conclusion of an agreement on the pledge of immovable property is carried out according to the list of the following documents:
- a document certifying the identity of the owner of immovable property (mortgagor) (original and copy). The original is returned to the owner of the real estate after verification.;
- a certificate of registered rights (encumbrances) on immovable property and its technical characteristics issued by the judicial authorities;
- certificates of the presence (absence) of immovable property throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan from all members of the Scholarship Recipient's family, including the Scholarship Recipient himself (parents, spouse, children) of the judicial authority, if the value of the immovable property pledged does not cover the amount of the tuition agreement;
- a report on the valuation of real estate, issued no later than 6 months before the conclusion of the pledge agreement by any independent appraiser licensed to carry out valuation activities (original);
- a notarized statement, the consent of the owner's spouse to pledge the immovable property with consent to the extrajudicial sale of the immovable property if the owner was married at the time of the acquisition of the property, as well as a marriage certificate (notarized copy), the identity card of the owner's spouse (copy);
- a notarized statement on the marital status of the owner of the immovable property at the time of the acquisition of the immovable property, if the owner was not married at the time of the acquisition of the immovable property;
- certificate of civil registration authorities (Registry Office) on the dissolution of marriage (notarized copy), if at the time of the acquisition of real estate the owner was married, but at the time of the conclusion of the pledge agreement is not married (divorced), as well as a notarized statement by the owner that is currently not married consists of;
- written consent of the guardianship and guardianship authorities to make a transaction in respect of immovable property, if one of the owners of the immovable property is a minor, a birth certificate of the minor owner of the immovable property, as well as documents confirming that the person has the status of guardian or trustee of the minor owner of the property offered as collateral, if the guardian/trustee acts on behalf of the latter. A pledge agreement for immovable property on behalf of a minor property owner who has not reached the age of fourteen, subject to the above conditions, is signed by his parents/adoptive parents/guardians. Minor owners of real estate between the ages of 14 and 18 enter into a pledge agreement on their own with the written consent of their parents/adoptive parents/guardians;
- the consent of parents/adoptive parents/guardians is certified by their signatures in the real estate pledge agreement next to the signature of the minor owner;
- a notarized statement of consent from the owner of immovable property to pledge and grant the right to out-of-court sale, if the pledge agreement for immovable property is concluded by proxy.
If there is no unencumbered immovable property covering the cost of tuition, or if its value is insufficient, all unencumbered immovable property owned by the Scholarship Holder, his family members (parents, spouse, children), as well as third parties, is accepted as collateral.
If the total cost of the Scholarship Holder's academic studies is not covered for the remaining amount, which is not secured by collateral, a guarantee agreement is concluded.
Depending on the amount of coverage, the following guarantees are provided:
- if the cost of tuition is covered by collateral of more than seventy percent, one guarantor;
- when the cost of training is covered by collateral from fifty to seventy percent – two guarantors;
- when the cost of training is covered by collateral from thirty to fifty – three guarantors;
- if the cost of training is covered by collateral of less than thirty percent – four guarantors.
For scholarship holders who have been sent for academic studies, have been living for the last 3 years and have been working in rural settlements for the last 2 years, two guarantors are provided as security for the fulfillment of contractual obligations, regardless of the percentage of tuition fees covered by collateral.
If the Scholarship Holder or his family members (parents, spouse, children) do not own unencumbered immovable property, in order to ensure the fulfillment of obligations stipulated in the tuition agreement, the Scholarship Holder represents 5 guarantors.
Fellows who are sent for internships are provided with two guarantors in order to ensure the fulfillment of obligations.
The guarantor is a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the age of 50, who has had a steady income for the last 12 calendar months, supported by employer certificates and documents confirming the payment of pension contributions (including an extract from the pension fund).
The following documents are required to conclude a guarantee agreement:
- a document certifying the identity of the guarantor (a notarized copy);
- a certificate from the place of work of the guarantor indicating the position, date of employment and income for the last 12 calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement. In the case of self-employed citizens acting as a guarantor: certificate of state registration as an individual entrepreneur (notarized copy); documents confirming income for the last 12 calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement;
- documents confirming the payment of pension contributions (including an extract from the pension fund) for the last 12 calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement.
The removal of encumbrances from immovable property held as collateral by the Company is carried out after the Scholarship Holder has properly fulfilled all contractual obligations.
After signing the contract, you need to contact the supervisor: Office of America, CIS and Oceania (tel. +7 (7172) 76 90 76 (ext. 120, 121, 122, 123)), Office for Europe and Asia (tel. +7 (7172) 76 90 76 (ext. 130, 131, 133, 134)).
Next, you must apply for a letter of guarantee (GP), an official document required to apply for a visa and submit it to a foreign educational institution as proof of sponsorship. Since GP is a public service, the application is submitted personally to the Company or through a trusted person.;
Before traveling abroad, you must issue a multicurrency payment bank card and send the information on the card account to the Financial Security Department.;
After receiving the visa, you must send a scanned copy to the supervisor and contact the Financial Security Department by phone +7 (7172) 76 90 76 (ext. 200, 223) to reimburse expenses for the visa, medical insurance, air tickets, as well as making an advance payment.
The scholarship is calculated according to the cost rates of the actual location and training, internship, language courses in the country of study according to the individual curriculum of the Scholarship Holder. Monthly payments for accommodation and meals are made from the 25th of the previous month to the 5th of the current month.;
Upon arrival in the country of study, the Scholarship Holder must send the curator a Release Form (permission to provide information about the status and academic performance at the educational institution) and a questionnaire with up-to-date contact information in the country of study.;
Within 15 calendar days from the start of the training, it is necessary to register at a foreign institution of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the host country and notify the Company within 7 working days from the date of registration.;
Within 60 calendar days from the start of their studies, the Scholarship Holder must submit an individual curriculum to the Society for approval. During the study period, it is necessary to provide the Society with an extract on academic performance, an interim report and feedback from the internship supervisor based on the results of each interim academic period established by the Educational Institution (semester, trimester or academic year).
Within 30 days from the date of completion of studies, return to the Republic of Kazakhstan, provide the Society with a copy of the passport with a note on entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan, an application for completion of studies, as well as notarized translations into the state or Russian language of the degree diploma and transcript for the entire period of study.
To carry out continuous work activity in the specialty received within the framework of the Bolashak scholarship, while staying in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (with the exception of persons engaged in work activities outside the Republic of Kazakhstan) within the time limits specified in the training/internship agreement.