How to get a grant to study abroad?

The main state opportunities:

1. The Bolashak program offers master's, doctoral, or internship programs at lead global universities.
   Website: https://bolashak.gov.kz/ru/o-stipendii/obladateli-stipendii
2. Academic mobility grants – short-term study (1 semester) at a foreign university on an exchange basis.
3. Bilateral agreements with other countries - study under intergovernmental quotas.

Choose a right study program based on your education level and objectives.

The general criteria:

• citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• diploma of secondary, higher or secondary specialized education;
• foreign language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or other international certificate);
• none of academic failed history;
• a health certificate.

The Bolashak program additionally requires:

• work experience (for certain categories);
• commitment to work in Kazakhstan after the study within at least 5 years period.

To participate in the competitive selection the following is required:

• application for participation in the program;
• copy of identity card;
• education documents (diploma, transcript, translations);
• motivation letter;
• international language proficiency test results;
• letters of recommendation (if necessary).

To participate in the competitive selection to study abroad as part of academic mobility, the following shall be provided:

1) a student’s application in the form approved by the Rules for credit educational process organization approved by the order of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 20, 2011 No. 152 (registered in the Register of state registration of regulatory legal acts under No. 6976) (the application);

2) a copy of passport of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

3) education documents:

• for sending to study under Bachelor's program: a transcript of current academic performance certified by the seal of Organization of Higher Post-Graduate Education (OHPGE);
• under Master's program: a bachelor's/specialist's degree with an appendix and a transcript of current academic performance;
• under Residency program: bachelor's/specialist's degree with an appendix, certificate of completion of internship with an appendix and a transcript of current academic performance;
• under Doctoral program: a master's degree with an appendix or a certificate of completion of residency with an appendix and an extract from the minutes of the department meeting on the relevance of scientific dissertation and the need for sending for study;

4) a document confirming a foreign language proficiency level (the applicant shall provide one of the following documents):

• a certificate received through international foreign language knowledge assessing systems if available;
• a letter of consent from a foreign higher education institution to enroll a student with the existing level of foreign language;
• Kazakhstani OHPGE test result (not lower than level B2);

5) a health certificate (for those traveling abroad) in the form No. 072/у, approved by order of Acting Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated October 30, 2020 No. ҚР ДСМ-175/2020 (registered in the Register of State Registration of Regulatory Legal Acts No. 21579) (the Order No. ҚР ДСМ-175/2020);

6) a written consent of the parents, guardians, or legal representatives of the applicant for travel abroad, if he or she has not reached the age of eighteen at the time of departure from the Republic of Kazakhstan;

7) a document on family composition to confirm that the student’s family has many children;

8) a document confirming the absence of the student’s parents (for the category of students classified as orphans or students left without parental care (if any);

9) a document confirming the student’s disability.

to the portal:

1) an application signed with the service recipient’s digital signature or certified with a one-time password, upon registration and connection of the service recipient’s subscriber number, provided by the mobile operator, to the portal account;

2) an e-copy of the passport of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

3) an e-copy of education documents:

• for sending to study under Bachelor's program: a transcript of current academic performance certified by the seal of OHPGE;
• under Master's program: a bachelor's/specialist's degree with an appendix and a transcript of current academic performance;
• under Residency program: bachelor's/specialist's degree with an appendix, certificate of completion of internship with an appendix, and a transcript of current academic performance;
• under Doctoral program: a master's degree with an appendix or a certificate of completion of residency with an appendix and an extract from the minutes of the department meeting on the relevance of scientific dissertation and the need for sending for study;

4) an e-copy of a document confirming the foreign language proficiency level (the applicant provides one of the following documents):

• a certificate received through international systems for assessing knowledge of a foreign language, if available;
• a letter of consent from a foreign higher education institution to enroll a student with the existing level of foreign language;
• Kazakhstani OHPGE test result (not lower than level B2);

5) an e-copy of health certificate (for those traveling abroad) in form No. 072/у, approved by Order No. ҚР ДСМ-175/2020;

6) an e-copy of written consent of the parents, guardians, or legal representatives of the applicant for travel abroad, if he or she has not reached the age of eighteen at the time of departure from the Republic of Kazakhstan;

7) an e-copy of document on family composition, to confirm that the student’s family has many children;

8) an e-copy of a document confirming the absence of parents of the student (for the category of students classified as orphans or students left without parental care (if any);

9) an e-copy of the document confirming the student’s disability.

The service provider receives information about the identity card of the service recipient from the relevant government information systems via the e-government gateway.

The service recipient provides written consent to the use of information constituting a secret protected by law, contained in information systems.

The applications are accepted through:

• program portal https://bolashak.gov.kz/ru/o-stipendii/obladateli-stipendii ;
• or through e-government https://egov.kz ;
• for academic mobility - through the office of the OHPGE;
• or through the e-government web portal www.egov.kz (the portal).

The deadlines for submitting documents are set annually (usually in spring and autumn).

The competitive selection includes:

• document verification;
• foreign language test;
• interview with the committee;
• confirmation of admission to a foreign university.

After successfully completing the competition, a decision on the grant award and a commitment agreement are drawn up.

The competitive selection for study abroad within the framework of academic mobility includes:

• document verification;
• assessment of the foreign language proficiency level;
• assessment of the level of academic performance depending on the educational program;
• availability of incentive awards (republican and international levels)

After receiving the grant, you must:

• apply for a student visa;
• register at the consulate of Kazakhstan;
• keep in contact with the Center for International Programs or the Ministry of Science during your studies.

Good to know

• All expenses (tuition, accommodation, flights, insurance) are covered by the grant.
• In case of violation of the terms of the agreement, the grant recipient is obliged to return the funds to the state.
• During the study period, it is necessary to provide an annual progress report.