Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU), Almaty: MBBS Fees, Admission and Review

About Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University

Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) is Kazakhstan's flagship public medical university, based in Almaty at 94 Tole Bi Street. The university dates its history to 1930, and today it runs two Schools of General Medicine alongside programmes in internship, residency, master's and doctoral studies.

For international students, KazNMU operates a Department for International Students and a foreign-applicant section on its website. Its official rankings page lists a QS World University Rankings band of 1001–1200 for 2026, a QS Medicine subject band of 701–850 for 2025 and a Times Higher Education World University Rankings band of 1201–1400 for 2027. Few Central Asian medical universities appear in these global tables.

This page summarises the fee, programme length, admission steps and the checks you should make under India's NMC rules. For the wider picture, read our MBBS in Kazakhstan guide.

KazNMU MBBS fees 2026-27

Careers360 lists KazNMU's 2026-27 tuition for the English-medium MBBS at 3,000,000 tenge a year. At the National Bank of Kazakhstan's official rate of 453.87 KZT per US$ (2 November 2026), that is about $6,600 a year (≈ ₹6.2 lakh).

Because the fee is set in tenge, the rupee cost changes with the exchange rate. The tenge strengthened against the dollar during 2026, which is why older agent quotes of $4,000–$4,500 for the same course now look low. KazNMU did not publish a foreign-student fee table on its website when we checked in November 2026, so ask the international office for the official 2027-28 price order and pay only to the university's account.

Compare this fee with other Kazakh options: Astana Medical University publishes the same 3,000,000 KZT figure for 2026-27, while Semey Medical University quotes about $4,100.

Course duration and structure

The international programme is about 6 years, according to Careers360's 2026 listing. However, Kazakhstan reformed medical education in 2026. Citizens admitted from 2026 study 6 years at university followed by a 1-year internship, while 2022–2025 entrants follow a 6-year integrated programme.

For Indian students, the important question is whether your programme includes at least 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship run by KazNMU. Ask for:

1. the month-by-month curriculum for the 2027 intake;
2. the internship length, hospitals and supervising department;
3. confirmation that the diploma and internship are both issued by KazNMU.

Is KazNMU MBBS valid in India?

A KazNMU degree can lead to Indian registration if it meets the NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021. According to NMC's official FAQ, the course must last at least 54 months, include a 12-month internship in the same foreign institution, be taught in English throughout, and lead to eligibility for a licence in Kazakhstan on par with Kazakh citizens. The whole course must be completed within 10 years.

After returning, you complete a 12-month internship in India and pass FMGE, which remains the licensing exam for foreign graduates in 2026–27; NExT has no confirmed start date. NMC does not publish a list of approved foreign universities, so you must check compliance yourself. Our guides to the NMC FMGL rules and internship in India after MBBS abroad explain each condition.

FMGE performance

The 2024 NBEMS data reported by Careers360 did not include a separate pass rate for KazNMU among the universities it listed. Across Kazakhstan, 1,261 of 5,018 candidates passed FMGE in 2024 (≈ 25.1%). Ask KazNMU for its institution-wise FMGE results from NBEMS before you decide, and read our FMGE exam guide.

Admission process for Indian students

You need to meet India's eligibility rules: age 17 by 31 December of the admission year, Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English (50% in PCB, 40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for PwBD) and a qualifying NEET-UG score. See NEET for MBBS abroad.

Typical steps:

1. Apply through KazNMU's foreign-applicant channel with your passport, school certificates and NEET scorecard.
2. Complete any interview or test the university sets.
3. Receive the admission letter and invitation.
4. Pay the first-year fee directly to KazNMU.
5. Legalise your documents, arrange certified translations and apply for the student visa.
6. Register with the migration service through the international office after arrival.

The main intake is September. Our admission process guide covers documents and timelines.

Student life in Almaty

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city, which gives students the country's widest choice of housing, food, transport and shopping. Winters are cold, though milder than in the northern cities of Astana and Karaganda. Local cuisine is meat-based, so vegetarians usually cook in the hostel.

Teaching for foreigners is in English, but patients speak Kazakh or Russian. Plan to learn Russian from your first year so you can take histories and follow ward rounds during clinical training.

Should you choose KazNMU?

KazNMU suits students who want a well-known public university with international rankings and are comfortable with a higher-than-average fee. Before you commit, compare it with Karaganda Medical University and South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, and use our checklist on how to choose a medical university abroad. Avoid any agent who calls KazNMU "NMC-approved"; read our agent red flags guide.

Pros and cons of KazNMU

Advantages

• Flagship public medical university in Kazakhstan's largest city, with a history going back to 1930.
• Appears in QS and Times Higher Education global rankings, which few Central Asian medical universities do.
• Two Schools of General Medicine plus internship, residency and doctoral programmes on one campus network.
• Almaty is the country's biggest city, with more housing, food and transport options.

Drawbacks

• One of the dearest Kazakh options at about $6,600 a year, and the fee is set in tenge.
• No official fee table for foreigners was publicly posted on the university website when we checked.
• Patients speak Kazakh or Russian, so clinical years require serious language study.
• Kazakhstan's 2026 reform means the programme structure must be confirmed in writing.