
The Bolashak International Scholarship is a scholarship established by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to enable Kazakhstani citizens to pursue full-time studies at leading foreign higher education institutions and obtain Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), or Professional Doctorate degrees, undertake residency training, or complete professional internships in foreign organizations. Eligible professional categories are determined by the Republican Commission for Training Specialists Abroad.
The Bolashak International Scholarship was established in 1993 by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The Bolashak scholarship has become a hallmark of professional achievement and career advancement for the graduates.
Who can become a Bolashak scholar?
Any citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan may apply for participation in the programme for:
- Bachelor's degree studies; Master's degree studies; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies; Professional Doctorate studies;
- residency training;
- professional internships
It is important to note that the Bolashak Scholarship is awarded only once for each educational level or programme category (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, Professional Doctorate, residency, or internship).
Individuals who were previously awarded the scholarship but did not commence their studies or internship may be granted a one-time opportunity to participate in the competition again, provided they have no outstanding obligations to the Programme Administrator.
Admission procedure under the Bolashak programme Stage I. Determining the applicant category
Within the framework of the Bolashak Scholarship, citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan may apply for: Bachelor's degree programmes; Master's degree programmes; residency programmes; doctoral programmes; internship programmes.
The following categories of applicants are eligible:
- Independently admitted applicants pursuing academic studies;
- Applicants from rural localities seeking admission to Master's programmes;
- Engineering and technical professionals applying for Master's programmes;
- Medical professionals applying for Master's programmes;
- Civil servants applying for Master's programmes;
- Employees of the nuclear industry applying for Master's programmes;
- Employees of the nuclear industry applying for PhD or Professional Doctorate programmes.
Internship Programmes:
- Engineering and technical professionals;
- Employees of the agro-industrial sector;
- Users of artificial intelligence systems;
- Teachers working in pre-school, secondary, technical, and vocational education institutions;
- Academic staff and employees of higher and/or postgraduate education institutions;
- Healthcare professionals;
- Civil servants;
- Media professionals;
- Employees in the fields of culture, tourism, and sports;
- Judges and court employees;
- Employees of the nuclear industry.
Each category is subject to its own specific eligibility requirements.
Independently admitted applicants seeking a Bachelor's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
- an unconditional offer of admission for academic study (excluding financial conditions) from a leading foreign higher education institution included in the approved list.
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1.
- an applicant should hold, obtained within the last three years, a diploma for first, second, or third place in international academic Olympiads, international scientific project competitions, or international performing arts competitions included in the list approved by the Republican Commission, provided that the chosen field of study corresponds to the subject area of the Olympiad or competition
Independently admitted applicants seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
- an unconditional offer of admission (excluding financial conditions) from a foreign university included in the List of Recommended Universities;
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- GPA indicated in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma supplement is not taken into account.
Applicants from rural localities seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
- availability of registration at the place of residence and employment in a rural locality of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the previous two years;
- availability of a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00/4.33 scale or 4.00 on a 5.00 scale in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma transcript;
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- possession of a foreign language certificate meeting the established minimum requirements;
- holding of a Bachelor's or Specialist degree in a field corresponding to the selected programme, in accordance with the approved list of related specializations.
Engineering and technical professionals seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
At the time of application, the applicant must:
- organize and manage production processes (manufacturing, procurement, storage, transportation, processing, or recycling);
- hold a higher technical education qualification, including qualifications in information and communication technologies;
- be directly engaged in production activities within an organization;
- have at least one year of professional experience in the relevant field;
- pursue studies in a technical discipline;
- have a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00/4.33 scale or 4.00 on a 5.00 scale in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma transcript;
- possess a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- possess a foreign language certificate meeting the established minimum requirements;
- hold a Bachelor's or Specialist degree in a field corresponding to the selected programme, in accordance with the approved list of related specializations.
Medical professionals seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
At the time of submitting documents for participation in the competitive selection process, the applicant must:
- be employed by a healthcare organization;
- be directly involved in providing medical care;
- hold a higher medical education qualification;
- have at least one year of overall professional experience in the healthcare sector;
- have a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00/4.33 scale or 4.00 on a 5.00 scale in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma transcript;
- possess a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- possess a foreign language certificate meeting the established minimum requirements;
- hold a Bachelor's or Specialist degree in a field corresponding to the selected programme, in accordance with the approved list of related specializations.
Civil servants seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
At the time of documents submission, an applicant for a Master's degree programme must:
- be a civil servant (excluding political civil servants);
- have a total civil service record of at least three years;
- work in the government agency nominating them for at least the preceding 12 months;
- have a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00/4.33 scale or 4.00 on a 5.00 scale in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma transcript;
- possess a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- possess a foreign language certificate meeting the established minimum requirements;
- hold a Bachelor's or Specialist degree in a field corresponding to the selected programme, in accordance with the approved list of related specializations.
Employees of the nuclear industry seeking a Master's Degree
Eligibility requirements:
- availability of a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00/4.33 scale or 4.00 on a 5.00 scale in the Bachelor's or Specialist diploma transcript;
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- possession of a foreign language certificate meeting the established minimum requirements;
- holding of a Bachelor's or Specialist degree in a field corresponding to the selected programme, in accordance with the approved list of related specializations.
For the purposes of admission to a Master's degree programme, an employee of the nuclear industry is defined as an individual engaged in professional activities within: organizations responsible for the state regulation of atomic energy; the nuclear resources sector, including uranium exploration and mining; the nuclear industry; organizations conducting engineering surveys; technical consulting organizations; organizations engaged in scientific research in the field of nuclear energy; organizations involved in the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure and core facilities; organizations engaged in the development and implementation of advanced technologies and production processes; organizations attracting investment in the field of nuclear energy; organizations manufacturing radiopharmaceutical products, radioactive isotopes, and radiation sources; organizations applying radiation technologies based on electron accelerators; organizations involved in the development and use of nuclear-physical analytical methods. Applicants must have an overall professional experience of at least three years, including at least six months of actual work experience in the relevant field of specialization immediately preceding the date of document submission, for participation in academic study programmes and internship programmes under the Bolashak Scholarship.
Applicants for doctoral studies and residency training
Eligibility requirements:
- an unconditional offer of admission (excluding financial conditions) from a foreign university included in the List of Recommended Universities;
- availability of an individual study plan approved by the host foreign higher education institution (for doctoral programmes);
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- an employer’s nomination for specialist training with a guarantee of job retention (applicable to employees of the nuclear industry applying for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Professional Doctorate programmes).
If you are applying under the “Internship” category
Eligibility requirements:
- an unconditional invitation (excluding financial conditions) from a foreign host organization willing to provide the internship;
- a total work experience of at least 3 (three) years, including at least the last 12 (twelve) months in the relevant field of specialization;
- valid certificates confirming proficiency in the state language and a foreign language, meeting the established minimum requirements;
- total work experience of at least three years, including at least the last six months in the relevant field of specialization (for the categories “Users of Artificial Intelligence Systems” and “Employees of the Nuclear Industry”).
Stage II. Preparation of required documents
The deadlines for document submission and the competitive selection process are approved annually by the authorized body and published through mass media outlets distributed throughout the Republic of Kazakhstan at least 10 (ten) calendar days before the commencement of the document submission period.
Applicants must prepare the required package of documents for participation in the competition.
Independently admitted applicants seeking a Bachelor's Degree
- completed application form;
- national identity card and passport;
- copy of a state-recognized certificate of general secondary, technical and vocational, or post-secondary education, together with the academic transcript;
- copy of a diploma obtained within the last 3 (three) years for first-, second-, or third-place awards in international academic Olympiads, international scientific project competitions, or international performing arts competitions included in the list approved by the Republican Commission, provided that the chosen field of study corresponds to the subject of the Olympiad or competition;
- valid official certificate confirming proficiency in the Kazakh language and meeting the established minimum requirements;
- medical certificate (Form 072/U) for persons travelling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional admission to an academic programme (excluding financial conditions), indicating the programme, field of study, and duration of study, together with notarized translations into Kazakh or Russian;
- copy of the notarized consent of the legal representative (parent(s), adoptive parent(s), guardian or custodian, foster parent(s), patronage caregiver, and other persons substituting them who, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provide care, education, upbringing, and protection of the rights and interests of the child) of the applicant for study abroad (for persons under 18 years of age);
- copies of documents confirming the applicant’s admission to academic studies on a gratuitous basis provided by a leading foreign higher education institution included in the List, as well as by other foreign and/or Kazakhstani organizations, with full coverage of expenses including tuition fees for the entire period of academic studies, with notarized translations into the state or Russian language, if available;
- motivation letter.
Independently admitted applicants seeking a Master's Degree
- completed application form;
- national identity card and passport;
- Bachelor’s or Specialist degree diploma with transcript; if the qualification was obtained from a foreign educational institution, a certificate of recognition or nostrification of the educational credential, or another document confirming recognition of the qualification in accordance with Paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law;
- valid official certificate confirming proficiency in the state language;
- medical certificate (Form 072/U) for persons travelling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional admission to an academic programme (excluding financial conditions), indicating the programme, field of study, and duration of study, together with notarized translations into Kazakh or Russian;
- an official academic transcript issued by a foreign higher education institution/certificate in the prescribed form indicating the field of study, course (year of study), information on the grading system used at the institution, as well as the current grade point average at the institution, with notarized translations into the state or Russian language, if available, for persons pursuing academic studies at leading foreign higher education institutions included in the List;
- motivation letter.
Applicants from rural localities, engineering and technical professionals, medical professionals, civil servants, and employees of the nuclear industry seeking a Master's Degree:
- completed application form;
- national identity card and passport;
- Bachelor’s or Specialist degree diploma with transcript; if the qualification was obtained from a foreign educational institution, a certificate of recognition or nostrification of the educational credential, or another document confirming recognition of the qualification in accordance with Paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law;
- an electronic copy of an application submitted by a legal entity of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its branch, representative office, with which the applicant is employed within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter - Employer), requesting the training of a specialist with a guarantee of gob retention, in the form approved by the Working Body, for applicants participating in the competitive selection process under the category "Civil Servants";
- documents confirming the applicant's employment history, together with a statement of mandatory pension contributions remitted for the period of employment required under the Rules;
- possession of a certificate confirming proficiency in the state language at a level not lower than B1;
- valid official certificate confirming foreign language proficiency and meeting the established minimum requirements;
- medical certificate (Form 072/U) for persons travelling abroad;
- information on the place of residence of an applicant from a rural settlement, obtained by the Administrator from the relevant state information systems and databases.
- motivation letter.
Applicants for doctoral studies and residency training:
- completed application form;
- national identity card and passport;
- Bachelor’s or Specialist degree diploma with transcript; if the qualification was obtained from a foreign educational institution, a certificate of recognition or nostrification of the educational credential, or another document confirming recognition of the qualification in accordance with Paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law;
- valid official certificate confirming proficiency in the state language;
- medical certificate (Form 072/U) for persons travelling abroad;
- copies of documents confirming unconditional admission to an academic programme (excluding financial conditions), indicating the programme, field of study, and duration of study, together with notarized translations into Kazakh or Russian;
- an official academic transcript issued by a foreign higher education institution/certificate in the prescribed form indicating the field of study, course (year of study), information on the grading system used at the institution, as well as the current grade point average at the institution, with notarized translations into the state or Russian language, if available, for persons pursuing academic studies at leading foreign higher education institutions included in the List;
- an individual study plan, approved by a leading foreign higher education institution included in the List and not exceeding the time limits established by that institution, for the pursuit of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Profile degree, with notarized translations into the state or Russian languages.
- an employer’s nomination for specialist training with a guarantee of job retention (applicable to employees of the nuclear industry applying for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Professional Doctorate programmes).
Applicants for internship programmes:
- completed application form;
- national identity card and passport;
- employer’s nomination requesting specialist training with a guarantee of job retention;
- Bachelor’s or Specialist degree diploma with transcript; if the qualification was obtained from a foreign educational institution, a certificate of recognition or nostrification of the educational credential, or another document confirming recognition of the qualification in accordance with Paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law;
- documents confirming the applicant's employment history, together with a statement of mandatory pension contributions remitted for the period of employment required under the Rules;
- valid official certificate confirming foreign language proficiency and meeting the established minimum requirements;
- valid official certificate confirming proficiency in the state language;
- medical certificate (Form 072/U) for persons travelling abroad;
- documents confirming an unconditional invitation (excluding any financial conditions) from the host organization for the internship, specifying the internship period and cost (including a detailed cost breakdown), along with notarized translations into the Kazakh or Russian language;
- an internship program drawn up in accordance with the requirements established by the Working Body and approved by both the sponsoring organization and host organization receiving the intern.
Applicants wishing to participate in the Bolashak program may submit the required documents through the e-Gov portal using the service: "Acceptance of documents for participation in the competitive selection process for the award of Bolashak International Scholarship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
Step 1. Meet the eligibility requirements
Step 2. Prepare the required package of documents
Step 3. Submit the documents within the established deadlines through the e-Gov portal.
Step 4. Successfully complete the three-stage competitive selection process:
Round 1 – Comprehensive testing;
Round 2 – Personal interview with members of the independent expert commission;
Round 3 – Meeting of the Republican commission for training specialists abroad
Step 5. Following the award of the scholarship, the scholarship recipient or their authorized representative must, within 90 calendar days from the date the scholarship is awarded, contact the Legal Services Department of the Center for International Programs (hereinafter - Company) and conclude an agreement for the organization of studies with the Company, as well as execute a guarantee agreement. Failure to conclude the required agreements within the prescribed period shall result in the scholarship recipient losing the status of a recipient of the Bolashak international scholarship.