Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Nazarbayev University School of Medicine offers a premiere, state-of-the-art undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that integrates international education, training, and qualifications for both the European Union standards and the U.S. requirements for baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. It is the only BSN program of its kind in all of Kazakhstan.

Admission to the premiere program grants applicants the unique opportunity to work with medical students, public health specialists, faculty, and medical professionals in a curriculum with a core foundation in science, humanities, and nursing.

General information

Campus: Astana, Kazakhstan, NU School of Medicine building

Language: English

Delivery mode: Full-time, on-campus

Duration: 4 years

Total ECTS credit: 250


The BSN program utilizes our state-of-the-art Simulation Center where students practice direct patient care and clinically focused learning in a hospital setting. These simulations build competencies in clinical patient care by the fourth year.


Throughout the program, students collaborate on faculty/student research projects aimed at mastery of research practices that students demonstrate in their Senior Capstone Project.


This 4-year Bachelor of Science program in Nursing provides:

  • The unique opportunity to study and work alongside medical students, public health specialists, faculty, and medical professionals;
  • A program built upon a core foundation in sciences and humanities and a core nursing-specific curriculum;
  • Learning opportunities where you will have both classroom and simulation training in Simulation Center and direct patient care clinically focused learning in hospital settings;
  • In-hospital clinical patient care begins in the Year 2 Spring semester
  • Student progression from classroom focus to a more clinical patient-care focus by the fourth year;
  • Opportunities for research throughout the program, students will have an opportunity to work on faculty and/or student research projects.

The final year will require the completion of a Senior Capstone Project.


Nursing is a high-demand industry both locally and globally. Graduates of the BSN program are prepared to advance their skills in the following fields:

  • Health-Related Fields – Begin working in the healthcare industry as a nurse in private practice, hospital, or critical care.
  • Graduate Education – Continue your professional development as a lifelong learner in the field of nursing with one of our master's programs.

How to apply

STEP 1. Create your personal account

Register on www.admissions.nu.edu.kz portal to create a Personal Account. Read the instructions about the application procedure given in your Personal account.


STEP 2. Complete your Application Form and attach the required documents

Fill out the application form and attach the required documents:

  • a scanned copy of proof of your studies at a final grade/course with a photo (according to the template in a Personal account in one of the languages) or a scanned version of a certificate/diploma with transcripts if you have already completed a relevant level of study.
  • a scanned copy of national ID card and/or passport. The copies from eGov or any other platforms/electronic services are not accepted. Important: to take the entry exam an applicant must have an original of a passport or a national identity card which was uploaded to a Personal account;
  • Upload a 3*4 photo for documents to the “Profile” section in your Personal account.

The format of requested documents is available in a Personal account.


STEP 3. Pay an application fee and submit application

To finalize the application process, please click on the "PAY AND SUBMIT APPLICATION" button on your Personal account under the "My Application Forms" section. The application fee shall be paid online through the payment options available in the Personal account. The use of other payment methods for the application fee is not acceptable.


The application fee is 10 000 tenge. The application fee is increased 3 times from the established amount when paid within the last two weeks before the first officially approved deadline and during the extension period for accepting applications for participation in the admission process (30 000 tenge). The application fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the application outcome or payment errors.

If there is no card you may use the card of another person.


After submission applicants cannot make any changes in their applications and submitted documents.

The Admissions Department will check your application and contact you if there is an issue with the application or specify if some documents are missing and deadlines to submit them. Incomplete or incorrect (uncorrected) applications will not be considered in the competition.


Step 4. Submit IELTS/TOEFL certificate (only after paying the application fee and submitting the application)

In order to provide IELTS/TOEFL certificates, applicants should fulfill the following requirements:

  • To send an official electronic report of valid IELTS/TOEFL certificate via the Test administrator directly to NU;
  • To upload its scanned copy and insert its TRF number to the “Upload IELTS/TOEFL results” section of a Personal account. Applicants can submit any number of certificates for the competition, but the last certificate uploaded to their Personal account will be considered.

IELTS/TOEFL certificates are considered without superscoring.


Take care when entering information regarding codes for test certificate submission via the Test Administrator or the Test Center. See below:

  • Code for IELTS: NU, Admissions Department
  • Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762

Detailed Instruction on the provision of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in applicants’ Personal account.

  • Minimum requirements for language test results are available in the “Entry examinations and requirements” section;
  • Tests taken remotely, not in the Test Center, such as IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL PDT results are not considered in the competition;
  • All provided certificates must be valid by August 1, 2025 - the beginning of the respective academic year.
  • Deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the “Important dates” section.

Please note that submission of IELTS/TOEFL certificates in the electronic database of NU is not within the competence of the University. You should independently contact the Test center and make sure that your certificate has been sent. Please note that this action takes at least 7-10 working days. If the certificate is received after the deadline specified by the Admissions Department, results will not be considered in the competition.


Further steps

Please check your email 1-2 weeks before the NUET exam – the information about the upcoming exam date, time and venue along with Exam Rules will be sent there.


Please keep in mind that sometimes letters from the University may go to the spam box.


If you experience any difficulties with the registration or online application, please contact info_admissions@nu.edu.kz. Refer to your IIN and/or Applicant ID while sending us your requests.

Entry requirements

Mandatory entry requirements for all categories

  • Superscoring does not apply to IELTS/TOEFL.
  • IELTS Online or IELTS Indicator, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL PDT are not considered.
  • IELTS/TOEFL test certificates are considered valid if their results do not expire by the 1st of August of the relevant academic year to which Applicants are applying. Results of a test, taken before August 1, 2023, are not considered in the competition.
  • Applicants recommended for admission to the Undergraduate program with IELTS certificates equal to 6.0 overall shall comply with certain conditions for study according to the internal documents of the University.

List of documents to be submitted by the applicants for online registration

List of the applicants’ documents for online application

  • Application form.
  • Scan copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16.
  • Scan notarized copy of nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent, A-level certificate or UK Foundation Programme (if available at the time of documents submission) or a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account of applicant (in case the applicant is a current student of the final year at the time of online application).
  • Scan notarized copy of NIS Grade 12 Certificate or its academic reports with predicted scores acknowledged by the school with obligation to submit the hard copy of the document in due time (only for graduates of NIS Grade 12 Certificate).
  • Scan notarized copy of IB Diploma Programme with transcript or predicted scores acknowledged by the school with obligation to submit the hard copy of the document in due time (only for IB Diploma Programme graduates).
  • Scan copy of Motivation letter in English.
  • Verified score report of valid ACT certificate or verified score report of valid SAT Reasoning certificate downloaded from the test administrator system. ACT and SAT must be valid and passed no more than 3 years ago at the moment of online application. In case the applicant provides several valid SAT Reasoning/ACT certificates, the Superscoring will be applied.
  • Score report of valid (no more than 2 years at the moment of online application) Academic IELTS/TOEFL certificate verified from the test administrator system and scanned copy of the certificate, or a scanned copy of a valid TOEFL PDT certificate.
  • Scan copy of Diploma/Certificate of International and/or Republican Olympiad (only for International/Republic Olympiad winners indicated in Appendix 2 to these Regulations).
  • Scan copy of transcript from the university attended in original language and English or academic reports with predicted scores acknowledged by the university attended (only for transfer students).
  • Scan copy of course description of studied courses/subjects from university attended in both English and original languages (only for transfer students).
  • Provost Two electronic academic reference letters in English (only for transfer students).

List of documents to be submitted by the applicants for online registration for enrollment

1. An original of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school, technical, vocational or post-secondary school.

2. An original of a NIS Grade 12 Certificate or A-level certificate (only for A-level/ NIS Grade 12 Certificate category applicants).

3. An original of an IB Diploma Programme with transcript (only for IB Diploma Programme graduates).

Important dates

Deadlines for online application:

  • for “NUET applicants” category, including foreign applicants – October 7 - November 28, 2024 (2 p.m. Astana time)
  • for other categories: SAT/ACT applicants, IB Diploma holders, A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders, Winners of international and/or republican subject Olympiads – October 7, 2024 - March 27, 2025 (2 p.m. Astana time).
  • for international applicants – October 7, 2024 - February 27, 2025 (2 p.m. Astana time)
  • Full Tuition Based applicants – October 7, 2024 - June 12, 2025 (2 p.m. Astana time).

Provision of IELTS/TOEFL results:

  • for “NUET applicants” category, including foreign applicants – December 19, 2024 (11:59 p.m. Astana time).
  • for other categories: SAT/ACT applicants, IB Diploma holders, A-level/NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders, Winners of international and/or republican subject Olympiads – April 3, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Astana time).
  • for international applicants – April 3, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Astana time).
  • Full Tuition Based applicants – June 19, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Astana time).

Test results are mandatory to sent to the University address through the test administrator, using the NU Institutional Code:

  • NU, Admissions Department (via IELTS TRF Verification Service) - for IELTS
  • 6762 - for TOEFL iBT

  • NUET entrance exam: February – March, 2025
  • Deadline for provision of additional IELTS/TOEFL certificates in order to improve results of language tests (for applicants who have taken NUET exam): to be announced
  • Sending notifications about admission: May – July, 2025
  • Submission of hard copies of documents (upon request): June – July, 2025
  • Orientation week: to be announced
  • Start of classes: to be announced

Selection process

  • Applicants, who did not pass the previous stage of the competition, will not be allowed to participate in the next stage;
  • At the third stage the Admission Committee composes the ranking of applicants based on the NUET and IELTS/TOEFL results. Based on the approved number of seats the Admission Committee recommends applicants for admission to the NU.
  • Depending on the number of places allocated for NUFYP, applicants who meet the requirements will receive an admission offer to the NUFYP under the Grant according to their ranking. An official notification letter about the decision of the Admissions Committee is sent to these applicants. Applicants can also check their status in their Personal account.
  • Applicants not recommended for admission under the Grant, but included in the ranking shall be put in a waiting list. In case of a vacant place in the list of applicants recommended for admission, applicants from the waiting list may be recommended by the Admission Committee for admission to study at the Center for Preparatory Studies. Applicants in the waiting list can also be offered an opportunity to participate in the competition for admission on a fee-paying basis with financial aid in accordance with the internal documents of the University.
  • Successful completion of the admission stages does not guarantee admission to the Center for Preparatory Studies of the University.

Description of the status assigned to the applicant at every competition stage

All registered applicants can check the status of their application in the Personal account. Description of the status below is presented in the order of assignment to the applicant in the Personal account.


Application in processing. This is interim status, which means that the application is being processed. The Admissions Department will check the application package and inform the applicant on further steps, if necessary.


Needs to take NUET. This status is given to applicants before the NUET exam to notify them about the necessity to take the test. The invitation with instructions will be sent to the applicant's email about 5 days prior to the exam. The exam schedule is available in the “Important dates” section.


Not allowed to take NUET. The applicant was not allowed to take NUET exam due to non-compliance or violations of the competition conditions before the exam. He/she terminates the participation in the enrollment competition for the Foundation program, however he/she can still participate in the enrollment competition for the Undergraduate program in another category if meets the requirements


Passed NUET. Successfully passed the NUET and received passing scores.


Failed NUET. The applicant failed to score a required NUET passing mark. He/she terminates the participation in the enrollment competition.


Missed NUET. Didn't show up at the NUET exam. He/she terminates the participation in the enrollment competition.


Meeting entry examinations minimum requirements. Applicant’s documents and his/her scores meet the minimum entry requirements of the competition. Applicants with this status will be included into the final ranking and are advised to wait for a notification from the University. If he/she has high scores in the exams, then there is a high probability that he/she will soon receive an admission offer. If the scores are low, it is advised to wait for the next notification. If seats are vacated, admission offers can be sent.


Withdrawn. The applicant refused to participate in the admission competition at his/her own request. This status can be put down at any time from the beginning of the competition.


Withdrawn due to UG choice. The applicant was automatically excluded from the NUFYP competition due to the undergraduate admission offer acceptance. Applicant can be enrolled to one academic program and/or level of education only.


Recommended for admission to NUFYP. Recommended for enrollment by the decision of the Admissions Committee and will receive an admission offer with the conditions for enrollment.


Waiting list to NUFYP. Applicant is not included in the number of recipients of the invitation due to a low ranking. Nonetheless, there is a chance that offers may be sent if one of the previously recommended applicants refuses to enroll. In case there are no more vacant seats, the applicant will be rejected or can take part in the additional competition for a fee-paying NUFYP.


Accepted admission offer to NUFYP. Applicant accepted the admission offer within the specified period and submitted enrollment confirmation form and paid the guarantee fee. All payments are made in the applicant's Personal Account. Any incorrectly made payments are non-refundable. Follow the instructions to make the payment.

Further conditions for enrollment:

  • Submission of the required documents.
  • Signing the contract on educational services.
  • Participation in the orientation week held by the Center for Preparatory Studies for newly arrived students.

Refused admission offer to NUFYP. Applicant filled out the form and indicated refusal from enrollment after receiving the admission offer or did not fulfill the conditions of enrollment


Refused in favor of UG. This status is available to the applicants applied both to NUFYP and Undergraduate programs. This status is given to the applicant who rejected to study in the NUFYP in favor of the Undergraduate program. It is given after the written refusal of the applicant to study at the NUFYP.


Rejected by the Admissions Committee. Rejected by the Admissions Committee due to the absence of vacant places for enrollment and based on the completion of the selection.


Did not submit the documents/Refused. The applicant did not provide the documents within the specified period. This means that the applicant refuses to study at the University.


Did not come to Orientation week/Refused. Failed to show up for Orientation Week, which means the applicant refuses to study at the University.


Enrolled to NUFYP. Applicant officially enrolled to the Foundation Year Program of the University by the Provost's decision. This status is given after registration of the Provost’s decision. This is a final status as an applicant before transition to a student status.


Disqualified. Disqualified due to violations of regulations and conditions in the exam or in the competition. For example, he/she cheated on an exam or provided deliberately false information.

Enrollment

Enrollment of the applicants to NU is implemented in the following sequence:

Recommendation for admission. Status of recommended applicants will be changed to “Recommended for admission to NUFYP”. In the “Admission results” section of Personal account applicants will see the Admission offer and Instructions for documents submission to University with deadlines and requirements.

Admission confirmation. Applicants recommended for admission by the Admission Committee shall sign Enrollment Confirmation Form and Form of Consent on Guarantee Fee Payment and pay the Guarantee Fee in the amount of 100 000 tenge in Personal account.


The Guarantee Fee will be returned to the admitted student after the following conditions are met:

1) Bilateral signing of the Agreement on Provision of Education Services at NU;

2) Participation in the Orientation week;

3) Student's completion of the first semester of classes with good academic standing.


Submission of documents and signing an agreement. The applicants shall submit required documents to NU departments within the dates indicated in the Admission offer. Therefore, please, make sure to read the Admission offer very carefully in order to meet the requirements and deadlines. All the hard and soft copies of documents should be submitted to the University within the deadlines. The applicants also sign an agreement with the Center for Preparatory studies.


Participation in an orientation week. Before the start of the classes, all invited applicants take part in an orientation week.


Enrollment. After fulfilling the above mentioned requirements, applicants are enrolled in the University. Enrollment of Applicants is legalized by the decision of the University Provost.


A package of documents for enrollment to the University to be submitted by the applicant to the Admissions Department will be indicated in the Instructions for documents submission.

If the original of the secondary school education diploma with transcript is not in Kazakh, Russian or English, it is required to provide a scanned version of a notarized translation of this document into English in addition. Failure to provide the required documents in time will result in the applicant's disqualification from further participation in the competition.

University has the right to request additional documents from foreign citizens or stateless individuals.

All documents submitted to NU are not subject to return. An exception is an official original of the secondary school (аттестат с приложением), technical, vocational, or post-secondary diploma (диплом с приложением) with transcript, which is returned after completion of studies or withdrawal from the University by the Office of the Registrar.

Curriculum

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Faculty

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