Doctor of Medicine
Nazarbayev University School of Medicine (NUSOM) offers a four-year curriculum based on the United States model designed to prepare physicians to become the leaders of a new era of medicine and health care in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The NUSOM curriculum emphasizes both the science and the humanity of medicine throughout the students’ four years of study. The carefully designed curriculum structure features active and participatory learning, problem and team-based approaches, an early introduction to the patient and the community, and the integration of a rigorous foundation in basic and clinical biomedical sciences with the behavioural and social aspects of medicine. The key subject matter is longitudinally integrated throughout the curriculum, building upon a foundation of prior learning while providing a progressive introduction of new content.

General information

Campus: Astana, Kazakhstan, NUSOM building

Language: English

Delivery mode: Full time, on-campus

Duration: 4 years


Courses: The patient focus of the NUSOM curriculum begins on day one of the programs with the Introduction to Being a Physician course. Medical interviewing and physical examination courses follow, along with exercises examining the many facets of physician life – at the patient’s bedside, in the community, and in society as a whole. Throughout the first two years, students develop and apply their new clinical skills at the hospitals and clinics of the University Medical Center (UMC) one afternoon per week. The Basic Science block runs through three-fourths of the first year and provides language and concepts that underlie the scientific basis of medical practice. Organ System block courses integrate physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and introduction to medicine, with concurrent courses in the Patient Care and Patient, Physician, and Society blocks. Weekly discussions, patient interviews, and examination of hospitalized patients reinforce essential clinical skills. The third-year curriculum consists of clinical clerkships designed to optimize the balance between inpatient and out-of-hospital learning opportunities. The fourth year includes an active internship, additional required and elective clerkships, and an integrated life sciences experience that revisits some aspects of basic science after students have several years of clinical experience.


Career: After completion, graduates can enroll into a Residency program of their choice, continue their studies or work as healthcare professionals


Strategic partner: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

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:

  1. Scanned copy of a National ID card or passport;
  2. Scanned copy of secondary school or higher education institution certificate (attestat/diploma) with final academic performance or certificate from the school (spravka) according to the sample in the personal account;
  3. Motivation letter in English;
  4. Valid copies of certificates. The results of standardized tests must be sent directly to the University through test administrators.

STEP 3. Pay an application fee

The application fee is paid online via your personal account with a bank card.

The application fee is 10 000 tenge and it is increased 3 times from the established amount when paid within the last two weeks before the first officially approved deadline and/or during the extension period for accepting applications for participation in the admission process. This amount is non-refundable.


Step 4. Finish the registration process

Finish the registration process by pressing the “Submit application” button. After submission applicants can’t change their applications.


Step 5. Upload IELTS/TOEFL certificates

Upload IELTS/TOEFL certificates in your personal account in the section "Upload IELTS/TOEFL" and fill up the required information about the certificate.


Further steps

Check your e-mail for notifications from the NU Admissions Department and your personal account to learn about your application status.


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

  • A bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degree (or equivalent).
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.00, based on a 4.00 point scale (or equivalent on a 5.00 point scale).
  • Completed at least two science subjects, including but not limited to, one year of biology with lab or equivalent and one year of general chemistry with lab or equivalent.
  • A mandatory level of English language proficiency equal to an IELTS score of 7.0 with no individual component falling below a 6.0 or a TOEFL score of 250 for Computer-Based Test (CBT), 600 for Paper-Based Test (PBT), or 100 for Internet-Based Test (IBT). Any applicant, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:

– one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication, academic instruction and daily life;

– an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English;

– the applicant is a graduate of Nazarbayev University.

  • MCAT score of 489 is required in order to be invited to an interview.

List of documents to be submitted by the applicants

  • Completed Application Form that can be accessed after registration.
  • Two (minimum) to four (maximum) confidential letters of recommendation written within the last 12 month. At least two letters must be from faculty in science departments.
  • Degree diploma with the transcript. During the application period, final year students may upload an official current transcript for consideration.
  • An official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (valid at the time of document submission) sent to the University through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES. Code for IELTS: Nazarbayev University. Code for TOEFL: 6762.
  • MCAT score valid as of the date of online documents submission. In order for the score to be valid, the submitted MCAT scores must be for a test taken no more than three years prior to application.
  • The document stating the presence or absence of a criminal record.
  • 075у medical certificate (for Kazakhstani candidates) or a similar medical certificate with indication of general health or other documents as requested by the University (for international candidates).
  • Notarized scanned copy of the applicant’s identity card (with notarized English translation) or passport.
  • Personal statement (500 or less);
  • An essay on how the candidate would enrich the NUSOM community (500 words or less).

Important dates

Important dates for those who are applying for the 2024-2025 academic year:

Deadline for online application:

  • for International applicants – February 29, 2024 (13:00 / 01:00 p.m. Astana time);
  • for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan – April 18, 2024 (13:00 Astana time).

Submission of IELTS/TOEFL results:

  • for International applicants – March 15, 2024;
  • for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan – May 3, 2024.

Selection process and enrollment

All registered candidates 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 candidate in the Personal account.


Application in processing. This is interim status, which means that the application is being processed. Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the candidate on further steps/stages. Notification on final results will be sent to your email address.


Does not meet entry requirements. The status is assigned to the candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements. It is given after checking the application forms and the documents by the Admissions Department.


Disqualified. The status is assigned to candidates who are disqualified for gross violations of the conditions of the competition. For example, provided deliberately false information.


Rejected by Admissions Committee. At one of the competition stages, the Admissions Committee decided to reject the candidate’s application.


Transfer to another program. At the stage of an application screening the Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for consideration by the Admissions Committee of another program within the same School.


Pending. Candidate’s application is pending


Waiting list. The Admissions Committee has finished reviewing the candidate’s application and made a decision to put you on a waiting list. Such candidates should expect notification from the University, as there is a possibility that if other candidates reject to study, they may be sent an invitation letter to study.


Recommended for admission to Zero Year of Graduate programs. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for the Zero Year of Graduate program. “Zero Year of Graduate programs” is a two-semester full-time program for candidates, who do not meet the language requirements for direct admission to Master’s programs, with intensive language, academic and research preparation for Master’s programs.


Recommended for admission to program. Admissions Committee has decided to recommend candidate for the program without going through the Zero Year of Graduate programs.


Recommended for conditional admission. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend a candidate for the conditional admission with a requirement to fulfill the condition by the deadline specified in the notification.


Withdrawn. Candidate decided to withdraw from the competition.


Accepted Program admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.


Accepted Zero Year of Graduate programs admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter to Zero Year of Graduate program, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.


Refused admission offer. The candidate was recommended for admission, but refused to study.


Refused in favor of another NU program. The status is applicable for those candidates, who applied for several graduate programs at NU. The status is assigned when the candidate chooses another program.


Deferred. The status is assigned to candidates who were accepted for the program, but decided to postpone their studies until the next year.


Did not submit the documents/Refused. The status assigned to candidates who did not provide originals of the documents by the stated deadline, which means that the candidate refuses to study at University.


Did not come to Orientation week/Refused. The status is assigned to candidates who accepted the offer letter, provided hard copies of documents, but did not participate in Orientation week. The vacant place, if available, can be offered to the candidates in the Waiting list.


Enrolled to program. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the main program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.


Enrolled to Zero Year of Graduate programs. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the Zero Year of Graduate program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.

Curriculum

Years 1 and 2

Patient Care Block I

  • Introduction to Being a Physician
  • Basics of Medical Interviewing
  • Basic Physical Examination
  • Clinical Experiences

Patient Care Block II

  • Advanced Physical Examination
  • Advanced Medical Interviewing
  • Clinical Procedures

Basic Science Block

  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Genetics
  • Fuel Metabolism
  • Pharmacology
  • Cellular Pathologic Basis of Disease
  • Immunology in Health and Disease
  • Medical Microbiology

Organ Systems Pathophysiology Block I

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Pulmonary System
  • Renal System
  • Introduction to Psychiatry

Organ Systems Pathophysiology Block II

  • Endocrine System
  • Digestion and Nutrition
  • Hematology and Oncology
  • Skin and Musculoskeletal System
  • Reproductive and Developmental Biology
  • Clinical Problem Solving

Patient, Physician and Society Block

  • Medical Ethics and Professionalism
  • English-Russian-Kazakh Medical Terminology
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Health System and Administration

Scientific Reasoning Block I

  • Evidence Based Medicine I and Biostatistics
  • Evidence Based Medicine II and Biostatistics

Scientific Reasoning Block II

  • Population Health
  • Applied Evidence Based Medicine

Year 3 and 4

  • Pre-clerkship course
  • Anesthesiology Clerkship
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
  • Surgery Clerkship
  • Pediatric Clerkship
  • Adult Internal Medicine Clerkship
  • Psychiatry Clerkship
  • Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine Clerkship
  • Family Medicine Clerkship
  • Cardiac Pathologies Clerkship
  • Infectious Diseases Clerkship
  • Acting Internship

-Internal Medicine

-Obstetrics and Gynecology

-Pediatrics

-General Surgery

  • Electives

-Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Leukemias

-Pediatric Rheumatology

-Pediatric Disabilities and Rehabilitation

-General Gynecology

-High-Risk Pregnancy

-Delivery Ward

-Pediatric Nephrology

-Pediatric Cardiology

-Pediatric Oncology

-Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery

-Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology

-Urology

-Radiology

-Extracorporeal Hemocorrection

-Gastroenterology and Hepatology

-Integrated Life Sciences course

-Scholarly Project

Faculty

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