Campus: Astana, Kazakhstan, NU School of Medicine building

Language: English

Delivery mode: Full-time, on-campus

Duration: 4 years

Total ECTS credit: 240

The Ph.D. in Global Health aims to train the next generation of global health researchers and prepare them to provide leadership in the field to improve health and achieve equity in health in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and worldwide.

• Global health is the health of populations in the global context
• Global health is the area of study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health for all people worldwide.
• Global health employs several perspectives that focus on the determinants and distribution of health in international contexts.

Global Health has become critical both in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and internationally. Global Health is an expanded field of study, practice, and scientific development that addresses the root causes of disease (communicable and non-communicable) that addresses the broad determinants of health with population-based efforts.

Global Health problems will require in the next years an increasing number of professionals coming from multiple disciplines to enlarge their worldviews and expand their skills and competencies.

Courses:

• Foundations of GH: Major GH problems
• Health Policy and Systems Perspectives on GH: evidence and actors
• GH into Action: design, implement, manage, and evaluate GH programs and initiatives
• Methods in GH Research: generate hypotheses, and research objectives, propose appropriate methodologies
• Advanced Methods in GH Research: develop scientific proposals, identify key findings, put results into context with scientific knowledge
• Critical Appraisal of Scientific Literature: publications
• NU SOM Seminar in Global Health: research projects presentations
• Writing for biomedical sciences (PhDBS)
• Electives (at NU SOM or from other NU Schools of Department

The Program has the Doctoral Thesis as intensively research-oriented and its focal point is the Doctoral Thesis (180 ECTS).

Students will also take a series of courses and participate actively in Seminars.

Program aims are:

• Demonstrate a critical and thorough understanding at the forefront in global health.
• Master the analytical and methodological skills to conceptualize, design and implement original research.
• Communicate and disseminate clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Have self-direction in tackling and solving problems and act autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.
• Respect the principles of academic and professional ethics and integrity.

We are committed to training students who will contribute to the health of diverse populations using their knowledge to:

• Conduct cutting-edge research creating new knowledge and advances.
• Be part of multidisciplinary teams of scientists to solve global health problems.
• Work advising policy makers about scientific matters related to global health.
• Manage and coordinate scientific projects (national and international).
• Teach at national and international universities.

Possible future employers are:

• Universities and research institutions
• Public health and health care organizations
• Private companies
• International institutions and non-government organizations.

• Exercise a comprehensive understanding in global health at the forefront of the discipline.
• Appraise theories and methods to address fundamental problems in global health.
• Formulate relevant research questions to expand the knowledge in key areas of global health.
• Apply robust analytic methods to conduct original rigorous research.
• Conduct original research to improve the understanding of relevant problems in global.
• Communicate the results of their scientific activity in a clear and effective manner to professional, scientific, policy, and lay audiences.
• Distinguish and formulate solutions to critical ethical issues in global health.

Before applying it is good to inform yourself about research done at NU SOM and to contact NU SOM Faculty are working on your areas of interest.

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. Project proposal in English;
4. Valid copies of certificates. The results of standardized tests must be sent directly to the University through test administrators;
5. Two reference letters;
6. CV.

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. The application fee is increased 3 times when paid within the last two weeks before the first approved deadline and 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.

1. An undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

2. Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or a terminal medical degree (MD or equivalent). During the application period final year students may submit official current transcript for consideration;

3. A Minimum CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 CGPA in applicant’s Master’s (or equivalent) degree;

4. English proficiency:

1) Overall IELTS test score of 6.5 (with sub-scores no less than 6.0) or the equivalent TOEFL (except Home Edition) score as posted on the ETS website;

2) Candidates 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 and/or graduate degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English.

5. Relevant research interest and knowledge of research subject as demonstrated in a written Project proposal.

1. Complete Application form;

2. National ID (for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and passport (for international applicants);

3.Official document confirming name change (if applicable);

4. Degree diplomas (Bachelor’s and Master’s or equivalents) with transcripts;

During the application period final year students may upload an official current transcript for consideration;

5. An official electronic IELTS/TOEFL (except Home Edition) 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;

6. Document confirming English as the language of instruction (only for candidates who earned their degree in a program that was taught in English and request an exemption from submitting IELTS or TOEFL). A candidate must indicate Nazarbayev University as a recipient when registering for the test. In case the candidate passed the test earlier, he/she can contact the test center and indicate Nazarbayev University as a recipient. Candidates can provide an official electronic score report of valid Academic IELTS or TOEFL IBT certificates from the Test Administrator and its scanned copy;

7. Project proposal (not more than 500 words);

8. Curriculum vitae;

9. Evidence of any professional and/or voluntary experiences that develop essential skills related to laboratory work;

10. Two confidential reference letters in English (or with notarized English translation) written within the last 12 months (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy);

11. 075/у medical certificate (for Kazakhstani candidates) or a similar medical certificate with indication of general health (for international candidates);

12. List of graduate courses the applicant’s has taken in Epidemiology and Statistics.

Important dates for those who are applying for the 2025 - 2026 academic year

Online application deadlines:

• for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan - April 21, 2025 inclusively (14:00 Astana time)
• for international applicants - March 03, 2025 inclusively (14:00 Astana time)

Deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL results:

• for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan - May 5, 2025 (23:59 Astana time)
• for international applicants - March 17, 2024 (23:59 Astana time)

The start of orientation week (for newly enrolled students): August 2025

First day of classes: August 2025

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 NUZYP. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for the NUZYP program. “Zero year of Master’s programs” (NUZYP) 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 NUZYP.

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 NUZYP admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter to NUZYP 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 NUZYP. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the NUZYP program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.

Overall: 240 ECTS

Courses: 60 ECTS

Thesis research: 180 ECTS

Year 1: Fall Semester

Year 1: Spring Semester

Year 2: Fall Semester

Year 2: Spring Semester

Year 1-4 Fall and Spring

Year 1-4 Fall, Spring and Summer

Thesis Research

This course comprises the main work of this program. In this course the student will learn to independently conduct and plan research. The student will review the literature, and reflect on the direction of the project, being introduced to new methods by the supervisor. Once the student has mastered the technique (s)he will conduct the research independently.

At the end of these courses the student will be able to:

• Conduct innovative research independently
• Appraise the existing scientific evidence
• Identify relevant research questions
• Employ innovative scientific analytic methods
• Assemble data and conduct analysis to respond to specific scientific problems
• Assess scientific research results in the background of published data
• Work in multidisciplinary teams
• Defend the results of their research

Foundations of Global Health

This course will provide students with advanced knowledge on major global health issues and challenges, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. These problems will be explored from the perspective of the broad social and environmental determinants of health and disparities, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The incidence, distribution and burden related to those problems across populations and more vulnerable subgroups will be discussed, as well as the necessity and importance of understanding and addressing global health through multidisciplinary frameworks. Up to date original, peer-reviewed papers will be used as a basis for discussions.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Recognize the major causes of morbidity and mortality around the world (communicable and non-communicable), and how the risk of disease varies with regions.
• Examine the major public health efforts to reduce disparities in global health.
• Validate the effect on interventions on health status of populations using available data.
• Distinguish areas in global where scientific evidence is still limited.

Health Policy and Systems Perspectives in Global Health

This course will provide students with advanced knowledge on the evidence regarding global health interventions, reflecting on the major issues in international health policy and health systems, including relevant actors and institutions shaping global health, and challenges of measuring the burden and impact of those problems as well as of assessing the benefits of global health interventions, with a focus on most-advanced technological methods and research designs. The gap between evidence and practical policy-making and the interplay between both worlds will be examined as a way to improve and strengthening global health, understanding how to influence the processes that drive large scale change in global health; exploring ways in which health issues reach the top of the agenda; and analyzing how decisions are made by policy-makers. Ethical issues in global health research will also be discussed. Up to date original, peer-reviewed papers will be used as a basis for discussions.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Distinguish the major actors and stakeholders in global health and the influence of international institutions on global health.
• Describe trends and patterns in health systems, universal health coverage, and health inequities.
• Differentiate the opportunities and limitations of available evidence to deliver interventions in global health.
• Resolve common ethical issues and challenges that arise to address global health issues.

NU SOM Global Health Seminar

This course will run for the whole duration of the program. In this course, internal and external researchers will give presentations about their research. Students are expected to discuss and analyze the research results presented in the different talks. Students will also present and defend the results they obtain in the course of their research. This is also the platform for students to learn to present their work at conferences.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Examine critically scientific results
• Present and defend own research results at national and international conferences
• Communicate effectively
• Develop connections with established national and international researchers

Global Health into Action

This course will provide students with advanced and practical skills to design, implement, manage, and evaluate global health programs and initiatives. Students will explore the critical role of leadership at the core of achieving global health results, building opportunities for global health programs to become efficient, effective, adaptable, and sustainable, increasing their ability to respond effectively within the increasingly complex, interconnected and global influenced social and health environments, becoming effective team leaders who can address those multifaceted challenges maximizing the opportunities for the use of advanced data science and analytics to make positive, transformative change and contribute at a higher level to advancing global health. Students will discuss with both faculty and relevant stakeholders related with their specific project the factors that may facilitate or impede the implementation in “real world” the scientific evidence that may be identified in their individual research projects.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Select tools and techniques to effectively plan, implement, manage and evaluate global health programs and interventions.
• Design health needs assessments for local and international settings.
• Appraise information, including quantitative and qualitative data and health indicators, relevant to global health projects.
• Communicate, in verbal and/or written form, with team members, including international and/or local staff, to successfully plan and execute projects.
• Formulate evidence into implementation improvements and policy recommendations.

Methods in Global Health Research

In this course students will learn to generate relevant hypotheses, identify research objectives, propose appropriate methodologies to respond to those objectives, and identify existing sources of data. Students are encouraged to analyze data not only from their own project, but from other topics as well. Scientific results and future directions of research will be discussed. Students will present their own proposals, hypotheses, research objectives and methods of their projects.

At the end of the courses the student will be able to:

• Distinguish relevant research questions in global health
• Appraise limitations of existing evidence and its limitations
• Recognize the roles of professional ethics, integrity, responsibility and accountability
• Demonstrate effective scientific communication skills
• Apply knowledge in a teaching environment, critically evaluating their teaching philosophy

Critical Appraisal of Scientific Literature

In this course, literature relevant for the PhD program will be introduced by supervisors as well as the PhD students. Critical appraisal skills to identify strong and weak points of the papers will be discussed as well as the implication a paper has on the PhD project to which it is linked. Students are expected to present in-depth analysis of papers relevant to their thesis.

At the end of the courses the student will be able to:

• Appraise and evaluate scientific papers
• Distinguish the implications of scientific papers
• Present scientific research to a scientific community
• Communicate with the scientific community in general

Advanced Methods in Global Health Research

This course is based on knowledge acquired in course PhDGH-705. Students will learn to identify key findings and apply models in global health research. The results will be put into context with existing and newly emerging scientific knowledge. Based on this the students will be expected to develop future scientific proposals to determine the direction in which his/her thesis is leading. The students will present the results they are obtaining in their research projects.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• Formulate appropriate scientific methods to research questions
• Develop autonomously research implementing acquired results
• Assess scientific results in the context of existing scientific evidence
• Communicate new knowledge through original research of publishable quality, which satisfies peer review

Writing for biomedical science

This course will run for 2 semesters in Year 2 and will be offered in combination with the PhD in Biomedical Sciences at NU SOM, and teaches students to become more effective genre specific writers. This course highlights key characteristics of science writing and emphasizes the importance of organizing writing around research outcomes, communicating difficult discipline and statistical concepts clearly and effectively for scientific and general audiences. Focused on the writing stages of planning, drafting, and revising tests, this course teaches through engagement with scientific literature and activities based on practical examples and exercises. Students will analyze and produce common scientific writing genres while considering the rhetorical, ethical, and technical aspects of developing and producing texts. This course will also prepare students for the writing of their interim and final PhD theses. Topics include effective writing principles, writing process and anxiety-reduction methods, and the science-specific genres of IMRAD (research reports), grant writing, peer review, ethics in science writing, and writing for general audiences.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of rhetorically effective means of communicating science along a continuum.
• Identify appropriate genres and genre conventions to communicate with intra-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and public audiences.
• Analyze relevant genres and plan strategies to implement specific genre conventions in their own work.
• Evaluate challenges to academic integrity as it applies to the process of writing and publishing their work, and strategies to support it.
• Employ available literature to write grant applications.
• Independently design grant applications.
• Integrate published data into grant applications.