Residency in Neurology

The NU SOM Neurology residency program is a 4-year program aimed at training medical doctors to become neurologist that will be able to work in the hospital setting and any healthcare organizations and to give the residents a fundamental training in neurology with hand-on procedural experience and strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and clinical research. This Program will train according to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies.

The Program will provide the residents with the principal competencies and will enable them to practice Neurology in different clinical settings under close supervision of academic faculty and prepare them to seek for advanced training if desired. Important feature of this program is the opportunity to conduct clinical and translational research, and prepare them to pursue an academic career.

Program aims are:

• To educate residents according to the six ACGME core competencies which are: 1. Patient care and procedural skills 2. Medical knowledge 3. Practice-based learning and improvement 4. Interpersonal and communication skills 5. Professionalism 6. System-based practice;
• To train MD graduates to become Neurology specialists who are able to apply their knowledge and skills in clinical and scholarly activities;
• To develop Neurology specialists who meet the current needs of the Kazakhstan population, including in rural and urban areas. Residents will have 1 year of Internal medicine practice and during PGY2 start their neurology residency for 3 years.

After completing a Neurology residency program, physicians have a variety of career options. These options can be broadly categorized into clinical practice, academic roles, research, and other specialties. Clinical practice can be completed in a variety of hospitals and outpatient settings. By completion of the program, residents will be expected to function independently in the vast majority of clinical situations encountered by a typical neurologist in Kazakhstan. Supervision in the setting of graduate medical education has the goals of assuring the provision of safe and effective care to the individual patient; assuring each resident’s development of the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to enter the unsupervised practice of medicine; and establishing a foundation for continuing professional growth. The ascension of each resident through the program will be decided by the Clinical Competence Committee (CCC) annual review of the resident’s evaluations and other relevant factors.

By the end of the Neurology Residency Program candidates should be able to demonstrate proficiency in the ACGME Milestone targets for Neurology, as follows:

1. Patient Care and procedural skills

• the management of outpatients and inpatients with neurological disorders across the lifespan, including those who require emergency and intensive care PC1
• care of patients in the area of critical care, neuromuscular, ambulatory, neurodegenerative, by evaluating a minimum of five different patients as specified below during the course of the educational program: one critically ill adult patient with neurological disease in either an intensive care unit or emergency department setting, or through an emergency consultation from another inpatient service PC2
• neuromuscular: one adult patient with a neuromuscular disease who may be in either an inpatient or outpatient setting PC3
• ambulatory: one adult patient with an episodic disorder, such as seizures or migraine PC4
• neurodegenerative: one adult patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, such as dementia, a movement disorder, or multiple sclerosis PC5

2. Medical knowledge

Residents must demonstrate knowledge of:

• the scientific method of problem solving and evidence-based decision making MK1
• indications, contraindications, and techniques for, and limitations, complications, and interpretation of results of those diagnostic and therapeutic procedures integral to the discipline, including the appropriate indications for and use of screening tests and procedures MK2
• major developments in the clinical sciences relating to neurology MK3
• the basic sciences through application of this knowledge in the care of their patients and by passing clinical skills examinations MK4

3. Practice-based learning and improvement

• identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise PBLI 1
• identify and perform appropriate learning activities PBLI 2
• incorporate formative evaluation feedback into daily practice PBLI 3
• locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to the health conditions facing their patients PBLI 4
• participate in the education of patients, patients’ families, students, other residents, and other health professionals PBLI 5
• set learning and improvement goals PBLI 6
• supervise other residents, medical students, nurses, and other health care personnel PBLI 7
• systematically analyze practice using quality improvement methods, and implement changes with the goal of practice improvement PBLI 8
• use information technology to optimize learning PBLI 9

4. Interpersonal and communication skills

• communicate effectively with patients, patients’ families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds ICS 1
• communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health-related agencies ICS 2
• work effectively as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group ICS 3
• act in a consultative role to other physicians and health professionals ICS 4
• maintain comprehensive, timely, and legible medical records, if applicable ICS 5

5. Professionalism

• demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect for others P1
• responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest P2
• demonstrate respect for patient privacy and autonomy P3
• accountability to patients, society and the profession P4
• sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation P5

6. System-based practice

• work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems relevant to their clinical specialty SBP 1
• coordinate patient care within the health care system relevant to their clinical specialty SBP 2
• incorporate considerations of cost awareness and risk-benefit analysis in patient and/or population- based care as appropriate SBP 3
• advocate for quality patient care and optimal patient care systems SBP 4
• work in inter-professional teams to enhance patient safety and improve patient care quality SBP 5
• participate in identifying system errors and implementing potential systems solutions SBP 6

The Program Learning Outcomes (LOs) are consistent with the ACGME Milestones for Neurology which provides a framework for the transversal and longitudinal assessment of the resident’s progression in all key dimensions, skills and competencies required in a specialty setting. On successful completion of the program, the residents will be able to demonstrate appropriate performance in all these milestones.

Activities will be conducted in the following Hospitals / Centers:

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.

Online application deadline for the residency program for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and for international applicants - June 29, 2025, inclusively (2 pm Astana time).

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 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.

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.