There were 6.4 million foreign students in the world in the 2023-2024 academic year. Based on the report by the international educational platform Studyportals, as well as UNESCO and the OECD statistics, the analysts of LIC Freedom Life learnt which countries became the most popular among foreign students.
As for Kazakhstani students wishing to study abroad, the most expensive education for them is provided by US universities, where the average tuition fee for a bachelor's degree is 12.5 million tenge per year. However, the annual cost for certain specialties in some private universities can reach 25 million tenge. The most affordable option among popular countries for foreign students is Vietnam, Uzbekistan and India with 600-700 thousand tenge per year cost of schooling.
In which countries can Kazakhstanis study for free?
In most cases, free undergraduate education is provided by public universities and colleges in countries such as Germany: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Cologne.
Austria: University of Klagenfurt, Johannes Kepler University Linz, F. H. Joanneum University of Applied Sciences
Italy: University of Pisa, Polytechnic University of Turin, University of Perugia
Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Nord University
Iceland: Bifrost University, Icelandic Academy of the Arts, Holar University College
Brazil: University of São Paulo (USP), State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)
Argentina: National University of Cuyo, University of Buenos Aires, National University General San Martin
USA: for example, the Curtis Institute of Music (Pennsylvania), College of the Ozarks (Missouri), Barclay College (Kansas)
China: Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Yanqing Academy of Peking University, Tsinghua University in Beijing
South Korea: free education is available to foreigners thanks to the Global Korea Scholarship program. This program covers 100% of tuition of undergraduate studies at leading Korean universities such as Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea University.
Higher education in Kazakhstan
The number of scholarships is growing every year. If in 2010 they were 35.4 thousand, in the 2024-2025 academic year this number grew threefold; the state allocated 112 thousand scholarships.
Along with this, the cost of higher education is growing every year for those who haven’t won a scholarship. The average tuition fee for a bachelor's degree in 2010 was about 250-450 thousand tenge, in the 2024-2025 academic year it amounted to an average of 600 thousand-1.1 million tenge per year.
In order for higher education in prestigious Kazakhstani universities to be affordable not only to wealthy families and those who entered with a scholarship, the government has developed special educational programs in which financial organizations participate.
For example, since 2023, an endowment life insurance program within the SESS framework of the Freedom University has been in effect in Kazakhstan. Under this program, parents enter into an agreement with a life insurance company (LIC) and begin to pay premiums. While they pay, the insurance coverage is in effect. And if during this time an insured event occurs with the parents, the LIC will pay the university the amount that the parent planned to accumulate, regardless of the number of contributions made. And when the contract expires, the company will pay the parent the cost of tuition within the accumulated amount, including the return on investment and state premium. The insurer can make a lump sum payment (for the entire schooling period) or in installments (for each academic year). If the tuition fee is less than the amount to be paid, the difference will also be paid.
“As for profitability, the terms of the program provide for payments from both the life insurance company and the state. LIC Freedom Life accrues up to 8% of the guaranteed return for the entire period of savings. Also, the state premium of 5-7% is accrued under the contract once a year. Besides, indexation of periodic insurance payments up to 8% is provided. If a child is admitted with fellowship, the parents will be able to receive the entire accumulated amount and dispose of it at their own discretion,” they explained in LIC Freedom Life.
Photo is from open sources.
