INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

University

Institute

Academy

Conservatoire

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Attestat o Srednem obščem Obrazovanii

Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii

Bakalavr

Diplom Specialista

Kandidat Nauk

Magistr

Doctorate (PhD)

Doktor Nauk

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Pre-Primary

Type of school providing this education: Kindergarten

Length of program in years: 1

Age level from: 5 to: 6

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary School

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 6 to: 10

Basic

Type of school providing this education: General School, Secondary School, Gymnasium

Length of program in years: 5

Age level from: 10 to: 15

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Secondary School, Lyceum, Gymnasium

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 15 to: 17

Certificate/diploma awarded: Atestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Complete Secondary Education)

Vocational

Type of school providing this education: Professional Lyceum, Vocational School

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 15 to: 17

Certificate/diploma awarded: Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii

Professional

Type of school providing this education: Professional College, Vocational School

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 15 to: 19

Certificate/diploma awarded: Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii

School education:

Primary education lasts for four years preceded by one year pf pre-school education. Secondary education consists in three main educational phases: primary education (forms 1-4), basic general education (forms 5-9) and senior level education (forms 10-11 or 12) divided into continued general education and professional education. These three levels of education can be followed in one institution or in different ones (e.g. primary school, then secondary school). Recently, several secondary schools, specialized schools, magnet schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, linguistic and technical gymnasiums, have been founded. Secondary professional education is offered in special professional or technical schools, lyceums or colleges and vocational schools.

Higher education:

At present, there are universities, academies, and institutes, conservatoires, higher schools and higher colleges. There are three main levels: basic higher education that provides the fundamentals of the chosen field of study and leads to the award of the Bachelor degree; specialized higher education after which students are awarded the Specialist's Diploma; and scientific-pedagogical higher education which leads to the Master's Degree. Postgraduate education leads to the Kandidat Nauk (Candidate of Sciences) and the Doctor of Sciences.  With the adoption of the Laws on Education and on Higher Education, a private sector has been established and several  private institutions have been licensed.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1993

Concerns: Public and private higher education institutions

Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1996

Concerns: State institutions

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep to: Jun

Languages of instruction: Kazakh, Russian, English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic

Stages of studies:

University level studies:

University level first stage: Diploma of Specialist, Bachelor:

A Diploma of  Specialist  or Diploma of Specialized Higher Education in a particular field of study is generally awarded at the end of a five-year course (former system). Bachelor's Degrees are now also conferred after four years' studies.

University level second stage: Aspirantura, Master's:

Full-time postgraduate studies (Aspirantura) leading to the qualification of Candidate of Sciences (Kandidat Nauk) normally last for three years. The submission of a thesis is required. Master's Degrees are also conferred after a further two years' study beyond the Bachelor's Degree.

University level third stage: PhD, Doctorate (Doktoratura):

In the new system, a PhD is conferred after two to three years' further study beyond the Master's Degree. The Doctor of Sciences (Doktor Nauk) is awarded after the Kandidat Nauk after completion of a thesis based on original research.

Teacher education:

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers are trained at universities. They follow a five-year course leading to a Specialist's Diploma.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Several universities offer distance education.

Lifelong higher education

Many higher education institutions have special departments that are responsible for running professional updating courses.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education and Science

Head: Birgamin Aytimova, Minister

Republic avenue, 60
473000 Astana
Kazakhstan

Tel: +8(3172) 333 325

Fax: +8(3172) 333 412

EMail: pressa@edu.gov.kz

WWW: http://www.edu.gov.kz

Role of governing body: The main aim of the Ministry of Education and Science is the realization of state policy in the field of education and science, general scientific and methodical guidance over all educational and scientific institutions.

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Attestat o Srednem obščem Obrazovanii

Name of secondary school credential required: Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii

Entrance exams required: In 2004, school leavers will have to pass a new exam, the Edinoe Nacional'noe Testirovanie (Unified National Testing Exam) and its diploma the Certificat o Rezul'tatah EHT (replacing  the Kompleksnoe Testirovanie (Complex Testing Exam) to enter Universities.

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

Ministry of Education and Science

Astana
Kazakhstan

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University

Services provided & students dealt with: Responsible for quality assurance (through licensing, attestation and accreditation), state standards in higher education and decides which institutions have the right to grant degrees.

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific

Year of signature: 1983

Name of agreement: Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Europe

Year of signature: 1979

STUDENT LIFE

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Tenge)

Maximum: 90000 (Tenge)

Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 2000 (US Dollar)

Publications on student services and financial aid:

Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd Edition

Author: UNESCO

Publisher: UNESCO Publishing

Year of publication: 2003

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES

Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:

Ministry of Education and Science

Head: Adil Mukhambet, Head of International Cooperation Division

Respubliki Square 60 (Kazakh Oil Building
473000 Astana
Kazakhstan

Tel: +7(3172) 333-325  +7(3172) 214-230

Fax: +7(3172) 333-412  +7(3172) 333-178

EMail: monrk@mail.ru;sarin2002@mail.ru

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: 1 - 5 scale. 5: excellent; 4: good; 3: satisfactory; 2: unsatisfactory; 1 totally unsatisfactory

Highest on scale: 5

Pass/fail level: 3/2

Lowest on scale: 1

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: Marking is on a 1 - 5 scale. 5: excellent; 4: good; 3: satisfactory; 2: unsatisfactory; 1 totally unsatisfactory

Highest on scale: 5

Pass/fail level: 3/2

Lowest on scale: 1

Other main grading systems

In 1999-2000, most higher education establishments adopted the rating system (%). Highest rating: 100%-90%; Pass/fail level: 90%-60%; 60%-40%.

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2004-2005

Source: Soros Educational Advising Centre, Almaty, 2001, updated from  Swedish NARIC, 2004 (except for governing  bodies, updated 2005)