Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayassat Nurbek reported at the Government session on the completion of the academic year in universities and the conduct of the Unified National Testing (UNT).

He noted that the higher education system is completing the academic year in a stable mode overall.

“Today, the key task is to ensure not only the accessibility of higher education, but also the training of personnel directly linked to the needs of the economy, regional development, and the country’s technological transformation,” Sayassat Nurbek emphasized.

The Minister reported that about 215 thousand schoolchildren are completing their studies in 2026. More than 239 thousand people have registered to participate in the UNT, including graduates of previous years and colleges. Of these, almost 200 thousand are current year graduates.

Coordination of all interested state bodies has been ensured for conducting the UNT. State commissions with the participation of local executive bodies, law enforcement agencies, universities, and education departments have been established in all regions.

The Unified National Testing is taking place from May 10 to July 10. This year, the UNT format remains unchanged. Applicants can take the test twice and participate in the grant competition with the best result. To date, more than 80 thousand people have already taken the test.

Akimats and state bodies must ensure stable coordination of all necessary measures until the completion of testing. Document acceptance is carried out both online and offline.

Special examinations are provided for those applying for pedagogical and medical fields. Creative examinations are separately organized for applicants to relevant educational programs. Applications for the grant competition will be accepted from July 13 to 20.

Enrollment in universities will be completed by August 25. An adaptation week for first-year students will be held in universities from August 28 to September 10.

This year, the volume of the state order for training personnel with higher education will remain at the level of previous academic years. 89,457 state grants have been allocated for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year. Of these:

• 75,371 — for bachelor’s degree programs;
• 11,007 — for master’s degree programs;
• 3,079 — for doctoral programs.

60% of the grants are directed to engineering, technical, and agricultural specialties. 21% — for training pedagogical personnel.

“Today it is important not only to ensure admission to a university, but also to help the schoolchild consciously choose a future profession. For this, the Ministry is developing a system of educational navigation and career guidance. The key tool has become the digital platform EduNavigator.kz. More than 240 thousand schoolchildren have already undergone career diagnostics through the platform. The platform allows students to determine their professional inclinations, get acquainted with new professions, and link their educational trajectory with labor market needs,” Sayassat Nurbek added.

To strengthen the personnel potential of career guidance, the “Teacher-Career Guide” program has been introduced. Training is conducted at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University.

A significant area has been the “Study in Kazakhstan” exhibition. The exhibition was held in 14 cities of the country and covered more than 46 thousand schoolchildren, parents, and career guides. More than 60 domestic and over 20 foreign universities took part, presenting educational programs, grants, and study opportunities.

Compared to last year, the geography and coverage of the project have been significantly expanded. Additionally, universities of the country conducted career guidance work as part of the “Serpin” program. The events covered more than 13 thousand students, about 2 thousand parents, and over 700 career guides.

Currently, there are 122 higher education institutions operating in Kazakhstan. The student contingent exceeds 724 thousand people. The number of foreign students is more than 35 thousand people. Universities are completing the summer examination session. This year, almost 193 thousand specialists are expected to graduate. This is one of the largest graduations in recent years.

The final attestation of graduates will take place until June 20. The awarding of diplomas is planned to be completed by July 10. After the end of the academic year, more than 530 thousand students will go on summer holidays. During this period, special attention is paid to organizing meaningful employment for young people. About 150 thousand students will be covered by educational and industrial practice. About 30 thousand students will take part in student detachments.

Environmental clubs and student detachments “Zhasyl El” operate in all universities. Up to 30 thousand students are planned to be covered by environmental and volunteer activities during the summer season.

In addition, sports and health complexes and student camps operate in 15 universities. Based on them, it is planned to organize recreation, health improvement, practice, and educational events for about 15 thousand students.

“The main task for the upcoming period is to ensure safe, meaningful, and effective employment of students, expand opportunities for professional practice, and create conditions for the development of youth. Work in this direction will continue,” Sayassat Nurbek concluded.

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