Nazarbayev University Secures Prestigious QAA Accreditation

Astana, Kazakhstan – Nazarbayev University (NU) has achieved a major milestone in its journey toward academic excellence by receiving institutional accreditation from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), one of the world’s leading independent bodies in higher education quality assurance.

This recognition comes after NU successfully completed the International Quality Review (IQR), a rigorous evaluation process that measured the university’s compliance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG, 2015).

The QAA assessment focused on key areas such as:

• Institutional governance and leadership
• Academic quality and assurance systems
• Student-centered learning
• Academic integrity and transparency

In all categories, NU met the high standards required, earning full accreditation and reinforcing its commitment to continuous improvement and international benchmarks.

In recent years, NU has seen a significant rise in interest from prospective students, receiving over 10,000 applications in 2025, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. This upward trend highlights the university’s growing reputation both locally and internationally. Upon graduation, the vast majority of NU alumni, around 98%, successfully transition into the workforce across a wide range of industries, reflecting the institution’s strong focus on career readiness.

Moroever, NU’s academic environment is shaped by a highly international faculty, with educators and researchers from more than 60 countries. This global diversity enriches the student experience and supports cross-cultural exchange. Further strengthening its academic development, NU collaborates with Advance HE, a UK-based organization that promotes excellence and leadership in higher education. As a result, several faculty members have already been awarded prestigious Fellowships, with many more actively pursuing similar recognition.

The QAA accreditation not only confirms NU’s alignment with European quality assurance principles but also positions the university more prominently on the global academic stage. It is expected to increase international collaboration opportunities, boost student and faculty mobility, and enhance the value of NU degrees worldwide.

Following this milestone, NU is focused on advancing its mission and increasing its international impact in education.