Kazakhstan's Narxoz University partners with Queen’s University Belfast to offer dual-degree program
Narxoz University has announced a new partnership with Queens University Belfast and the Almaty Development Center, offering a dual-degree program as Kazakhstan shares its ambition to become a “higher education hub”.
Writing on LinkedIn, Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, welcomed a recent partnership between Narxoz and Queens, which aims to provide students in the country with access to a “global gold standard of education”.
“Building a world-class higher education system requires more than just local growth; it demands deep, strategic integration with the world’s leading academic institutions,” Nurbek shared.
“The recent partnership between Narxoz University and Queen's University Belfast is a perfect example of this vision in action. By establishing a dual-degree program with a member of the prestigious Russell Group of Universities, we are not just providing our students with a global education -we are bringing the global gold standard of education directly to Kazakhstan.”
The Minister visited Queen’s on campus to mark the new deal, alongside leadership from Narxoz and the Almaty Development Center.
Last year, Cardiff University opened its first overseas branch in Astana, making it the first Russell Group campus in Central Asia. The campus offers four-year courses on STEM and business subjects.
In November 2025, Freedom Holding Corp, an investment bank, and the government of Kazakhstan signed a deal with OpenAI, giving 165,000 educators in the country access to ChatGPT Edu. The deal saw Kazakhstan become one of the first countries in the world to use ChatGPT Edu at a national scale as the tool is rolled out to teachers at primary, secondary, tertiary, and faculty level.
“My thanks to the leadership at Narxoz University and our partners at Queen's University Belfast for their commitment to this journey. We are no longer just sending our talent abroad; we are building a world-class destination for science and education right here at home,” Nurebk added.
