There are around 150 universities in Kazakhstan, with quite a few of these being found in Astana and Almata. In terms of world ranking, the country does better than perhaps some Westerners would expect, with the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University being ranked at 236th in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds, a specialist in education abroad.
Universities in Kazakhstan take part in the Bologna Process, a European initiative that aims to standardise tertiary education across the European region, of which Kazakhstan is often considered part of. This initiative is of particular interest for expats from Europe.
Four degree levels are offered at Kazakhstan universities: Bachelor, Specialist, Masters, and Doctorate. The Specialist degree is similar to a Bachelor degree, but typically lasts five years rather than four, providing a slightly more in-depth education.