Bolashak scholarship 2026: who can apply and how does the selection work?
Kazakhstan's international scholarship for master's, PhD, residency and internships abroad. 635 places in 2026, applications via egov.kz from 16 March to 16 October.
Bolashak is the international scholarship of the Republic of Kazakhstan for study and internships at leading foreign universities. It is administered by JSC Center for International Programs (bolashak.gov.kz); applications are submitted through egov.kz.
In 2026 the quota is 635 scholarships: 20 bachelor's, 400 master's, 50 doctoral and 165 internship places. Applications are accepted from 16 March to 16 October 2026.
Who can apply:
- Self-admitted candidates: an unconditional offer from a university on the official list and Kazakh language at level B1 or higher (KAZTEST or Qazaq Resmi Test).
- Preferential master's categories: rural residents, engineers, medical workers, civil servants and nuclear industry employees (no offer needed at application, but work experience and a foreign language certificate are required).
- Internship candidates in categories approved by the Republican Commission.
Selection has three rounds:
- Round 1: computer-based testing (personality questionnaire, verbal and numerical tests) with a pass threshold.
- Round 2: interview with an independent expert commission.
- Round 3: decision of the Republican Commission. The final ranking is out of 100 points: up to 30 for testing and up to 70 for the interview.
Важно: scholars must return and work in Kazakhstan for 3 to 5 years after graduation and provide collateral (real estate) or guarantors when signing the contract.