Striving for the best: the results of the new ranking of the best universities in Asia 2025 – QS Asia University Rankings 2025

The ranking of the best universities of the world – QS World University Rankings was first published in 2004, Kazakhstani universities have been participating in this ranking since 2011.

The international rating agency QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the compiler of the following ratings:

• ranking of the best universities of the world – QS World University Rankings
• subject rankings of the best universities of the world – QS World University Rankings by Subject;
• ranking of the best universities of the world in the field of achieving sustainable development goals – QS Sustainability Rankings;
• Regional rankings of the best universities QS University Rankings by Region (Europe, Latin America, Asia, Arab region);
• ranking of the best student cities of the world – QS Best Student Cities
• ranking of the best MBA and Master’s degree programs – QS MBA and Masters Rankings;
• The QS Stars program.

The number of Kazakhstani universities in the flagship ranking of the best universities of the world – QS World University Rankings has more than doubled over the past four years, and has increased one and a half times over the past three years: from 14 to 21 universities.

In the subject rankings, the number of Kazakhstani universities has increased fourfold in four years (from 2 to 8 universities).

A special place is occupied by the ranking of the best universities of the world in the field of achieving sustainable development goals – QS Sustainability Rankings, in the latest issue of which 12 Kazakhstani universities debuted at once, showing the most convincing results on the indicator “Management Model”.

The number of Kazakhstani universities participating in program has increased to 23 over the past three years. This program provides The QS Stars new opportunities for the country’s leading universities to attract talented students and teachers from foreign countries, thanks to the results of an independent audit that identifies the specific strengths of each university: from reputation and scientific performance to inclusivity and contribution to sustainable development.

In September 2024, the ratings of the best MBA programs were published – QS Global MBA Rankings, where, for the first time since 2016, the presence of Kazakhstani universities increased from one to three.

Kazakhstan is also represented in the ranking of the best student cities in the world – QS Best Student Cities Rankings, which already includes two cities of the country: Astana and Almaty.

In the last two of the above ratings – QS Global MBA Rankings and QS Best Student Cities Rankings – only Kazakhstan is represented from among Central Asian countries.

The new edition of the Asian ranking includes 985 universities from 25 countries and territories. The universities of India, China, Japan and South Korea are the most competitive for Kazakhstani universities.

The new issue is marked by the impressive dynamics of the positions of Kazakhstani higher education institutions participating in the rating, almost two thirds of which improved their last year’s results.

The new ranking of the best universities in Asia in 2025 – QS Asia University Rankings 2025 includes 35 Kazakhstani universities, which is an absolute record of the country’s higher education in its entire history.

Kazakhstani universities in the TOP 500 of the ranking of the best universities in Asia in 2025 – QS Asia University Rankings 2025
2025	2024	Higher educational institution
29	29	Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
65	71	L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
89	105	Satbayev University
131	146	Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University
138	144	Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University
149	155	Kazakh National Agrarian Research University
167	206	Academician Ye.A. Buketov Karaganda University
193	203	Khoja Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University
230	261-270	Kazakh-British Technical University
264	251-260	Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University
269	301-350	KIMEP University
281	351-400	Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University
288	301-350	D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
305	351-400	Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages
345	501-550	Narkhoz University
345	351-400	S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University
354	291-300	Almaty University of Technology
441-450	601-650	Toraighyrov University
451-460	601-650	Yessenov University
461-470	551-600	Suleiman Demirel University
501-520	601-650	Shakarim University
521-540	601-650	Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University
521-540	501-550	Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University
541-560	601-650	Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University
601-620	601-650	M.Kh. Dulaty Taraz Regional University
621-640	501-550	Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University
641-660	601-650	K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University
701-750	651-700	Ilyas Zhansugurov Zhetysu University
701-750	601-650	Karaganda Industrial University
701-750	651-700	Pavlodar Pedagogical University
751-800	801+	International University of Information Technologies
751-800	701-750	Turan University
801-850	801+	Innovative Eurasian University
801-850	-	Kazakh National Women’s Pedagogical University

Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, notes:

“Kazakhstan’s strengthening position in the ranking of the best universities in Asia – QS Asia University Rankings reflects its commitment to meeting the highest standards of higher education and increasing international recognition. This year, the positive dynamics achieved is characterized by an improvement in the positions of almost two thirds of the universities of Kazakhstan included in the rating, and an increase in the number of Kazakhstani universities in the TOP 100 of the rating from two to three. Such impressive results were made possible by the high quality of the educational environment, which allows for more personalized approaches to teaching and learning, and the continued growth of reputational indicators.”

22 Kazakhstani universities are improving their positions, three universities retain their positions, one university – the Kazakh National Women’s Pedagogical University – returns to the ranking after a one-year break.

Three leading universities of the country appear in the top hundred of the rating, which, along with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, now includes Satbayev University, which takes the 89th position.

Kazakhstan is significantly increasing its reputation indicators: 77% of Kazakhstani universities participating in the rating have improved their Academic Reputation results and 89% – their Reputation Among Employers.

Sergei Khristoliubov, Regional Director of QS, adds:

“The number of Kazakhstani universities in the ranking of the best universities in Asia – QS Asia University Rankings has increased to 35. This is an absolute record in the history of higher education in the country. It is extremely important to note that, compared with last year, the average values of the calculated indicators of Kazakhstani universities participating in the rating increased for each indicator of the methodology, which indicates systematic work to improve the global competitiveness of Kazakhstani universities, affecting a number of key areas. Finally, this year, the share of publications by Kazakhstani authors in journals of the first and second quartile exceeded 70% for the first time, reflecting the increased impact of scientific research and the increased effectiveness of publication strategies of educational institutions and scientific organizations in Kazakhstan. One of the main opportunities for further promotion of Kazakhstani universities in the rankings remains the involvement of teachers and staff in scientific research through the creation of tangible and intangible incentives and the development of academic writing skills.”

Thus, the reputation of Kazakhstani universities in international academic and employer communities continues to strengthen. The high quality of the educational environment remains the main competitive advantage of Kazakhstani universities participating in the rating, as evidenced by their results on The Indicator of the Ratio of the Number of Teachers and Students.

The main opportunity for further promotion of Kazakhstani universities in the ranking remains participation in international scientific collaborations, increasing scientific productivity and expanding influence on the modern scientific agenda.