Since its establishment in 1996, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University has changed its status several times: from Akmola University, created through the merger of pedagogical and engineering-construction institutes, to a state university in 2000, and then to a national university in 2001. In 2022, ENU was granted the status of a research university.

During the first five years of its activity, the university resolved key organizational issues: a new academic building was constructed, the necessary material and technical base was established, housing issues for invited faculty and staff were addressed, the status of the state language was elevated, and new specialties and levels of professional training were introduced.