KazNU is the oldest classical university of the Republic, which was established by the Decree of the Kazakh Regional Committee (KRC) dated November 13, 1933. During almost 80 years of its activity the university has made a significant contribution to the formation and development of the economy, political and legal life, culture, science and education of multinational Kazakhstan and has consequently become the mainstay of the entire system of higher education of the country. Also it is one of the main centers of scientific research activities in Kazakhstan.

KazNU was the first university to be awarded the Prize of the President of Kazakhstan “For quality achievements”. According to “Times”, KazNU was ranked among the top 600 universities in the world in 2009. More than 20000 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students from all regions of our country, as well as from abroad, study at the university. KazNU was one of the first universities in our country which successfully passed the national institutional accreditation by the Accreditation Centre of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 10 educational programs of KazNU passed the international accreditation of ASIIN agency of Germany, while 10 other educational programs are in the process of passing the international accreditation of ACQUIN agency.  

Academic staff of KazNU has more than 2500 faculty members, including 400 Doctors of Science, professors, and more than 800 Candidates of Science and associate professors.

Kazakh National University offers more than 180 majors in humanitarian, natural and technical science fields for bachelors, masters and PhDs.

There are 14 colleges at the university, many of which have strong science schools: Economics and Business, Law, Mechanics and Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Philology, Journalism, History, Geography, Philosophy and Political Science, Oriental Studies, International Relations as well as Preparatory Department for International Students. There is also a Military Department upon completion of which students receive military qualification and rank.

Nowadays KazNU is experiencing a crucial moment. On the base of a traditional university, the formation of a modern innovational research university is taking place.

The mission of the university is to prepare competitive specialists with a modern and prestigious higher education who are focused on the solution of problems of intensive development of the most important areas of Kazakhstan’s economy as well as science and social life. Today KazNU is developing not only as a republican, but also as an international centre of education in Central-Asian region.

Over the past few years the university has conducted a deep modernization of its academic activity. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University was the first academic organization in Kazakhstan to fully implement the credit system of education according to the international standards. Also it was the first university to implement a three-level training of skilled workers according to international standards: Bachelor – Master – Doctorate (PhD). The development of educational programs and academic mobility, cultivation of patriotism, culture, and social mobility of students, active implementation of new informational and pedagogical technologies, and also the development of e-learning and continuous education go at full speed. 

The essence of credit system is the flexibility of academic programs and ability to choose an individual learning path for each student. Annually the university publishes catalogues of elective courses in Kazakh and Russian languages for 60 specialties, including 3000 bachelor degree majors, providing students at all levels of education with the possibility of a real choice of study disciplines. Registrar Office and the Board of Advisers make the process more convenient for students.

A unique scientific infrastructure which consists of 24 scientific research institutes, scientific centers and Technological Research Park are successfully operating under the umbrella of KazNU. Scientific ideas are developed and implemented here. 25 dissertation councils are actively functioning at the university. According to domestic and foreign evaluations, KazNU carries out more than 50% of the entire fundamental research activity performed by all Kazakhstani universities taken together.

More than 300 research projects are carried out annually at the university. In addition to that over 60 works are carried out under international grants. One of the first 15 open-type national laboratories created by the initiative of the head of the state has been established in KazNU. It works in the sphere of nanotechnologies. Scientific achievements of university’s professors provide a higher level of quality and timeliness of knowledge of students. Undergraduate and graduate students are actively participating in scientific work, thus becoming high qualified specialists in their scientific areas.

KazNU was the first among Kazakhstani universities to sign the Great Charter of Universities in Bologna in 2003 and now successfully collaborates with more than 400 leading international universities worldwide. As a result the university invites foreign professors to give lectures and world-renowned scientists to participate in scientific life of the university. In addition to that there are various exchange programs with foreign universities for students and faculty of KazNU. 

The university has an enormous educational, scientific, spirit cultivating, innovation and production potential. KazNU prepares specialists of the highest level, continuously runs the integration process into the global educational space, develops fundamental and applied researches, and implements these innovations in production. 

The university is proud of its unique “Univer” informational intranet system, which unites more than 3500 up-to-date computers connected to Internet.

“Univer” is a local informational system of KazNU, which provides a high level of automation of academic activities management. It awakens the initiative of students and their direct interest in study results. The availability and transparency of the Intranet-system creates a new, higher level of protection against corruption.

Nowadays KazNU has all the modern equipment. In large class rooms of the university lectures are being held with the help of advanced multimedia desks. The number of computer classes allows each student to study modern informational technologies. Today all the faculties, every structural branch of the university including dormitory are connected to the Internet. Wi-Fi (wireless web) is functioning in academic buildings, dormitories and campus of the university. Last year the largest internet cafe in Almaty with 300 places capacity and no analogues among the CIS universities was opened.

The university’s campus is a unique educational and research complex for studying and recreation: there is a marvelous sport complex with a gym, playgrounds, medical center, cinema, a large number of reading rooms, and a big library which provides students with all the necessary literature. In addition to that, besides sport sections there are many art studios in the U. A. Dzholdasbekov Student Palace. “Farabi Sazy” folk instruments orchestra, “Bakhyt” dance ensemble and “Biz” student drama theatre are functioning in the palace.

Nonresident full-time students are provided with dormitories. At KazNU there are 13 dormitories which have all the modern conveniences, comfort and safety. In the student movie theatre new films are being weekly performed to students and teaching staff of the university.

On the picturesque shore of Issyk-Kul Lake the University owns a sports and health complex with a comfortable boarding house where students and faculty may spend their annual vacations.