On May 25, an Open Day was held in Astana for the future branch of Cardiff University Kazakhstan.

The event was attended by Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Kathy Leach, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan; Dr. Paula Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer of Cardiff University; Anna Morgan, Director of International Partnerships; as well as other representatives of the university.

In his address, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek emphasized that, in accordance with the mandate of the Head of State to establish branches of leading foreign universities in Kazakhstan, the Ministry is actively implementing this initiative. One of the key outcomes of this work has been the collaboration with Cardiff University—one of the UK's leading institutions, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, and consistently ranked highly in the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education.

It is worth noting that the first visit of the Kazakh delegation to Cardiff University took place on August 14, 2024. As a result of the visit, a tripartite memorandum was signed between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the public foundation "Qualified Centre of Education," and Cardiff University to establish a branch in Astana. During the return visit of the Cardiff University delegation to Kazakhstan on November 20, 2024, a bilateral agreement was signed to commence detailed negotiations. On February 25, 2025, another visit by university representatives took place, during which academic programs were finalized and key cooperation issues were discussed.

In September 2025, a full-scale educational campus of Cardiff University Kazakhstan will open in Astana, with capacity for more than 2,000 students. This will be the first branch in Kazakhstan of a foreign university with a high academic ranking, operating under the direct academic and administrative oversight of its home institution. The campus is set to become a hub of academic excellence, scientific research, and international collaboration, attracting leading faculty members from Cardiff University and talented students from across Kazakhstan and abroad.

The branch will begin operations in 2025 with a Foundation program focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and Business disciplines. Starting in 2026, bachelor’s degree programs will be launched in fields such as Computer Science, Business Management, Civil Engineering, Geology, and Mineral Exploration.

The academic pathway will consist of four years: one year in the Foundation program, followed by three years of undergraduate study. All instruction will be conducted in English, with teaching staff including faculty members from Cardiff University. The Astana campus will offer opportunities for academic mobility as well as comfortable dormitory accommodation for both domestic and international students.

Admission requirements for the Foundation program:

✔ Academic IELTS – minimum overall score of 5.5, with no component below 5.0;

✔ Grade Point Average (GPA) – minimum of 4.0 out of 5.0, including at least a grade of 4 in Mathematics;

✔ Unified National Test (UNT) – minimum score of 50 (for applicants seeking state scholarships).