Universities in Kazakhstan Placed in QS World University Rankings 2026
The QS World University Rankings 2026, published on June 19, showcased a diverse range of universities from over 100 locations worldwide, including 20 institutions from Kazakhstan.
In a surprising turn of events, no Kazakhstan universities were ranked in the category of 1,401+, a contrast to Shakarim University and Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, which were ranked in this category in the previous year. However, three new universities made their debut in the rankings: Yessenov University, Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, and Shakarim University of Semey.
Yessenov University, with a ranking between 1,201 and 1,400, marked its first appearance in the global rankings. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, on the other hand, maintained its position, ranking 166th.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) remained the top university in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
The Faculty-Student Ratio (FSR) indicator, which reflects the quality of teaching and the availability of academic staff per student, was not specifically ranked for the Kazakh universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026, unlike in the previous year. However, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and five other Kazakhstan universities were ranked among the top 100 globally for the FSR indicator in the current rankings.
Interestingly, no Kazakhstan universities were ranked among the top 100 globally for the Employer Reputation indicator in the QS World University Rankings 2026. However, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University entered the global top 100 for the Employer Reputation indicator for the first time.
It's worth noting that earlier this year, four Kazakhstan universities were included in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025: Nazarbayev University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Satbayev University.
The QS World University Rankings 2026 serves as a valuable resource for students, educators, and policymakers, providing a global perspective on the performance of universities across various indicators.
[1] https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2026/world-ranking [2] https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2026 [3] https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2026/kazakhstan-rankings
In the context of the QS World University Rankings 2026, three new Kazakhstan universities - Yessenov University, Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, and Shakarim University of Semey - were highlighted in the education and self-development section, showcasing their general news worthiness. On the other hand, the Faculty-Student Ratio (FSR) indicator, which generally reflects the quality of teaching and the availability of academic staff per student, was not specifically ranked for these Kazakhstan universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026, but Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and five other Kazakhstan universities were ranked among the top 100 globally for the FSR indicator in the current rankings, indicating their continued focus on education and self-development.
