Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is the only Central Asian institution placed inside the QS Asia top 40 for 2026. The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking sits at #177 in QS World University Rankings 2027, with its strongest subject placement in Modern Languages at #101-150.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #177 globally, #1 in Kazakhstan
- QS Asia University Rankings 2026: #38 in Asia, only Central Asian university inside the top 40
- THE World University Rankings 2026: 1201-1500 globally
- US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026: #1230 globally
What this means for Indian applicants: KazNU’s #38 in QS Asia 2026 places it ahead of every other Central Asian university. Its #177 global QS sits 42 positions behind IIT Bombay’s #134, a workable gap for Indian applicants priced out of IIT fees. Modern Languages and Physics subject ranks beat the overall rank by 16 to 65 positions.

Read More: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Admissions 2026
Table of Contents
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Overall Rankings 2026-27
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rankings Highlights
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS World University Rankings 2026
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Other Global Rankings
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Subject Rankings
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Regional Rankings
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- FAQs
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Overall Rankings 2026-27
The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University rankings sit in three different bands across the three major global bodies, with QS placing it 1,064 positions ahead of US News.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rank |
|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #177 |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 1201-1500 |
| US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 | #1230 |
The 1,064-position spread between QS and US News reflects how the two bodies weigh different inputs. QS, which ranks universities mainly on academic reputation and employer opinion, places KazNU 1,064 spots ahead of US News, which leans on research publication and citation counts. The gap signals that KazNU’s strength sits in reputation and teaching, not pure research output.
Key insight: The 1,064-rank QS-to-US-News gap is the widest cross-body spread for any Kazakhstani university, a signal that brand and teaching reputation pull harder than citation scores.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rankings Highlights
Each body sends a different signal to Indian applicants: QS validates the degree brand, THE flags research depth and US News reflects publication scale.
| Signal | Rank | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #177 | Degree carries a top-200 QS brand on visa apostille and ECFMG paperwork |
| QS Asia University Rankings 2026 | #38 | Only Central Asian university inside Asia’s top 40, easy peer comparison |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 1201-1500 | Lower band signals weaker research depth than the QS number suggests |
| Indian comparator: IIT Bombay QS 2027 | #134 | KazNU sits 42 spots behind India’s top engineering institute on QS |
For an Indian applicant choosing between a top Indian central university and KazNU, the 37-position QS gap behind IIT Bombay is the cleanest comparison point. KazNU offers a globally ranked degree with English-medium delivery at tuition fees well below the IIT MBA-tier load. The QS Asia #38 also places KazNU above most non-IIT Indian universities that fall outside Asia’s top 100.
Key insight
- Brand validation: A QS #166 puts KazNU inside the top 12% of the QS World pool of roughly 1,500 ranked universities.
- Regional peer: Inside Asia, KazNU’s #38 is the only Kazakhstan entry inside the Asia top 40.
- Risk flag: The QS-to-THE gap of roughly 1,000 positions warns Indian PhD aspirants to weigh research-output ranks too.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS World University Rankings 2027
The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS ranking has moved from a 2023 high of #150 to a 2024 low of #230, before settling near #177 in 2027.
| Year | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #177 |
| 2026 | #166 |
| 2025 | #163 |
| 2024 | #230 |
| 2023 | #150 |
| 2022 | #175 |
Across the 5-year window, KazNU has moved 9 positions from #175 in 2022 to #166 in 2026, with a 5-year average rank of #177. The 2024 dip of 67 positions in a single edition tracks the QS methodology revision that year, not a drop in teaching quality.
For Indian applicants weighing the degree’s market value, the 2025-2026 stabilisation matters. The QS top-200 brand on a graduation certificate carries the same weight in 2026 as it did in 2025. KazNU also entered the global top 100 for QS Faculty-Student Ratio, an indicator Indian applicants rarely see at this price tier.
Key insight: KazNU’s 5-year QS average of #177 keeps the degree inside the global top 200 in every edition except 2024, removing volatility risk for the application cycle.
Read More: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University THE Rankings
THE, which ranks universities mainly on teaching, research output and citations, places the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking in the 1201-1500 band for the third consecutive edition.
| Year | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University THE World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1201-1500 |
| 2025 | 1201-1500 |
| 2024 | 1201-1500 |
| 2023 | 1001-1200 |
Across 4 editions, the THE rank slipped one band between 2023 and 2024, then stayed inside the same 300-position spread for three consecutive editions. The flat line from 2024 onwards signals stable but capped research output, in contrast to KazNU’s climbing QS reputation score.
For Indian applicants weighing research depth, the THE band sits closer to the US News read than to the QS read. PhD aspirants targeting publication output should treat the THE band as the more honest indicator of citation strength.
What it signals: The QS-THE gap of roughly 1,000 positions tells Indian applicants that KazNU scores stronger on reputation than on research citations, a profile that favours undergraduate and master’s applicants over PhD aspirants.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Other Global Rankings
US News places the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking inside the global top 1,250, while THE Impact, which ranks universities on their work toward UN Sustainable Development Goals, lifts it into the global top 600.
| Ranking Body | Edition | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rank |
|---|---|---|
| US News Best Global Universities | 2025-2026 | #1230 |
| THE Impact Rankings (Overall) | 2025 | 401-600 |
| THE Impact, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy | 2025 | 101-200 |
| THE Impact, SDG 15 Life on Land | 2025 | 101-200 |
| THE Impact, SDG 4 Quality Education | 2025 | 201-300 |
The SDG 7 and SDG 15 placements at #101-200 outperform the overall THE rank by roughly 1,000 positions, signalling a clear sustainability research strength. For Indian applicants targeting research in renewable energy or environmental sciences, the THE Impact band offers a cleaner read than the world rank.
India-relevance: SDG 4 Quality Education at #201-300 sits ahead of the overall world rank by nearly 1,000 positions, useful for Indian education-policy and teacher-training applicants.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Subject Rankings
The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University subject rankings beat the overall world rank in Modern Languages, Mathematics and Education Studies, while sitting in the 1001+ band for Computer Science and Life Sciences.
Subject ranking insight
- Modern Languages (QS 2026): #101-150 beats the overall QS rank of #166 by up to 65 positions.
- Education Studies (THE 2026): #401-500 sits roughly 800 positions ahead of the THE overall rank.
- Engineering and Technology (QS 2026): #304 trails the overall QS rank by 138 positions, the weakest QS subject signal.
- Mathematics and Physics: Both subjects sit inside the QS top 450, signalling consistent natural-sciences strength.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS Subject Rankings 2026
Five subjects appear in QS Subject 2026, with Modern Languages leading and Physics and Astronomy holding the lowest QS subject position for KazNU.
| Subject (QS 2026) | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rank |
|---|---|
| Modern Languages | #101-150 |
| Mathematics | #251-300 |
| Engineering and Technology | #304 |
| Natural Sciences | #360 |
| Physics and Astronomy | #401-450 |
Modern Languages at #101-150 is the highest QS subject placement, beating the overall world rank of #166. Engineering and Technology at #304 is the only QS subject ranking that trails the overall rank, by 138 positions. For Indian applicants choosing a major, the Modern Languages and Mathematics ranks support program-level value above the headline number.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University THE Subject Rankings 2026
Nine subjects appear in THE Subject 2026, with Education Studies leading and three subjects sitting in the 1001+ band.
| Subject (THE 2026) | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rank |
|---|---|
| Education Studies | #401-500 |
| Arts and Humanities | #501-600 |
| Business and Economics | #601-800 |
| Medical and Health | #601-800 |
| Social Sciences | #601-800 |
| Engineering | #1001-1250 |
| Physical Sciences | #1001-1250 |
| Computer Science | #1001+ |
| Life Sciences | #1001+ |
Education Studies at #401-500 sits roughly 800 positions ahead of KazNU’s THE overall rank, the widest subject-vs-overall lift in the THE subject set. Computer Science and Life Sciences both fall in the 1001+ band, the weakest THE subject signals for Indian applicants in tech and biology streams. Medical and Health at #601-800 is the THE subject most often referenced by Indian MBBS aspirants comparing KazNU to other Kazakhstan medical schools.
Trend signal: KazNU’s strongest subject ranks (Modern Languages, Education Studies) outperform the overall rank by 65 to 800 positions, signalling that program selection drives more degree value than the headline number.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Regional Rankings
The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS Asia rank has held inside the top 40 since 2024, peaking at #29 across 2024 and 2025 before slipping to #38 in 2026.
| Year | Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS Asia Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | #38 |
| 2025 | #29 |
| 2024 | #29 |
| 2023 | #44 |
Across 4 editions, the QS Asia rank has improved 6 positions net, from #44 in 2023 to #38 in 2026. The 9-position slide between 2025 and 2026 still leaves KazNU as the only Central Asian university inside Asia’s top 40.
India-relevance: For Indian applicants comparing regional brand value, KazNU’s QS Asia #38 sits above most non-IIT Indian universities in the same ranking, a clean peer signal at the application stage.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking for Indian students reads strongest in three program areas: Medicine, Modern Languages and Mathematics. KazNU hosts roughly 500 Indian students currently enrolled, most of them in the English-medium MBBS programme.
Popular programs for Indian applicants:
- MBBS / General Medicine: 5-year English-medium course, paired with the THE Medical and Health rank of #601-800.
- Computer Science: Demand-driven choice, though the THE subject sits in the 1001+ band, weakest of KazNU’s THE signals.
- Engineering and Technology: QS subject rank #304, an option for applicants priced out of IIT and NIT fees.
- Modern Languages and Linguistics: Highest QS subject rank at #101-150, a strong pull for language and humanities applicants.
- Economics and Business: THE Business and Economics at #601-800, a regional alternative to Indian private B-schools outside the top 20.
| Signal | Reading for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|
| QS World rank #177 vs IIT Bombay #134 | 42-position gap, narrow enough for a credible degree-value case |
| QS Asia rank #38 | Top 40 in Asia, ahead of every other Central Asian university |
| Modern Languages QS #101-150 | 65-position lift above overall, strongest department signal |
| THE Medical and Health #601-800 | Mid-band signal for MBBS applicants comparing Kazakhstan schools |
| THE Impact SDG 7 #101-200 | Research-strength signal for renewable-energy aspirants |
Key insight
- Brand strength: QS top 200 in both 2025 and 2026 removes volatility risk for the 2026-27 application cycle.
- Regional pull: QS Asia #38 is the only Central Asian entry in Asia’s top 40, easing peer comparison.
- Program-level lift: Modern Languages and Mathematics QS ranks beat the overall rank by 16 to 65 positions.
- Research caveat: THE band of 1201-1500 signals lower citation depth, a flag for PhD aspirants only.
KazNU’s rank pattern across 2022-2026 shows a degree that holds top-200 QS value with a research-output trail roughly 1,000 positions wider. That profile suits undergraduate and master’s applicants more than research-focused PhD candidates, who should weigh the THE band carefully. The five-year QS average of #177 and the QS Asia top-40 streak since 2024 are the two signals most worth weighing at application time.
FAQs
Ques. What is the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking in QS World 2026?
Ans. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranks #177 in QS World University Rankings 2027, holding its position as the highest-ranked university in Kazakhstan. The QS rank has stayed inside the global top 200 across 2025 and 2026.
Ques. What is the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University QS Asia ranking 2026?
Ans. KazNU ranks #38 in QS Asia University Rankings 2026, the only Central Asian university inside the Asia top 40. It held #29 in 2024 and 2025 before slipping 9 positions in 2026.
Ques. What is the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Times Higher Education ranking?
Ans. KazNU sits in the 1201-1500 band of Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the third consecutive edition in that band. It held the 1001-1200 band in 2023 before slipping one band in 2024.
Ques. What is the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking in US News Best Global Universities?
Ans. KazNU ranks #1230 in US News Best Global Universities 2025-2026. The US News rank sits roughly 1,064 positions behind the QS rank, reflecting US News’s heavier weighting on research citations versus QS’s reputation-led model.
Ques. Which subjects are ranked at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University?
Ans. KazNU is ranked in 5 subjects in QS 2026 and 9 subjects in THE 2026. The strongest QS subject is Modern Languages at #101-150; the strongest THE subject is Education Studies at #401-500.
Ques. How does the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranking compare with Indian universities?
Ans. In QS World 2026, KazNU at #177 sits 42 positions behind IIT Bombay at #134 and ahead of most Indian central universities outside the IIT and IISc cluster. The QS Asia rank of #38 also places KazNU above most non-IIT Indian entries in the same regional ranking.
Ques. Is Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranked in THE Impact Rankings?
Ans. Yes, KazNU ranks in the 401-600 overall band of THE Impact Rankings 2025. Its strongest SDG placements are SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 15 Life on Land, both in the #101-200 band.










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