Higher education in IT: an overview of the Kazakh-British Technical University

The Kazakh-British Technical University is one of the leading technical universities in the region. The university collaborates with the global academic community, as well as corporate and state sectors, upholding fundamental values of quality, academic integrity, and openness.

KBTU is a world-class university engaged in scientific research, education, and training of scientific elites and highly qualified professionals for various sectors of the global economy. Its main mission is to develop new competencies in engineering, technical, social, and humanitarian fields through innovation, scientific research, and the implementation of international education standards. An innovative and creative approach is a priority for KBTU; its internal projects vary in concept and address different tasks.

Another strategic priority of KBTU is internationalization. The university has established partnerships and cooperation with leading global universities, such as the University of London, Harvard Business School, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, University of Reading, University of Northampton, Kozminski University, and many others.

Accreditation

Each year, the university is included in the QS World University Rankings. In Central Asia and Eastern Europe, the Kazakh-British Technical University ranks within the top 30% of best universities. KBTU programs have received international recognition through accreditations from ABET, ACBSP, IQAA, CIMA, ACCA, and CFA.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs

KBTU has several schools that prepare graduates in the field of IT:

School of Information Technology and Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree
— “Information Systems”
— “Computer Engineering and Software”
— “IT Management”
— “Automation and Control”
— “Robotics and Mechatronics”.

Master’s Degree
— “IT Management”
— “Data Science”
— “Computer Science and Big Data Analytics”
— “Software Engineering”
— “Industrial and Systems Engineering”
— “Smart Cities and Smart Systems”
— “Information Systems”.

School of Applied Mathematics
Bachelor’s Degree
— “Mathematical Computer Modeling”.

Master’s Degree
— “Mathematical Computer Modeling”.

Faculty

The teaching staff includes local and foreign educators from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, the United States, and India. Leading mathematicians and physicists work at KBTU. In the QS EECA rankings, KBTU regularly ranks in the top 10 for the number of foreign faculty members. Today, the university employs over 160 professors and teachers, 30% of whom are foreigners.

Student Opportunities

KBTU is equipped with modern facilities and scientific laboratories where researchers and students work on innovative projects. There are numerous laboratories opened in collaboration with partner companies, such as Honeywell, Huawei, Halyk, Schlumberger, Emerson, Siemens, and others.

Scientific and technical resources at KBTU include: the Institute of Organic Catalysis and Electrochemistry, the Institute of Engineering and Information Technologies, and the Institute of Chemical Sciences.

Students have the opportunity to become part of the KBTU Startup Incubator. The incubator allows each student to select the most competitive idea and go through the entire journey from Maximum Competitive Idea to Minimum Viable Product. The incubation program is conducted as an elective course titled “Technological Entrepreneurship and Startups,” where students form multidisciplinary cross-functional teams consisting of specialists from different schools and years of study.

Internships

All students complete their final-year internships, choosing companies either independently or among partner companies, including KazTransOil, NCOC, KAZENERGY, EY, Deloitte, KazMunayGas, AirAstana, Honeywell, and others.

Academic Mobility

The opportunity for students to study at partner universities through academic mobility depends on the results of the academic mobility competition and available spots at the partner university, and is carried out:

— at the student’s own expense:
— the student independently covers costs for visas, flights, accommodation, and meals, excluding tuition fees at the partner university. Tuition for the semester is paid to KBTU under the study agreement.
— applications can be submitted by second- and third-year bachelor’s students and second-semester master’s students in scientific and pedagogical fields. Exchange begins in the spring semester of the second year of bachelor’s studies or in the fall semester of the second year of master’s studies.

Requirements: At the time of application, a minimum GPA of 2.5 and an English proficiency level of at least B2 or a valid IELTS certificate of 5.5 are required. If there is no confirmation of B2 English proficiency, students can register for an audit via the link in the application announcement and confirm the required English level.

Required documents: English transcript, high-quality scanned copy of passport, and proof of English proficiency if necessary.

Partner Universities

Azerbaijan: ADA University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Baku Higher Oil School
Belarus: Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics
Bulgaria: Technical University of Varna, University of Economics Varna
United Kingdom: University of London, University of Leicester, Suffolk University, University of Manchester, University of Northampton, University of Southampton, University of Reading
Germany: Furtwangen University
Spain: Universidad San Jorge, EADA Business School
Italy: Polytechnic University of Turin
China: China University of Petroleum, Shanghai Polytechnic University, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Northeast Petroleum University, Wuhan College
South Korea: Soongsil University, Sejong University
Malaysia: Asia Pacific University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Poland: Kozminski University

Student Life

At KBTU, every student can find a student organization based on their interests or start their own. Approximately 20 organizations operate continuously at the university across seven directions.

For example, the KBTU ArtHouse organization brings together creative students who wish to develop both their musical skills and organizational abilities. Members of the organization produce music videos, record covers, create photo reports and projects, and organize themed events and parties.

Alternatively, the Student Scientists’ Society in KBTU is an organization focused on developing students’ scientific and practical capital. It provides students with experience in organizing scientific conferences in their field, assists in writing scientific articles and reports, offers participation in laboratory work, and provides invaluable experience in their respective fields.

Since 2002, students have had the option to participate in the Intellectual Debate Club (IDC). The goal of IDC KBTU is to teach students mastery of speech, the art of debate, constructive argumentation, and to develop skills in information gathering, analytical thinking, and public speaking.

In 2023, KBTU constructed and launched two new nine-story dormitory buildings and a three-story sports complex, which includes a game hall with seating for 198 people.

The buildings feature: lounge rooms, kitchens, study rooms, an auditorium with 120 seats, a cafeteria with 70 seats, laundry facilities, and linen exchange rooms. Each building is equipped with two high-speed elevators, video surveillance cameras, and Wi-Fi access points. The buildings are constructed according to modern standards.

Employment

More than 90% of KBTU graduates find employment or continue their studies in master’s programs after graduation. Most graduates work at leading international oil and gas companies, consulting firms, and IT companies in Kazakhstan and worldwide. Employers include well-known companies such as Google, Twitter, Meta, Siemens, Bloomberg, Huawei, Microsoft, ENI, TSO, KazMunayGas, Total, and others.