Undergraduate programs
In order to earn a Bachelor degree and graduate from SSH, a student must complete a degree program. Each program includes a number of required courses to be taken at various levels as well as a large number of courses to be taken outside of the degree program.
The B.A. in Economics provides an undergraduate education in economics with a particular focus on its application to decision making not only in business, but also in the public sector and non-profit organizations. The program offers a terrific academic experience with an emphasis on skills and capabilities appropriate to the study of modern market economies and their relevance to decision making of economic entities.

Duration: 4 years

Learn more about the program here.
The Economics program at Nazarbayev University is one of the fastest growing programs in the School of Sciences and Humanities. It is aimed at providing excellent training in the core economic theory and different fields within Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

The program is designed to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for successful careers in business and government sector, as well as graduate studies in Economics, Business Administration, International Relations, Law and many others.

Economics students may choose to pursue a standard Economics major or a math-intensive version of the same major. The math-intensive version provides additional training in sophisticated methods that are useful in modeling and forecasting of complex market behavior. The Economics program also provides an opportunity to do an Economics Minor.
English Language Requirements (for all applicants)
  • IELTS – no less than 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each sub-score)
  • TOEFL IBT – 79 and more (Reading – no less than 13, Listening – no less than 12, Speaking – no less than 18, Writing – no less than 21)
  • TOEFL PBT * - 574 and more

Academic Requirements
Minimum requirements for graduates or students of the final year of secondary school, colleges, UK Foundation program and graduates of the A-level program
  • SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 OR ACT – 26 composite score. Writing part is not required, no minimum score

Minimum requirements for graduates and holders of NIS Grade 12 Certificate
  • NIS 12 Grade Certificate – A B B (any subjects)
  • NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders can also participate in the competition in the "Graduates of secondary schools" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category above)

Minimum requirements for graduates and holders of IВ Diploma Program
  • IB DP 30 total score and 4, 4, 5 for 3 subjects of HL
  • IB DP holders can also participate in the competition in the "Graduates of secondary schools" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category above)

Minimum requirements for the winners of the republican subject olympiads category for all schools' participants:
  • winners of the following republican mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and informatics olympiads
  • gold and silver medals (I, II place) for the current academic year
  • IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score
  • Interview with Admission Committee is required

Minimum requirements for the winners of the international subject olympiads category for all schools' participants:
  • winners of the following olympiads: International Mathematics Olympiad - IMO, International Physics Olympiad - IPHO, International Chemistry Olympiad - IChO, International Biology Olympiad - IBO, International Olympiad in Informatics - IOI, International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, International Mendeleyev Chemistry Olympiad
  • gold, silver and bronze medals (I, II, III place) for the last three years
  • IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score
  • Interview with Admission Committee is required

Minimum requirements for transfer students:
  • SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 OR ACT – 26 composire score
  • GPA - 2.75 out of 4
  • Applicants/students who have successfully completed at least one academic year of an undergraduate program at a university with the English language as an official language of instruction and included in the list of top 200 universities according to the Times Higher Education World University or QS World University ranking at the time of application, are exempt from submitting SAT and IELTS/TOEFL results

The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT scores.
TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not considered.
TOEFL PDT is admitted only from international applicants from the countries where an official IELTS or TOEFL iBT are not available.
Our graduates are employed in private and public sectors in Kazakhstan and abroad. Below is a short list of some employers:
  • Big 4 companies: Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC
  • Big 3 and other consulting companies: McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Accenture, Oliver Wyman, Kearney
  • Energy companies: Chevron Corporation, Eni S.p.A, ERG, TotalEnergies
  • Banks and financial companies: Astana International Financial Centre, Freedom Holding Corp., Halyk Bank, Jusan Bank, Kaspiy Bank
  • Other private companies: BAT, Beeline, General Electric, JTI, Mars, Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Tele2, Wabtec Corporation
  • International organizations: World Bank, UN
  • Public sector in Kazakhstan: National Bank of Kazakhstan, Samruk-Kazyna
BA program runs 4 years (8 semesters) where you are required to complete 240 ECTS credits.
Economics requirements:
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Economic Statistics
Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Econometrics I
General Economics Electives (300 level economics electives)
Advanced Economics Electives (400 and higher level economics electives)
Distribution requirements:
Two Kazakh courses
History of Kazakhstan
Ethics course
Writing and Communication
Four Humanities Electives
Three Social Science electives
Natural Sciences and Math
Computer Science course
Business course
Any courses from SSH or SEDS
The Minor in Quantitative Finance is designed to give students indispensable economic and mathematical tools used in modern finance. You will learn how to apply mathematical models to concrete real-world financial scenarios ranging from valuing complex financial instruments such as futures and options, to uncovering market trends and managing risk. Whether your aspirations lie in investment banking, risk management, or financial analysis, this Minor will boost your future career.
Students can apply for the Minor in Quantitative Finance at the end of the Fall of their 3rd year. The deadline to apply for the Minor is at the end of the Fall of their 4th year.
The requirement for the Minor declaration is the completion of the following courses:·
  • ECON101 Introduction to Microeconomics (B- and above)·
  • MATH161 Calculus I (B- and above)·
  • ECON201 Intermediate Microeconomics (B- and above)·
  • ECON 211 Economic Statistics (B- and above)·
  • One ECON Elective from Section A below (B+ and above)
To confirm the Minor in Quantitative Finance, the students must have completed 56 credits outlined in the table below by the end of their studies. At least one ECON and MATH 300/400 elective course must be completed with a B+ and above. Other ECON and MATH elective courses have a C- and above threshold. Below is the tentative list of ECON and MATH elective courses.

Section A Economics courses, at least one course (B+ and above):
  • ECON320 Money and Banking
  • ECON326 The Economics of Financial Markets
  • ECON337 Empirical Finance
  • ECON414 Advanced Monetary Policy
  • ECON418 Corporate Finance and Governance
Section B Mathematics Courses, at least one course (B+ and above):
  • MATH323 Actuarial Mathematics I
  • MATH423 Actuarial Mathematics II
  • MATH424 Mathematical Finance
  • MATH425 Stochastic Processes
  • MATH455 Stochastic Calculus
If you have any questions about the minor or would like to discuss your application, please send an email with your transcript attached to economics_minor@nu.edu.kz.
The Minor in Economics provides students with a foundational understanding of economic principles, theories, and analysis techniques without requiring the extensive coursework of a major. This Minor is designed for students from diverse backgrounds (STEM, humanities, engineering, etc) interested in leveraging their technical or soft skills to build a career in fields such as business, management, economics and finance, public policy, and more.

Students can apply for the Minor in Economics starting from the 3-year of studies. The requirement for the Minor declaration is the completion of the following courses by the end of their 5th semester:
• ECON101 Introduction to Microeconomics
• ECON102 Introduction to Macroeconomics
• MATH161 Calculus I
• ECON201 Intermediate Microeconomics
• ECON202 Intermediate Macroeconomics
Students will need to receive a minimum of B- in ECON101, ECON102, and MATH161. Moreover, students must receive a minimum of B- in ECON101, ECON102, and MATH161.

To confirm the Minor in Economics, the students must have completed 42 credits outlined in the table below by the end of their studies. The passing grade for Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Macroeconomics must be aminimum of B-. For non-Economics students, the combination of MATH321 Probability and MATH322 MathematicalStatistics/MATH310 Applied Statistical Methods is counted as a prerequisite for Econometrics I.
Course Categories
Elementary Economics Courses 12
  • 6 credits Introduction to Microeconomics
  • 6 credits Introduction to Macroeconomics
Intermediate Economics Courses 18
  • 6 credits Intermediate Microeconomics
  • 6 credits Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • 6 credits Econometrics I
Advanced (300 or 400 level) Economics Electives 12
  • Any courses
If you have any questions about the minor or would like to discuss your application, please send an email with your transcript attached to economics_minor@nu.edu.kz.
Need advice?
Leave your contacts and our admissions managers will contact you soon.