Apply for a Master’s Degree at Maqsut Narikbayev University – Seize the Opportunity for the M. Narikbayev Scholarship!
Future M. Narikbayev Scholarship Recipients!
Applicants for the M. Narikbayev Scholarship must submit to the Admissions Committee a valid Comprehensive Testing Certificate meeting the threshold scores required for their chosen educational programme, as outlined in the Admission Policy 2025
Candidates without a Comprehensive Testing Certificate that meets the threshold score will not be eligible for the internal scholarship, even if they successfully pass the competitive selection process.
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan are eligible to apply
Applications are open to holders of a Bachelor’s degree or those graduating this year
⚠️ All written submissions for the internal educational grant competition for Master's degree programmes will be subject to a mandatory plagiarism check using the TURNITIN system.
Please note that a high level of originality is a key evaluation criterion. Ensure that your work is independently written and properly referenced, with accurate citations for all sources used.
3. Research Proposal
▼
Each applicant must prepare a Research Proposal on one of the suggested topics related to their chosen educational program
International School of Economics ▼
Programmes:
Political Science and International Relations (2 years)
Economics (2 years)
Finance (2 years)
Language: English
Word count: Max. 1,500 words
Structure:
Introduction
Literature Review (Chicago Style, Author-Date; max. 10 sources)
Research Objectives and Hypotheses
Methodology
Expected Results
References
MNU Law School ▼
Programmes:
Law (1 and 2 years)
IT Law (1 year)
Competition Law (1 year)
Intellectual Property and Business Law (1 year)
International Law (2 years)
Language: Russian or Kazakh * Intellectual Property Law — Russian or English
Word count: Max. 1,500 words
Structure:
Future Research Plan
Introduction (Research Goals and Objectives)
Methodology
Literature Review
Expected Results
Formatting: APA or OSCOLA
School of Liberal Arts ▼
Programmes:
Translation Studies (1 and 2 years)
Counseling Psychology (2 years)
Applied Linguistics (2 years)
Language: English * Counseling Psychology — Russian
Word count: no more than 1,500 words
* Excluding footnotes, tables, and references
Structure:
Introduction (Problem, Purpose, Research Questions, Significance)
Literature Review
Methodology
Expected Results
References
Formatting: APA Style, the number of sources is unlimited
Requirements: Font — Times New Roman Size — 12 Line spacing — 1
2. Two Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation —
from academic supervisors, deans, or employers, issued on the official letterhead of the organisation, signed and stamped
This is not a mandatory requirement, but we strongly recommend obtaining letters of recommendation from individuals with whom you have interacted or collaborated over the past two years
1. Motivation Letter
In English
Political Science and International Relations (2 years)
Economics (2 years)
Finance (2 years)
Intellectual Property and Business Law (1 year)
Translation Studies (1 year)
Translation Studies (2 years)
Applied Linguistics (2 years)
In Russian or Kazakh
Law (1 year)
IT Law (1 year)
Competition Law (1 year)
International Law (2 years)
Law (2 years)
Counselling Psychology (2 years)
Requirements: Font — Times New Roman Size — 12 Line spacing — 1 Word count — no more than 700 words
Stage 2
Online Individual Interview and Research Proposal Presentation
At the third stage, applicants will take part in an individual online interview and defend their Research Proposal before the commission
Each candidate must:
Prepare a presentation based on their Research Proposal, selecting a topic aligned with their chosen educational programme
Clearly present the objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of the study
Be prepared to answer questions from the commission and justify the relevance of the chosen topic
It is recommended to use visual materials (e.g. slides, graphs) during the presentation. The presentation should not exceed 15 minutes and will be followed by a Q&A session with the commission (up to 5 minutes)
3 stage
Topics and Areas of Research by Schools
Economics and Finance:
Applied Microeconomics: Analyzing the behavior of individuals and firms in areas like labor markets, health, and education.
Gender Economics: Examining the economic dimensions of gender inequality, including how societal norms, institutional barriers, and workplace practices influence women's economic outcomes, as well as the key drivers of gender disparities in employment and wages.
Behavioral Economics and Finance: Exploring the psychological and behavioral factors that influence economic and financial decision-making.
Investment and Risk Management: Investigating financial risk, portfolio optimization, and sustainable investment practices. This research should focus on navigating the complexities of financial markets, developing asset pricing strategies, and creating frameworks for managing risk in an increasingly uncertain world.
Political Science and International Relations:
Regionalism in Central Asia
Identity Politics and Central Asian Integration: Exploring the role of identity in fostering regional unity and collaboration.
Evolving Forms of Regionalism in Central Asia: Investigating how regionalism shapes cooperation and policies among Central Asian nations.
Central Asia in Global Governance
Navigating Global Sanctions Diplomacy: Examining how Central Asia adapts to the complexities of global sanctions regimes.
Energy Transition and the Geoeconomics of Critical Raw Materials: Assessing the region's role in global supply chains in critical raw materials essential for energy transitions.
Independent Agency of Central Asian Countries in Transforming Global Order: Analyzing how Central Asian states assert their sovereignty and influence in the global arena.
Global Infrastructure and Development Initiatives
Central Asia's Role in Global Infrastructure Projects: Evaluating the impact of initiatives like China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the European Union's Global Gateway on the region.
Sustainable Development Goals and Regional Policies: Aligning regional initiatives with global sustainability objectives.
Cybersecurity, Digital Risks, and Media in Politics
Digital Risks and Cyber Challenges in Central Asia: Investigating the cybersecurity landscape and its implications for regional security.
The Role of Media in Politics: Analyzing how media influences political processes and governance in the digital age.
Research School of Administrative and German Law
Analogy of Law and Analogy of Right: Features of Application in the Field of Administrative Proceedings
The State and Prospects of Applying an Administrative Contract in the Field of Public Administration
Research School of Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law in the Context of Digital Transformation: Protection of Personal Data and Freedom of Expression
Constitutional Rights in States of Emergency: Legitimacy and Limits of Restrictions
Research School of Labour Law
Applicability of Classical Employment Relations Indicators in the Context of Digitalization and the Development of Artificial Intelligence
The Problem of Abuse of Right in Employment Relations
Research School of Criminal Law and Procedure
Topical Issues of Personal Data Protection and Information Security Through Criminal Law
Theoretical and Legal Criteria for Distinguishing Between Criminal Offences and Administrative Offenses
Research School of Private Law
The role of doctrine for law enforcement practice in civil cases
Evaluative Categories in Civil Law: Discretion VS Formal Certainty
Research School of International Public and Private Law
Norm Conflicts in Public International Law
Jurisdiction and Law Applicable to Transboundary Private Relationships: Challenges of Digitalization
Research School of Islamic Law
Sharia and Human Rights – Basic Principles of Islamic Law Regarding Human Rights
The Principle of Justice in Islamic law – Justice in Fiqh and Its Significance in the Modern Judicial System of Muslim Countries
Counselling Psychology:
Socio-Psychological Aspects of Corrupt Behaviour
Modern Methods of Family Counselling: Innovative Techniques and Systematic Approaches
The Impact of Digital Technologies on Family Relationships: The Influence of Social Networks and Remote Communication
The Role of Moral Norms and Cultural Traditions in Corrupt Practices
The Psychology of Power and Managerial Decision-Making
Emotional Regulation in the Learning Process: Effects of Stress and Anxiety on Cognitive Abilities
Gamification and Interactive Technologies in Education: Impact on Student Motivation and Engagement
Motivation Among University Students: Internal and External Factors
Self-Regulated Learning: Strategies for Managing Learning and Time Independently
Transformation of the Family Institution: Shifts Toward Partnerships and Changes in Family Roles
Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies
Product-based Translation Issues
Multimodal Texts
Professional Terminology
Cognitive Metaphors
Teaching Foreign Languages
Innovations in Higher Education
Using Technologies in Teaching
Curriculum Design
Use of AI in Teaching
Communicative Language Teaching Approach
Teaching in Higher Education
Corpus Linguistics
Critical Discourse Analysis in Social Science Research
Language Policy and Planning
Semantics and Pragmatics of Linguistic Units
Syntax
Comparative Studies of Languages (Linguistic Aspects and Translation; Applying Various Methods, including Corpus Linguistics)