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Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana

Kazakhstan, Astana

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Kazakh, Russian, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 12 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1488
Type Co-educational
Opened 2010
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Taught languages Kazakh, Russian, English
Typical class size 24
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Middle School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

The Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana is part of Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools network, offering the IB MYP (12–16) and the IB DP (16–18). Instruction is in English; Language and Literature are taught in Kazakh, Russian and English, with Language Acquisition in the same languages. The MYP covers Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Design, Arts and Physical Education. The DP core comprises the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS; six subjects from six groups, typically three HL and three SL. The DP was authorised in 2013; this is the network's only NIS delivering IB. Accreditations include Council of International Schools (Dec 2023) and UNESCO Club status (2019). Located on Hussein Bin Talal Street, Astana, a 5-hectare campus; founded 2010. Extracurriculars include Robotics and Chess; plus arts and language/cultural clubs. Routes: NIS-Program or IB, with acceleration or independent study.

31 көшесі 35, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

The Essentials

Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana has 1,488 pupils, typical class sizes of 24, instruction in Kazakh, Russian, English.

Location
Located in Astana, Kazakhstan. Address: 19 Husain Ben Talala Street, Astana, 010000, Republic of Kazakhstan. The school is part of the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools network and offers International Baccalaureate programmes.

Stages
The school offers the International Baccalaureate programmes, specifically the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP).

Type
The school is an international school.

Country affiliation
Kazakhstan
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Dormitories provide temporary accommodation for students in grades 7–12. The dormitories are structural subdivisions of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. Places in the dormitory are allocated by the Commission and can be provided free of charge or on a paid basis.

Uniform Requirement
A unified school uniform is established, with the sample approved by the Board of the Autonomous Educational Organization. Everyday uniform includes a plain white shirt with blue or light pink accents, a tie and chevron; a polo shirt with a white collar is allowed. A sports uniform is used for physical education and related activities.

House System
The school uses a student self-government system called Shanyrak. Shanyrak operates in classes and extracurricular activities, with Shanyrak hours and the Shanyrak of the Year incentive. There is also a dormitory council that manages life in the dormitory.

Governance and Ownership
Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools is an autonomous educational organization (AEO) governed by a Board of Trustees; governance details are described in the AEO's corporate governance framework.
Fees
Tuition & Application Fees
- Education at Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana for students admitted under the educational grant (“Orken”) is provided without tuition charges; students who are grant holders do not pay an application fee or annual tuition.
- Admission on a paid basis is permitted in accordance with AEO regulations; fees for education on a paid basis (where applied) are set by agreement and by the authorized governing body rather than by a public standard tuition table.

Tuition by Year Group (Grades / Year Levels)
- For students whose education is funded by the Orken educational grant, no tuition is charged for any grade level (including secondary and Diploma Programme years).
- For students admitted on a paid basis, there is no published per-grade, per-term public tuition schedule available; any per-term or per-year tuition for paid placements is established in the contractual agreement for the specific academic year.

Application / Admissions Fees
- There is no published, school-wide application fee for students admitted under the grant scheme. For paid-basis admissions, any application or registration fees (if charged) are defined in the admission/payment agreement for that paid placement.

Boarding (Dormitory) Fees
- Dormitory places are provided free of charge to holders of the Orken educational grant; dormitory places are also available on a paid basis.
- The amount charged for paid dormitory accommodation is approved by the Board of the Autonomous Education Organization (AEO) and is applied according to the school's dormitory rules and the signed agreement for paid services; specific monetary rates are not published as a standard schedule in the publicly available dormitory rules.
- Failure to pay dormitory accommodation fees (for paid residents) in the permitted timeframe may lead to eviction procedures as described in the dormitory regulations.

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms
- When a student studies on a paid basis, the contractual agreement governs billing schedule, instalment options, deadlines and accepted payment methods. The legal framework allows educational organisations to agree payment schedules and to require payment for services provided on a paid basis.
- If the total cost for a period is paid in a single upfront payment under the contract, that paid amount is generally fixed for the duration specified in the agreement (the contract provision on fixed advance payment applies under the law).
- Dormitory allocation and registration for the coming academic year follow published administrative deadlines (applications for dormitory places are considered annually and registration deadlines are set by the school commission). Payment deadlines for accommodation and other paid services are set in the corresponding agreements.

Other Costs or Fees (Uniforms, Meals, Materials, Extracurriculars)
- The school and state education legislation permit charging for specific additional services beyond the state-funded standard: paid additional educational programs, extra (supportive) lessons, specialized courses, events, and provision of dormitory places on a paid basis. Any chargeable items beyond standard, state-funded instruction are arranged and billed under separate agreements.
- Personal or consumable items (for example, bed linen issued on check-in, damage compensation, or replacement of school property) are handled according to dormitory and school rules; legal responsibility for damage or loss is noted in the dormitory regulations.

Refunds and Cancellations
- Refunds, cancellation terms and any penalties for early termination of paid agreements are governed by the signed Agreement on the Provision of Paid Services between the legal representative and the school/AEO; no single standard public refund schedule is published in the school's dormitory rules or admission guidelines.
- If accommodation is terminated by eviction for non-payment or other regulatory breaches, the dormitory rules describe the eviction and handover procedures; financial consequences are handled according to the paid-services agreement and applicable regulations.

Fee Payment Options
- Payment modalities (for paid placements, dormitory accommodation and other paid services) are determined in the contractual agreement; typical commercial methods (bank transfer, cash or other methods) are governed by the terms of the agreement and school administrative practice rather than a single published school rule.

Summary Statement
- Instruction under the Orken educational grant is provided without tuition charge for grant holders across all grades; dormitory and other paid services are available on a fee basis for non‑grant residents, with specific prices and payment schedules set by the AEO and in the individual paid-services agreements. For paid placements, the Agreement on the Provision of Paid Services specifies exact amounts, billing schedule, refund and payment methods.
Academics

Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP) for students aged 12 to 18.

Curriculum
The school has IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 12–16 (7th–10th grades) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16–18. Language and literature are taught in Kazakh, Russian and English, and language acquisition is offered in Kazakh, Russian and English. The MYP covers core subjects across groups including Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Design, Arts, and Physical Education. The DP core comprises the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS); students choose six subjects from six groups, typically with three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level.

Gifted and Talented
The school provides educational opportunities for gifted students through International Baccalaureate programmes.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Psychological Service coordinates the activities of psychologists in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools to preserve students' mental well-being and foster a positive socio-psychological climate within the school. It also offers psychological support to all individuals involved in the educational process. The Students Well-being Department coordinates psychological and medical services across branches and maintains feedback channels with students' legal representatives and the parent community to create favorable conditions for students.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools implement a trilingual education policy: Kazakh is the state language, Russian is an additional language for communication within the nation and with other nations, and English is a tool for accessing opportunities in the global environment. Core content is taught through Kazakh, Russian and English; language arts are offered in all three languages; non-language subjects are taught in Kazakh, Russian and English to promote language learning and content understanding. Extracurricular activities are organized in Kazakh, Russian and English, with some subjects studied in the second or third language.

Mental Wellbeing
The Psychological Service coordinates activities to preserve students' mental well-being and to maintain a positive socio-psychological climate. Psychological support is available to all participants in the educational process.

Safeguarding
The Medical Service coordinates medical services to safeguard students' health, promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure sanitary and epidemiological well-being within the school. The Well-being Department coordinates psychological and medical services across branches and maintains a helpline and feedback channels with legal representatives and the parent community. Projects include the Strengthening Families Program (with UNODC) for seventh grade and the Prevention of Self-Destructive Behaviour Among Adolescents in School (with UNICEF) for grades 8–9.
Parent Experience

History
The Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana is part of the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools network and provides International Baccalaureate programmes. The Diploma Programme was authorised in April 2013, and the school is the only NIS in the network that runs an IB programme. The school gained authorisation for the International Baccalaureate Core Curriculum in November 2015. The school received Council of International Schools accreditation in December 2023. The school earned UNESCO Club status in 2019.

Community
The school emphasizes an international-minded, value-driven community. Core values include patriotism, national identity, harmonious development, active citizenship, empathy, self-expression and diligence. Personalised teaching and a curriculum based on IB principles are supported by additional courses in languages, technology and sport, with a focus on student welfare and safety. The site shares regular news about student projects, competitions and forum participation, such as IB project conferences, Sana Cup results and the AWSD Youth Forum.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Astana is located on Hussein Bin Talal Street, Building 19, Astana, Kazakhstan 010000. The school occupies a total area of 5 hectares. It was founded on 1 September 2010 and operates as a branch of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Autonomous Educational Organisation. It provides full-time education.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Robotics Club and Chess Club are part of the extracurricular offerings. The Robotics Club is led by Serik Mukanov and meets at 15:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; contact mukanov.serik@nisa.edu.kz. The Chess Club is listed among the extracurricular activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Elective courses and study circles are organized based on the student's workload. Students can use free hours to prepare for Olympiads and scientific competitions, and to attend additional courses or hobby classes. The school offers two routes: the NIS-Program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, with options for acceleration or independent study.

Arts & Creative
Visual Arts is offered as a subject within the IB programme, and Art, Drama, and Design are also taught at the IB level. Drama, Dance, Vocal, and other arts- and performance-based activities are supported through clubs, and the directional work of clubs includes creative, speech, music, and poetic arts.

Cultural & Language
English is the language of instruction. Reading Club (клуб чтения) and a programming-olympiad club exemplify language- and culture-related activities that support language learning and cross-cultural engagement.

Social & Hobbies
Sports clubs include Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Yoga, Badminton, Health, and Gym. Clubs also cover arts and other activities such as Robotics, Green Economy, Drama, and Dance to develop creativity and independence.

Community & Service
Green Economy is a club focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. Service projects exist within the program, including service projects and service units for grades 9–10.

Leadership & Professional
Clubs promote independence and help pupils develop business and leadership skills. The program emphasizes collaboration and leadership through project-based club activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports clubs including Basketball, Football, Volleyball, and Yoga support physical fitness. Vocal and Dance clubs contribute to wellbeing and social engagement.
Languages

Language Provision
Language of instruction includes Kazakh, Russian and English. The language policy defines a trilingual education model with two language groups: Group 1 Language and Literature (Kazakh Language and Literature, Kazakh Literature, Russian Language and Literature, English Language and Literature) and Group 2 Language (Kazakh, Russian, English). In basic school, pupils are allocated to Kazakh- or Russian-language classes; by Senior School, most subjects are taught in English, with some exceptions for specific Kazakh/Russian language subjects.

Bilingual Teaching
The school implements trilingual education in Kazakh, Russian and English. Subjects are taught in Kazakh, Russian and English as part of the trilingual model. In the basic school pupils are allocated to Kazakh- or Russian-language classes, while in the Senior School most subjects are taught in English; English immersion increases each year. The school supports mother tongues and provides opportunities for extra language study through online platforms and language clubs.

Immersion Programs
English immersion is gradual, preparing students to study all subjects in English by Senior School. From year 7, Science and Social Studies are taught in the language of instruction and in English, with the number of English-taught subjects increasing each year. For students whose mother tongue is not Kazakh, Russian or English, online language tuition via Pamoja is available. Language clubs and related activities are organized for Kazakh, Russian and English.
Admissions

Admissions
The school conducts a competitive selection for admission to the seventh grade under the Orken educational grant. Documents are accepted from January 8 to February 11, 2025. Comprehensive testing will be conducted on March 27 and 28, 2025. The number of admitted students is determined by the Autonomous Education Organization (AEO) based on resources allocated for the school in that academic year. Applicants may be admitted to the Middle Years Programme year 2 based on the Aptitudinal and Language tests described in this document, with no additional filters beyond those test scores. Students in Grade 10 (MYP year 5) are eligible for admission to the Diploma Programme upon completion of their academic studies and the fulfillment of the School's Assessment Policy. Students enrolled in other Nazarbayev Intellectual School network schools are eligible to transfer to Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Astana, subject to place availability.

Scholarships
Orken educational grant funds education for 7th grade at Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. The grant is awarded through competitive selection by the AEO Board, and the number of grants depends on resources allocated for the school in the given year. Documents are accepted from January 8 to February 11, 2025. Comprehensive testing will be conducted on March 27 and 28, 2025. Eligibility for the grant is tied to participation in the competitive selection for education in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools.
School Events
The school has not added events
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