University students at KIMEP (Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research) in Almaty and KazNUA (Kazakh National University of Arts named after Kulyash Baiseitova) in Astana have expressed dissatisfaction with the significant rise in tuition fees.
According to Kursiv.media, KIMEP students report that tuition fees have increased by nearly 15% starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. They believe the quality of educational services does not match the new cost.
"Aside from the situation itself being unpleasant, according to the tuition contract, the price cannot be raised by more than 10% per year. Currently, four years of study cost 21,328,230 tenge, whereas last year the amount was 18,963,000 tenge," one student said.
After students posted complaints on social media, representatives of KIMEP stated that the fee revision was approved by the university's budget committee, which comprises 11 members, including four students with voting rights.
"The decision was unanimously supported by all participants, including the students," the university's statement reads.
However, some students question the transparency of this process. According to them, a meeting with the university president, Chan Young Bang, did not yield specific answers, and proposals to use the university's reserves instead of increasing fees were ignored.
"The president’s main argument was that the university is going through a time of crisis. He said that with this level of inflation, prices need to be raised to remain competitive," the students claim.
Similar complaints are being made by students at KazNUA, also known as the Shabyt Palace of Creativity. According to their information, tuition fees have increased by 70%, and students were informed of this only after the academic term had begun.
"When we transferred to the university, we were presented with the sudden fee increase as a fait accompli, under the pretext of inflation and the 'renovated' Shabyt building. But may I ask where this renovation is? Lectures were held in corridors because there weren’t enough classrooms. Lifts were breaking down; there was an actual case of one falling. We had to purchase and learn the programmes, software and tools for our studies ourselves, without any support," wrote one female student.
Incidentally, a video later circulated on social media showing water pouring from the ceiling in one of the university's buildings.