School of Medicine

The Admissions Committee will consider two categories of applicants for conditional admission:

1) applicants recommended for admission by UMC Residency Admission Committee but the ultimate decision to admit these candidates is made by the Admissions Committee; and

2) applicants that qualify for unconditional admission but are not able to provide IFOM Basic Science Exam (BSE) or USMLE Step 1 test report due to circumstances of force majeure or other reasons proving this impossibility. In this case, the Admissions Committee is entitled to accept applicants’ documents for consideration without passing the tests. In doing so, the Admissions Committee develops and approves an effective selection process methodology and evaluation criteria and will consider such applicants on the conditional base. If such applicants are recommended for admission on the conditional base, they will provide IFOM Basic Science Exam (BSE) or USMLE Step 1 test report during the first calendar year of enrollment.

Applicants recommended for admission by UMC Residency Admission Committee to the Program for conditional admission are expected to have:

• MD or an equivalent terminal medical degree (highest level medical qualification which provides the eligibility to obtain registration or certification to practice as independent practitioner in the country), obtained in a recognized university according to the World Directory of Medical Schools. During the application period final year students may submit official current transcripts for consideration. An applicant may be enrolled based on evidence from graduating university that the applicant have completed the educational program and the applicant expects formal issuance of final transcript and/or diploma by certain date. In that case the decision on enrollment shall prescribe the period of time within which the applicant shall provide the necessary documents to the University;
• high level of motivation and strong interest in the Program outlined in the personal statement;
• 2 (two) confidential letters of recommendation;
• Recommendation letter from University Medical Center (UMC).

The following conditions will apply to applicants recommended by UMC Residency Admission Committee admitted under Conditional admission during the first year of enrollment:

1) provide IFOM Basic Science (BSE) or USMLE Step 1 test report; and/or

2) the required level of English proficiency

• An overall IELTS test score of 7.0 or higher (with no sub-scores less than 6.0 in each section), or the equivalent TOEFL score as posted on the ETS website.

The relevance of the academic and experiential background, and the equivalency and appropriateness of earlier degrees, will be determined by the Admissions Committee.

Applicants to the Program, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:

• MD or equivalent terminal medical degree was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication, academic instruction and daily life;
• MD or equivalent terminal medical degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English;
• the applicant is a graduate of Nazarbayev University.

Application package checklist for the Residency Program

1. Complete application form;
2. National ID or passport;
3. Letter of recommendation from UMC;
4. Official document confirming name change (if applicable);
5. MD or equivalent terminal medical diploma with transcript;
6. Two confidential letters of recommendation written within the last 12 months from academic or clinical referees preferably related to the specific residency program (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy) ;
7. Personal statement (up to 500 words);
8. 075у medical certificate (for Kazakhstani candidates) or a similar medical certificate with indication of general health or other document as requested by the University (for international candidates);
9. Document stating the presence or absence of a criminal record;
10. Consent for Applicant’s/Student’s personal data processing.