This is a new and unique universities’ cooperation model for the country. Unlike a branch of a foreign university, the Top-Up program involves preparation for the first two years of undergraduate studies at an accredited partner university, followed by a transfer to the main university. Students enrolled in this program spend 2 years at the International School of Economics M.S. Narikbaev KAZGUU University and 2 years at SolBridge International School of Business, Woosong University and upon completion receive a SolBridge diploma.

The two-year study program at KAZGUU is accredited by SolBridge and includes 110 ECTS or 22 courses taught in English by KAZGUU faculty. These are courses such as Business Communications, Business Ethics, Organizational Behavior, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, ICT, Calculus, Introduction to Economics, Statistics, English and Korean as well as other KAZGUU elective courses. ISE KAZGUU faculty members are graduates of doctoral and master’s programs from leading international universities, Nazarbayev University and KIMEP, Bolashak scholarship holders, holders of prestigious ACCA, CFA, FRM, CIPD and HRCI professional certificates.

Upon successful completion of two years of study with a GPA 2.5/4 and IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) students of the program continue their studies at SolBridge, where they can choose one of the following five concentrations: Finance, Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship, Data Analytics, Technology and Innovation, or complete a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program without a concentration.

Located in Korea’s Silicon Valley Daejeon, SolBridge prepares students to be the Next Generation of Asian Thought Leaders in the fast growing and rapidly changing Asian economy. SolBridge offers fully English-taught programs accredited by the most prestigious accreditation for business school – AACSB. With 80% of the faculty being foreign professors with degrees from prestigious universities, SolBridge offers an international multicultural environment and practice-oriented modern business education.

Tuition fees:

– KAZGUU: 19 900 tenge for 1 ECTS * 110 ECTS = 2 189 000 tenge for the full study period ;
– SolBridge: 10 000 USD per year + 1 500 USD university fees; accommodation cost in Daejeon – from 5000 USD per year.

ECTS cost is indicated according to the rate of the 2021/22 academic year, in 2022/23 a slight increase in the cost is possible

Students with high academic performance when transferring from KAZGUU to SolBridge will be provided with a scholarship – a tuition fee discount varying from 30% to 80%. A minimum scholarship (30%) is provided to students with IELTS 6.0. and GPA 2.5-2.99 (out of 4.0). Maximum (80%) – with IELTS 8.0. and GPA 3.8-4.0 (out of 4.0). The scholarship is provided for a semester and can be extended for subsequent semesters by students with a GPA of 3.6 out of 4.5 and above.

When enrolling to the Top-Up program, the UNT is not required. However, English proficiency level not lower than IELTS 5.5 (KAZGUU English Placement Test – KEPT is also acceptable, minimum score 55) and the entrance exam in mathematics (secondary school mathematics course) and an interview with the admissions committee are required.

The following documents are required to transfer to SolBridge:

(i) Application Form
(ii) Passport copy
(iii) English proficiency certificate (TOEFL or IELTS or TOEIC or DUOLINGO TEST)
(iv) Official Transcripts of courses from first two years, with official stamps of KAZGUU
(v) A Bank Letter with a minimum balance of US$20,000 and other necessary financial proof
(vi) Letter of recommendation
(vii) 500-word Essay on the topic “My Strengths and Weaknesses”.

In case of any questions, please contact ISE KAZGUU Vice Dean for Undergraduate Studies Aizhan Toktabayeva: a_toktabayeva@kazguu.kz