Life Sciences is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary area of sciences that aligns with priority science and technology needs for the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Ph.D. program can be compared in scope and structure to available programs in internationally leading academic institutions. The Ph.D. in Life Sciences will provide excellent instruction in core and elective subjects and will train modern high-quality life science experts which are in high demand for both existing as well as anticipated industries in Kazakhstan. The program’s research focus in combination with pedagogical training that is in compliance with the Graduate Programs Framework of Nazarbayev University (NU) has the potential to attract regional and international students to the program.

The Ph.D. program in Life Course Research fosters the study of life courses and the significant events that shape them from a holistic and transdisciplinary perspective. The program establishes an alliance among scholars from the biomedical, psychological, and socio-demographic fields. ​The PhD program in Life Course Research will train a new generation of highly skilled scholars relying on an evidence-based approach, with a strong emphasis on quantitative methods and data analysis.

During their graduate studies, our students participate in innovative and groundbreaking scientific research in one of the numerous fields of the life sciences, according to their choice. Graduate studies take place only within the research track, which requires submission of a thesis, and are contingent upon finding an advisor among the Institute's researchers.

How did such an amazing variety of living things evolve on Earth? What makes these bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals? How do living things differ from non-living things? Part of these questions forms the foundation of biology and life sciences. A research thesis in this area of study should provide answers to these questions.

The International PhD Program in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) combines expertise from many disciplines in the agro-environmental field aimed at training researchers, enabling them to carry out qualified scientific activities in the field of plant and animal production, considering also aspects of eco-sustainability, climate change and recovery of polluted and degraded areas in order to restore their agricultural cultivation capabilities.

The PhD in Food Safety and Biotechnology School of Biological Sciences provides PhD and MPhil (research degree) programmes in subjects ranging from basic biochemistry, molecular genetics and cancer research, to agricultural science, marine ecology and the economic evaluation of ecosystem services and food retailing. If you have a topic or research question in mind, please use the Find a Supervisor link (see Apply tab) to identify the most appropriate member of staff to support your idea.

This program aims to coordinate advanced learning activities PhD in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Productions, fostering scientific and cultural development through advanced research. It leverages existing collaborations with industry and leading national and international research institutions to develop new partnerships and promotes internationalization by involving foreign scholars and students in research and training activities.

Biomedical Engineering blends traditional engineering techniques with biological sciences and medicine to improve the quality of human health and life. The discipline focuses both on understanding complex living systems – via experimental and analytical techniques – and on development of devices, methods and algorithms that advance medical and biological knowledge while improving the effectiveness and delivery of clinical medicine.

The Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM) offers an international doctoral program for motivated and academically qualified next-generation researchers at one of Europe’s top Universities – the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich.

The curriculum for the PhD degree Program consists of the following:

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme by research in the fields of chemical and biomedical engineering. This PhD programme is hosted at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB).

PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology The Doctoral Study Program (DSP) Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is a combined study program aimed at three areas of education (Informatics; Biology, Ecology and the Environment; General Medicine and Dentistry). It is a multidisciplinary "doctoral degree" program between two universities. All subjects offered to students of this DSP are a combination of subjects focused on informatics - guaranteed by VŠB-TUO (50%), and subjects focused on biology and medical sciences - guaranteed by Palacky University in Olomouc (30% + 20%).

The Doctoral School has eight Ph.D. programs that encompass all the branches and interfaces of forestry and wildlife management sciences. Education and research at the Doctoral School are pursued in the basic and applied sciences, related to forests, wildlife, and nature. The knowledge and the degree gained at the Doctoral School are a good reference when applying for leading positions in higher education institutions, research institutes, forestry, wildlife management, and conservation.

The Ph.D. in Agrobiosciences is a three-year program that aims at educating highly competent researchers with an interdisciplinary background who will be able to face research frontiers in plant sciences. The program is structured in two curricula: i) Genomics and crop production and ii) Agriculture and environment, offering training in frontier topics of plant sciences, including molecular biology, plant genomics- cs and biotechnology, and environmental and agronomic sciences.

The PhD Programme in Agrobiodiversity is a four-year residential Course. It aims at the enhancement of human resource capacities in the utilisation and management of genetic variation in agricultural and natural systems, to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems and the conservation of genetic resources for the well-being of present and future generations.