Undergraduate Programme

SAS offers Bachelor’s degree programmes across four majors at two residential campuses. The Naryn campus offers four-year programmes, entering students directly into the first year of their degree. The Khorog campus offers five-year programmes that begin with a Preparatory Year, including English, mathematics and science courses, designed to build the foundational skills that allow students to succeed in a rigorous, English-language academic environment to international standards. Programmes at both campuses have been developed in partnership with world-class institutions: the University of Toronto (Computer Science), the University of British Columbia (Earth and Environmental Sciences), the National Research University Higher School of Economics and the Stockholm School of Economics (Global Economics), and the University of Technology Sydney (Communications and Media).

Our Students

UCA is committed to attracting the most talented individuals from its founding states and beyond, with merit-based admissions and a strong focus on academic integrity and critical thinking.

• 80% of students come from the Founding States
• 72% from rural backgrounds
• 60% female, 40% male
• 376 graduates awarded Bachelor's degrees across four majors

UCA graduates have been admitted – several on full scholarships – to internationally recognised universities including Brown University, Oxford, Brown, Duke, the University of Michigan, University of Toronto, Simon Fraser University and the National University of Singapore.

UCA’s unique approach to learning combines:

• A broad-based liberal arts and sciences education that builds critical thinking, and analytical and technical skills across disciplines;
• An undergraduate curriculum designed in partnership with top tier global universities in growing industry fields;
• Hands-on learning provides theoretical and practical knowledge that can be applied to real-world issues; and
• high-quality English-language education, inside and outside of the classroom.

The Bachelor’s Programme at UCA aims to:

• Become a model of excellence and academic quality and integrity throughout Central Asia;
• Develop independent thinking, critical analysis and ethical judgment that prepare graduates for responsible citizenship in their countries, the region, and the world;
• Create generalists who understand major issues, debates, and methods of inquiry in the humanities, social sciences, science and technology, and the challenges facing Central Asia and its neighbours;
• Ensure that graduates are equal to the world’s best in areas of concentration (majors) that the programmes offer;
• Enable graduates to both fill and create jobs in Central Asia and beyond – whether in the public or private sector; and
• Prepare graduates for advanced study and research at the best institutions around the world.

Undergraduate Majors

UCA’s five-year undergraduate programme begins with a Preparatory Programme that includes English, mathematics, and science courses designed to build foundational skills and knowledge that allows students to succeed in a rigorous, English-language academic environment with international standards.  

Your UCA Academic Pathway

At UCA, students have an opportunity to graduate with any of the four chosen majors. The language of instruction for undergraduate programmes is exclusively English. You can attend any of the University's two residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, or Khorog, Tajikistan, depending on the major you select. Through UCA’s Co-operative Education Programme, you will also have the opportunity to gain work experience through internships with leading companies.

In cases of exceptional academic and extra-curricular achievements, students may be eligible and recommended by the Selection Committee for direct enrolment to the Freshman year, provided they pass a pre-calculus test after admission.

Academic Partners

As part of UCA’s structured five-year undergraduate programme, students complete an intensive, cross-disciplinary preparatory programme year, with liberal arts and prerequisite courses developed in partnership with Seneca College in Toronto, Canada.

UCA’s curriculum is developed in partnership with:

• University of Toronto, Canada (Computer Science)
• University of British Columbia, Canada (Earth and Environmental Sciences)
• National Research University’s Higher School of Economics, Moscow; Stockholm School of Economics/Riga, Latvia (Global Economics)
• University of Technology Sydney, Australia (Communications and Media)
• University of Victoria, Canada (Co-operative Education programme)

Research Opportunities

Students benefit from unprecedented access to research experts, facilities, and data from UCA's established research institutes and learning centres. These complement their academic programmes and provide them with unique learning and research opportunities; joint publications with leading scholars; preparation for graduate work; exposure to leading scholars from around the world; the use of scientific methods across disciplines; and knowledge creation.

Co-operative Education Programme

UCA's Co-operative Education Programme is a work-integrated learning programme where students apply in-class learning to real-life professional experiences within their field of study across private, public, and community-based sectors. It offers paid and unpaid internships and prepares students for both academic and career success beyond the university’s walls. UCA's Co-op Programme has been developed in partnership with the University of Victoria, Canada.

The programme is mandatory for UCA undergraduate students. It is an innovative immersion initiative that creates opportunities for students to experience the working world, domestically and internationally, via structured job placements in three consecutive summers during their five-year university education. Learning takes place throughout the process, from seeking employment, to learning valuable interpersonal skills and on the job training, as well as participating in field studies and jointly conducting student development evaluations. Learn more about the programme.

National Accreditations and Licenses

• Accreditation in the Kyrgyz Republic
• Accreditation in the Republic of Tajikistan - in Tajik, in Russian and English

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