Astana Hub, Alem.ai Foundation, and Yandex Qazaqstan have launched ML School Kazakhstan, an intensive two-year educational initiative designed to train elite specialists in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Up to 35 candidates will be selected for the inaugural cohort, and their tuition is fully subsidized.
Applications are open through October 8, 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their profiles early to ensure ample time for the technical screening.
Program Format and Location
Instruction takes place in-person at the Astana Hub tech park in Astana, supplemented by remote lectures and computational labs. The program spans two academic years divided into four rigorous semesters:
- Year 1: Foundations of Machine Learning — Advanced calculus, linear algebra, probability theory, mathematical statistics, Python algorithms, classic machine learning models, and deep neural network fundamentals.
- Year 2: Advanced AI & Specialization — Deep learning architectures, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Model (LLM) fine-tuning, Computer Vision (CV), reinforcement learning, and MLOps deployment pipelines.
The time commitment is estimated at 15–20 hours per week, including evening lectures, weekend seminars, and project-based homework assignments.
Mentorship and Industry Partners
Lecturers and teaching assistants include senior research scientists and ML engineers from Yandex Qazaqstan, leading tech firms, and academic institutions. Students gain access to industrial GPU compute clusters provided by partner clouds to train and evaluate complex models on real-world datasets.
Who Can Apply?
The program is aimed at STEM university undergraduates (3rd and 4th year), graduate students, software engineers, and quantitative analysts looking to transition into production-grade machine learning. Key prerequisites include:
- Solid foundation in higher mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, discrete math).
- Proficiency in Python programming and standard data structures.
- Ability to read technical documentation and research papers in English.
Selection Stages
- Online Application: Submit academic and professional background details via the official Astana Hub platform.
- Online Technical Test: Timed examination covering algorithmic problem solving and mathematical foundations.
- Technical Interview: One-on-one session with ML practitioners focusing on problem-solving logic and motivation.
Upon graduation, participants receive verified industry certifications and direct recruitment access to leading AI labs, fintech giants, and enterprise software companies across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
