Astana IT University

What Astana IT University does

Astana IT University LLP is a private higher education institution headquartered at 55/11 Mangilik El Avenue, EXPO Business Center, Block C1, Astana, Kazakhstan, founded in 2019 under License No. KZ26LAA00015835. The university operates through seven academic schools — Intelligent Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity (established September 2025), Creative Industries, General Education Disciplines, and Digital Public Administration — delivering bachelor's (typically accelerated three-year programs), master's, doctoral, and college (two-year associate) credentials. It serves domestic Kazakhstani applicants and a growing cohort of international students, with all programs taught in English to support cross-border recruitment through initiatives such as the Study in Kazakhstan exhibition in Jakarta and the Sunway University (Malaysia) cooperation agreement.

The educational platform integrates modern learning infrastructure including a Distance University system (DU), Moodle, and specialized facilities such as five cybersecurity laboratories (tLab Anti-APT, OT/ICS Security Lab operating on Fortinet MSSP Global, HackCity Cyberpolygon, SOC Analytics Lab, and Smart Connectivity Lab for 5G/IoT simulation). The curriculum foregrounds AI capabilities across modalities — text, structured data, image, video, audio, and multimodal — through dedicated programs including Applied AI, Applied Data Analytics, AI Business, AI in Media, and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, anchored by a flagship collaboration with the MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society that delivers an annual MIT BootCamp (most recently led by Professor Munther A. Dahleh at AI Summer School 2026) and the 12-week Responsible AI and Data Science program.

Revenue is generated primarily through two streams: tuition from self-paying students and per-seat funding from Kazakhstan's national educational grant competition, with admissions flowing through the university's proprietary AITU Excellence Test (AET) platform that allows each applicant two attempts. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the institutional website, the AET platform, social channels (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Telegram), and events such as AI Summer School, Astana AI Week 2026, and AITU Hackday. The university remains privately held with no disclosed external ownership or venture funding.

Name

Astana IT University

Legal name

Astana IT University LLP

Website

https://astanait.edu.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Astana IT University is a private Kazakhstani higher education institution founded in 2019, operating seven academic schools that deliver English-taught bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and college programs in IT, AI, cybersecurity, and digital media to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / IT and Science Academic Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• Higher education
• IT academic programs
• Cybersecurity training
• Artificial intelligence education
• Software engineering degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Astana

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees from degree programs (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, College). Programs are offered in English with practical hands-on training. Government educational grants are also available through the AITU Excellence Test.
2. Government Educational Grants: The university participates in Kazakhstan's educational grant competition system, where students can compete for government-funded places based on AITU Excellence Test scores.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Astana IT University is a private higher education institution in Kazakhstan that delivers English-taught bachelor's, master's, PhD, and college programs across seven specialized schools covering AI and data science, software engineering, cybersecurity, media technologies, creative industries, intelligent systems, and digital public administration. The university sells tuition-based academic degrees and professional training, supplemented by government-funded educational grants awarded through its proprietary AITU Excellence Test (AET). Teaching is supported by specialized cybersecurity labs (OT/ICS, Anti-APT, cyberpolygon, SOC, smart connectivity), an AI curriculum spanning ML, NLP, computer vision, and generative AI, and international partnerships including MIT IDSS.

Product overview

Astana IT University is a higher education institution in Kazakhstan offering a comprehensive portfolio of IT and technology-focused academic programs across seven schools. The university's product offering is organized as a multi-school structure: School of Intelligent Systems (IoT, electronics, nuclear tech), School of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (AI, data science, computational sciences), School of Software Engineering (software development), School of Cybersecurity (cybersecurity, established 2025), School of Creative Industries (IT management, media, journalism, AI business), School of General Education Disciplines (language, soft skills), and School of Digital Public Administration. Programs span bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels across disciplines including AI Business, Digital Business and AI Technologies, Media Technologies, Digital Journalism, IT Management/Entrepreneurship, Industrial IoT, Electronic Engineering, Smart Technologies, and Nuclear Power Digitalization. The university integrates AI capabilities throughout its curriculum with programs covering machine learning, NLP, computer vision, generative AI, predictive analytics, and process automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AITU Store: Online store for Astana IT University merchandise and materials

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programs Accelerated 3-year English-taught undergraduate degree programs covering software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, media technologies, IT management, IT entrepreneurship, digital journalism, electronic engineering, industrial IoT, smart technologies, AI business, and digital technologies in nuclear power engineering. Hands-on practice from year one with real IT projects, global networking with international partners, certification academies, and industry experts. Target: high-school graduates seeking accelerated IT degrees.
• Master's Degree Programs Two-year English-taught master's programs in Computer Science and Engineering, Media Technologies, Computational Sciences, Applied AI, Applied Data Analytics, Digital Business and AI Technologies, and Secure Software Engineering. Emphasizes advanced specialization, integration of science and industry through applied projects, international collaboration, and preparation of next-generation experts. Target: professionals pursuing graduate-level specialization.
• PhD Programs Doctoral-level research programs in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence covering fundamental and applied research, publications, academic mobility, and integration into the global scientific community. Target: prospective researchers and academic leaders.
• College Programs Two-year English-friendly College programs in Software Engineering (06130100) and Computer Engineering and Information Networks (06120100), providing early entry into digital careers with practical skills and modern tools, plus a seamless pathway to continue studies toward a bachelor's degree at AITU. Target: high-school graduates seeking vocational credentials.
• School of Intelligent Systems One of AITU's seven academic schools delivering programs in telecommunications, IoT, electronics, microprocessor engineering, automated control systems, robotics, Industrial Internet of Things, Electronic Engineering, Smart Technologies, and Digital Technologies in Nuclear Power Engineering. Faculty includes 49-50 teachers including one non-resident associate professor from Italy.
• School of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Academic school offering AI and data science education including bachelor's in Computer Science, Big Data Analysis, Mathematical and Computational Science; master's in Computational Sciences, Applied AI, and Applied Data Analytics; and the Artificial Intelligence PhD program (8D06103).
• School of Software Engineering Academic school offering software development education including Software Engineering bachelor's, Computer Science and Engineering master's, and Computer Science doctoral programs, supported by hackathons (AITU Hackday: Time for Industry 4.0) and Chief ACM Trainer-led competitive programming.
• School of Cybersecurity Academic school established September 2025 offering Cybersecurity and Smart Security Technologies bachelor's and Secure Software Engineering master's programs. Features five specialized labs: tLab Anti-APT (behavioral analysis of APT attacks), OT/ICS Security Lab (built on Fortinet MSSP Global), HackCity Cyberpolygon (cyber-physical attack simulation), SOC Analytics Lab (Tier 1-2 SOC training), and Smart Connectivity Lab (5G/NG-RAN, IoT, edge computing, Smart City).
• School of Creative Industries Academic school for the creative economy and media professionals offering IT Management, IT Entrepreneurship, AI Business, Media Technologies bachelor's; Media Technologies and Digital Business and AI Technologies master's; with Digital Journalism program ranked Top 10 by Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. All programs hold NAAR/IAAR international accreditation until 2030.
• School of General Education Disciplines Academic school providing general education across AITU, including language training (English, Chinese, Korean, German) using CLIL methodology, soft skills, socio-political studies, management psychology, and physical education.
• School of Digital Public Administration Academic school offering the Digital Public Administration bachelor's program, integrating modern approaches to public administration, digital governance, and public-sector digital transformation. Launched for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• AI Business Bachelor's Program (6B04103) Three-year bachelor's program combining AI principles with business management, covering machine learning, data analysis, business analytics, generative AI, NLP, predictive analytics, recommendation systems, anomaly detection, and process automation. Target: high-school graduates seeking AI-business hybrid skills.
• Digital Business and AI Technologies Master's Program (7M04105) Two-year master's program in Digital Business and AI Technologies covering digital business management, data analysis, machine learning, AI for business applications, blockchain integration, AI ethics, cybersecurity, and multimodal AI. Includes passing professional certification from Astana HUB. Leads to Master of Economics.
• Media Technologies Master's Program (7M06107) Master's program in Media Technologies covering development of complex technical and media solutions, specialized software, project management for media projects, AI in Media, and advanced visualization.
• Digital Journalism Bachelor's Program (6B03201) Three-year bachelor's program training digital media specialists for creating, analyzing, and promoting multimedia content. Combines journalism fundamentals with programming, web technologies, data analytics, and visualization. Ranked Top 10 by Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.
• Media Technologies Bachelor's Program (6B06105) Bachelor's program in digital media technologies, audiovisual production, and multimedia content development covering computer graphics, image processing, computer vision, VR/AR, video processing, audio electronics, sound design, and HCI.
• IT Entrepreneurship Bachelor's Program (6B04102) Bachelor's program combining IT and entrepreneurship skills covering leadership, personnel management, motivation, decision-making, IT project management, and software developer management.
• IT Management Bachelor's Program (6B04101) Bachelor's program training IT managers for business strategy implementation, product development management, IT process organization, and innovative IT product management.
• Digital Technologies in Nuclear Power Engineering Bachelor's Program (6B07103) Bachelor's program in nuclear energy digitalization covering nuclear reactor physics, radiation technologies, digital control systems, SCADA systems, digital twins, MCNP/SCALE modeling, and cybersecurity for nuclear facilities.
• Smart Technologies Bachelor's Program (6B06202) Bachelor's program covering AI, machine learning, IoT, Smart City infrastructure, Smart Home technologies, and security in smart systems, preparing telecommunications engineers for innovative knowledge-intensive sectors.
• Electronic Engineering Bachelor's Program (6B07102) Bachelor's program in electronic engineering covering digital and analog electronics, microprocessors, circuit design, signal processing, embedded systems, microcontrollers, and robotics.
• Industrial Internet of Things Bachelor's Program (6B07101) Bachelor's program in industrial IoT covering sensor-based data collection, signal processing, secure data transmission, data algorithms, visualization, feedback systems, and cyber-physical modeling for manufacturing.
• Artificial Intelligence PhD Program (8D06103) Doctoral program (PhD) in Artificial Intelligence covering fundamental and applied research in AI, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, NLP, formal methods, and AI applications across disciplines.
• Applied Data Analytics Master's Program (7M06103) Master's program in applied data analytics covering statistics, mathematics, computer science, and business, preparing data analysts, data scientists, big data engineers, and consultants.
• Applied Artificial Intelligence Master's Program (7M06108) Master's program in applied AI covering machine learning, deep neural networks, data processing, computer vision, NLP, multi-agent systems, cognitive technologies, advanced ML, and generative algorithms.
• AITU Excellence Test (AET) Proprietary two-attempt entrance examination system used for participation in AITU's educational grant competition, with threshold scores varying by program (e.g., 75 for Digital Journalism, 85 for Smart Technologies, 100 for Media Technologies). Target: prospective applicants seeking admission and grant funding.
• Academic Mobility Programs Academic mobility programs enabling AITU students to study abroad at partner universities including MIT IDSS and Sunway University (Malaysia), with representation at Study in Kazakhstan international exhibitions. Target: AITU students seeking international academic exposure.
• Cybersecurity Laboratory Services Hands-on training infrastructure comprising five specialized labs: tLab Anti-APT (behavioral analysis of APT attacks using kill chain and MITRE ATT&CK), OT/ICS Security Lab on Fortinet MSSP Global (industrial system security), HackCity Cyberpolygon (cyber-physical attack simulation on urban infrastructure), SOC Analytics Lab (Tier 1-2 SOC analytics training), and Smart Connectivity Lab (5G/NG-RAN, IoT, edge computing, Smart City network simulation). Target: AITU cybersecurity students and researchers.
• AI Summer School Annual intensive 5-day program covering Generative AI, Agentic AI, Multi-Agent Systems, AI Governance, and AI applications in Education, Healthcare, Business, and Project Management, including the MIT BootCamp led by MIT IDSS faculty. Target: students, researchers, and practitioners seeking condensed AI upskilling.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,846 graduates in 2026; 199 College graduates in 2025-2026 academic year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• HAQ MedHubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Non-profit infrastructure initiative for medical AI in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, officially launched at Astana Hub on July 8, 2026. Astana IT University participates in this initiative which aims to advance medical artificial intelligence infrastructure in the region.
• MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (MIT IDSS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing academic collaboration delivering AI and Data Science programs. Professor Munther A. Dahleh from MIT led the MIT BootCamp at AI Summer School 2026. The 12-week AI and Data Science: Leveraging Responsible AI program equips students with tools and techniques for leading in a data-first era.
• Sunway University (Malaysia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrengthening international cooperation with one of Malaysia's leading private universities. Visit by Prof. Sibrandes Poppema (President and Vice-Chancellor) and Mr. Marcel Bandur (Director of Internationalisation) to explore academic collaboration opportunities. Sunway University is renowned for high-quality education and commitment to sustainable development.
• Fund Nursultan Nazarbayev FoundationcoreOthersSponsorship of AITU Hackday: Time for Industry 4.0 hackathon (June 25-26, 2026). The fund supports the hackathon organized by the Department of Science and Innovation together with the Scientific Research Center Industry 4.0.
• Fortinet MSSP GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationOT/ICS Security Lab operates on the Fortinet MSSP Global platform, providing training in cybersecurity of industrial systems through modeling of IT/OT convergence, zoning, and monitoring with emphasis on safety, security, and availability balance.
• ArmetaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking meeting at Astana IT University on July 1, 2026 discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in innovation, artificial intelligence, commercialization of scientific research, and support for technology entrepreneurship.
• Astana HUBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstana HUB hosts Astana AI Week 2026 and provides professional certification opportunities for university students. The university works with Astana HUB for student certification as part of master's programs (e.g., Digital Business and AI Technologies includes passing professional certification from Astana HUB).
• Alem.ai International Center for Artificial IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Astana AI Week 2026, the premier AI event of the year bringing together science, technology, business, and government in Astana.
• Atameken National Chamber of EntrepreneurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Kazakhstan's national business association. The Digital Journalism program is ranked Top 10 by this body. Media programs include internships and guest lectures from Atameken Business (MEDIA HOLDING), and the university is supported by the national chamber for industry engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Nazarbayev University: English-language research university in Astana, Kazakhstan, offering STEM-focused bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs with international faculty. Most direct comparable given shared city, English instruction, research orientation, and target student segments.
• KBTU (Kazakh-British Technical University): Major Kazakhstani private technical university with strong IT, engineering, and business programs. Comparable because it competes for the same domestic STEM students and grant funding in Kazakhstan's private higher education market.
• International Information Technology University (IITU): Almaty-based IT-focused university offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in computer science, cybersecurity, and digital media. Closest head-to-head competitor for IT talent in Kazakhstan with overlapping program portfolio.

Emerging players

• Innopolis University: Russian IT-specialist university in Tatarstan focused on software engineering, AI, and robotics with English-taught programs. Comparable as an emerging, internationally oriented IT-first university targeting similar student profiles outside the post-Soviet space.
• ITMO University: St. Petersburg-based research university with strong IT, AI, and photonics programs and growing international student intake. Comparable for its STEM specialization, English-language master's programs, and emphasis on industry partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Satbayev University: Kazakhstan's leading technical university focused on engineering, applied sciences, and IT. Competes for STEM students and grant funding with stronger tenure in traditional engineering disciplines; AITU's digital focus differentiates it.
• al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU): Kazakhstan's largest and oldest university, offering a comprehensive range of programs including STEM. Competes for the same government grant pool and top students, but operates as a broad multi-disciplinary incumbent rather than an IT specialist.

Others

• Coursera: Global online degree and credential platform partnering with universities worldwide. Comparable because AITU's distance-learning infrastructure (DU system, Moodle) and English-taught programs compete for the same international student audience seeking flexible credentials.
• EPAM Training Center / EPAM Systems: Large IT services firm operating training centers and university partnerships across CIS. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player shaping IT skill demand and competing for the same graduates in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Regional players

• Astana IT University College (Sdu/Astana Polytechnic competitors): Other Kazakhstani college-level IT programs (e.g. under Turan University, Suleyman Demirel University) that feed into the bachelor's market. Comparable as adjacent regional players in the Kazakhstani IT education pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xt.me/astana_it_university_official
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AstanaITUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astana-it-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/astana_it_university/?hl=ru
• TikToktiktok.com/@astana_it_university
• Facebookfacebook.com/astanaituniversity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Astana IT University