KBTU: strengths and weaknesses

The Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) placed third in the overall university ranking. Student and alumni reviews describe it as a university with strong faculty, relevant programs, and high-quality education.

Strengths of KBTU:

• Quality of education: KBTU instructors are described as competent, and many have practical experience in their fields. The university offers dual-degree programs. KBTU ranked first for applied-course quality and third for foundational disciplines.
• University brand: The university has a strong reputation. Students note the absence of corruption and a robust plagiarism-detection system.
• Good opportunities for personal development: Students mention the ability to choose courses, join student organizations, conduct research, and receive scholarships.

Weaknesses of KBTU:

• Administrative issues: Many students report difficulties interacting with the university administration, criticizing slow processes, bureaucracy, and communication problems.
• Quality of some instructors: Although most faculty members are highly qualified, some are criticized for dull lectures or a lack of practical experience.
• Tuition cost: Some students consider the university expensive. Retakes are also reported to be costly.
• Infrastructure issues: The academic building is not entirely suited to the university's needs, and the dormitories are far from campus. KBTU ranked fifth for dormitory quality.
• Timetable and workload: Some students consider the schedule poorly planned. Undergraduate classes may be set on Sundays or weekday evenings from 18:00 to 22:00, and the timetable can include inconvenient gaps lasting several hours.