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We selected three programs at IITU. UNT subjects: Mathematics + Computer Science. The minimum UNT score to apply for a grant is 80.

• DATA SCIENCE (6B06112)

The program focuses on data science. Core courses: Intro to Python; Python for Data Analysis; Machine Learning; Intro to Data Science; Data Science: Advanced; Deep Learning; Nonlinear Extremal Problems.

• COMPUTER SCIENCE (6B06101)

The program places greater emphasis on practical IT development. Core courses: Programming Languages and Technologies; Compiler Development (1, 2); Programming with PL/SQL; Data Science and Machine Learning (1, 2, 3); SAS Programming (1); Data Science of Health Informatics (1, 2); Data Mining (1, 2); Functional Programming in Scala (1, 2).

• BIG DATA ANALYTICS (6B06103)

The program places greater emphasis on data analysis and business analytics. Core courses: OOP; Operating Systems; Design Patterns; Introduction to Python and Data Processing and Analysis Libraries; Big Data Collection and Storage; AWS Cloud Fundamentals; AWS Solution Architecture; Programming in PL/SQL (Oracle).

Tuition information: Programs in the B057 Information Technology group cost 5,510,000 tenge in total over four years. Annual tuition varies by year of study: year 1 — 1,280,000 tenge; year 2 — 1,340,000 tenge; year 3 — 1,410,000 tenge; year 4 — 1,480,000 tenge.

The International Information Technology University (IITU) ranked sixth in most categories of the overall DSML KZ ranking. The survey showed that the university has both strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths of IITU:

• Practical focus: Although IITU ranks sixth for the quality of applied courses, some students highly value the relevance of the technologies taught and the program's practical orientation.
• Young and active faculty: Many reviews emphasize that the university employs young specialists, which may contribute to a deeper understanding of current trends and innovations.

Weaknesses of IITU:

• Infrastructure: Reviews mention the university's small building and lack of parking. Several respondents also complain about the campus and the absence of a dormitory. IITU ranks last for dormitory quality as well.
• Organizational issues: Several reviews point to problems with administration and the dean's office. Some students also mention delays in scholarship payments.
• Limited academic freedom and some outdated courses: Students note that their ability to choose courses is limited.

We selected two programs at KazNU:

• COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND STATISTICS (6B05404), Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics.

UNT subjects: Mathematics + Physics. The threshold UNT score is 90 for a grant and 80 for paid admission.

The program focuses on applied mathematics and data science. Core courses: Algorithmization and Programming; Algorithms and Data Structures; Introduction to Quantum Computing; Introduction to Machine Learning; Discrete Mathematics; Introduction to Functional Data Analysis; Mathematical Analysis (1, 2); OOP; Machine Learning.

• COMPUTER SCIENCE (6B06102), Faculty of Information Technology.

UNT subjects: Mathematics + Computer Science. The threshold UNT score is 85 for a grant and 75 for paid admission.

The program places greater emphasis on practical IT development. Core courses: Algorithms and Data Structures; Computer Systems Architecture; Parallel Computing Systems Architecture; Databases; Discrete Mathematics; Imperative Programming; Computer Networks and Security; Computational Methods; Computer Vision; Algorithm Design and Analysis.

Tuition information: At KazNU, one credit cost 16,667 tenge in the 2022–2023 academic year. Annual bachelor's tuition for citizens of Kazakhstan in the programs above is 1 million tenge. The price is higher for foreign citizens from neighboring countries:

• 1,500,000 tenge per year for Russian- and Kazakh-language programs
• 1,700,000 tenge per year for the English-language program.

We decided to begin our university overview with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Last year, the university was not included in the DSML KZ university ranking because there were not enough reviews.

Based on last year's anonymous survey, the following strengths of KazNU stand out:

• The university campus, once known as the legendary KazGUgrad, can rightfully be called the largest and most scenic in Almaty.
• The university has begun offering students opportunities to take part in conferences and internships abroad.

The corresponding weaknesses are:

• Students point to old-fashioned approaches to teaching some subjects, which may reduce their relevance and effectiveness.
• There is a need for more practical training; the curriculum may be too focused on theory.