Who can take part in the competition for a scientific internship?

The applicant participating in the competition for the award of a scholarship in the category "scientist", in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Science" must meet the following requirements:

1. the presence of an academic degree of Doctor of Sciences, Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of profile, master's degree;
2. the experience of continuous actual work for the last 12 (twelve) months in the chosen field of specialization of scientific research in subjects of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities that are legal entities;
3. the presence of an unconditional invitation (with the exception of financial conditions) of a foreign organization included in the List, accepting an applicant for a scientific internship in accordance with the ongoing scientific research;
4. knowledge of the state and foreign languages at the level corresponding to the requirements established by the Working Body;
5. availability of scientific results (articles or reviews indexed in the international databases Web of Science, Scopus or in domestic or foreign scientific publications recommended by the authorized body exercising control functions in the field of education and science (hereinafter referred to as the authorized body) and (or) the international PCT application (Patent Cooperation Treaty)).
* Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who have not fulfilled contractual obligations to carry out continuous labor activity in the chosen direction of scientific research obtained as part of a scientific internship, as well as persons who have completed an internship under the Bolashak program and have not fulfilled contractual obligations to work out, are not allowed to participate in the competition for a scientific internship.

What documents do I need to submit to participate in the competition for a scientific internship?

To participate in the competition, the applicant must submit a full package of documents, which includes:

• completed questionnaire of the applicant for participation in the competition for scientific internship in the form approved by the Working Group;
• the employer's application for a scientific internship with the condition of retaining the place of work in the form approved by the Working Body;
• the originals and copies of the passport and identity card (the originals are returned to the applicant after verification);
• The original and a copy of the document on the availability of the academic degree of Doctor of Sciences, Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of profile, master (the originals are returned to the applicant after verification);
*In the case of studying in a foreign educational organization – a certificate of recognition of a document on education or another document on recognition of a document on education, taking into account the features established by paragraph 8 of Article 39 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Education";
• the program of scientific internship, compiled in accordance with the requirements established by the Working Body and approved by the employer, agreed by the foreign organization accepting the internship, included in the List;
• originals and copies of documents confirming employment, as well as an extract of the listed mandatory pension contributions for the period of employment required under these Rules (the originals are returned to the applicant after verification);
• the original and a copy of a valid official certificate of the established form of passing the exam in the state language with the result corresponding to the established minimum requirements (the originals are returned to the applicant after verification);
• the original and a copy of a valid official certificate of the established form of passing the exam in a foreign language with the result corresponding to the established minimum requirements (the originals are returned to the applicant after verification);
• a medical certificate (for traveling abroad) in the form 072/y;
• copies of documents confirming the unconditional invitation (except for financial conditions) of the applicant's foreign organization accepting the internship, indicating the scientific research being conducted, the timing, cost (with transcript of calculations) of the scientific internship with notarized translations into the state or Russian language;
• list of scientific results (articles or reviews indexed in the international databases Web of Science, Scopus and (or) in domestic or foreign scientific publications recommended by the authorized body and (or) the international PCT application (Patent Cooperation Treaty), approved by the employer;
• a copy of a valid official certificate of accreditation issued by an authorized body in the field of science
• a notarized power of attorney for a representative in case the applicant cannot personally submit the documents.

What work experience requirements should an applicant for a scientific internship meet ? Can an applicant apply for an internship if he does not work anywhere or is not officially on staff?

A mandatory requirement for an applicant for an internship is the experience of continuous actual work for the last 12 (twelve) months in the chosen field of specialization of scientific research in subjects of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities that are legal entities.

The specialty for the internship can be selected from the List of priority specialties.

According to the current rules, in order to confirm work experience, the applicant must submit to the competition an extract of the listed mandatory pension contributions for the last 12 (twelve) years of work, as well as other documents confirming work activity in accordance with Article 35 of the Labor Code. If the applicant does not have an official confirmation of the existence of continuous employment for the last 12 months, then he cannot take part in the competition.

In which organizations can I get a scientific internship?

The list of leading foreign organizations of higher and (or) postgraduate education, research centers and other organizations recommended for scientific internships is published on the website of the international scholarship "Bolashak". https://bolashak.gov.kz/ru/pretendentu-po-ns - click to view

What are the language requirements for applicants for a scientific internship?

To participate in the competition, the applicant must provide the following certificates:

1. The minimum level of knowledge of the state language for applicants for scientific internships is level B1 (intermediate level).

   The applicant for a scientific internship provides an official certificate of passing the exam in the state language (KAZTEST) with level B1 and higher, issued by the Republican State-owned enterprise "National Testing Center" of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or an official QAZAQ RESMI TEST certificate on passing the exam in the state language with level B1 and higher in the QAZAQ RESMI TEST online testing system, developed on the basis of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, indicating the applicant's ID number, the presence of a QR barcode to verify the authenticity of this certificate and information about the applicant's test results on the official website www.qrt.kz. - click to view

2. The required minimum level of knowledge of a foreign language for applicants for scientific internships:

   №	The language of the scientific internship*	The level of knowledge of a foreign language
   1.	English	IELTS: 5.0 out of 9.0 TOEFL: PBT 417 out of 677, ITP 417 out of 677, IBT 35 out of 120 DET from 80 and 160 IELTS Indicator 5.0
   2.	Chinese	HSK level 3 of 6
   3.	Korean	TOPIK (level 3)
   4.	German	Goethe-Zertifikat B1 OnSet B1 DSH 1 TestDaF (TDN 3)
   5.	Italian	CILS DUE B1 CELI 2
   6.	Spanish	DELE B1
   7.	Russian	Not required
   8.	French	TCF 300-399 DELF B1
   9.	Japanese	JLPT level N3
   10.	Turkish	Tömer B1

   
   

   Note:

   *If there is no language of scientific internship in this table, the level of knowledge of a foreign language must be confirmed by an official valid certificate of international standard with a level of at least B1 in accordance with the CEFR standard.

In what areas of scientific research can I do an internship?

Specialties for scientific internships are listed in the List of priority areas of scientific research for scientific internships, which can be found on the website https://bolashak.gov.kz/ru/pretendentu-po-ns/prioritetnye-napravleniya - click to view

Where and how to send documents for participation in the internship competition?

Acceptance of documents for participation in the competition for scientific internships is carried out on purpose at the office of the Center for International Programs.

Acceptance of documents for participation in the competition is made on purpose (in paper form) at JSC "Center for International Programs" at the address:

Astana, Syganak Street, 70, Syganak Business Center, 5th floor, 508 office.

In case of submission of documents by a third party - availability of the original notarized power of attorney from the applicant for a representative to submit documents for participation in the competitive selection;

Can an applicant, after completing a scientific internship, participate in the competition for the award of the Bolashak scholarship for Master's and/or doctoral programs and/or internships?

After completing a scientific internship and fulfilling all work-related obligations, the applicant can take part in the competition for the award of the Bolashak scholarship in master's, doctoral, residency and internship.

What is the duration of scientific internships:

The internship period is from 3 to 12 months.

How is the departure for an internship made out at the applicant's workplace?

According to the current Labor Code, in agreement with the employer, you can take a study leave or leave without pay. The period of study leave or leave without pay is counted in the length of service, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Can an applicant complete a scientific internship if he is currently studying for a doctorate/master's degree?

In the case of an applicant studying for a doctorate/master's degree, within the framework of the current rules, he can undergo a scientific internship if the following requirements are met:

1. the presence of an academic degree of Doctor of Sciences, Candidate of Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of profile, master's degree;
2. the experience of continuous actual work for the last 12 (twelve) months in the chosen field of specialization of scientific research in the subjects of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities that are legal entities;
3. the list of scientific results (articles or reviews indexed in the international databases Web of Science, Scopus and (or) in domestic or foreign scientific publications recommended by the authorized body) and (or) the international application Patent Corporation Treti (Patent Cooperation Treaty), approved by the employer;

But at the same time, a condition is imposed on the applicant for the mandatory submission of the employer's application for the direction of the applicant for an internship.

Can an applicant go for a scientific internship as part of a postdoctoral program?

An applicant can complete an internship if he is studying under the postdoctoral program, subject to the following requirements:

1. instructions in an unconditional invitation from a foreign organization of a specialty selected from the List of priority areas of scientific research for scientific internships.
2. the experience of continuous actual work for the last 12 (twelve) months in the chosen field of specialization of scientific research in the subjects of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities that are legal entities;

The applicant will also need to submit an application from the employer to send the applicant for an internship.

What kind of contract is concluded for a scientific internship? What documents do I need to provide to conclude a contract?

The winner of the competition, within 60 (sixty) calendar days from the date of making a decision on the appointment of a scientific internship by the Republican Commission, enters into an agreement on the passage of a scientific internship with the administrator in the standard form approved by the working body (hereinafter referred to as the agreement), which must contain:

1. subject of the contract;
2. rights and obligations of the parties;
3. method of ensuring the fulfillment of the obligations of the winner of the competition to reimburse the costs of scientific internships in cases stipulated by these rules;
4. terms and conditions of the scientific internship;
5. a requirement for the mandatory return of the winner of the competition to the Republic of Kazakhstan after completing a scientific internship abroad and the implementation of continuous labor activity for at least 3 (three) years, according to the application of which employer the winner of the competition was sent for a scientific internship;
6. requirement to suspend financing of expenses in case of non-fulfillment or improper performance of obligations by the winner of the competition;
7. requirement to release the winner of the competition from liability for non-performance or improper performance of their obligations as a result of the occurrence of force majeure circumstances;
8. requirement on the obligation of the employer to maintain the place of work (position);
9. the requirement to provide documents confirming the implementation of the scientific internship program must be included.

Is it necessary to pledge for the internship?

Pledge of real estate is not required. The scholarship holder is required to provide two guarantors. A guarantor can be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the age of 50 with a stable income for the last 12 months.

What are the requirements for guarantors? What documents should the guarantor provide to conclude the contract?

The guarantor may be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the age of 50 (fifty) years, who has a permanent income for the last 12 (twelve) calendar months, confirmed by employer certificates and documents confirming the payment of pension contributions (including an extract from the pension fund).

The guarantee agreement is concluded between the Center and the guarantor. This agreement is not registered, accordingly, there are no restrictions for the guarantor (for example, in obtaining a loan or if the loan is already available, and also does not affect the credit history of the guarantor). Persons who are on maternity leave or academic leave cannot be guarantors.

List of documents for concluding a guarantee agreement:

1. The identity document of the guarantor (notarized copy).
2. Certificate (certificates) from the place of work of the guarantor indicating the position, date of employment and income for the last 12 (twelve) calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement.

In the case of self-employed citizens acting as a guarantor: certificate of state registration as an individual entrepreneur (notarized copy); documents confirming receipt of income for the last 12 (twelve) calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement.

3. Documents confirming the payment of pension contributions (including an extract from the pension fund) for the last 12 (twelve) calendar months preceding the date of conclusion of the guarantee agreement.
4. A power of attorney to conclude a guarantee agreement if the guarantor cannot be present in Astana at the time of conclusion of the contract.

How many years and in which organizations will the scholarship holder need to work after completing the internship?

The scholarship holder, after completing a scientific internship abroad, carries out continuous work (working out) for at least 3 (three) years in the organization to which he was sent for an internship, according to the employer's application.

The change of the employer is carried out during the liquidation or reorganization of the employer.

The form of completion of the internship? What documents must be submitted at the end of the internship?

After completing the internship, the scholarship holder is obliged to do the following:

1. return to Kazakhstan for 3-year working out;
2. write an application to JSC "Center for International Programs" about the completion of the internship;
3. provide a copy of the passport with a note on entry into Kazakhstan;
4. within 1 (one) month, the final report is submitted, the form of which is approved by the working body. The final report on the scientific internship is approved by the employer and posted in open sources of information.

What can be included in the internship program?

The requirements for the internship program are specified in Annex 3 to the Order of the Acting Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 29, 2022 No. 161.

Where can I see the size of the scholarship for scientists?

The size of the scholarship within the framework of the scientific internship program in the context of countries and internship programs can be found in Appendix 4 to the Order of the Acting Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 29, 2022 No. 161.

Can an applicant submit documents with an invitation from organizations that are not included in the List of leading foreign organizations of higher and (or) postgraduate education, research centers and other organizations recommended for scientific internships for 2023?

Yes, you can. In case of absence of a foreign organization in the List, consideration of applicants' materials and making a decision on admission to participate in the competition on an individual basis are carried out by the working body (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

If you have a diploma of foreign education (with training in English), do I need to provide a certificate of knowledge of a foreign language?

The provision of an official certificate of the established form of passing the exam in a foreign language with a result that meets the established minimum requirements is a mandatory requirement.