Kazakhstan took first place among Central Asian and Caucasus countries in terms of the number of universities included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. Five Kazakh universities made the list, with Nazarbayev University entering the global top 500 for the first time.

According to the ranking, Nazarbayev University rose to positions 401–500, the best result ever achieved by a Kazakhstani university. The second most significant achievement was Al-Farabi Kazakh National University maintaining its position in the 1201–1500 range. Also featured in the ranking were L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satbayev University, and the Kazakh Research and Agrarian University.

Across Central Asia and the Caucasus, a record 17 universities from five countries entered the ranking, with Kazakhstan being the most represented.

For comparison, Uzbekistan had four universities on the list this year, including the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, which entered the top 600 for the first time. Azerbaijan doubled its presence to four universities, while Georgia was represented by three institutions.