Creative Entrance Examinations
Applying to Astana IT University is a clear and structured process. Follow the steps below to begin your journey in tech.
Admission Requirements
School and college graduates applying for creative-oriented educational programs (Educational Program: Digital Journalism).
Dates:
June 20 – August 11 — applications for creative exams are accepted in two streams:
– June 20 – July 7 — application period for participation in the state educational grant competition;
– June 20 – August 11 — application period for admission on a paid basis.
July 7 – August 14 — creative exams will be held offline at Astana IT University (EXPO, Pavilion C1) in two streams:
– July 7–10 — creative exams for applicants participating in the state educational grant competition;
– August 12–14 — creative exams for applicants applying on a paid basis.
June 20 – August 11 — applications for creative exams are accepted in two streams:
– June 20 – July 7 — application period for participation in the state educational grant competition;
– June 20 – August 11 — application period for admission on a paid basis.
July 7 – August 14 — creative exams will be held offline at Astana IT University (EXPO, Pavilion C1) in two streams:
– July 7–10 — creative exams for applicants participating in the state educational grant competition;
– August 12–14 — creative exams for applicants applying on a paid basis.
Admission process
First creative exam
An essay on a given topic is a written presentation in free prose form and composition, expressing individual opinions, impressions, and reflections.
The style of writing may be literary or journalistic. The language must comply with the lexical, morphological, and syntactic norms of the school curriculum. The main requirement for the essay is to fully address the given topic.
Sample Essay Topics:
● The History of Journalism Development in the World and Kazakhstan
● Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Journalism
● Best Practices in Journalism Development Worldwide and the Future of Journalism
● Environmental Issues in Journalism
● Kazakhstan’s National Identity in the Era of Globalization
● Professional Ethics of a Journalist
● Media Consumption Trends Among Kazakhstan’s Youth
● The Media Market of Kazakhstan
● Digital Transformation of Traditional Journalism
● Corruption and Academic Integrity
● The History of Journalism Development in the World and Kazakhstan
● Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Journalism
● Best Practices in Journalism Development Worldwide and the Future of Journalism
● Environmental Issues in Journalism
● Kazakhstan’s National Identity in the Era of Globalization
● Professional Ethics of a Journalist
● Media Consumption Trends Among Kazakhstan’s Youth
● The Media Market of Kazakhstan
● Digital Transformation of Traditional Journalism
● Corruption and Academic Integrity
The essay topic for each applicant will be determined by a random draw (using a randomizer) before the start of the first creative examination. The topics listed above are sample topics and are intended to familiarize applicants with the thematic scope of the creative assignment.
During the examination, each applicant will automatically receive 1 out of 10 individual topics through a randomizer. The examination topics will be similar in theme to the sample topics but will be more specific and focused, reflecting current trends in the development of journalism and society.
Assessment Criteria for the First Creative Examination:
- ability to раскрыть the topic, content quality, and analytical thinking – 15 points;
- structure and compositional completeness – 15 points;
- language and writing style, expressiveness, and literacy – 20 points.
Total essay length – 400–500 words
Essay writing time – 3 hours
Applicants take the first creative examination in a computer-based format. Essays are checked for plagiarism and for content generated using artificial intelligence.
During the examination, each applicant will automatically receive 1 out of 10 individual topics through a randomizer. The examination topics will be similar in theme to the sample topics but will be more specific and focused, reflecting current trends in the development of journalism and society.
Assessment Criteria for the First Creative Examination:
- ability to раскрыть the topic, content quality, and analytical thinking – 15 points;
- structure and compositional completeness – 15 points;
- language and writing style, expressiveness, and literacy – 20 points.
Total essay length – 400–500 words
Essay writing time – 3 hours
Applicants take the first creative examination in a computer-based format. Essays are checked for plagiarism and for content generated using artificial intelligence.
Second Creative Examination
The second creative examination is conducted orally in the form of an interview to assess professional aptitude.
The applicant is asked questions by the members of the commission in Kazakh, Russian, and English on topics related to the applicant’s future profession, achievements, and experience gained during studies at school/college, as well as to assess speech and diction.
During the interview, applicants are required to individually present their portfolio, which may include (if available): certificates, diplomas, awards, articles previously published in the media (screenshots/newspaper and magazine clippings/clickable links), social media blogs, video projects, commercials, short films, and other forms of original media content, as well as any other materials at the applicant’s discretion that demonstrate their professional suitability for admission to the educational program group “B042 – Journalism and Reporting.”
Portfolio presentation is mandatory. Schematic and graphic materials are accepted in both electronic and printed formats. Presentations, links to videos (YouTube, Google Drive), and publications in social media must be sent no later than one day before the examination to the following email address: Bogdan.petrov@astanait.edu.kz.
Portfolio presentation is mandatory. Schematic and graphic materials are accepted in both electronic and printed formats. Presentations, links to videos (YouTube, Google Drive), and publications in social media must be sent no later than one day before the examination to the following email address: Bogdan.petrov@astanait.edu.kz.
Assessment Criteria for the Second Creative Examination:
- quality of the submitted portfolio (relevance of the presented documents and works to the field of journalism, originality and creativity, structure and logic of presentation, quality, visualization, and technical execution) – 15 points;
- applicant’s general knowledge and awareness (knowledge of the socio-political life of the country, the system of government, priority areas of Kazakhstan’s domestic and foreign policy), understanding of media activities (general knowledge of media portals and mass media), and awareness of the future profession – 15 points;
- ability to express thoughts clearly, richness of speech, and general culture – 10 points;
- public speaking skills and diction – 10 points.
The portfolio presentation lasts 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions from the members of the commission.
- quality of the submitted portfolio (relevance of the presented documents and works to the field of journalism, originality and creativity, structure and logic of presentation, quality, visualization, and technical execution) – 15 points;
- applicant’s general knowledge and awareness (knowledge of the socio-political life of the country, the system of government, priority areas of Kazakhstan’s domestic and foreign policy), understanding of media activities (general knowledge of media portals and mass media), and awareness of the future profession – 15 points;
- ability to express thoughts clearly, richness of speech, and general culture – 10 points;
- public speaking skills and diction – 10 points.
The portfolio presentation lasts 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions from the members of the commission.
Submission of Creative Examination Results to the NTC
On the day the creative examination is completed, the Admissions Committee submits the results of the applicants’ creative examinations to the information system of the National Testing Center of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participation in the competition for the award of higher education grants funded by the republican and local budgets and (or) for admission to AITU on a tuition-paying basis.
On the day the creative examination is completed, the Admissions Committee submits the results of the applicants’ creative examinations to the information system of the National Testing Center of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participation in the competition for the award of higher education grants funded by the republican and local budgets and (or) for admission to AITU on a tuition-paying basis.