The Department of Physical Education and Basic Military Training is one of the faculty's core departments, training athletes in selected sports, physical education and basic military training teachers, and a new generation of competitive, modern instructors who provide high-quality education and conscious upbringing at a high level.

The department was founded in 1982 under the name "Sports Disciplines" to provide specialized education to students. A. Amirov was appointed head of the department. The department's faculty included PhD (Physics), Professor N. Mambetov, Doctor of Physics, Professor T. Botagariyev, and a graduate of the Kazakh Institute of Physical Culture, A.S. Aralbayev. The department was annually replenished with young specialists who graduated from specialized educational institutions. In particular, graduates of the Kazakh Institute of Physical Culture E. I. Bekbosynov (boxing), A. N. Shagirov (volleyball), A. Aizakov (gymnastics), a graduate of the Krasnodar Institute of Physical Culture E. K. Tolegenov (basketball). P. P. Glonin (basketball), a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports of Grozny University, S. Samigullin, M. V. Shinker (athletics), graduates of the Karaganda Institute of Physical Culture, as well as G. M. Utebalieva, V. Abakumov, V. Shevtsov, S. Kutsevolov, R. A. Kanatbaeva, who graduated with honors from the first year of physical education at the Gurevsky Pedagogical Institute, were retained as lecturers in the department.

The department is staffed by academic and teaching staff and highly qualified specialists. The faculty includes professors, associate professors, candidates of science, internationally recognized coaches, masters of sports, and masters of sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 2020, the department has been headed by Professor A.S. Aralbayev, candidate of pedagogical sciences.

Currently, the department implements educational programs at the bachelor's level: 6B01401 - Physical education teacher and coach in the selected sport, 6B01402 - Teacher of basic military and technological physical training, 6B01407 - Physical education and sports IP.

Over its 42-year history, the Department of Physical Education and Basic Military Training has made a significant contribution to the development and improvement of sports at the university, the region, and the republic, as well as to the educational process.

The department's faculty is systematically engaged in research. Their main areas of research include: improving the health of people with disabilities, implementing sports games in comprehensive schools using new innovative technologies, enhancing the interaction between physical education of pre-war youth and military-patriotic education, utilizing innovative technologies in school physical education classes, and training qualified specialists in physical education and basic military training.

In order to train qualified scientific specialists, the department has established close partnerships with universities in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Turkey, as well as with higher education institutions in the cities of Almaty, Karaganda, Turkestan, Aktau, Shymkent, Uralsk, Aktobe, and the National Scientific and Practical Center for Physical Education.

Through collaboration with specialized children's and youth schools in the regional Olympic reserve, department branches have been established to effectively organize students' professional internships and research work, and enhance their athletic skills.

The department's educational work is aimed at promoting national culture, spirit, art, sports, and national values, honoring the native language, and raising a conscious and honest generation. Traditionally, classes are held to commemorate the country's national holidays, and meetings with sports veterans and outstanding athletes are held. The lessons and knowledge these events impart to students and youth are of immense value.

Currently, 20 internationally recognized Masters of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, more than 35 Masters of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and approximately 200 Candidate Masters of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan are studying in the program. They work tirelessly to defend the honor of our country and the university and enhance its status in regional, national, and international sports competitions

From 1992 to 2025, student-athletes from the OP repeatedly became the best in competitions and glorified the country. In particular, among them: B. Temirov, five-time champion of the USSR, master of sports of international class, participant of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona; rowers, multiple winners of the championship of Kazakhstan, participants of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta; masters of sports of international class S. Sergeev, A. Safaryan, I. Gadiatullin, judoka, winner of the championship of Kazakhstan, winner of the World Cup, world champion among youth in sambo. R. Ibragimov, participant of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, master of sports of international class, taekwondoist, winner of the championship of Kazakhstan, winner of the Asian Games, bronze medalist of the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing, bronze medalist of the World Championship, master of sports of international class; A. Chilmanov, taekwondo athlete, champion of the Universiade among students of Kazakhstan, gold medalist of the Summer World Student Universiade, master of sports; G. Aitmukhanbetova, kickboxer, winner of the Kazakhstan championship, world champion, master of sports of international class; M. Aitkaliyev and others. The university team participated in the Summer Universiade among students of higher educational institutions of Kazakhstan, which is held every two years, and won prizes in several sports: athletics, sambo, judo, freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, futsal, basketball. Volleyball, table tennis, taekwondo, krate-do, boxing. At the XII Summer Universiade 2023 in Aktau, Atyrau University took 7th place in the overall team standings, winning 8 gold, 4 silver, and 19 bronze medals.

The university team participated in the Sports Universiade, held under the program of the Association of Universities of Caspian States with the participation of students from universities of Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Kazakhstan in 2000 in Astrakhan (ASTU, Russia), in 2002 in Atyrau (AING, Kazakhstan), in 2004 in Rasht (Gorgan, Iran), in 2010 in Makhachkala (Russia), and in 2018 in Atyrau (Kh. Dosmukhamedov Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan), and distinguished itself with victories in track and field, freestyle wrestling, sambo, judo, taekwondo, basketball, football, and chess. In 2018, our team took first place in the overall team standings of the 5th Universiade, organized by Atyrau University.

In 2024, the 6th Caspian Universiade, known as the "Caspian Games," was held in Astrakhan, Russia, among students from universities in the Caspian states. Over 600 athletes from 14 universities in five countries participated in ten sports (sambo, track and field, chess, checkers, volleyball, basketball, futsal, swimming, football, and basketball). Following the competition, Kh. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University took first place in the team standings in Basketball, Phygital Basketball, Sambo, Chess, Checkers, and Futsal; second place in Track and Field, Phygital Football, and Volleyball; and first place in the overall team standings among 14 universities and was awarded the special Caspian Games Cup.

In 2025, the XIII Summer Universiade was held at the International University of Tourism and Hospitality in Turkestan among students of higher and/or postgraduate educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by Order No. 88 of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated February 28, 2025. Among 79 higher education institutions, Universiade student-athletes achieved great success at the XIII Summer Universiade.

At the 13th Summer Universiade, the team won 5 gold, 4 silver, and 17 bronze medals, placing 11th in the university's overall team standings. The men's basketball team won the Universiade for the fourth consecutive time.

Despite the challenging team games, the men's football team demonstrated a high level of play and took 3rd place at the national level. This victory was a wonderful gift for our university's 85th anniversary.

The Department of Physical Education and Basic Military Training makes a significant contribution to the development of competitive specialists with theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as research qualifications in physical education and sports, and basic military training.