UNI STUDENT
Choosing to study in Georgia gives international students access to English-taught university programmes in a country located between Europe and Asia.
Georgian universities offer programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, business, computer science, engineering and the social sciences. The country uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, known as ECTS, and its higher education system includes bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Georgia’s location also makes it accessible to students from the UAE and other Gulf countries, with direct flights available from Dubai to Tbilisi and other Georgian cities.
However, students should carefully check the authorisation of the university, accreditation of the programme and recognition of the qualification in the country where they intend to work. This is particularly important for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and engineering.
UNI Student can help you compare universities and courses, understand the admission requirements, prepare your documents and plan the visa and residence process.
Georgia offers several potential advantages to international students:
English-taught university programmes.
Courses in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and business.
Use of the European ECTS credit system.
Public and private university options.
Convenient travel links with the UAE and Gulf region.
Different tuition fee and accommodation options.
A formal admission route for eligible international students who have not taken Georgia’s national examinations.
A culture influenced by both Europe and Asia.
International academic cooperation and exchange programmes.
Student destinations including Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi.
Georgia’s higher education system has three main levels: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study. Institutions use ECTS credits to measure academic workload.
Most bachelor’s programmes consist of 240 ECTS credits and normally take four years.
Certain programmes in business, administration and art may consist of 180 credits. Other 180-credit programmes may be available through qualifying joint arrangements with recognised foreign institutions.
Most master’s programmes consist of 120 ECTS credits and normally take two years. Some programmes may have a different structure where permitted by the applicable education regulations.
Doctoral programmes generally take between three and five years. Applicants normally need a master’s degree or equivalent qualification, a research proposal and a suitable academic supervisor.
Medicine is normally delivered as a 360-ECTS single-cycle programme lasting six years. Graduates receive a Medical Doctor qualification considered academically equivalent to a master’s degree within the Georgian education system.
Dentistry is generally a 300-ECTS single-cycle programme lasting five years and leading to a Dentist qualification.
Accreditation in Georgia does not automatically guarantee professional recognition overseas. Graduates may still need degree equivalency, licensing examinations and supervised professional training.
Georgia has three main categories of higher education institutions.
A university may offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes and conduct academic research.
A teaching university provides bachelor’s and master’s programmes but does not normally offer doctoral degrees under the Georgian institutional classification.
These institutions focus primarily on first-cycle higher education, including bachelor’s programmes.
The use of the word “university” in marketing materials does not by itself confirm that an institution is officially authorised to award every type of degree. Students must verify its legal status.
The National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement — NCEQE is responsible for quality assurance in Georgian education.
Institutional authorisation is required for a higher education provider to operate and award qualifications recognised by the Georgian state.
Before enrolling, students should confirm:
The NCEQE provides an electronic record containing institutional authorisation history, accreditation decisions and validity dates.
Requirements differ between institutions and courses.
Several Georgian universities offer English-taught programmes for international students. Applicants may need to demonstrate approximately B2-level English or an equivalent standard.
An institution may accept:
Accepted qualifications and minimum scores vary. Students should obtain written confirmation from the university.
They should also confirm through official accreditation information that the registered teaching language of the programme is English.
Certain foreign citizens who completed their previous education outside Georgia may be allowed to enter an accredited programme without taking the Georgian Unified National Examinations.
This does not mean that admission is automatic or that no government procedure is required.
The process may include:
A university or authorised representative may coordinate parts of the process, but the student should receive copies of the official recognition and enrolment decisions.
The NCEQE verifies the authenticity of foreign education documents and evaluates whether the qualification or learning outcomes are compatible with the Georgian education system.
The process may require:
Some recognition services can be requested electronically through Georgia’s government services portal.
The application process generally includes:
Choose a degree and field of study.
Compare authorised Georgian universities.
Check the accreditation of the programme.
Review academic and English requirements.
Check professional recognition in your destination country.
Prepare certificates and translations.
Apply to the university.
Complete an interview or language assessment if required.
Receive preliminary university approval.
Complete qualification recognition and official enrolment procedures.
Pay the required fees.
Obtain the acceptance letter and enrolment decision.
Apply for a D3 study visa where required.
Travel to Georgia and complete registration.
Apply for a study residence permit where applicable.
Students should not pay the full tuition fee before checking the university’s status, programme accreditation and refund policy in the event of a visa or qualification-recognition problem.
There is no single tuition fee for international students. Costs depend on the university, subject, degree level and teaching language.
Medicine and dentistry are generally more expensive than business, social science and some computing or engineering programmes.
These figures are examples from one institution and are not official national fee ranges. Other universities may charge lower or higher amounts.
Living costs depend on the city, accommodation and lifestyle. Tbilisi is generally more expensive than several smaller Georgian cities.
As examples published by one Georgian public university, certain accommodation options may cost approximately USD 200–400 per month, while a basic meal plan may cost around USD 120 per month.
These are indicative examples and do not represent every student or city. Students should also prepare an arrival budget for deposits, translations, insurance and residence procedures.
Popular programmes among international students include:
A course should be selected based on accreditation, recognition, curriculum and practical training—not only tuition fees or ease of admission.
Medicine is one of the most popular courses among international students in Georgia because several universities offer English-taught programmes.
Before choosing a medical school, students should verify:
A listing in an international directory does not by itself guarantee professional licensing. The final decision belongs to the relevant authority in the country where the graduate intends to practise.
Tbilisi is the capital and Georgia’s largest university city. It has a broad selection of universities, hospitals, transportation and student services. Accommodation may be more expensive than in other Georgian cities.
Batumi is a coastal city with programmes in medicine, business and tourism. Accommodation costs may rise during the tourist season, so students should review rental terms carefully.
Kutaisi provides a smaller and quieter environment than Tbilisi. It has higher education institutions and an international airport serving several destinations.
Higher education institutions also operate in cities such as Gori, Telavi and Zugdidi. Living costs may be lower, but students should evaluate accommodation, transportation, training facilities and English-language services.
Some scholarships and tuition discounts are available, but they are not guaranteed and do not cover every university or nationality.
Opportunities may include:
Some universities advertise competitive tuition waivers covering a percentage of fees. Students should check the official conditions, value and renewal criteria.
Georgia’s long-term study visa is known as the D3 immigration visa. It is issued to individuals travelling to study or conduct research at an authorised educational institution or participate in an international education programme.
Required documents may include:
Applications are registered through GeoConsul, and the student may need to attend the relevant embassy or consulate in person.
Georgia’s electronic visa is designed for short visits and should not automatically be treated as an alternative to a D3 visa for long-term study.
UAE citizens can currently enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to one full year under the published rules.
Certain UAE residents may also enter without applying for a visa if their UAE residence status and passport are valid on both the entry and departure dates. Additional conditions and exceptions may apply depending on nationality and the remaining validity of the UAE residence permit.
Visa-free entry does not automatically guarantee eligibility for a Georgian study residence permit. Entry rules and residence permit rules are different, and certain types of entry based on residence in a third country may not qualify as a basis for a study residence permit.
Students should send copies of their passport, UAE residence details and university admission letter to the Georgian Embassy in the UAE and request written confirmation on whether a D3 visa is required.
A study residence permit is issued to students attending an authorised educational institution in Georgia.
Official requirements normally include:
The application must be submitted at least 40 calendar days before the applicant’s lawful stay expires.
Published processing fees are:
After approval, the student must obtain a residence card and register an address under the applicable procedures.
A study residence permit does not automatically provide permission to work. New labour migration rules took effect in Georgia from 1 March 2026. Under these rules, a foreign national carrying out paid work or self-employment may need to obtain the right to work and meet the appropriate visa or residence conditions, unless a legal exemption applies.
A student who receives a job offer may need:
There is no general published rule automatically allowing every study residence permit holder to work for a fixed number of hours. Students should not begin employment or self-employment before receiving confirmation from the State Employment Support Agency and the Public Service Development Agency.
Georgia does not provide an automatic general post-study visa allowing every graduate to remain in the country to look for work. A graduate who obtains employment may need the official right to work and a qualifying work residence permit or D1 immigration visa.
Students should begin planning before their study residence status expires and must not remain or work after losing lawful status.
International students should hold medical insurance covering their study period. Insurance may also be required for the visa or university registration.
Accommodation options include:
Recognition of Georgian Qualifications:
Students should check academic and professional recognition in the country where they plan to work before enrolling. They may need to contact:
Start planning your journey to study in Georgia by speaking with a UNI Student adviser about programmes that match your qualifications, budget and professional plans.
Yes. Georgian universities offer English-taught programmes in medicine, dentistry, business, computer science, engineering and other subjects.
Eligible students who completed their previous education abroad may be admitted without the national examination after completing qualification recognition and the required official approval procedures.
A medical programme generally takes six years and consists of 360 ECTS credits.
Most bachelor’s programmes take four years and consist of 240 ECTS credits. Limited exceptions apply to certain programmes.
Fees vary by university and programme. In one published university example, selected English-taught bachelor’s programmes cost approximately USD 4,000–5,000 per year, while medicine costs around USD 6,500 and dentistry around USD 6,000.
The Georgian state recognises qualifications issued by duly authorised institutions through appropriately accredited programmes. Recognition in another country must be verified separately.
This depends on nationality, passport and UAE residence validity. A student may still need a D3 visa for residence purposes even if short-term visa-free entry is available.
A study residence permit does not automatically grant work rights. Since March 2026, paid employment and self-employment by foreign nationals have been subject to right-to-work and immigration requirements.
There is no automatic general post-study route for all graduates. A graduate who wants to work must meet the requirements for the right to work and the appropriate immigration or residence status.
Some universities offer merit awards and partial tuition waivers. Exchange and research funding may also be available, depending on the institution and academic year.
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