Studying medicine in Georgia: what to check
Simple admission and affordable fees, but variable quality: the checklist of points to verify before choosing a medical university in Georgia.
By Worldwide Studies team, Worldwide Studies teamPublished 5 min read
In just a few years, Georgia has become a popular destination for studying medicine in English: accessible admission, affordable fees, a low cost of living, and Tbilisi and Batumi host thousands of international students. But quality varies greatly from one university to another, and the recognition of the degree must be checked carefully. Here is what you need to know about medicine in Georgia and, above all, what to check before enrolling.
Why Georgia attracts students
Medicine programmes in English (6-year Medical Doctor-type programme).
Simple admission: application file, English test or interview, with no selective national entrance exam.
Affordable tuition fees, generally around a few thousand dollars per year.
Low cost of living and a welcoming country.
Fast procedure, with intakes often in autumn and sometimes in spring.
The best-known universities
Among the institutions that host the most international medical students: Tbilisi State Medical University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, David Tvildiani Medical University, as well as private universities in Tbilisi and Batumi. The number of institutions has grown considerably: that is precisely why you need to be demanding.
What to check before enrolling
1. Authorisation and accreditation
The university must be authorised by the Georgian national body in charge of education quality.
The English-taught medicine programme itself must be accredited (not just the university).
Check that the university is listed in the international directories of medical schools.
2. Clinical placements
Which hospitals does the university have agreements with?
Do placements take place in real university hospitals, with genuine patient contact?
Patients speak Georgian: does the university teach the language for placements?
3. Teaching staff and student numbers
Number of students per year group and per group.
Proportion of permanent teaching staff qualified to teach in English.
Results of former students in recognition exams in other countries.
4. Recognition in Tunisia
This is the decisive question if you want to practise in Tunisia: find out about the equivalence requirements that apply to medical degrees obtained in Georgia (length, placements, any additional exams) before you enrol. See Equivalence of the Tunisian diploma abroad.
5. Financial conditions
Are tuition fees guaranteed for the whole programme, or can they be revised each year?
Additional costs (exams, placements, registration, accommodation)?
Refund policy if you leave?
Admission
The usual steps:
Application file: baccalaureate and transcripts, passport, language certificate if you have one.
English test or interview organised by the university.
Recognition of your baccalaureate by the Georgian authorities (a mandatory procedure for foreign students, often handled with the university).
Admission letter and enrolment.
Entry into Georgia and student residence permit, under the rules applicable to Tunisian nationals.
Timing: allow a few weeks for the recognition of the baccalaureate and admission. Check the entry requirements that apply to your passport before booking.
Living in Georgia
Tbilisi: a lively capital, home to most of the universities.
Batumi: a coastal city on the Black Sea, with several private universities.
Cost of living generally under €600 per month excluding tuition fees, depending on accommodation.
A large international student community.
Compare before deciding
Georgia can be a good choice, provided you choose the university well. Compare with:
Romania (European degree, programmes sometimes in French);
Russia (medical tradition, practical constraints).
Questions to ask the university before paying
Before paying any deposit, ask in writing for:
The accreditation number and date of the English-taught medicine programme.
The list of hospitals where clinical placements take place, and the number of students per placement group.
The number of international students admitted to the programme each year.
The number of hours of Georgian classes planned for placements.
The total fees over the 6 years, and whether an increase is possible.
The refund conditions if you drop out or are refused a visa.
The results of former students in recognition exams in other countries, if the university publishes them.
A serious university answers these questions clearly. Vague answers are a warning sign.
Typical timeline
Spring: choosing universities, the checks above, preparing documents.
Spring – summer: application, English test or interview.
Summer: recognition of the baccalaureate by the Georgian authorities, admission letter.
End of summer: travel, enrolment, residence permit, accommodation.
Some universities also offer a spring intake.
Documents to prepare
baccalaureate transcripts and diploma, translated and legalised or apostilled;
valid passport;
passport photos;
English certificate if you have one;
medical certificate as required.
Budget for the whole programme
To compare fairly with other countries, calculate the total cost over 6 years:
annual tuition fees × 6;
accommodation and daily life × 6;
return plane tickets each year;
health insurance, residence permit, translations;
any equivalence exams on your return.
A programme that is cheaper on paper can become more expensive if the equivalence on your return requires years of additional placements or exams. That is why recognition must be checked before enrolling.
Who is Georgia a good choice for?
For a motivated baccalaureate holder with a limited budget, who has carefully checked the university's accreditation and the conditions for recognition of the degree in the country where they want to practise, and who is ready to learn the local language for placements.
How we support you
Worldwide Studies helps you check universities' accreditation and placement conditions, compare options according to your budget and prepare your admission. We will advise you against a university if the necessary guarantees are not in place.
👉 Talk to an advisor to compare medical universities in Georgia and elsewhere.