Studying Medicine in Georgia
Three of the top seven scores in the route.doctor database are Georgian universities. WHO listed. ECFMG eligible. NMC India approved. No entrance exam. From €5,000 per year.
Georgia is not an EU member state
A Georgian medical degree does NOT give you EU practice rights under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. You cannot automatically practice medicine in France, Germany, Italy, or any other EU country with a Georgian degree. Georgian degrees are WHO listed, ECFMG eligible, GMC eligible (PLAB pathway), and NMC India approved. They open doors to the UK, US, India, and many other countries — but not to automatic EU practice rights. If EU practice rights are your goal, see our guides for EU member state universities.
View EU member state universitiesAt a Glance
Why Georgia
- Highest route.doctor score in entire database: SEU Georgia 4.75/5
- No entrance exam — admission based on qualifications only
- Among the lowest tuition in the database: €5,000–€7,000/year
- Extremely low cost of living — Tbilisi among the most affordable capitals
- Fully English curriculum
- Large established Indian student community
- WHO listed, ECFMG eligible, GMC eligible, NMC India approved
- Georgia is NOT an EU member state
- Georgian degrees do NOT give EU practice rights under Directive 2005/36/EC
- If you want to practice in France, Germany, or other EU countries — you need an EU member state degree
- For UK (PLAB), US (USMLE/ECFMG), India (NMC screening) — Georgia is a strong option
- For EU practice — look at Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic instead
Every English-taught programme
Ranked by route.doctor score
| University | City | Degrees | Score | Tuition/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgian National University SEU | Tbilisi | Medicine, Dentistry | 4.750 | €5,500 |
| European University Tbilisi | Tbilisi | Medicine, Dentistry | 4.480 | €6,000 |
| Caucasus International University | Tbilisi | Medicine | 4.330 | €5,000 |
| TSMU Tbilisi | Tbilisi | Medicine, Dentistry | 3.520 | €7,000 |
| Petre Shotadze TMA | Tbilisi | Medicine | 3.210 | €6,500 |
| Alte University | Tbilisi | Medicine | 3.180 | €6,000 |
| Kutaisi University | Kutaisi | Medicine | 3.174 | €5,000 |
| University of Georgia | Tbilisi | Medicine | 3.150 | €6,500 |
| Caucasus University | Tbilisi | Medicine | 3.100 | €5,500 |
Note: SEU Georgia (4.750), EU Tbilisi (4.480), and CIU Georgia (4.330) are three of the seven highest-scoring universities in the entire route.doctor database of 114 universities. There is a significant quality gap between these three and the remaining five Georgian universities. If applying to Georgia, the top three are strongly preferred.
SEU, EU Tbilisi, and CIU
Why they score so highly
Highest in entire database
Why it scores highest: SEU combines strong WHO and ECFMG recognition with very low tuition, no entrance exam requirement, accessible admissions, and strong student support infrastructure. WFME accreditation — required for ECFMG certification from 2023 — is confirmed. These factors combine to produce the highest overall score in our database.
Consideration: Not EU — no automatic EU practice rights.
Second highest in database
Why it scores second: Strong recognition profile, accessible admissions, low cost, and well-documented graduate outcomes. Large and established international student community. English infrastructure strong throughout.
Consideration: Not EU — no automatic EU practice rights.
Seventh highest in database
Why it scores well: Strong recognition at the lowest tuition of the top three. Accessible admissions. Good student support.
Consideration: Smaller university than SEU and EU Tbilisi. Not EU — no automatic EU practice rights.
What a Georgian degree opens
And what it does not
All 7 Georgian universities are GMC eligible. Graduates sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 to register with the GMC. Georgia is a significant source of IMG doctors in the UK NHS. Strong and well-documented pathway. Verify at gmc-uk.org.
All 7 universities are ECFMG eligible — IMED listed. WFME accreditation confirmed for top three universities (required for ECFMG from 2023). Graduates pursue USMLE Steps 1, 2, 3 for US residency pathway. Verify at ecfmg.org/imed.
Major Georgian universities are NMC India approved. NMC Screening Test (FMGE successor) required for Indian medical practice. Internship completion certificate required — verify whether your programme includes a formal internship. Verify at nmc.org.in.
Georgian degrees do NOT qualify for automatic recognition under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. Georgia is not an EU member state. Each EU country has its own recognition process for non-EU degrees. If EU practice is your goal: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic.
Cost of Studying in Georgia
| University | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Caucasus International University CIU | €5,000 |
| Georgian National University SEU | €5,500 |
| Caucasus University | €5,500 |
| European University Tbilisi | €6,000 |
| New Vision University | €6,000 |
| David Tvildiani AIETI | €6,500 |
| University of Georgia | €6,500 |
| Tbilisi State Medical University | €7,000 |
Total 6-year investment at SEU Georgia:
Compare: UK medical school total ~£250,000+
Compare: US medical school total ~$300,000+
Compare: Hungarian Debrecen total ~€131,000
| Category | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (private room) | €150–€250 |
| Food (self-catering) | €100–€150 |
| Transport | €15–€25 |
| Mobile and utilities | €30–€50 |
| Personal and social | €60–€100 |
| Total | €355–€575 |
Tbilisi is one of the most affordable capitals for medical students anywhere in the world. Cost of living is 40–60% lower than Eastern European capitals like Warsaw or Budapest.
Admission
Most Georgian medical universities do not require a written entrance examination. Admission is typically based on secondary school qualifications, an English language assessment or interview, and academic transcripts. This makes Georgia accessible to students who have not achieved the score needed for IMAT (Italian universities) or who want to avoid written entrance exam preparation.
Note: Applications are typically open year-round for September intake. Deadlines are more flexible than European university deadlines. Apply 3–4 months before your intended start date to allow time for visa processing.
Student Visa
Most nationalities can enter Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days — one of the most open visa policies in the world. Check current visa requirements for your specific nationality at geoconsul.gov.ge. Students from visa-free countries typically register locally after arrival rather than obtaining a student visa in advance.
Apply for a student visa at the Georgian consulate in your home country with your university acceptance letter and supporting documents. Processing is typically faster than European student visas.
All students register at the Public Service Hall (PSH) within 90 days of arrival. Obtain a residence card for the duration of studies.
Life in Tbilisi
Georgian script is unique — unlike any other alphabet. English is widely spoken at all medical universities and increasingly in Tbilisi's international areas. Russian is widely understood by older Georgians. No Georgian language knowledge required for study.
Georgia is safe and welcoming for international students. Tbilisi has a warm, hospitable culture. Crime rates are low. The city has transformed significantly over the past decade. Large Indian and international student communities are well established.
Private health insurance required for non-Georgian students. University-linked health services available. Medical care in Georgia is generally good quality and significantly less expensive than European healthcare.
Georgia has a rich and ancient culture distinct from both Europe and the Middle East. Georgian cuisine is exceptional — vegetarian options plentiful. Significant Indian restaurant scene in Tbilisi due to the large Indian student community.
Warm continental climate. Hot summers (30–35°C). Mild winters (0–5°C in Tbilisi). Mountain skiing accessible within 2 hours. Black Sea coast accessible within 4 hours by train.
Tbilisi has a metro, bus, and minibus network. Walking and taxi (Bolt very affordable) are the main student transport options. All universities are accessible from central Tbilisi. Budget flights to Istanbul, Dubai, and European cities.