Why study a Bachelor or Master in Georgia

Study in Georgia

Many students head to study in Georgia, especially those who want to experience a deeply rich experience and explore some exciting areas. Georgia is a unique place to be as it is able to successfully balance relationships between Russia and the European Union so studying there will truly be a unique experience too. Read on to explore why you should study in Georgia and how much tuition typically costs students there. 

Why should you study in Georgia? 

Here are some reasons why international students choose to study in Georgia: 

• Low cost of living, when compared with neighbouring countries.
• Reasonable tuition fees, even for international students
• Low accommodation costs so you won’t break the bank when looking for somewhere to live while studying there
• Full of international students studying there. There are more than 50,000 students from around the globe studying in the country, so you’ll never feel left out or alone! 
• Easy admission process, with the letter of acceptance, sometimes being handed in within days.
• Reasonable requirements to study there. For example, no TOEFL or IELTS scores are required in some universities. 

How much does it cost?

If you want to study in Georgia, you can expect to pay around 1250 dollars per semester, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, a benefit is that international students don’t need to pay the tuition and accommodation fee in advance. You can pay for four months at a time and then extend as time goes on, so you don’t need to feel pressured to pay a lot of money at once!

Living in Georgia

Costs of living in Georgia are reasonable when compared with other countries. That is a reason why many international students decide to head there to pursue their international studies. This section talks about the various costs of living, like housing costs and other costs that you’ll need to take into consideration when deciding whether Georgia is the ideal study destination for you. 

Accommodation

Several types of accommodations are available for international students and with varying costs. Here are some examples of the different accommodation types you can find in the Georgian cities: 

• Private rental: The most expensive option is the private rentals option, but it’s the most suitable for those who need a high level of privacy. The average private accommodation costs from 200 to 600 dollars a month, depending on the location of the apartment, the size and the services offered along with it. 
• Homestay: Another cheap option for international students is the homestay option. This means you’ll stay with a Georgian family and rent a private room. You’ll share in some roles and responsibilities like cooking and cleaning and receive home-cooked meals and a warm family atmosphere. You can expect to pay from 70 to 100 USD a month for this accommodation option.
• Shared apartment rental: Many students choose to share apartments together. For example, they rent a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment and share rent, bills and other responsibilities. It can also be an excellent option for socialisation or getting to know other international students. The rent of an apartment can range from 300 to 600 USD and can be divided among the students living there. 

 

Other costs of living

Other costs of living to take into consideration are costs like groceries, which can cost about 150 dollars per month. Like water, electricity, and heating, utilities will also cost the average student around 80 dollars per month. The best form of transportation for students who study in Georgia is by taxi, as they are very cheap, with costs for a ride ranging from 2 to 4 dollars. Students can also expect to pay around 11 dollars for internet per month.

Universities in Georgia

If you want to study in Georgia, there are several good universities you should apply to, whether for your undergraduate or graduate degree program. This section talks about the degree types available and also the top-ranked universities in the country that are worth looking into. 

Degrees available

In Georgia, there are more than 60 universities that are recognised. However, private universities that are accredited are more numerous in number. Higher education institutions are divided into universities and teaching universities. These institutions offer degrees like bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and PhD programs. Colleges, on the other hand, only offer bachelor’s degrees and higher professional education degrees. 

Top-ranked universities

The best universities in Georgia to look into as international students are the following universities: 

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Location: Tbilisi, Kutaisi

The top-ranked university in Georgia is Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Founded in the year 1918, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is a public university located in the capital of Georgia. It also has a branch in the city of Kutaisi. The university is accredited by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement in Georgia. It is considered a big university with around 30,000 students attending it. It offers many bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in many subject areas in its schools. 

Ilia State University

Location: Tbilisi 

The second-best university in Georgia is Ilia State University, which was founded in 2006. It is also located in Tbilisi. It has around 20,000 students attending the university and is also a public university. It offers degree programs for bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels in many areas of study and has many amazing facilities for students studying there. Examples of these facilities and services are a library, sports facilities, financial support and study abroad programs. 

Georgian Technical University

Location: Tbilisi 

Also located in Tbilisi, the third highest-ranked university in Georgia is the Georgian Technical University. Established in the year 1922, it has around 20,000 students attending the institution and is a non-profit public university. As well as regular bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs, it also offers higher educational degrees like pre-bachelor degrees. Examples of these are specialised certificates, diplomas, associate degrees or foundation courses for bachelor’s degrees.  

The University of Georgia

Location: Tbilisi, Batumi 

Another highly ranked university is the University of Georgia. Unlike the others, this is a private university that was established in the year 2004. There’s also a branch of this university in the city of Batumi. It’s a small university with around 1,500 students studying there. It offers many degree programs in many fields, both in the undergraduate and graduate areas. 

Examples of other universities

Other good universities to consider when applying to study in Georgia are the International Black Sea University, the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. They are worth researching when deciding which university in Georgia to join. 

Student Visa - Georgia

When it comes to studying in Georgia, you’ll need a study visa like in any other study destination. However, before applying for one, you should make sure that you need one. Read on to find out if you need a study visa and how to apply for one if you do. 

Visa Eligibility 

If you come from the EU, the EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada or the US, and several other countries, you can stay in Georgia without a visa for up to a year. Chinese and Indian nationals may also enter for up to a month if they are within a one-hundred and twenty-day time period. In the case of the previously mentioned countries, you can go to Georgia and then later apply for a residency permit if you need to stay for longer than a year.  If you aren’t pertaining to any of these nationalities, then you’ll need a study visa. 

 

Visa Process 

If you need a visa, the process is pretty standard and straightforward. You’ll head to your Georgian embassy or consulate in your country and then apply for a Category D3 visa (study visa). To get your visa, you’ll need to go to the embassy in person, as online applications won’t be enough. You’ll need to pay 25 dollars for the cost of the visa but the requirements are pretty straightforward. The visa will stay valid for ninety days from your arrival date to study in Georgia. 

 

Requirements 

The required documents for the Georgian student visa are the following documents: 

• Proof of acceptance into the Georgian University you will study at
• Letter of enrollment to the university
• Proof that you are financially able to support yourself, through evidence like bank statements or receipts from the previous 6 months
• Evidence of your scholarship (if applicable) 
• Proof you have paid your tuition fees for the universities
• Previous diploma, whether high school or undergraduate 
• Previous transcripts for any past academic levels achieved 

How to apply - Georgia

When applying to a university in Georgia, the process is pretty simple. Read on to learn what documents you’ll need to submit and to find out more about the application process, in general, to study in Georgia. 

Required Documents 

After selecting a degree program and university to study at, there are several documents you’ll need to hand in to prove that you are eligible. Universities generally request these documents to consider you for undergraduate or postgraduate programs: 

• Online application form, filled out and signed by you 
• Learning agreement with a list of chosen courses
• Photocopy of a valid passport or identification document 
• Passport size photos 
• Previous transcript of records
• Previous diplomas from school/ university 

 

For most Georgian universities, international students will need to have an interview done to prove their level of English proficiency. Only a handful of universities require an IELTS or TOEFL certificate to allow you to study an English degree program. In addition to the interview, you’ll only need to hand in a paper from your school or university stating that your English understanding and speaking level is sufficient. 

Language of instruction

Most Georgian universities or high institutions use Georgian as a primary language of instruction for degree programs. However, there are many universities that also offer courses in English or Russian. These degree programs are designed with international students in mind to draw them in. However, most universities have preparatory courses for students to learn the Georgian language to get them up to date before taking their first year of courses.

Application Steps 

Application steps to apply to universities in Georgia are simple. You’ll just need to do the following: 

• Research the different programs and where they are taught
• Pick the program and university you want to study in
• Contact the admission office and apply to the program. 
• Reach out to the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement.
• Apply for a study visa and get accepted
• Arrive in the country to enrol in your program and start your studies

Scholarship in Georgia

If you’re looking for financial aid, there are many opportunities to gain assistance to study in Georgia. There are scholarship opportunities through government scholarships, private funds and college scholarships. This section gives you an idea about a few good scholarships to apply to when studying in Georgia. 

Fulbright Scholarships

The Fulbright Scholarship program is well known around the world and offers the best students’ financial aid. If you know exactly what you want to study, it’s worth applying to it. In order to be eligible, you’ll need to have basic language skills. You can choose any field of study as long as they have cultural connections, international relations or social development in mind. Funding is usually based on some criteria, but there are different awards available, so it’s worth applying to as many as you can. You might receive financial aid grants to cover travel or expenses or even everything from tuition and a monthly stipend to cover costs. 

EU Scholarship

Another good scholarship to apply to is the EU scholarship. This scholarship is awarded by the EU in partnership with Eastern Europe to offer aid for education in countries like Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. If you receive this scholarship, your tuition fees at the Georgian university of your choice will be covered, as well as living and travel costs for the entire time you are studying in Georgia. 

 

David L. Boren Awards

Finally, the David L.Boren award gives students the chance to get a financial grant to help them study in Georgia. This offers students in the Bachelor or postgraduate levels financial aid that the US National Security Agency finances. This is because developing countries like Georgia are essential to the US government and they want to help students study there. This award is aimed at students studying foreign policy, international relations, and global security. It gives recipients of the scholarship $25,000, which they can use to pay tuition fees and help finance any other living expenses needed.