Twenty-four Georgian institutions teach the Medical Doctor (MD) programme: the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) lists 38 accredited MD programmes. The degree takes six years and 360 ECTS credits and leads to the qualification of Medical Doctor. All 24 institutions offer an English-taught stream, costing $5,900–8,000 a year in the examples we verified; the only Russian-taught programme is at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) for $5,000 a year. NCEQE holds recognition status from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) until October 2028, but the right to practise depends on the rules of the country where you plan to work.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Programmes | 38 MD programmes at 24 institutions (NCEQE list, March 2024) |
| Length | 6 years, 360 ECTS; dentistry 5 years, 300 ECTS |
| Languages | English at all 24 institutions; Georgian at 11; Russian only at TSMU |
| English-taught tuition | $5,900–8,000 a year in verified examples; TSMU's American MD $13,500 |
| Russian-taught tuition | $5,000 a year (TSMU) |
| Accreditor's international status | NCEQE recognised by WFME until October 2028 |
| International students in health programmes | 39,033 in 2025/26 (Geostat) |
| Practising in Russia | recognition of education, Roszdravnadzor review, primary specialised accreditation |
Which universities teach medicine
NCEQE accredits the programmes. In its March 2024 list, all 38 MD programmes are accredited until 31 December 2027, after which they are reassessed. Institutions and languages from that list:
| Institution | Language of the MD programme |
|---|---|
| Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) | Georgian, English, Russian, plus a separate English-taught American MD track |
| Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) | Georgian, English |
| David Tvildiani Medical University | English, Georgian (two programmes, one problem-based) |
| Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy | Georgian, English |
| Caucasus University | English, Georgian |
| Caucasus International University | English, Georgian |
| European University | Georgian, English |
| Alte University | English, Georgian |
| Teaching University Geomedi | Georgian, English |
| Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University | English, Georgian |
| Akaki Tsereteli State University (Kutaisi) | English, Georgian (problem-based) |
| Ilia State University, University of Georgia, Georgian American University, Black Sea International University, New Vision University, SEU, East European University, Grigol Robakidze University, Ken Walker International University, East-West Teaching University, Kutaisi University, BAU International University Batumi, Avicenna Batumi Medical University | English |
The list changes as programmes are reaccredited and new ones approved. Before applying, check your programme in the NCEQE register and ask the university for the number and date of its accreditation decision.
How much medicine costs in Georgia
Most universities quote international fees in US dollars. The table shows annual tuition for the 2026/27 intake from official pages checked on 30 September 2026 and the six-year total at an unchanged rate.
| University and programme | Per year | Six years |
|---|---|---|
| TSMU, American MD | $13,500 | $81,000 |
| TSU, English-taught | $8,000 | $48,000 |
| TSMU, English-taught | $8,000 | $48,000 |
| Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy, English-taught | $7,000 plus a one-off $300 registration fee | $42,300 |
| Georgian American University | $6,480 | $38,880 |
| Caucasus University | $6,000 | $36,000 |
| Black Sea International University | $5,900, scholarship up to $500 | $35,400 before scholarship |
| TSMU, Russian-taught | $5,000 | $30,000 |
| TSMU, Georgian-taught (rate for foreigners) | $4,000 | $24,000 |
These are tuition fees only, and universities may revise them: Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy states that its fees are reviewed every year. It also charges $2,100 to reserve a place before enrolment is confirmed and estimates insurance at $7–25 a month. The full budget is in the cost of studying in Georgia.
Dentistry at TSU costs $8,000 a year in English (5 years, 300 ECTS); TSMU charges $7,000 in English and $5,000 in Russian. Pharmacy at TSMU is $3,500 a year and English-taught physical medicine and rehabilitation $3,000.
English, Russian or Georgian stream
| Criterion | English | Russian (TSMU) | Georgian |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSMU tuition | $8,000 a year | $5,000 a year | $4,000 a year for foreigners |
| Choice of institutions | 24 | 1 | 11 |
| Entry language requirement | TSU asks for B2 and an interview | checked by the university; B1 by law from 2027/28 | NAEC state-language exam from 2027/28 |
| Residency at TSMU | Georgian only | Georgian only | Georgian |
| Best for | students aiming to work outside the Russian-speaking region | Russian speakers planning to return to Russia or the CIS | students ready to spend a year on Georgian and stay in Georgia |
The Russian stream is $3,000 a year cheaper than the English one at TSMU — $18,000 over six years — but it exists at one institution only. The English stream gives a choice of 24.
Clinical training takes place in Georgian hospitals, where most patients speak Georgian. Ask the university how senior-year patient contact is organised for students who do not speak Georgian and whether the curriculum includes a Georgian language course.
How admission to medicine works
The general route is the same for all programmes: university consent, recognition of your school certificate by NCEQE, the right to study without national exams, and enrolment between 1 February and 15 March or between 15 August and 31 October. The details are in applying to Georgian universities. Medicine adds a few specifics.
- Language. TSU cites Minister's Order No. 90/n of 2018: an applicant without national exams entering the English-taught MD must prove English at B2 or above and pass an interview. From 2027/28 the law additionally requires a certificate from the government's list or an NAEC exam at B1 or above.
- School subjects. TSU asks for proof that biology, chemistry and English were studied at school. A transcript with grades in these subjects is needed almost everywhere.
- Interview. It is held by video and checks language and motivation. At TSU, the invitation follows the document submission.
- Timing. The main medical intake is in autumn. To be enrolled by 31 October, apply in spring or early summer.
Applicants with 11-year school certificates should remember that Georgian schooling lasts 12 years. NCEQE decides on comparability, so complete recognition before paying the first year.
During your studies
Six years of medicine cannot be stretched indefinitely. Government Resolution No. 437 requires a university to suspend a foreign student who earns no more than one-third of the year's credits. Ninety days after suspension, the Public Service Development Agency may terminate a study residence permit. For a first-year student learning a language and anatomy at the same time, that is a real risk.
Citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan can stay visa-free for up to a year and then need a study residence permit. Working without a separate permit is not allowed, including remote work: since 1 March 2026, foreigners need a work permit.
Will a Georgian medical degree be recognised?
International status
NCEQE is on WFME's list of recognised accrediting agencies until October 2028. This means Georgian programme accreditation has been judged against an international standard for medical education. Regulators in other countries take this into account, but each decides on licensing and exam eligibility under its own rules, so confirm them with the regulator of the country where you intend to practise.
Practising in Russia
The Russian Ministry of Health's Federal Accreditation Centre describes these stages:
- Recognition of education by Rosobrnadzor (establishing equivalence), unless an international agreement on mutual recognition applies.
- A Roszdravnadzor check that the foreign education meets Russian qualification requirements (Order No. 10335 of 31 October 2022).
- Submission to an accreditation commission (Ministry of Health Order No. 709n of 28 October 2022) and primary or primary specialised accreditation: a preliminary test of at least 30 items, then testing, a simulated practical-skills assessment and clinical case tasks.
The Rosobrnadzor assessment is requested through Gosuslugi, costs a 6,500-rouble state fee under Article 333.33 of the Tax Code and is decided within 30 working days; whether a given degree needs it depends on the treaty list published by Glavexpertcentr. Our guide to studying medicine abroad compares this route for graduates of other countries. Study the procedure before you enrol, not after graduation.
Practising in Georgia
Residency at TSMU is taught only in Georgian. If you plan to stay in Georgia, you will need Georgian anyway, so start learning it in the first year.
Georgia or another country?
Students choose Georgia for a six-year English- or Russian-taught MD without a national entrance exam. Elsewhere the terms differ: in Serbia, for example, medical faculties set biology and chemistry entrance exams. Compare options in our overview of studying medicine abroad and the country guides to medicine in Serbia, Hungary and Turkey.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a university without checking the programme's accreditation. Status belongs to the programme and expires on a set date.
- Assuming a Russian stream is available anywhere. According to NCEQE's list, only TSMU has one.
- Comparing annual fees only. Registration fees, place reservations and repeated courses raise the total.
- Underestimating the first-year workload. Poor results can lead to suspension and loss of the residence permit.
- Leaving your home country's licensing rules until graduation. In Russia, three separate procedures follow the diploma.
- Believing "no language test" promises. Language is already checked, and from 2027/28 a certificate or exam is mandatory by law.
FAQ
The MD programme lasts six years and carries 360 ECTS credits. It is a single-cycle programme — bachelor's and master's are not separated — and graduates receive the qualification of Medical Doctor. Dentistry lasts five years (300 ECTS). Residency is a separate stage after graduation.
Yes, but there is only one option: according to NCEQE's list, Tbilisi State Medical University is the only institution with a Russian-taught MD programme. It costs $5,000 a year, the same as Russian-taught dentistry. From 2027/28, the programme language must be proven by a certificate or exam at B1 or above.
For the 2026/27 intake, English-taught medicine costs $5,900–8,000 a year in the examples we verified, or $35,400–48,000 for tuition over six years. TSMU's American MD costs $13,500 a year and its Russian stream $5,000. Housing, insurance, fees and travel come on top.
A Georgian diploma does not give an automatic right to practise in Russia. Graduates go through recognition of education at Rosobrnadzor, a Roszdravnadzor check of qualification requirements and primary specialised accreditation. Study these steps before enrolling so that you choose a programme with a clear path home.
International applicants do not sit the national exams. Universities hold interviews and check language skills and school grades, especially in biology and chemistry. TSU requires a B2 English certificate and a video interview for its English-taught programme. From 2027/28, certified proof of the programme language becomes a legal requirement.
WFME assesses accrediting agencies, not individual universities. NCEQE passed this assessment, and its status is valid until October 2028. This matters if you plan to work or sit licensing exams outside Georgia, as many regulators consider whether the accreditor is recognised. The final decision still rests with the regulator of each country.
Sources
- NCEQE: list of MD programmes (March 2024), MD programmes, Georgia's education system, accreditation — checked 30 Sep 2026
- WFME: recognition status of accrediting agencies — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Geostat: foreign students by programme (XLSX) — checked 30 Sep 2026
- University fees and requirements: TSMU programmes and fees, TSU English-taught medicine, TSU English-taught dentistry, Petre Shotadze Tbilisi Medical Academy, Caucasus University, GAU, Black Sea International University — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Government of Georgia Resolution No. 437 of 8 Sep 2026, Resolution No. 435 of 8 Sep 2026 — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Embassy of Georgia to Japan: work permits from 1 Mar 2026 — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Federal Accreditation Centre of the Russian Ministry of Health: accreditation of people with foreign medical education — checked 30 Sep 2026
- Mutual recognition treaties (Glavexpertcentr), Russian Tax Code, Art. 333.33
- University fees are shown in US dollars as the universities publish them; no conversion was needed.
Selection of medical programmes, accreditation checks, document preparation and support until enrolment are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, NCEQE grants the right to study, and the right to practise is decided by the authorities of the country where you plan to work — in Russia, Rosobrnadzor, Roszdravnadzor and the Ministry of Health accreditation commission.
Next steps
- Studying Medicine in Serbia: Faculties, Fees and Admission for International Students
- Studying medicine in Hungary: English-taught programmes, entrance exams and costs
- Studying Medicine Abroad: 12 Countries Compared, 2026/27 Fees and Degree Recognition in Russia
- Applying to Georgian Universities as an International Student: the 2026/27 and 2027/28 Procedure
- Cost of Studying in Georgia for International Students: Tuition, Fees and Living Costs in 2026/27
- Study Medicine in Turkey - Full Guide
