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Georgia's oldest university and the home of the country's first Faculty of Medicine, founded in 1918, teaching medicine in English in Tbilisi.
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Georgia
Country
Tbilisi
City
Est. 1918
Georgia's oldest university
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
An Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University building in Tbilisi
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Recognition & Prestige
TSU is Georgia's oldest university and home to the country's first Faculty of Medicine, WFME-recognised through Georgia's NCEQE, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and recognised by the NMC of India, the WHO and the ECFMG.
WFME
recognised (via NCEQE)
360
ECTS (European standard)
The medical degree is recognised internationally. Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS); its Medicine programme is recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) through Georgia's WFME-recognised agency, the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE); and it is recognised by the National Medical Commission of India, the WHO and the ECFMG. Georgia is part of the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process), though it is not an EU member state. Eligible graduates can sit the Indian screening examination (FMGE/NExT) for licensing.
NMC (India)
Recognised for Indian students: TSU is recognised by the National Medical Commission, so eligible graduates who have qualified NEET can sit the FMGE/NExT screening examination and pursue licensing in India.
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS), the global directory of medical schools recognised by the WHO and ECFMG.
WFME
TSU's Medicine programme is recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) through Georgia's national agency, the NCEQE, which has held WFME recognition since 2018 — meeting the 2024 ECFMG requirement for the US route.
Complete Information About TSU Faculty of Medicine
Get complete information about the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Faculty of Medicine, including tuition, living costs, admission and the licensing route for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
TSU pairs Georgia's oldest and most prestigious university, home of the country's first Faculty of Medicine, with a WFME-recognised English-taught MD, direct admission, and an affordable, welcoming capital city.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
Admission to the MD programme in English at TSU is direct, based on academic records and English proficiency, without a competitive national entrance exam. Indian students must also qualify NEET to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate required to study MBBS abroad, but the TSU offer itself is decided on the academic record, not on NEET rank.
International applicants submit the online application with Class 12 certificate and mark sheets, passport and supporting documents to the TSU Faculty of Medicine or international office.
Admission is based on academic records (about 50% or more in Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and confirmation of English proficiency, typically including an interview; there is no separate written entrance exam.
Selected applicants receive an admission offer and the invitation/authorisation documents needed for the Georgian student visa or residence permit.
Admitted students confirm their place and pay the first-year tuition to secure their seat.
Students complete the Georgian student visa (D3) or residence-permit steps using the university's invitation and documents.
The academic year begins for the new intake in Tbilisi.
Applicants must have completed Class 12 (or equivalent) with about 50% or more in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and Indian students must have qualified NEET for NMC eligibility.
Subjects:
Candidates should be at least 17 years old in the year of admission, in line with standard MBBS-abroad and NMC requirements.
Applicants submit Class 12 certificates and mark sheets and a valid passport, and confirm English proficiency (often via interview); NEET qualification is required for Indian students for NMC eligibility.
Academic Records & English
Class 12 results with about 50% or more in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, plus confirmation of English proficiency. There is no separate written entrance exam.
NEET (for Indian students)
Indian students must qualify NEET to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate required for studying MBBS abroad and for the screening examination on return.
There is no separate written entrance examination; admission is by academic records and English proficiency, plus NEET qualification for Indian students (for NMC eligibility, not for TSU ranking).
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Entrance exam | None. Direct admission by academic records (about 50%+ in PCB) and English proficiency (often via interview). |
| NEET (Indian students) | Required for the NMC eligibility certificate to study MBBS abroad and to sit the FMGE/NExT on return; not used for TSU's own ranking. |
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
Students follow a structured six-year MD curriculum built to European standards: the first years cover theoretical and pre-clinical science, the middle years bring clinical study in Tbilisi's teaching hospitals, and the programme includes an internship, taught entirely in English.
Total Duration:
6 Years (360 ECTS, includes internship)
Degree:
Doctor of Medicine (MD), equivalent to MBBS
Years 1–2
Basic medical sciences focused on the structure and function of the healthy human body, taught through lectures, laboratories and practical classes:
Years 3–5
Paraclinical sciences and clinical study in Tbilisi's teaching hospitals, bridging laboratory science and bedside medicine across the specialties:
Year 6
Final clinical rotations and an internship across the major departments, before the MD degree is awarded:
Clinical training takes place in Tbilisi's teaching hospitals from the middle years onwards, building to full clinical rotations and the internship.
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | Theoretical and pre-clinical lectures, laboratories and practical classes. |
| Years 3–5 | Clinical study and rotations across the specialties in Tbilisi teaching hospitals. |
| Year 6 | Final clinical rotations and an internship across the major departments, before the MD degree. |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Global Exchange
As Georgia's oldest and largest comprehensive university, TSU maintains a wide network of international cooperation and student-exchange agreements, and takes part in mobility programmes including Erasmus+ (as a partner-country institution). Exchanges are managed by the university's international relations office through its cooperation agreements.
| Country | Partner University |
|---|---|
| Poland | Poznan University of Medical Sciences |
| Romania | Titu Maiorescu University |
| Belgium | University of Louvain-la-Neuve |
| Bulgaria | Medical University of Sofia |
| Türkiye | İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi |
Explore Your Options
TSU students can take part in international exchange. Get the latest details and guidance from our experts.
Legacy
The university carries the name of its founder, the historian Ivane Javakhishvili, and its Faculty of Medicine is led by senior Georgian clinician-academics.
The university is named after Ivane Javakhishvili, the eminent Georgian historian who founded Tbilisi State University in 1918, establishing the first modern university in Georgia and, with it, the country's first Faculty of Medicine.
Professor Dimitry Kordzaia serves as Dean of the TSU Faculty of Medicine, an experienced clinician-academic leading the faculty's medical education and research; Professor Maia Bitskinashvili serves as Vice-Dean.
The TSU Faculty of Medicine is led by its Dean, Professor Dimitry Kordzaia, with Professor Maia Bitskinashvili as Vice-Dean, and teaching is delivered by experienced clinicians and researchers across the faculty and Tbilisi's teaching hospitals, within Georgia's oldest comprehensive university.
Dean Professor Dimitry Kordzaia
Vice-Dean Professor Maia Bitskinashvili
Experienced clinicians and researchers
Part of Georgia's oldest, research-led university
Clinical teaching in Tbilisi hospitals
Personal mentorship
A broad, comprehensive-university environment
International student support
About University
Get all information about TSU in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Tbilisi State University.
Role in medicine
Get all information about TSU in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying MBBS at Tbilisi State University.
Affordable education
Tbilisi is an affordable capital city with a low cost of living. Here is the approximate monthly breakdown for an international student, quoted in Indian rupees.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (dormitory or shared flat) | ₹9,000 – ₹22,000 |
| Food | ₹12,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Transportation (student pass / metro) | ₹800 – ₹1,500 |
| Other Expenses (utilities, internet, leisure) | ₹5,000 – ₹10,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹25,000 – ₹45,000
Housing
TSU and approved providers offer student hostel accommodation, and many international students also rent private flats in Tbilisi. Both options are affordable and keep students within reach of the university and teaching hospitals.
Student hostels arranged through the university or approved providers offer affordable, furnished accommodation for international students, a popular base for first-year students new to Tbilisi.
Hostel rooms are typically shared or twin, with kitchens, study areas, Wi-Fi and laundry, and are connected to the university and hospitals by Tbilisi's metro and bus network.
Given the large Indian community in Tbilisi, many hostels are used to Indian students, with Indian food and mess options available in several student residences.
Hostel places are arranged through the university or approved providers after admission; students should confirm and book early once they receive an offer.
Many students rent private flats, often shared with classmates. A room in a shared flat in Tbilisi typically costs about USD 120 to USD 250 per month, before utilities.
TSU's main campus is on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, and Tbilisi's metro and bus network makes it easy to reach the university and clinical sites from student areas.
The university's international office and student associations help new arrivals with housing and settling into Tbilisi.
Tbilisi has an affordable metro, bus and minibus network with low-cost fares, and Tbilisi International Airport connects the city directly to India and the world.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Tbilisi has a large Indian student community, so Indian and vegetarian food is widely available alongside affordable canteens, grocery stores and easy self-catering.
University canteens and hostel messes serve affordable daily meals, and several student residences offer Indian mess arrangements with vegetarian options.
Location
1 Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia
Nearest Airport
Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is about 17 km from the city centre and has direct and one-stop connections to India via Gulf and other hubs.
Local Transport
Tbilisi has an affordable metro, bus and minibus (marshrutka) network with low-cost fares, connecting the university on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue with student areas and teaching hospitals.
Your Roadmap to Success
On completing the programme, graduates earn the TSU Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, equivalent to an MBBS, from a WFME-recognised university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after graduating from TSU, Indian students follow a clear pathway set by the National Medical Commission. NEET qualification is required from the start to obtain the NMC eligibility certificate.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. This is currently the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which is transitioning to the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) in India, gaining supervised clinical experience across the major departments.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council, after which the graduate can practise as a doctor in India.
Student Life Style
Being an MBBS student in Tbilisi is a mix of intensive academics and life in a safe, affordable and scenic capital city, within Georgia's largest and most vibrant university.
Scholarship & Financial
TSU and the Georgian state offer a small number of scholarship and merit routes, though most international students self-fund the programme, helped by relatively low tuition and living costs.
TSU offers selected merit-based scholarships and tuition discounts to high-performing students; availability, amounts and criteria vary by year and programme.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Faculty of Medicine.
4.5
120 reviews
Compare
Compare the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Faculty of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
TSU vs CMC Vellore
| University | TSUTbilisi, Georgia | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public (state) | Private (minority) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 6 years (MD, MBBS-equivalent, includes internship) | 5.5 years (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹6.9 lakh (USD 8,000) | ~₹3–4 lakh |
| Admission | Direct (academic records + English); NEET needed for NMC eligibility | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | WFME-recognised (via NCEQE); WDOMS-listed; NMC; WHO; ECFMG | NMC-recognised |
| Ranking | Georgia's oldest university; first Faculty of Medicine (1918) | Among India's leading medical colleges |
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Our blog
Articles that turn complex MBBS-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about MBBS at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Faculty of Medicine.
