Tbilisi State University (TSU): A Guide for International Applicants
A state university founded in 1918: English-taught MD and bachelor programs, fees, documents and the real limits to know before you apply.
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is a public, multi-faculty university in Georgia's capital, founded in 1918. It has seven faculties, including a Faculty of Medicine that has trained doctors since 1918, and runs an English-taught Medical Doctor (MD) program for international students. According to the university, it has about 22,000 students, including more than 660 from abroad.
TSU suits applicants who want an English-taught MD at a state university and have a clear plan for licensing at home, or an English bachelor's in economics, computer science or engineering.
It is a weaker fit if you need a guaranteed dormitory place, intake dates fixed well in advance, or a degree already confirmed by your home regulator.
| Key facts | TSU |
|---|---|
Founded | 1918 |
Type | State university, authorized in Georgia |
Faculties | 7: Exact and Natural Sciences; Humanities; Social and Political Sciences; Economics and Business; Law; Medicine; Psychology and Educational Sciences |
Main building | Academic Building I, 1 Ilia Chavchavadze Ave., 0179 Tbilisi |
English MD | Medical Doctor (MD), accredited in 2011 |
MD length | 6 years, 12 semesters, 362 ECTS |
MD tuition | $8,000 per year ($4,000 per semester), as listed on TSU's website |
English level | B2 (IELTS or TOEFL) plus a video interview |
Tbilisi State University tuition fees
The English MD costs $8,000 per year, or $4,000 per semester. This is the fee currently listed on the program page; the page does not state the academic year. TSU sets fees each academic year, and next year's fees have not been published yet.
| Program | Language | Tuition | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|
Medicine (MD), 6 years | English | $8,000 per year ($4,000 per semester) | TSU program page |
Bachelor programs (economics, computer science, engineering, chemistry) | English | We confirm the fee for your program | TSU publishes a separate fee document |
Master's programs | English | We confirm the fee for your program | — |
You can pay for the full year at the start of the first semester, or in two equal parts at the start of each semester. If the fee stays at the current level, six years of MD tuition come to $48,000, before housing and living costs.
For other programs, note that the 1,125 GEL per semester figure seen online is the rate for Georgian citizens, not international students. We check the current fee for your exact program.
English MD: TSU and other Tbilisi options
USD per year, per each university's website
- Tbilisi State University (TSU)$8,000
- Tbilisi State Medical University$8,000
- University of Georgia$6,500
- Alte University$5,950
- SEU – Georgian National University$5,900
Programs and the degree you receive
The main program for international students is Medicine (English). Graduates receive the Medical Doctor (MD) qualification. It is a one-cycle program of 6 years and 362 ECTS.
In Georgia, the MD includes clinical training inside the 6 years. Clinical rotations take the last three semesters, and the sixth year is fully clinical.
English-taught bachelor programs, all 4 years:
Bachelor programs in English and French
- Economics (Bachelor of Economics) at the International School of Economics at TSU (ISET)
- Chemistry / Biochemistry
- Computer Science
At master's level, TSU offers an English-taught MA in Economics through ISET.
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Admission requirements for international students
International students enter Georgian universities without Georgian national exams. TSU gives consent, then Georgia's National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) and the Ministry of Education confirm your enrollment.
How to apply to TSU
1
Check your school results. You need a completed secondary school certificate. For the MD, TSU asks for proof that you passed biology, chemistry and English at school. TSU does not publish minimum grades by curriculum, so we assess your transcript against the program before you apply.
2
Prove your English. The MD requires a B2 certificate (IELTS or TOEFL). English-taught bachelor programs also ask for an English certificate.
3
Prepare documents. For the MD: application form, school certificate with a notarized Georgian translation, proof of biology, chemistry and English, passport copy, English certificate. Indian citizens add their NEET result.
4
Legalize and translate. Indian and Pakistani documents need an apostille; for India's D3 visa, education documents need an MEA apostille. Documents from Egypt, Nigeria and the UAE need consular legalization. Every foreign document then needs a notarized translation into Georgian.
5
Apply online. MD applications go through uni-can.tsu.ge. After you submit, TSU holds a video interview to confirm your English.
TSU does not publish intake dates or deadlines on its international pages. For the upcoming intake, plan to start the whole process at least 2–3 months before the semester begins: NCEQE recognition alone can take up to a month, and a D3 visa comes after the ministry order. Exact dates are published by the university closer to the intake, and we track them for you.
What to know before you apply
These limits are easier to handle before you pay any fees.
Honest limitations
- Recognition in India is not automatic. NMC rules (FMGL 2021) require at least 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship at the same university, and a license in the country of study on par with citizens. Georgia's Ministry of Education states that its MD equals an MBBS and follows NMC rules; this is Georgia's position, not an NMC decision. In Georgia the internship sits inside the 6 years, and an NMC advisory warns that such deviations may lead to refusal of registration.
- Patients speak Georgian. Teaching is in English, but Georgian universities include Georgian language courses so students can talk to patients in clinics.
- No independent practice in Georgia without Georgian. Graduates become junior doctors working under a licensed doctor, and independent practice requires Georgian by law. Plan to take licensing exams at home or in a third country.
Rankings and accreditation
TSU is a state university authorized in Georgia. Its English MD was accredited in 2011, the year the first international students were admitted. In Georgia, MD programs are accredited or authorized by NCEQE.
NCEQE received WFME recognition in 2018 for 10 years, until November 2028. WFME recognizes agencies, not universities, so the accurate wording is "Georgia's accrediting agency is WFME-recognized".
The rankings TSU quotes on its own pages date from 2019–2020, so we do not repeat them. If rankings matter to you, we check current figures together.
Housing and student life
Enrolled students can apply to the TSU administration for a dormitory place. The main option is the Lisi dormitory near Lisi Lake: three four-story buildings with hotel-type rooms and a sports ground, 320 places in total. We found no guarantee of a room for the full study period.
TSU pages show a fee of around 150 GEL per month for Lisi; we confirm the current rate before you apply. Places are limited, so many international students rent a room or a shared flat.
Numbeo puts a single person's monthly costs in Tbilisi at about 1,730 GEL without rent, and a one-bedroom flat outside the center at about 1,163 GEL. This reflects an expat lifestyle; students in a dormitory or shared room usually spend noticeably less.
Student visa
Citizens of India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Egypt need a D3 study visa. You apply online at geoconsul.gov.ge; in India, documents are submitted through VFS Global. The consular fee is $20, plus the VFS service fee. The e-Visa is for short visits only and cannot be used for study.
The D3 checklist includes the Ministry of Education order, TSU's enrollment order, proof of accommodation, proof of funds and insurance for the whole visa period. No fixed amount of funds is set; a 3-month bank statement or a sponsor package is required.
GCC citizens enter Georgia visa-free for one year. Holders of a valid visa or residence permit from one of 50 listed countries, including GCC states, can enter for 90 days in any 180 days. In Georgia, all students then apply for a study residence permit at least 40 days before their legal stay ends. Full details are on our Georgia student visa page.
Other options
If TSU's fee or timeline does not fit, compare it with other English MD programs in Tbilisi. Tbilisi State Medical University lists $8,000 per year, University of Georgia $6,500, SEU – Georgian National University $5,900 and Alte University $5,950, per each university's website. See also our guides to MBBS in Georgia, admission requirements and the cost of studying in Georgia, or start with studying in Georgia.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Send us your school certificate, English score and, for Indian applicants, your NEET result. We check your documents against TSU's requirements, compare two or three alternatives in Georgia, and map out your admission timeline. The first consultation is free. Contact us through the contact form, WhatsApp or Telegram.
