How Much Does It Cost to Study Medicine in Georgia? 2026 Figures

What are the tuition fees for medicine in Georgia in 2026?

Tuition at Georgian medical universities ranges from $5,500 to $8,000 per year (approximately €5,050–€7,350) for standard English-medium MD programmes. Tbilisi State Medical University also offers an American MD track at $13,500 per year, though most international students from Europe opt for the standard MD. Fees have remained broadly stable since 2023.

Which Georgian medical universities are WFME-accredited?

WFME accreditation is the credential that counts most for internationally mobile graduates. It is required for ECFMG certification in the United States (mandatory since 2024), and it signals quality to licensing bodies in Canada, Australia and across the EU. Four of the six major Georgian medical schools currently hold this standard.

WFME-accredited institutions in Georgia (2025/26):

• Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) — WFME-accredited, listed in WDOMS, WHO-recognised
• David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU / AIETI) — WFME-accredited, NMC-recognised
• Caucasus International University — WFME-accredited, listed in WDOMS
• University of Georgia (School of Medicine) — WFME-accredited, ECFMG-eligible

New Vision University and European University Georgia are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and recognised by national bodies, but their direct WFME accreditation status should be confirmed with each institution before applying. Being in WDOMS is not the same as WFME accreditation. Always verify the current status with both the university and your home country's licensing authority.

What are the living costs for international students in Tbilisi in 2026?

Tbilisi is affordable by European standards. A realistic student budget sits between €480 and €650 per month, depending on accommodation choice and lifestyle. The city has efficient public transport, cheap local markets, and rents well below those in Bucharest, Budapest or Warsaw.

What is the total cost of a 6-year medical degree in Georgia?

The all-in six-year cost depends primarily on university choice and lifestyle. Here is a worked example using Caucasus International University at $6,000/year tuition.

Worked example — Caucasus International University, September 2025 intake:

• Tuition: $6,000 × 6 years = $36,000 (≈€33,100)
• Living costs: €550/month × 72 months = €39,600
• Health insurance: €750/year × 6 years = €4,500
• Flights home (2 × year): €500/year × 6 years = €3,000
• Year-one setup (visa, registration, furnishings): €800
• Total 6-year all-in estimate: ≈€81,000

At the lower end — European University Georgia ($5,500/year) with a budget lifestyle of €480/month — the six-year total including insurance and flights comes to approximately €68,000. At TSMU ($8,000/year) with a mid-range lifestyle, expect ≈€94,000.

Are there scholarships for international students studying medicine in Georgia?

Options exist. They are limited.

The Georgian government does not operate a broad scholarship programme targeting international medical students. What is available falls into three categories:

1. University merit discounts. Several private Georgian medical schools offer partial tuition reductions — typically 10–20% — to students who maintain strong academic performance across their first two years. TSMU and DTMU have both offered such arrangements. Details change annually; ask the admissions office directly.
2. Home-country funding. Students from Germany may apply for BAföG for study abroad. Swiss students may access cantonal grants. Austrian students have comparable instruments. Georgia is generally an eligible country — verify with your local authority before applying.
3. External foundations. The DAAD and select private foundations fund study abroad in exceptional cases. None target Georgia specifically. Competition is high; deadlines are early.

For advice on funding matched to your specific situation, a free individual consultation is the fastest route to clarity.

How do Georgian medical school costs compare to other affordable destinations?

Georgia's main competitors for cost-conscious international students are Romania, Hungary, Poland and the Baltic states. On price, Georgia holds its own — and beats most on ease of English instruction and total cost of living.

Approximate annual all-in comparison (tuition + living costs, 2025/26):

• Georgia (Caucasus / DTMU): ~€5,520 tuition + €6,600 living = ~€12,100/year
• Romania (Cluj, Iași): ~€5,000–7,000 tuition + €6,000–7,200 living = ~€11,000–14,200/year
• Hungary (Pécs, Debrecen): ~€7,000–16,000 tuition + €7,200–9,600 living = ~€14,200–25,600/year
• Poland (Warsaw, Wrocław): ~€11,000–14,000 tuition + €8,400–10,800 living = ~€19,400–24,800/year
• Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania): ~€8,000–12,000 tuition + €8,400–10,800 living = ~€16,400–22,800/year

Georgia's cost advantage is real — particularly at the $5,500–6,000 tuition tier. The trade-off is distance from Central Europe and a smaller international alumni network compared to longer-established destinations.

What hidden costs should medicine students in Georgia budget for?

Most cost guides stop at tuition and rent. These are the expenses that catch students off-guard.

• Visa and documentation (year one): Notarisation, certified translation of school-leaving certificates, and administrative registration fees add €200–350 to your first-year bill.
• Health insurance (mandatory since 2026): International students must hold Georgian health insurance with minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL (≈€10,200). Annual premiums run €600–900. Some universities bundle this; most do not. Ask explicitly.
• Flights home: Tbilisi has direct connections to several European cities but fares are not cheap. Budget €400–700 per round trip; two trips home per year adds €800–1,400 annually.
• USMLE / PLAB prep materials: If you intend to practise in the US or UK, budget $500–1,500 for Step 1 resources across your pre-clinical years.
• Year-one setup: Laboratory coat, equipment and textbooks cost €200–400 at intake. Georgia has no meaningful second-hand textbook market — build your library digitally where possible.
• Currency fluctuation: Fees are denominated in USD. If you budget in EUR, a strengthening dollar raises your real cost. The USD/EUR rate moved meaningfully in both directions between 2022 and 2025.

What is the application and registration process timeline for Georgian medical schools?

Most Georgian universities accept applications from January through August for a September intake. A February intake also exists at several institutions.

1. January–March: Research and shortlist universities. Verify accreditation status directly. Request official fee schedules — not third-party estimates.
2. April–May: Submit applications. Most require official transcripts, a passport copy and a personal statement. No IELTS or TOEFL is required at most Georgian institutions for the English-medium track.
3. May–June: Receive offers. Confirm your place with a tuition deposit ($500–1,000 typical).
4. June–July: Begin student visa processing. Document notarisation and translation can take 4–6 weeks — start early.
5. August: Secure accommodation. University dormitories fill by June; private apartments in Saburtalo and Vake districts near major medical campuses are the practical alternative.
6. September: Arrive, complete university registration, obtain your resident permit, activate health insurance.

For questions about whether your specific academic background fits a particular programme, speak with an advisor before applying. Our free individual consultation exists for exactly that conversation.

What most cost guides miss about studying medicine in Georgia

Three things rarely appear in the standard comparison articles.

1. Tbilisi rents moved sharply upward after 2022. The significant influx of international workers and relocating businesses pushed apartment prices up 35–50% between 2021 and 2023. A one-bedroom that cost $350/month in 2021 now averages $440–500. University dormitories — which still run $80–150/month — are the genuine budget option, but places are limited. Apply for dormitory placement the moment you accept your offer, not after you arrive.

2. The GEL-to-EUR exchange rate is not your friend by default. Tbilisi rents are often quoted in GEL or USD, not EUR. When the lari strengthened against the euro in 2022–23, students paying from EUR bank accounts saw their effective housing cost rise even though nominal GEL prices were flat. Build a 10–15% exchange rate buffer into your annual budget.

3. Clinical rotations in years 4–6 can shift your cost base. Some Georgian universities arrange rotations partly in regional hospitals outside Tbilisi. This may mean temporary relocation, travel costs, or — in some cases — lower accommodation costs. Ask your target university specifically how rotations are structured and whether additional fees apply in clinical years.