MBBS in Georgia

Georgia is a small country in the South Caucasus, and it has become one of the most popular places for Indian students to study medicine. Indian students are now the largest group of foreign students there. Most study the six-year MD in English at a university in Tbilisi, with smaller numbers in Batumi and Kutaisi.

The degree is called Medical Doctor (MD), not MBBS. Georgia's quality agency, the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), authorises the universities and accredits each MD programme. The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) recognises the NCEQE until November 2028.

The main question for Indian families is not teaching quality but the licence rule. India's National Medical Commission (NMC) requires a foreign graduate to hold a licence to practise in the country that awarded the degree, at par with that country's own citizens. Georgia's rules on this are complicated, and in 2026 the NMC said it does not consider the matter settled. This guide explains what that means, so you can ask the right questions before paying any fees.

1. 01

   English-medium MD programmes

   Many state and private universities run a separate English-language MD for international students. The six-year, 360 ECTS structure follows the European credit system.

2. 02

   A recognised quality-assurance agency

   Every MD programme must be accredited by the NCEQE, and the WFME recognises the NCEQE until November 2028. For students who may later sit the USMLE, this matters, because the US now requires schools to be accredited by a WFME-recognised agency.

3. 03

   Large Indian student community

   Indian students are the largest group of foreign students in Georgia, so Indian food, student groups and seniors who can guide new arrivals are easy to find in Tbilisi and Batumi.

4. 04

   Easier travel from India

   IndiGo flies daily between Delhi and Tbilisi, and India has had a resident embassy in Georgia since July 2024, so consular help is now available in the country.

5. 05

   Lower total cost than many private seats in India

   Tuition plus living for six years is usually well below the full fee at many private or deemed medical colleges in India. You still need to budget for travel, visas, insurance and an extra year of internship in India.

6. 06

   FMGE results above the overall average

   NBEMS data for 2024, as reported by Careers360, shows Georgian graduates passing the FMGE at about 36%. That is above the overall rate for that year, but the figure varies a lot between universities.

7. 07

   Low everyday crime

   The UK government describes crime in Georgia as low, though pickpocketing happens in crowded places. Students who take normal precautions generally find the main cities manageable.

• Each university needs a recognition decision from the NCEQE on your school certificate. The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth then issues an order allowing you to enrol without national exams. You cannot get a visa without this order.
• Georgia's rules for foreign students were changed in 2025 and 2026. Check the current requirements with the university in writing before you pay.
• Do not join any course that has not qualified for NEET. Without a NEET qualification you cannot sit the FMGE or practise in India later.

• Valid passport (valid for the visa period and beyond)
• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
• Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
• NEET-UG scorecard showing a qualifying result
• English language certificate (or result of the university's English test)
• Birth certificate
• Passport-size photographs to biometric standard
• Medical fitness certificate, including any tests the university asks for
• Apostilled school documents with notarised Georgian translations of the passport and certificates
• NCEQE recognition decision for your school education (the university usually helps)
• Ministry of Education, Science and Youth order allowing study without national exams
• University admission letter and receipt for the first-year fee
• Proof of funds (bank statements or a sponsor's affidavit with statements)
• Travel and health insurance covering the whole stay

1. 1Sit NEET-UG and make sure you meet the NMC's Class 12 PCB marks requirement.
2. 2Shortlist universities. Confirm that each is authorised, that its English MD is accredited by the NCEQE, and that it is admitting foreign students this year.
3. 3Ask each university in writing how its programme meets the NMC FMGL Regulations: the course months, the internship months and place, and the licence route in Georgia.
4. 4Apply directly or through the university's official admissions office, and attend the online interview or English test.
5. 5Get the acceptance letter, then have your passport and certificates translated so the university can apply to the NCEQE for recognition.
6. 6Wait for the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth order, then pay the first-year fee only to the university's official bank account.
7. 7Apply for the D3 study visa through Georgia's consular portal with the ministry order, admission letter, insurance, funds and accommodation proof.
8. 8Travel, enrol, and apply for a study residence permit at the Public Service Hall well before your visa stay ends.

Application timeline

1. 1

   Register for and sit NEET-UG; collect school documents and a passport

   February–May

2. 2

   NEET-UG result; shortlist universities and check NMC fit

   June

3. 3

   Apply, sit interviews or English tests, receive acceptance letters

   June–July

4. 4

   NCEQE recognition and ministry enrolment order; pay the first-year fee

   July–August

5. 5

   Apply for the D3 study visa (standard decision by the 30th day)

   August–September

6. 6

   Travel to Georgia, enrol and start classes

   September–October

7. 7

   Apply for a study residence permit at the Public Service Hall

   Within the first weeks, before the visa stay ends

Universities Indian students often ask us about. Open a university for its fees, recognition, hospitals and hostel details. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

Government universities

Private universities

Compare all universities in Georgia

• National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. It sets eligibility rules under the FMGL Regulations, 2021, and each graduate is assessed against them. In 2026 the NMC said Georgian graduates must hold a licence to practise in Georgia at the level required by its rules, and that 'junior doctor' status counts only if it legally allows that.
• National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), GeorgiaAuthorises higher education institutions and accredits every MD programme against Georgia's Medicine Benchmark, which was updated on 1 April 2026. Check that both the university and the specific English MD programme hold current status.
• Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of GeorgiaIssues the order that allows each foreign student to enrol without national exams. You need this order for the visa. In 2024 the ministry described the MD as equivalent to MBBS.
• World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)Recognised the NCEQE as an accrediting agency in November 2018 for ten years, until November 2028. This matters for the USMLE, because the US requires graduates to come from schools accredited by a WFME-recognised agency.
• World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Lists medical schools worldwide. A listing is required by many licensing bodies, but WDOMS itself says a listing is not recognition or accreditation.
• Ministry of Health / medical regulation agency, GeorgiaRuns the national post-diploma qualification exam (in Georgian). After that exam and residency training, a doctor can get the independent licence to practise in Georgia.

Fees for English-language MD programmes in Georgia are set by each university and quoted in US dollars. Published figures we checked range from USD 5,000 a year (Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University) to USD 8,000 a year (Tbilisi State Medical University and Tbilisi State University). Most private universities in Tbilisi fall between USD 5,500 and USD 8,000. Fees are usually paid each year or each semester, and some universities allow instalments. Hostel or flat costs are extra, except where a university offers a package. Fees change from year to year, and the state-university options in the table may not be open to new foreign students in 2026–27. Confirm the current fee schedule, and whether it is fixed for all six years, directly with the university.

Other costs

Fees are indicative, set by each university and usually paid yearly in US dollars. Confirm the current fee schedule in writing before you pay. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

Tbilisi is more expensive than Bishkek or Tashkent, but cheaper than most of Europe. Numbeo's October 2026 figures put a one-bedroom flat outside the centre at about USD 450 a month, and a single person's other costs at about USD 670. Most students spend much less than that by sharing a flat or living in a hostel and cooking for themselves. Batumi is a little cheaper than Tbilisi.

The ranges are our estimates for a student, based on Numbeo data for Tbilisi and Batumi (October 2026) and on university accommodation pages. Prices rise each year, so add some margin for six years.

Not every Georgian university has its own hostel. Many Indian students rent shared flats near the campus, often found through the university or seniors. Some universities offer hostel packages: East European University, for example, lists a shared room with three meals and utilities at USD 2,500 a year.

• Ask each university whether it owns the hostel, runs it through a partner, or just recommends private flats.
• Check that the rent agreement is written and notarised. You may need it for the visa and the residence permit.
• Indian food is easy to find in Tbilisi and Batumi through restaurants, private messes and self-cooking.
• Winters in Tbilisi are cold, so check the heating and who pays the winter gas or electricity bills.
• Visit or video-call the room before paying a full year's rent, and pay against a receipt.

Indian students need a D3 study visa to enter Georgia for a degree. You apply online through Georgia's consular portal and then submit documents at a Georgian embassy or consulate. Georgia has an embassy in New Delhi. The visa is multiple-entry and valid for 90 days. Within that time you must apply for a study residence permit at the Public Service Hall in Georgia. The ministry's enrolment order and the university's admission letter are the key documents.

Every Indian student who wants to practise in India after studying abroad must meet the NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, which came into force on 18 November 2021. Georgia's six-year MD is long enough on paper. The difficult question is the licence rule, which the NMC addressed in a grievance reply reported on 1 October 2026.

• Course length: the medical course must be at least 54 months (Regulation 4(a)). Georgia's MD is 6 years.
• Internship abroad: at least 12 months of internship in the same foreign institution. The NMC's FAQ says this is in addition to the course. Georgia counts its sixth year as the internship, so get a written breakdown of course months and internship months from the university.
• Medium: English throughout. Only the English-language MD programme is suitable; Georgian-medium tracks are not.
• Same institution: the entire course, training and internship must be done outside India in the same foreign institution. Transferring between universities or countries part-way can make you ineligible.
• Licence in Georgia (Regulation 4(b)): you must be registered or licensed to practise in Georgia at par with Georgian citizens. Georgia lets MD graduates work as supervised 'junior doctors', but an independent licence needs the national post-diploma exam in Georgian and residency training.
• NMC position, 2026: replying to a grievance dated 24 September 2026, the NMC said junior-doctor status is enough only if it legally permits practice at the required level, and that the answer depends on Georgian law and licensing requirements.
• Time limit: the whole foreign course must be finished within 10 years of joining.
• After returning: pass the FMGE (NExT is not yet in force; an August 2026 NMC draft keeps the FMGE for now) and complete a 12-month supervised internship in India.

Check your eligibility with our NMC checklist

NBEMS publishes FMGE results for each session and yearly country-wise and institute-wise performance. In 2024, Georgian graduates did better than the overall FMGE average, but results differed a lot between universities. The overall pass rate has also fallen sharply in recent sessions, so no university can promise a result. The country-level figures below come from Careers360's reporting of NBEMS data, because we could not open the NBEMS files directly.

Georgia does not have a general government scholarship for foreign students on English-medium MD programmes. Some universities give merit-based fee reductions or discounts for paying the full year in advance, but the terms vary and are often small. Very few central or state government schemes in India fund a foreign MBBS. Be cautious if an agent offers a large 'scholarship' or 'discount'. Ask for it in writing on the university's letterhead and check it with the university directly.

Education loan

Many Indian public and private banks and NBFCs give education loans for medical study abroad. The loan usually covers tuition, hostel, travel and insurance, and the bank pays fees directly to the university. Banks generally want an admission letter from an accredited university, a co-borrower (usually a parent), and collateral for larger amounts. Interest rates, margin money and repayment holidays differ, so compare at least three lenders. Check whether the moratorium covers the six-year course plus the time needed to clear the FMGE.

• University admission letter and fee schedule for all six years
• Ministry of Education, Science and Youth enrolment order
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and NEET-UG scorecard
• Student's and co-borrower's PAN, Aadhaar and passport
• Co-borrower's income proof (salary slips, ITRs for 2–3 years, or business accounts)
• Bank statements for the last 6 months
• Collateral papers (property documents or fixed deposits), if the lender requires them
• Passport-size photographs and signed loan application

The UK government's travel advice (updated September 2026) describes crime in Georgia as low, with pickpocketing in crowded places. Political demonstrations have run in Tbilisi for many months, mainly on Rustaveli Avenue, and some have turned violent. The breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are off-limits for travel.

• Stay away from protests. The UK advice warns that foreigners who take part can face extra questioning when leaving or be refused re-entry.
• Do not travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia or near their boundary lines.
• Be careful in nightlife areas: drink spiking has been reported, so buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
• Racial harassment has been reported. Stay in groups at night and report any incident to the police (112) and the university.
• Roads outside cities can be poorly lit and in bad condition, especially in winter, so prefer licensed transport.
• Register with the Embassy of India in Tbilisi and keep copies of your passport, visa and residence permit.

Tbilisi is a lively capital with an old town, parks, cafes and easy trips to the mountains. Batumi is a Black Sea resort city with a milder, wetter climate. With so many Indian students, Diwali, Holi and other festivals are often celebrated on campus and in student groups. The MD workload is heavy, and from the clinical years onwards it helps to learn basic Georgian to talk with patients.

1. 01

   Return to India: FMGE and internship

   Pass the FMGE (or NExT when it starts) and complete a 12-month supervised internship in India. You can then register with a State Medical Council, practise, and sit NEET-PG for a postgraduate seat. All of this depends on meeting the FMGL licence rule described above.

2. 02

   Residency and practice in Georgia

   Graduates can work as supervised junior doctors. To practise independently, they must pass the national post-diploma exam in Georgian and complete a residency at an accredited clinic. Good Georgian is essential.

3. 03

   USMLE and the United States

   Because the NCEQE is recognised by the WFME, graduates of accredited Georgian programmes can apply for ECFMG certification and the USMLE. The US route is competitive and expensive, and residency places are not assured.

4. 04

   UK and other countries

   The UK's GMC accepts doctors who pass the PLAB (UKMLA) exams after a primary medical qualification from a listed school. Other countries have their own exams. Each has its own language tests and costs.

5. 05

   Research, public health and PhD

   Some graduates go into a three-year PhD in Georgia, an MPH or a research post, or work in clinical research, pharmaceuticals or public health.

• The licence rule is the biggest risk. In 2026 the NMC said Georgian 'junior doctor' status counts only if it legally allows practice at the required level. Get the university's written explanation of how its graduates meet Regulation 4(b), and read the latest NMC notices before paying.
• Rules for foreign students are changing. The government stopped new foreign admissions at state universities for 2026–27, and a 2026 decree added language requirements, enrolment windows and credit rules linked to residence permits.
• Language: patients speak Georgian, and the independent licence exam in Georgia is in Georgian. Students who do not learn the language get less from their clinical years.
• Results vary widely between universities. In 2024, FMGE pass rates for Georgian universities ranged from about 30% to over 60%. Ask for the NBEMS institute-wise figures for each university.
• Costs are higher than in Central Asia. Budget for six years of rising rent and fees, plus flights, residence permits and the extra internship year in India.
• Watch for agents' hidden charges. Pay tuition only to the university's official account against an official receipt, and get every promised discount or service in writing.
• Politics: frequent demonstrations in Tbilisi and a tense political climate. Students must keep out of protests to protect their residence status.

Georgia sits where Eastern Europe meets Western Asia, between the Black Sea, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus mountains cross the north of the country. Tbilisi, the capital, lies in a valley along the Mtkvari river. Batumi is the main city on the Black Sea coast.

Georgia has its own language and alphabet, a strong food and wine culture, and a mostly Orthodox Christian population. Indian students are now the largest group of foreign students in the country, and India has had a resident embassy in Tbilisi since July 2024.

1. National Medical Commission — FAQs on the FMGL Regulations, 2021 (opens in a new tab)
2. Embassy of India, Yerevan — Advisory to Indian students seeking admission in Georgia (29 September 2022) (opens in a new tab)
3. Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia — information on medical education (Embassy of Georgia in India, 9 August 2024) (opens in a new tab)
4. NCEQE — Quality assurance of medical education in Georgia (opens in a new tab)
5. NCEQE — Right to study without the Unified National Examinations (opens in a new tab)
6. World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) (opens in a new tab)
7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — visa information (D3 study visa) (opens in a new tab)
8. Medical Dialogues, 1 Oct 2026 — 6-year MD in Georgia: junior doctor status alone may not satisfy FMGL (opens in a new tab)
9. Careers360, citing NBEMS data, 2025 — FMGE passing percentage of Georgia 2024 (opens in a new tab)
10. Careers360, Jan 2026 — FMGE January 2026 pass percentage (opens in a new tab)
11. Deccan Herald, Jul 2026 — FMGE June 2026 results declared (opens in a new tab)
12. APA, 11 Sep 2026 — Georgia to allow foreign students to enter universities without exams (opens in a new tab)
13. JAMnews, 1 Apr 2026 — Georgia's new rules for hiring foreign workers (opens in a new tab)
14. UK FCDO — Georgia travel advice: safety and security (opens in a new tab)
15. Numbeo — Cost of living in Tbilisi (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)