Overview
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) is the main state university of Adjara, on Georgia's Black Sea coast. Its roots go back to a teachers' institute opened in 1935, and it became Batumi State University in 1990. Today it has about 6,000 students.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care runs a six-year, English-language Medical Doctor (MD) programme. It started in December 2015 with 35 students from India, and the university now says around 700 international students are enrolled. The fee table lists USD 5,000 a year.
BSU is a state university. Georgia's government said in December 2025 that state universities would stop admitting new foreign students, and reports in September 2026 said none were admitted for 2026–27. BSU's pages do not state its current position. Ask the university in writing before applying, and do not pay any agent until you have an answer.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1935 as a teachers' institute; Batumi State University from 1990 |
| Type | Public (state) university |
| City | Batumi, Adjara, on Georgia's Black Sea coast |
| Degree awarded | Medical Doctor (MD), one-cycle programme |
| Duration | 6 years |
| Medium | English (English-language MD programme, running since 2015) |
| Intake | Autumn. New foreign admissions to state universities were halted for 2026–27 |
| NEET-UG | Required by Indian rules for anyone who wants to practise in India later |
| WDOMS listing | Listed under the Faculty of Education and Science (also named Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care), F0002943 |
| Tuition per year | USD 5,000 (university fee table, updated 22 October 2026) |
| Accommodation per year | About USD 1,500+ (our estimate for a shared private flat) |
| Ranking | Not in major global rankings |
Address: 32/35 Rustaveli / Ninoshvili Street, Batumi 6010, Georgia
Highlights
- Only state university option in our list outside Tbilisi, in the coastal city of Batumi
- English-language MD since 2015, with a published fee of USD 5,000 a year
- MD programme accreditation by Georgia's NCEQE valid until August 2028 (with conditions)
- FMGE 2024: 165 of 396 BSU graduates passed (about 42%), above the Georgia average of about 36%
- OSCE centre with modern mannequins for clinical skills training
- State university: new foreign admissions were halted for 2026–27, so check the current position
Courses offered
- Medical Doctor (MD), English-language programme
- Medical Doctor (MD), Georgian-language programme
- Dentistry (one-cycle programme)
- Public health and other health programmes in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care
- Bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in other faculties
For Indian students the main programme is the Medical Doctor (MD), English-language programme, taught in English over 6 years.
Facilities
OSCE and clinical skills centre
The faculty has an Objectively Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) centre with modern mannequins and teaching materials, used to train and test clinical skills.
Clinical departments
The faculty has departments of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Critical Medicine, Public Health and Evidence-Based Medicine, and Dentistry, along with Biology and Chemistry.
Dormitory
BSU has a four-storey dormitory for 200 residents at 15 Leonidze Street, with kitchens, a laundry, a library space and security. The listed priority groups are Georgian students, so ask whether international students can apply.
Dental clinic
A basic dental clinic on site supports the dentistry programme.
Why choose Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University?
- A lower published fee (USD 5,000 a year) than the Tbilisi state universities
- Batumi is smaller, calmer and a little cheaper to live in than Tbilisi
- English MD running for about ten years, with a large Indian student group
- FMGE 2024 pass rate of about 42%, above the Georgia average
- Listed in WDOMS, with NCEQE accreditation valid to 2028
Eligibility criteria
- NEET-UG qualified (score valid for 3 years)
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; at least 50% in PCB under NMC rules (40% for SC, ST and OBC; 45% for general PwBD)
- English proficiency for the English programme; ask BSU which certificate or test it accepts
- Recognition of your school certificate by Georgia's NCEQE
- At least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year
- Admission depends on Georgia's rules for that year: new foreign entry to state universities was halted for 2026–27
Admission process
- Ask BSU in writing whether it is admitting new foreign students to the English MD for your intake.
- Consult the dean's office of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care about the programme.
- Submit the application form, a notarised Georgian translation of your passport and a notarised Georgian translation of your school certificate, in person or by email.
- Take any language test the university sets, and receive an acceptance letter signed by the rector if successful.
- Apply to Georgia's NCEQE for recognition of your school certificate, then wait for the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth enrolment order.
- Pay the fee only to the university's official account and keep the receipt.
- Apply for the D3 study visa, travel to Batumi, enrol, and apply for a residence permit before the visa period ends.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each year (Years 1–6)Tuition is from BSU's fee table. Accommodation is our estimate for a shared private flat in Batumi; BSU publishes no dormitory price. | US$5,000 | US$1,500 | ≈ ₹6 lakh |
| Estimated total (6 years) | US$39,000 | ≈ ₹35.9 lakh | |
BSU's tuition fee table lists USD 5,000 a year for the English-language one-cycle Medical Doctor programme. An older MD page lists USD 4,000 for students who enrolled in 2020–21, so fees can rise between intakes. Ask for a written fee schedule covering all six years. BSU's dormitory page does not give prices or confirm that international students can stay, so budget for a shared flat. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want the official fee letter?Our counsellor will share the current fee schedule for Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Listed as Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Faculty of Education and Science (also recorded as Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care), school ID F0002943.
- National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), GeorgiaThe NCEQE accredited BSU's Medicine (Medical Doctor) programme on 20 August 2021, with conditions and a progress report required. The accreditation runs from 6 August 2021 to 7 August 2028.
- ECFMG (USA)WDOMS shows graduates as eligible for ECFMG certification for graduation years 1999 to current.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. Each graduate must meet the FMGL Regulations, 2021. In its reply to a grievance dated 24 September 2026, the NMC said Georgian 'junior doctor' status meets its licence rule (Regulation 4(b)) only if it legally allows practice at the required level. No NMC notice we found names BSU.
- Government of GeorgiaIn December 2025 the education minister said state universities would stop admitting foreign students except in cases set by law. Reports in September 2026 said no foreign students were admitted to state universities for 2026–27.
NMC eligibility depends on you, not only the university
Teaching hospitals
- Partner hospitals and clinics in Batumi used for clinical rotations (BSU does not list them online; ask for the current list)
- BSU OSCE and clinical skills centre on campus (simulation training before and alongside hospital rotations)
Hostel and campus life
BSU's main buildings are in central Batumi, close to the sea front, so the city is easy to explore on foot. Batumi is a resort city, busy with tourists in summer and quieter in winter. The university has a 200-bed dormitory, but its priority groups are local students, so most Indian students share rented flats nearby. Indian food is available through restaurants, messes and self-cooking. Patients in Batumi mostly speak Georgian, and fewer people speak English than in Tbilisi, so learning basic Georgian helps in daily life and in the clinical years.
Cost of living in Batumi
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Shared flat or roomNumbeo lists a one-bedroom flat outside the centre at about USD 370 (October 2026); summer rents rise | US$150–350per month | ≈ ₹13,800 – ₹32,200 |
| Food and groceriesLower if you cook | US$110–200per month | ≈ ₹10,120 – ₹18,400 |
| Utilities (your share)Numbeo: about USD 75 for a whole 85 m² flat | US$20–50per month | ≈ ₹1,840 – ₹4,600 |
| Monthly transport passNumbeo: about USD 12 | US$11–12per month | ≈ ₹1,012 – ₹1,104 |
| Mobile and internet | US$8–20per month | ≈ ₹736 – ₹1,840 |
| Books, personal and otherOur estimate | US$40–80per month | ≈ ₹3,680 – ₹7,360 |
| Rough monthly total | US$339–712 | ≈ ₹31,188 – ₹65,504 |
About Batumi
Batumi is Georgia's second-largest city and the capital of the Adjara region, on the Black Sea near the border with Turkey. It has a long seaside boulevard, parks, modern towers and a busy port. The climate is mild but very wet and humid, with rain through much of the year. Batumi has an international airport with flights to Istanbul and other hubs; most Indian students fly to Tbilisi and travel on by train or road, about five to six hours. Living costs are a little lower than in Tbilisi.
Ranking
BSU is not in the QS World University Rankings or the THE World University Rankings. Look at FMGE results, accreditation and clinical training rather than rankings when comparing it with other Georgian universities.
Scholarships
BSU's international pages do not list fee scholarships for international MD students. Ask the university in writing about any fee reduction, and confirm any agent 'discount' directly with BSU.
Documents required
- Valid passport, with a notarised Georgian translation of the passport copy
- Completed BSU application form
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates, with notarised Georgian translations
- NEET-UG scorecard showing a qualifying result
- English language certificate, if BSU asks for one
- Notarised copy of the birth certificate if a parent applies for you
- Power of attorney if someone else submits your documents
- Apostille on school documents
- Acceptance letter signed by the rector
- NCEQE recognition decision and Ministry of Education, Science and Youth enrolment order
- Fee receipt, proof of funds and proof of accommodation for the visa
- Travel and health insurance for the whole stay
Ready to apply?Our counsellor will check your documents and NEET score and guide you through the admission letter and visa.
Other medical universities in Georgia
| University | City | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi State Medical University | Tbilisi | US$8,000 |
| Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | Tbilisi | US$8,000 |
| David Tvildiani Medical University | Tbilisi | US$8,000 |
| New Vision University | Tbilisi | US$7,000 |
| East European University | Tbilisi | US$6,000 |
FAQs
Is BSU admitting Indian students for 2026–27?
Georgia said in December 2025 that state universities would stop admitting new foreign students, and reports in September 2026 said none were admitted for 2026–27. BSU's pages do not state its current position, so ask the university in writing before you apply.
What does the English MD at BSU cost?
BSU's fee table lists USD 5,000 a year. Rent and living costs in Batumi add roughly USD 4,000–7,500 a year, depending on how you live.
Is Batumi a good city for students?
Batumi is smaller and calmer than Tbilisi, with the sea, parks and lower rents. It is very wet and humid, and fewer people speak English. Flights from India usually go to Tbilisi, so the journey takes longer.
How did BSU graduates do in the FMGE?
Careers360, citing NBEMS data, reports that 165 of 396 BSU graduates passed the FMGE in 2024, about 42%. That is above the Georgia average of about 36%.
Does BSU have a hostel for international students?
BSU has a 200-bed dormitory, but the listed priority groups are local Georgian students and it gives no prices. Plan for a shared private flat unless the university confirms a room in writing.
Is a BSU degree valid in India?
The NMC does not approve foreign universities. You must meet every condition of the FMGL Regulations, 2021, including the licence rule in Georgia, then pass the FMGE and complete a 12-month internship in India.
Sources
- BSU — Tuition fees (opens in a new tab)
- BSU — Educational programme 'Medical Doctor' (MD) (opens in a new tab)
- BSU — Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care (opens in a new tab)
- BSU — History (opens in a new tab)
- BSU — Degree seekers (how to apply) (opens in a new tab)
- BSU — The dormitory (opens in a new tab)
- NCEQE — Accreditation decision, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- World Directory of Medical Schools — Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (F0002943) (opens in a new tab)
- Careers360, citing NBEMS data — FMGE passing percentage of Georgia 2024 (opens in a new tab)
- OC Media, 4 Dec 2025 — Georgia to stop accepting foreign students in state universities (opens in a new tab)
- Medical Dialogues, 1 Oct 2026 — Junior doctor status alone may not satisfy FMGL (opens in a new tab)
- Numbeo — Cost of living in Batumi (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.bsu.edu.ge (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change