Study in Georgia: Application Process

Interested in studying abroad in Georgia? We’re here to break what can seem like a huge, even overwhelming process down into manageable steps. Georgia doesn’t have a national application portal. Applications are handled by individual schools. So start by having a look at the application processes of any schools that have caught your interest.

1. Find a Program

Start by finding the degree program that’s right for you. Just remember: just because a school has information on a program in English, it doesn’t mean that the program is actually available in English. Most Georgian schools run their Georgian and English programs identically, but do check before going ahead. 

2. Get Your Paperwork Together

Make sure you read through any and all application instructions carefully. Schools will be very clear about what they need enclosed in your application. These lists might seem repetitive, but various parts of the application process might require the same piece of documentation multiple times. Remember, if you’re applying for a postgraduate program or for doctoral studies, you’ll need to put your degree certificates and grade transcript front and center of your application. If you’re not a native speaker of English, be sure to include the results of a test like IELTS or ESOL. 

3. Check the Exact Entry Requirements

Some programs have general entry requirements. If you want to study medicine, you’ll need a background geared more towards science. If you want to study a language, you’ll need to have done that before in your education. If you’re a good match for the program, then contact the school you want to study at. Some Georgian schools have their own portal system. Others use the more ad hoc method of emailed applications. Full instructions will probably be found on either the course page or the admissions page. 

4. Submit Your Application

Once you’ve emailed your application, as will be the likely method of submission, be sure to ask for a receipt of application. If there is no automatic reply from the school, be sure to email the admissions office or the coordinator of the program to which you have applied and ask for some confirmation. When you send your application, don’t forget to attach the necessary documents in a PDF file. Make sure to check that the files are clear and legible beforehand. Also check to see if the school that you’re applying to requires Georgian-language translations of your documents. 

5. Wait for Admission Results

If you’re applying for a fall program with a start between August and October, you should get your admission results by the end of spring. As the Georgian application process is more ad hoc, it’s difficult to give a more precise time frame. If you are admitted to a program, the school should send you more detailed information about your program and your next steps. Be warned, this advice might arrive in Georgian, so, if this happens, ask for an English translation.

6. Apply for a Visa

Georgian immigration controls are refreshingly uncomplicated and inviting. In some cases, you don't even need to apply for a student visa or a temporary residency permit before you enter the country. 

This all depends, of course, on your nationality and whether or not your passport affords you a one-year or thirty-day visa-exemption period in Georgia.

7. Arrive in Georgia

Georgia is not a major transit hub like the UK or the UAE. Getting there will almost certainly require transiting one or two countries. But, once you arrive, it’s time to begin your adventure in the Caucasus. Before you arrive, plan your budget carefully, find a place to live and begin learning a little of the language. Remember, Russian is almost as widely spoken as Georgian. Throw yourself into your new adventure, see as much of Georgia as you can and make the most of your time in one of the world’s lesser-known countries. It is a country with so much to see, do and offer.