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Ilia State University (ISU) is a flagship public research university located in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Established in 2006 through the merger of six academic and research institutions, ISU has grown into one of the leading research-intensive universities in the South Caucasus. The university consistently ranks first among Georgian universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, reflecting its strong research output and academic reputation.
Ilia State University’s Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine launched its English-medium Medical Doctor (MD) program in 2019. The program is designed according to the Georgian Higher Education Medicine Sectoral Benchmarks and aligned with World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) standards, combining pre-clinical education, clinical sciences, and structured clinical attachments at partner hospitals in Tbilisi. ISU welcomes international students from dozens of countries and maintains academic partnerships with more than 100 universities across Europe, including full Erasmus+ partner status.
Location: Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia.
Ilia State University occupies 11–12 buildings across Tbilisi, housing its four academic faculties, research institutes, and central library.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine at Ilia State University offers a One-Cycle Medical Doctor (MD) Educational Program “Medicine” for both Georgian and international students. Key details of the program include:
Graduates are eligible to continue further medical education or begin work as junior doctors, subject to the applicable licensing, registration, and eligibility requirements of the country in which the graduate intends to practice.
One-Cycle Educational Program – Full-Time Education
Medical Doctor (MD) – “Medicine”: This is ISU’s flagship medical program, combining pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical education over a single, integrated 6-year (12-semester) course. The program follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and totals 360 ECTS credits. It is taught entirely in English and is designed according to the Georgian Higher Education Medicine Sectoral Benchmarks and World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) standards. Around 1,000 hours are dedicated specifically to clinical skills, with structured clinical attachment from the 7th to the 12th semester at affiliated Tbilisi hospitals and clinics. Graduates are awarded the Medical Doctor (MD) qualification.
Master’s Degree Program – Full-Time Education
Master of Public Health and Health Policy (MPH): A 4-semester, 120 ECTS graduate program taught in English within the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine. The program is intended for applicants holding a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in fields such as Public Health, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work, or related natural/social sciences. Admission is based on the national general master’s examination together with an internal university assessment, and typically requires English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS) along with a quantitative reasoning assessment (GRE/GMAT or an equivalent university-administered test).
Doctoral (PhD) Programs
ISU also offers PhD-level research programs in Medicine and Public Health within the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine, alongside a PhD track in Ecology, allowing graduates to pursue advanced research careers in biomedical and health-related fields.
Library & E-Library: The ISU Library holds a collection of nearly 2 million books, monographs, periodicals, and electronic resources across multiple languages. Students have access to 8–9 reading halls, computer resource centers, and academic databases such as EBSCOhost, along with an online catalogue (OPAC) for searching library resources.
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine: The medical program is hosted within this faculty, which also runs programs in biology, ecology, genetics, physics, and related natural sciences, giving medical students access to a broader scientific research environment.
Laboratories: Pre-clinical training includes laboratory-based instruction in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and related basic sciences, supporting the theoretical component of the curriculum.
Clinical Training Facilities: From the 7th semester onward, students undertake clinical attachments at partner hospitals and clinics across Tbilisi, gaining hands-on exposure to internal medicine, surgery, emergency care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and infectious disease.
Research Facilities: ISU operates over two dozen research institutes and dozens of research centers university-wide, with active involvement from academic staff and students. The university has consistently ranked first in Georgia for research quality and output in Times Higher Education’s rankings.
Digital Learning Resources: Students can access the university’s e-services platform, online library catalogue, and digital academic databases to support coursework and independent study.
International Student Support: The International Students and Program Marketing Office assists incoming and current international students with admissions procedures, visa-related guidance, and general student support throughout their studies.
Accommodation: Ilia State University does not widely advertise a dedicated on-campus hostel for MD program students; international students typically arrange private rented accommodation in Tbilisi, and the university’s international office can provide guidance on housing options. Students should confirm current accommodation arrangements directly with the university before enrollment.
Student Activities: Students can participate in academic clubs, cultural events, workshops, and university-wide activities, including opportunities linked to ISU’s Erasmus+ partnerships and international mobility programs.
Campus Environment: ISU’s buildings are spread across Tbilisi, providing students with an urban university environment supported by the city’s transportation network, cultural attractions, and student services.
English-Medium Medical Education: The MD program is delivered entirely in English, making it accessible to international students without requiring Georgian language proficiency for coursework.
360 ECTS Structured Curriculum: The program follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, aligning ISU’s medical education with recognized European academic standards.
Substantial Clinical Training: With approximately 1,000 dedicated clinical training hours and a structured clinical attachment phase from semesters VII–XII, students gain considerable hands-on exposure before graduation.
Modern Competency Framework: The curriculum is built around the CanMEDS 2015 Physician Competency Framework, emphasizing not only medical knowledge but also communication, professionalism, and collaboration skills.
Established Clinical Partnerships: Training takes place across a network of recognized Georgian hospitals and clinics rather than a single affiliated hospital, exposing students to varied clinical environments.
Strong Research Environment: As Georgia’s top-ranked university for research quality (per THE rankings), ISU offers medical students exposure to an active research culture alongside their clinical training.
International Academic Network: ISU holds full Erasmus+ partner status and maintains partnerships with over 100 universities across Europe, offering potential mobility and exchange opportunities for eligible students.
Comparatively Affordable Cost of Living: Tbilisi offers a lower cost of living than many major European cities, helping offset the overall cost of studying abroad.
1. Medical Doctor / Clinical Career
2. Clinical & Hospital Careers
3. Medical Research & Academia
4. Postgraduate & Specialization Opportunities
5. International Career Opportunities
Graduates may pursue further education, licensing examinations, or employment in different countries. Such opportunities are always subject to the destination country’s medical licensing, registration, examination, and eligibility requirements. A degree from Ilia State University does not, by itself, grant the right to practice medicine anywhere; graduates intending to practice in India, for example, must fulfil applicable NMC/National Exit Test (NExT) or FMGE requirements, and graduates intending to practice elsewhere must meet the equivalent local licensing procedures (such as USMLE in the United States or PLAB in the United Kingdom).
Qualification: Applicants generally require a completed higher secondary/12th standard education with science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics).
Entrance Exam: Based on official program information, entrance examinations in Biology and Chemistry are conducted online for international candidates. Applicants should confirm the exact current exam format directly with the university, as requirements can be revised between intakes.
Language Proficiency: Ilia State University’s general international-admission requirement is CEFR level B2 in English. Applicants may satisfy this through an accepted English proficiency certificate (such as IELTS or TOEFL) or a confirmation letter that their prior education was conducted in English; applicants from English-speaking countries are generally exempt.
Indian Students: Indian applicants pursuing medical studies abroad are required to hold a valid NEET qualification, consistent with National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations, in order to be eligible for future recognition and licensing pathways in India. This is an Indian regulatory requirement, separate from ISU’s own admission process.
Documents & Funds: Applicants must submit the required academic and personal documents along with proof of sufficient funds where applicable, as part of the visa and enrollment process.
Application: Ilia State University typically holds two intakes per year — Fall and Spring — though, as noted above, current MD program availability for new international applicants should be verified directly with the university given the 2026–27 policy changes affecting state universities.
Ilia State University has confirmed scholarship provisions for certain international programs for example, its Undergraduate Pathway Program offers up to 50% tuition fee waivers to eligible international students on a competitive basis. Specific merit-based scholarship schemes for the MD program are not clearly published at this time; prospective medical students should confirm the latest scholarship opportunities directly with the university’s International Students and Program Marketing Office.
International students may also explore external scholarship opportunities, including Erasmus+ mobility grants (ISU holds full Erasmus+ partner status with over 100 European university partners) and independent scholarship providers, subject to individual eligibility criteria.
A checklist of documents will be provided by experts at Eklavya Overseas based on the specific course that you are applying for. The mandatory supplementary documents required by Ilia State University University are:
According to the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Ilia State University holds the top position among Georgian universities and is placed in the 1201–1500 global band. In THE’s 2026 Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, ISU also ranks first nationally in Georgia and falls within the 401–500 band worldwide. Ilia State University is not currently featured in the QS World University Rankings. According to uniRank’s 2026 listing (an independent directory rather than an academic ranking body), ISU is placed 2nd among Georgian universities.
Rankings vary depending on the organization and methodology used, and applicants are encouraged to consult multiple sources when evaluating a university’s standing.
Medical training at Ilia State University combines theoretical coursework with structured clinical exposure. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, flipped-classroom sessions, problem-based and case-based learning, and bedside teaching at partner clinical sites. Students maintain a clinical portfolio reflecting the CanMEDS competency framework throughout their training.
ISU’s broader academic environment includes regular workshops, conferences, and research activities across its faculties, along with international academic cooperation supported by the university’s Erasmus+ partnerships and collaborations with over 100 European universities. Specific guest lecturer programs for the MD course are not independently verified and should be confirmed with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine.
Ilia State University provides a comprehensive academic environment across its 11–12 buildings in Tbilisi. Students have access to the university library, digital learning resources, research institutes, and student clubs spanning academic, cultural, and scientific interests.
International students form part of a growing multicultural community at ISU, drawn from a range of countries, and can participate in academic events, student organizations, and cultural exchange opportunities. The university’s location within Tbilisi also gives students easy access to the city’s transportation network, cultural sites, and student-oriented amenities.
Tbilisi offers a comparatively affordable cost of living relative to many major European study destinations, though costs vary considerably by neighborhood, accommodation type, and lifestyle.
Approximate monthly costs for a student in Tbilisi:
Overall, a single person’s average monthly living costs in Tbilisi (excluding rent) are estimated at around USD 550–650, with total costs (including a modest rental) commonly ranging from roughly USD 700 to 1,200 or more per month depending on accommodation choices. Students sharing accommodation and managing expenses carefully can generally keep costs toward the lower end of this range. These figures are approximate and will vary based on individual lifestyle and location within the city.
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