Georgia, in the South Caucasus, has universities that teach medicine in English to international students. Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) teaches Medical Doctor and Dental Medicine programmes in English and Russian, an American MD programme, and English-taught Pharmacy and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and it reports over 3,500 international students from 84 countries.
Fees are published in US dollars. At TSMU, the English-medium Medical Doctor programme costs USD 8,000 a year, English-medium Dental Medicine USD 7,000, Pharmacy USD 3,500 and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in English USD 3,000, while the American MD programme costs USD 13,500 for international students. The Russian-medium Medical Doctor and Dental Medicine programmes cost USD 5,000.
Admission for foreigners runs outside Georgia's national entrance exams. Under the Law on Higher Education, foreign citizens who completed general education abroad may enter without the national exams, following the ministry's procedures. At TSMU, after receiving an acceptance letter, which takes about five business days, the applicant submits it with their documents, translated and notarised into Georgian, to the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, and brings the resulting recognition letter back to the university. TSMU asks for an English certificate at least at B1 and holds an online interview.
A student arriving to study at an authorised educational institution needs a D3 immigration visa, decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Georgian mission within 30 calendar days; Georgia's e-Visa covers only short-term visitors. The student then applies to the Public Service Development Agency for a residence permit at least 40 days before their lawful stay expires, with a certificate from the institution and a personal bank balance of at least twice the minimum subsistence level each month. The permit costs GEL 300 for a decision in 30 days, GEL 450 in 20 days or GEL 600 in 10 days, and is first issued for six months to a year. Georgian law gives no general right to work on a study permit and no published post-study stay.