Updated: August 26, 2026 | Reading time: 6 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
If you’ve been searching for a “Georgia Government Scholarship” to fund a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in the country of Georgia, here’s the honest answer: there isn’t a single, centralized government scholarship open to international students of any nationality, the way there is with Chevening in the UK or DAAD in Germany. Georgia’s own state scholarship fund actually runs the opposite direction — it pays for Georgian citizens to study abroad, not for foreigners to study in Georgia. That said, Georgia has genuinely become one of the most affordable and accessible study destinations for international students, and real funding does exist at the university level. Here’s what’s actually true, and how to find it.
Quick Facts
- Host Country: Georgia (Eastern Europe / Caucasus)
- Centralized Government Scholarship for Foreign Students: Does not currently exist in the way many scholarship sites describe
- Realistic Funding Source: University-level merit scholarships and tuition waivers, awarded individually by each institution
- Degree Levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD — widely available in English at Georgian universities
- Typical Tuition (self-funded, before any waiver): Roughly $1,000–$8,000 per year depending on university and program
- International Student Population: Around 25,000 as of recent counts, having roughly doubled in a few years — driven partly by students relocating from Ukraine and a growing number of students from Nigeria, Morocco, India, and elsewhere in Africa and Asia
- Visa: D3 student visa, generally processed within 2–4 weeks
Why Georgia Is Still Worth Considering, Even Without a Georgia Government Scholarship
Georgia’s appeal isn’t a flagship national scholarship — it’s low cost and easy access. Tuition at most universities runs a fraction of UK, US, or Western European costs, many Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are taught fully in English, and several universities don’t require an IELTS score if you can otherwise show English proficiency. Visa processing is fast by international standards, and Georgia has built a genuinely large, growing international student community, particularly among African and South Asian students.
Where Real Funding Actually Comes From
Rather than one national program, financial support for international students in Georgia comes from individual universities, each running its own scholarships or tuition discounts. A few examples worth checking directly:
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) — Georgia’s largest and oldest university; offers merit-based tuition support and, for some programs, a “State Scholarship for Students” style monthly stipend for top performers
- Ilia State University — offers its own merit- and need-based scholarship schemes for eligible students
- Georgian Technical University — runs scholarships specifically for engineering and technical programs
- Tbilisi State Medical University — offers financial aid options for international medical students
- Kutaisi International University (KIU) — offers funding tied to its partnership with the Technical University of Munich
Award amounts, eligibility, and deadlines are set independently by each university and change often — the only reliable way to confirm current terms is to check the specific university’s admissions or scholarships page directly, or email their international admissions office.
Don’t Confuse This with Georgia’s Own “State Scholarship”
You may come across mentions of a “Georgian Government Scholarship Fund,” administered by Georgia’s International Education Center (IEC). This is a real program — but it funds Georgian citizens to pursue Master’s and PhD study at foreign universities abroad, with a legal commitment to return to Georgia for at least three years afterward. It is not a funding source for international students coming to Georgia, even though the name causes understandable confusion.
How to Apply
- Shortlist universities. Compare English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD programs at Georgian universities in your field — Tbilisi hosts most of the country’s major institutions.
- Check each university’s scholarship or financial aid page directly, since funding is awarded per-institution, not through a shared national portal.
- Apply for admission first. Most university scholarships are only available to, or automatically considered for, students who’ve already been admitted — confirm whether a separate scholarship application is required.
- Prepare standard documents: academic transcripts, passport, proof of English proficiency (if required), and financial statements for your visa application.
- Apply for your D3 student visa once you have an admission (and scholarship, if applicable) confirmation from your university.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Georgian government scholarship for international students?
Not a centralized one. Georgia’s state scholarship fund (via the International Education Center) actually supports Georgian citizens studying abroad, not international students coming to Georgia. Real funding for international students comes from individual universities.
Can I study in Georgia for free?
Fully free study is rare, but many universities offer partial or full merit-based tuition waivers, which can bring costs close to zero for strong applicants. Full self-funded tuition is also low compared to Western Europe, the UK, or the US.
Do I need IELTS to study in Georgia?
It depends on the university and program. Many Georgian universities accept alternative proof of English proficiency, and some don’t require a formal test at all — confirm directly with your chosen university.
Which nationalities can apply to study in Georgia?
Georgian universities generally accept applicants of any nationality, and the international student population, including a large number of African and South Asian students, has grown substantially in recent years.
For More Scholarships: Europe, Africa, Chevening
Official Resources
Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia (program accreditation): mes.gov.ge
Individual university admissions and scholarship pages (search each university by name, e.g., “Tbilisi State University international scholarships”)