General information about the higher education system in the country
Georgia joined the Bologna Process in 2005 and since started to harmonise with the EHEA and it is instrumental, offering a diverse range of educational opportunities and promoting internalisation.
According to legislation there are the following types of higher education institutions in Georgia:
- College – delivering only undergraduate educational programme(s);
- Teaching University – delivering higher education programme (s) (other than a doctoral degree);
- University – delivering educational programme(s) at all three levels of higher education and providing scientific research.
Currently, there are 63 authorized HEIs operating in Georgia. Among them 19 are public, 44 - private. HEIs in Georgia receive funding from various sources, including tuition fees, funds received through private grants, contributions or a will, competitive research grants awarded by local or/and international institutions.
The Georgian higher education system follows the three-cycle structure of the EHEA. And there are some degree programmes (medical, dentistry, teacher and veterinary education) which lead to PhD degree directly. To gain admission to the first cycle of higher educational programmes in Georgia, it is mandatory to possess a general education diploma and pass the Unified National Examinations. For admission to the second cycle of educational programmes, a bachelor's degree diploma and completion of the unified master's examination are required, in addition to any special requirements set by the higher education institution (HEI) for each programme. Regarding admission to doctoral programmes, candidates must hold a master's degree or an equivalent degree, and any additional requirements are determined by the HEIs.
Use of ECTS
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) has been used in Georgia since 2007. It supports transparency and mobility, allowing students to transfer between institutions and countries. Common Framework for Qualifications: Georgia aligned its National Qualifications Framework with the Qualifications Framework for the EHEA, ensuring that Georgian degrees are compatible with those in EHEA countries. Current NQF and a Classifier of the Study Fields were approved in 2019 and meet the requirements of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the European Higher Education Area Qualifications Framework (QF-EHEA).
Quality Assurance
The external quality assurance framework of Georgia consists of institutional authorisation and programme cluster accreditation procedures. The National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) also conducts accreditation of joint programmes based on the European approach. The NCEQE is a member of ENQA and is registered in EQAR, has membership of World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) which proves alignment of its QA framework with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG-2015) and WFME international standards. The NCEQE acquired the right to conduct institutional and programme evaluations abroad.
Information on recent policy updates, major reforms and related news
Recent developments in Georgia’s higher education sector reflect a continuous reform trajectory focused on quality enhancement, system modernisation and alignment with European standards. A significant milestone was the revision of authorisation and programme accreditation standards during 2015–2018, which made them more outcome-based and descriptive. These standards established a common framework for quality assurance and encouraged higher education institutions to engage their communities in internal quality assurance processes, promoting transparency, trust, accountability and international recognition.
Building on this foundation, further reforms were introduced in 2022 with the development and implementation of the cluster accreditation model for educational programmes, which has since become mandatory. This model was informed by the analysis of previous accreditation processes and international practices, and allows for a more holistic internal and external evaluation of programmes, as well as more efficient use of institutional resources. The reform also includes the development of sectoral benchmarks for all fields of study, to be implemented progressively over the period 2022–2028.
Recent changes to quality assurance procedures have strengthened stakeholder involvement, making the participation of international experts, students and labour market representatives compulsory in authorisation and accreditation processes. At the same time, the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) is working on updating authorisation standards to better reflect current institutional needs and is developing specific quality assurance standards for doctoral education.
These reforms are complemented by Georgia’s active engagement in the Bologna Process, including participation in BFUG thematic peer groups on qualifications frameworks, recognition and quality assurance, as well as working groups on learning and teaching and the social dimension. Internationalisation remains an important driver of development, supported by continued participation in Erasmus+ and other international cooperation initiatives.
By 2025, reform efforts continue to focus on strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, further improving accreditation and evaluation procedures, and ensuring consistent standards across institutions. At the same time, priorities include the modernisation of study programmes and teaching approaches, with a stronger emphasis on graduate employability and alignment with labour market needs. Governance and system efficiency are also being addressed through measures aimed at improving institutional performance and coordination. Digitalisation is increasingly integrated into reform efforts, with initiatives promoting the use of digital tools and learning environments in higher education. Overall, developments in 2025 are characterised by the continued implementation and consolidation of previously established reforms, rather than the introduction of new standalone policy measures, reinforcing Georgia’s integration into the European Higher Education Area.
Information about relevant projects and initiatives
N | Project name | Objectives | Length of project | Keywords | Links |
1 | USAID Rule of Law programme | USAID Rule of Law Programme assists the NCEQE in the implementation of national standards on legal education and law school accreditation (Law Benchmarks Document). The programme supports partner university law schools in Tbilisi and in Georgia’s regions to improve their curricula and teaching practices. A major point of emphasis of the Rule of Law programme is to create opportunities for experiential learning for law students and expand its support to legal clinics. It also supports law schools to develop street law programmes through which law students gain skills by teaching practical law-related issues to secondary law students. | 2022-2027 | development and revision of educational resources , teacher professional development , teaching and learning |
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2 | USAID Educating the Future Programme | USAID/Georgia’s Educating the Future Programme will strengthen the quality of pre-service teacher training programmes, improve school governance, and support education decentralization. The Programme aims to support the government of Georgia in developing policies for continuous professional development for school administrators and crafting decentralization policies with a focus on Educational Resource Centres. | 2023-2028 | teaching and learning, capacity-building of the resource centers, institutional capacity building of the ministry or the state agency |
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3 | Innovation, inclusiveness and quality project - Georgia I2Q | The project (I2Q project) is an important facilitating mechanism for education reform. It is in compliance with the 2019-2022 framework document of the partnership of the World Bank with Georgia and aims to increase the availability of early and preschool education, raise the quality of general and higher education and improve the learning environment. | 2020-2025 | innovation, inclusiveness, better learning environment |
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4 | Georgia Human Capital Programme | The project has been financed by the World Bank and aims to make human capital delivery systems more inclusive and efficient | 2022-2028 | development, capacity building, university admission model |
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Relevant links:
Technical Assistance Missions Reports
2024
- Establishment of joint and double degree educational programmes
- Enrolment in the European Universities Initiative