Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, commonly called TSU, is a public research university in Tbilisi, Georgia. Founded in 1918, it is widely recognised as the first national university in the Caucasus and remains one of Georgia's largest and most research-active higher education institutions.

For students planning the September 2026 intake, TSU is worth shortlisting if they want a European-style public university, English-taught options in selected fields, lower living costs than many Western European capitals and a city-campus experience in Tbilisi.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Institution type	Public research university
Location	Tbilisi, Georgia
Founded	1918
Main student body	Around 22,000-25,000 students across published ranking and university profiles
Faculties	7 faculties, including law, medicine, humanities, business and economics, exact and natural sciences, social and political sciences, and psychology and education sciences
Popular intake	September 2026
QS World University Rankings 2026	#951-1000
THE World University Rankings 2026	1501+
International profile	Erasmus+, bilateral exchange links and cooperation with universities across Europe and beyond

Why TSU Can Be A Good Fit

TSU can suit students who want a large public university with strong national standing, research history and access to Georgia's capital city. The university is especially relevant for students comparing medicine, dentistry, natural sciences, business, law, social sciences and humanities options in the Caucasus region.

The main advantage is value: Tbilisi can be more affordable than many major European student cities, while TSU gives students a recognised public-university environment with international partnerships and English-taught pathways in selected programmes.

2026 Tuition Snapshot

Tuition depends heavily on programme and language of instruction. Students should always confirm the latest fee directly with TSU before applying.

Programme / fee type	Published fee indicator
Standard local tuition page	1,125 GEL per semester for educational programmes listed under the general tuition page
English-taught Chemistry BSc	10,000 GEL per year
English-taught Medicine MD	USD 8,000 per year
English-taught Dentistry DMD	USD 8,000 per year
English-instructed computing bachelor's example	USD 4,000 per year

International applicants should budget separately for application document translation, notarisation, visa/residence steps, health insurance, accommodation and first-month settling costs in Tbilisi.

Admission Snapshot

Area	What students should check
Application route	Foreign citizens and students educated abroad can apply through TSU's international admission procedure
Documents	Application form, passport copy, translated and notarised education documents, and programme-specific documents
English requirement	English-taught programmes require proof of English level; some programmes accept IELTS/TOEFL or a university-approved test
Faculty review	TSU may send documents to the relevant faculty and may require an exam or interview
Medicine applicants	Indian students should check NEET requirements where applicable
Final admission	TSU issues a letter of consent after review, exam or interview where required

Campus And Student Life

TSU does not work like a single enclosed campus. Its academic buildings are spread across Tbilisi, with the historic main building on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue. This gives students a city-based university life with access to public transport, cafes, libraries, museums and cultural spaces.

Tbilisi is compact compared with many larger capitals, but students should still choose housing based on faculty building, metro access and evening travel comfort. Basic Georgian or Russian language exposure can help daily life, while English is more common in university and international student settings.

Who Should Consider TSU?

TSU can be a strong option for students who want:

• A September 2026 intake at Georgia's best-known public university
• English-taught options in selected high-demand fields
• A research-active institution with Erasmus+ and international partnerships
• Lower living costs than many UK, Ireland, Canada or Western Europe routes
• A city-campus experience in Tbilisi rather than a residential campus model

Things To Check Before Applying

Before finalising TSU, students should confirm:

• Exact 2026 tuition for the chosen programme
• Whether the programme is fully taught in English or partly bilingual
• Faculty-specific exam, interview and English-test rules
• Hostel or private rental availability near the relevant building
• Visa, residence permit and health insurance requirements for Georgia

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University is popular with students who want Georgia's leading public university, a Tbilisi city-campus experience, medicine and science options, and a university with long academic history in the Caucasus region.

Key Highlights

Popular for	Why students choose it
Public university reputation	TSU is Georgia's historic national university and a major public research institution
Tbilisi location	Students study in the capital city with access to government, business, cultural and healthcare networks
Medicine and dentistry	English-taught medical and dentistry programmes are visible options for international applicants
Science and research	TSU has strong national visibility in physics, chemistry, mathematics and natural sciences
Humanities and social sciences	The university has deep roots in Georgian history, law, politics, languages and cultural studies
International links	Erasmus+, bilateral exchange routes and cooperation with foreign universities support mobility
Cost-conscious study abroad	Georgia can be more budget-friendly than many larger Western study destinations

Why Students Choose TSU

Students often choose TSU because it combines academic history, public-university credibility and city access. It is not a small private college environment. Students should expect a larger institution where they need to manage faculty offices, documents and programme requirements carefully.

For international students, TSU is especially attractive when the chosen programme is clearly available in English and the total cost of study in Tbilisi fits the family budget.

Best Fit For September 2026

TSU is a good match for students planning the September 2026 intake if they want:

• A recognised public university in Georgia
• A capital-city study location
• Medicine, dentistry, science, business, law, humanities or social science options
• A lower-cost international study route compared with many Western capitals

Useful To Know

Programme rules vary by faculty. Students should not assume that every TSU course is available in English. Confirm the programme page, tuition, language of instruction, English requirement and admission contact before paying for document translation or travel planning.