The main goals of Higher Education in Georgia are as follows:

 a) To facilitate the formation of Georgian and world cultural values, orientation toward the ideals of democracy and humanism, which are essential for the existence and development of civil society;

b) To satisfy the requirements for receiving higher education, qualification improvement and retraining that corresponds to the interests and capabilities of the individual;

c) To realize the personal potential, develop creative skills, prepare individuals with competencies that meet modern requirements, ensure competitiveness of  individuals with higher education in both domestic and international labor markets and offer high - quality higher education that meets the demands of students and broader society for interested individuals;

d) To prepare and retrain new scientific staff, create, provide and develop conditions for scientific research to ensure the development of the state and the viability of the higher education system itself;

e) To encourage mobility of students and academic staff of Higher Education Institutions.

Higher Education System in Georgia

Higher Education system in Georgia consists of three levels and is carried out at Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels of Higher Education.

Higher Education Institutions use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) Guidelines when developing and implementing educational programmes.

An educational programme at a Higher Education Institution includes approximately 60 credits during one academic year.

The first level of higher education - Bachelor's educational programme includes at least 240 credits.

According to the " Classifier of Fields of Study " approved by Georgian legislation, Bachelor's educational programmes in the narrow fields of Arts, Business and Administration as an exception, may comprise a minimum of 180 credits. In other fields of study, 180 credit Bachelor's educational programmes can only be implemented as a joint programme between Georgian Higher Education Institution and foreign Higher Education Institution recognized under the legislation of that foreign country.

The graduate of Bachelor's educational programme is awarded Bachelor's academic degree. The right to pursue bachelor's studies is granted only to the individual who holds state certificate of General Education or equivalent qualification.

Teacher Training and Special Education Teacher Training programmes are implemented within the first level of higher education.

The teacher training educational programme is studied for no less than 1 academic year and includes 60 credits. Graduate receives a teacher preparation certificate, which grants a person the right to teach in a general educational institution. The existing programme may be implemented independently or can be integrated into a bachelor's educational programme of a subject/subject group as specified in the national curriculum.

The special education teacher training programme is implemented as an independent educational programme, which is studied for no less than 1 academic year and includes 60 credits. Graduate receives a special education teacher training certificate, which grants a person the right to work as a special education teacher in a general educational institution.

The learning outcomes of both teacher training and special education teacher training programmes are described in the respective subject benchmark document, developed by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement.

The second level of higher education - Master's educational programme includes at least 120 credits.

According to the procedure established by legislation, Higher Education Institution has the authority to design a Master's programme envisaging at least 60 credits.  According to the rule, the development and implementation of a Master's educational programme comprising at least 60 credits is possible in the narrow field of business and administration for the purpose of obtaining a master's academic degree, including obtaining an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) qualification. Possession of bachelor's degree or an equivalent academic degree is the prerequisite for admission to the programme.  The admission rules and conditions for this programme are set by respective Higher Education Institution. For obtaining the degree of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), candidates are additionally required to have at least 5 years of professional experience in the management/administrative field. It should be noted that Master's degree educational programmes that include at least 60 credits do not provide admission to the next level of education, doctoral studies.

Individuals who hold Bachelor's degree or an equivalent academic degree are entitled to pursue Master's studies.

The graduates of Master's educational programmes are awarded Master's academic degree.

Additionally, the educational system includes one-level and integrated educational programmes (one-level programmes in Medicine and Dentistry, integrated Bachelor's - Master's programme in Teacher Training, integrated Master's programme in Veterinary), which combine bachelor's and master's levels and their learning outcomes correspond to the master's level. Individuals who hold the document verifying complete general education or its equivalent document are eligible for admission to the integrated programmes. The prerequisite for enrollment to the programme is the Unified National Examinations.

• The graduate of the one-level educational programme in Medicine is awarded the academic degree of Medical Doctor. The volume of the programme is 360 ECTS credits.
• The graduates of the one-level educational programme in Dentistry are awarded the academic degree Doctor of Dental Medicine. The volume of the programme is a minimum of 300 ECTS credits.
• The graduate of the integrated Master's programme in Veterinary receives a Master's academic degree in Veterinary. The programme consists of 300 ECTS credits.
• Moreover, the teacher training integrated Bachelor's - Master's educational programme consists of 300 ECTS credits and results in Master's academic degree in Education.

The veterinary training educational programme is implemented as an independent educational programme, which is studied for at least 1 academic year and includes 60 credits. The prerequisite for admission to the programme is a Bachelor's degree in Veterinary. Graduates receive a veterinary training certificate. The holder of the Veterinary training certificate is eligible to pursue third - level higher education (doctoral studies).

Those who hold a master's academic degree or equivalent qualification are eligible to be admitted to doctoral studies. With the exception of cases where the individual has obtained master's degree through a master's educational programme consisting of at least 60 credits. The duration of the doctoral educational programme is at least 3 years and its study component comprises no more than 60 ECTS credits. The graduate of the doctoral educational programme is awarded a doctoral academic degree. The graduates will receive diploma verifying doctoral academic degree.

For national minorities of Georgia, Georgian language training programme at national level is offered from level 1 to level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework to develop state language knowledge and skills. The programme spans 1 year, includes at least 60 credits and upon completion of the programme graduates receive Georgian Language Training Certificate/State Language Training Certificate.

The Georgian language training educational programme can also be offered at the first level of higher education, for the purposes of studying in bachelor's, one-level or integrated educational programmes. The aim of the programme is to help individuals enrolled in Georgian - language educational programmes, for whom Georgian is not native language, acquire Georgian language skills and knowledge (writing, reading, listening, speaking) at the level necessary to continue studies at the bachelor's level, or in one-level and integrated programmes. The Georgian language preparation educational programme includes 60 credits. This can only be taken during the first year of studies. After completion of the programme, the Higher Education Institution issues a certificate verifying its completion.

Types of Higher Education Institutions

Two types of Higher Education Institutions operate in Georgia:

a) College -  Higher Education Institution that implements only the first level of academic higher education - Bachelor's educational programme(s);

b) University - Higher Education Institution that implements Integrated Master's programme in Veterinary, Teacher Training Integrated Bachelor's - Master's educational programme, Medical/Dental education programme, Bachelor's and Master's educational programmes, Master's and/or Doctoral educational programmes and scientific research or educational programmes of all three levels of academic higher education and scientific research;

Higher Education Institution may be established as either public or private legal entity.

Obtaining the status of a Higher Education Institution and implementing relevant educational activities is possible only after receiving authorization in accordance with the rules established by the Statute of Authorization of Educational Institutions.

Authorization is a procedure for acquiring the status of a Higher Education Institution, which is intended to ensure the meeting of standards necessary for the implementation of appropriate activities in order to issue an education certificate recognized by the State. Authorization is carried out by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, in accordance with the rules established by the Statute of Authorization of Educational Institutions. State recognizes only diplomas issued by authorized Higher Education Institutions.

Admission

The prerequisite for enrollment in Bachelor's, Medical Doctor's, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Teacher Training Integrated Bachelor's - Master's and Veterinary Integrated Master's  educational programmes at Higher Education Institutions is the Unified National Examinations.

The prerequisite for admission to Master's educational programme is the Common Master Exams. Additional admission preconditions are defined by the Higher Education Institution.

The prerequisites for admission to Doctoral studies are determined by the Higher Education Institution.

 Foreign citizens are enrolled in various levels of higher education under different conditions from above - stated rules (in accordance with the rules established by Georgian legislation).

Admission of students to Theological educational programmes of Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels at Orthodox Theological Higher Education Institutions is carried out based on the recommendation from the Catholicos - Patriarch of All Georgia, in accordance with the procedures established by the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, grounded on the results of specific subjects of the Unified National Examinations.