In 2025 in Georgia, over 7.3 1000 candidates for studies received state grants for education at universities — most likely the last time according to the current system. As of next year, the financing model can be radically changed.
Currently, school graduates receive grants based on the results of the Single National Examinations. The amount of support depends on the number of points and covers 50%, 70% or 100% of learning costs. Maximum — 2250 lari per year. In practice, however, this is not always enough: in private universities, the cost of studies is much higher, and even the maximum grant only covers a 3rd or a 4th of the fee.
However, according to the old system, financial support from the state received a 3rd out of 31,705 first year students admitted to universities in Georgia in 2025.
According to bm.ge grants were distributed between 7 317 students:
- 1785 — full coverage,
- 1457 — 70% of learning costs,
- 4075 — 50%.
The full grant fund was 11 million lari. Only 1 3rd — 3.7 million lari — went to private colleges.
The private colleges were accepted with grants of 2584 students. The most support was received:
- Free University — 574 students, over 1 million lari,
- University of Business and Technology (UBT) — 648 students, 819 1000 lari,
- Caucasian University — 480 students, 657,000 lari,
- Agricultural University — 218 students, 315,000 lari,
- International Black Sea University — 138 students, 176 1000 lari.
State universities — here the leader remains the Jawachiszwile State University in Tbilisi: 2325 students received grants worth over 3.5 million lari.
They inactive rank:
- Ilji University — 675 students, over 1 million lari,
- Georgian method University — 468 students, 718,000 lari,
- Tbilisi State Medical University — 391 students, 669.4 1000 lari,
- International University of Kutaisi (KIU) — 253 students, 357.3 1000 lari,
- Akaki Ceretel State University — 151 students, 193.5 1000 lari.
The government is preparing to completely rebuild the system. Private sector grants can be abolished as early as 2026, and education at state universities is to become free. The authorities agree to a transitional period, so the current grants will not be withdrawn. For those admitted before 2026, backing will be preserved.
The improvement besides includes another measures, including the ban on abroad students being admitted to state universities, the rule of "one city – 1 university" to avoid duplication of programmes, and the strengthening of the function of the state in shaping educational courses.
For the time being, neither private nor state universities have received any authoritative documents. The Rectors admit that they are learning about the coming changes from the media.
Experts inform that improvement can disrupt the current balance and give state universities an advantage. The opposition believes that this is an effort to limit university autonomy — an environment that has actively participated in pro-European protests in fresh years.
Educational improvement was 1 of Georgian Dream's main promises before the 2024 parliamentary elections. At the time, Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze said that it is to "purify the strategy of political influence" from the erstwhile ruling organization of the United National Movement and its supporters in academic environments.
Source: newsgeorgia.ge
Study Bulletin: BIS
