COUNTRIES

Georgia Emerges as India’s New MBBS Hub Amid the Russia–Ukraine War

Srijita Saha • 8 Mins read • 6 Dec 25

Georgia Emerges as New Medical Hub for Indian Students Amid Russia–Ukraine War

Along with the Russia-Ukraine war entering its 4th year, most of the medical aspirants of India have quietly shifted course. While Ukraine previously educated thousands of MBBS students from India, Georgia is currently growing as a popular alternative to attract increasing numbers every year.

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As per Ankit Mehra (Co-Founder and CEO of GyanDhan), the change is about safety and strategy. The Indian students are being more practical in terms of their choices. Georgia provides affordable tuition, internationally recognised courses, along with an English-speaking environment-that makes it an appealing middle ground between quality and cost.

The change is evident in remittance trends. The data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), accessed with the help of RTO, highlights that Indians' spending on education increased to $50.25 million in 2024-25, which is almost 5 times more than the $10.33 million spent in 2018-19. However, remittances to Ukraine dropped sharply at the same time.

Due to conflict, this is not only a short-term reroute. Pavan Kavad (Managing Director, Prithvi Exchange) said that Georgia’s attractiveness comes from its balanced offering of affordable European education, which is coupled with relatively stable exchange rates as well as streamlined remittance processes under the LRS.

He added that the families of today weigh currency stability, transaction convenience, along with regulatory clarity as much as reputation and tuition, which makes Georgia a pragmatic and attractive choice.

Ankit Mehra added that the rise of Georgia shows a deeper awareness within Indian families that students are researching more carefully currently. They are seeking the institutions that provide both affordability as well as long-term value, like FMGE coaching, global exposure and post-graduation opportunities.

The appeal of Georgia goes beyond the present war situation. Georgia provides a strong value proposition for the Indian MBBS aspirants currently with affordable tuition fees that start around $4,000 every year, English-medium instruction, manageable living costs, and a stable, Europe-adjacent environment.

The top Georgian universities that provide affordable tuition fees for MBBS students from India include Georgian American University, Alte University, East European University, Georgian National University SEU, David Tvildiani Medical University, Caucasus University, etc.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) data, there has been an increase in the number of Indian students going to Georgia by more than 400% between 2020-24.

Why Georgia Now? Safety, Cost and European Access

There are several factors that show the sudden interest of students in studying in Georgia.

Proximity and safety: Georgia is geographically close to Europe, with easier travel as well as fewer geopolitical risks as compared with Eastern Ukraine.
Cost: Tuition and living expenses are less than in Western Europe or North America, which makes the MBBS programmes of Georgia a cost-effective route for most Indian families. The costs for studying MBBS in Georgia range widely; however, they are frequently cited as ₹2.5 lakh and ₹7 lakh each year, based on the university and city.
Course language and structure: Most Georgian universities provide English-medium MBBS programmes and also obey European clinical training standards that attract students who look for globally-oriented medical education.

Ankit Mehra noted that Georgian universities have focused on the students in recent years by providing structured FMGE preparation, while some offer USMLE-aligned content for the students who explore intentional medical pathways. These initiatives make Georgia an academically evolving and affordable option for students.

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Costs, Campus Life and Tuition Realities

The cost advantage is substantial in Georgia as its tuition fees are often only a fraction of those in Western countries; however, the living expenses are relatively lower. As per the university guides, the total cost to complete MBBS in Georgia in 6 years typically lies between $20,000 and $40,000, based on the institution, which is significantly less than in many Western countries. Students still have to budget for insurance, travel, living expenses and exams, and individual costs that can differ by city and lifestyle.

Pavan Kavad noted that another significant financial factor is the ease of remittance. He observed that the families are increasingly attentive to the currency stability, regulatory compliance and transaction convenience during the selection of study destinations.

Clear LRS processes, smooth banking lists and predictable exchange rates make Georgia a less risky financial choice than some of the alternatives.

Ankit Mehra added that transparency plays a significant role as parents want clear and upfront cost structures, accommodation, tuition and insurance. Georgian universities, in most cases, provide more predictable expenses as compared to the fluctuating Western costs.

Licencing, Recognition and Career Paths

For Indian students, the ultimate benchmark is to secure licensure in India. The Indian students, if they want to practise in India, have to clear the National Exit Test (NExT) or Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), equivalently overseen by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Significantly, there has been a warning from NMC to the students to verify the status of a foreign university and not assume automatic recognition. The students have to check the university records and also the NMC guidance before enrolling.

When it comes to results, Georgia is showing positive signals. From the analysis of the National Board of Examinations (NBE) FMGE 2024 results, an average FMGE pass rate for Georgian graduates was around 35.6% with some of the Georgian universities performing above the overall average for foreign medical graduates.

The results might not be exceptional, but they are notably better than in other destinations, which signals an improvement in academic standards at some institutions. Even so, the students are advised to closely examine the clinical exposure, teaching staff and the track record of the graduates of the university.

Ankit Mehra said that the most significant thing is to select the correct university. Students need to focus on NMC recognition, clear licensing pathways and clinical exposure. The Ukraine war might have triggered the initial pivot; however, the long-term relevance of Georgia will be based on how globally ready the programme can make a student.

The Risked Promise: Quality and Long-Term Value

Convenience and affordability are the strong pull factors; however, they do not guarantee career success. Quality varies across the Georgian universities.

Students must check whether a university is listed in the international directories, maintains English-medium instruction and has adequate clinical affiliations.

Students must also look into how the past graduates have performed in NExT/FMGE and what local internship or residency options are available.

The public guidance of NMC and university-specific FMGE statistics are important sources to verify before committing.

Ankit Mehra focused on the fact that with the growing competition, quality assurance will define the long-term reputation of Georgia. It is not just getting a degree, but also employability, along with clinical competence. The universities investing in real hospital exposure, as well as research, will stand out.

Looking Ahead: A More Diverse Study-Abroad Map

If the trend of Georgia continues, it can reshape the higher education remittance map of India. RBI LRS figures point to the changing student money flows-while remittances to traditional hubs like Australia and Canada fluctuated in current years, Georgia recorded a steady rise and upgrade in destination rank.

Pavan Kavad believes this is part of the bigger change, with India's education forex flows spreading beyond the traditional hubs. He says that easy forex handling, good banking integration and clear costs now matter as much as academic rankings.

So, for the Indian students, a practical advice is that they must verify the university credentials, factor in exam preparation for NExT/FMGE, budget realistically for the whole course and consider the long-term career plans, whether in India or Georgia or elsewhere in Europe.

Ankit Mehra concluded that the rise of Georgia highlights how Indian families are evolving; they are not chasing the brand names any more. They are evaluating cost, safety, quality and post-study pathways holistically. If there is an improvement in the standards of Georgian universities, this can mark a new chapter in the study-abroad story of India.

Georgia is likely to remain a famous low-cost choice. However, whether it becomes a lasting medical education hub will be based on how well quality is enhanced without raising the costs and how the families balance affordability with the final career results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques: Why is Georgia becoming a popular medical study destination for Indians?

Ans: Georgia provides affordable MBBS education, simplified remittances, stable currency, growing international recognition and English-medium programs.

Ques: How did the Russia-Ukraine war affect Indian medical students' choice of Georgia?

Ans: The Russia-Ukraine war had disrupted studies in Ukraine, which pushed the Indian students to move towards safer and politically stable alternatives, such as Georgia.

Ques: Is a medical degree from Georgia valid in India?

Ans: Yes, a medical degree from Georgia is valid in India if the students meet the NMC eligibility criteria as well as pass the NExT/FMGE exam.

Ques: Compare MBBS in Georgia vs Ukraine for Indian students.

Ans: For Indian students, Georgia offers greater political stability, a safer environment and easier remittances, while Ukraine was primarily selected for its lower tuition fees.

Ques: What are the top medical universities in Georgia for Indian students?

Ans: The top medical universities in Georgia for Indian students are Georgian American University, Alte University, Georgian National University SEU, David Tvildiani Medical University, East European University, Caucasus University, etc.