About the Center – Mission and Activities

 

International Education Center was established in 2014 with the mission of fostering the development of highly qualified professionals equipped with knowledge and skills that meet international standards, in line with the state’s development priorities. The Center aims to facilitate the integration of new knowledge into Georgia and to promote its effective use for the country’s advancement.

The Center provides Georgian citizens, as well as holders of neutral identification cards and/or neutral travel documents, with opportunities to study at leading universities worldwide. Upon completion of their studies, beneficiaries are expected to apply their newly acquired expertise to contribute to the development of Georgia.

To achieve this, the Center implements state-funded grant programs, partnership grant schemes, and bilateral scholarship initiatives. In addition, through international cooperation and intergovernmental agreements, the Center administers scholarship programs for foreign citizens.

Graduates of the grant programs are obliged, under their agreement with the Center, to return to Georgia and, within five years after completing their studies, work in a relevant field for no less than three years.

 

Application Procedure

Applicants interested in the Center’s programs must complete an online application form. The decision regarding funding is made by a selection committee appointed by the Executive Director of the Center. Each applicant is evaluated independently by the committee members in the electronic system, based on pre-established criteria.

 

Programs of the International Education Center

Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Studies Abroad - Within the framework of the state grant program Georgian citizens, holders of a neutral identity card and/or neutral travel document, who have obtained funding for tuition/research for a doctoral program abroad or are not obligated to pay the aforementioned fees, can obtain a state grant to cover living expenses during their studies at a doctoral academic program abroad.

The program aims to increase access to doctoral studies abroad and implement the acquired knowledge in Georgia, as well as, to promote the integration of graduates into the university environment for academic activity to foster the development of the country's educational sphere.

The grant is awarded in full or in part for one academic year, with a precondition for continued funding, within the official duration of the doctoral program of 3(+1) years.

 

Funding Opportunities for Master's Studies Abroad - within the framework of the state grant program Georgian citizens, holders of a neutral identity card and/or neutral travel document are given the opportunity to obtain funding for the purpose of studying at master's degree educational programs abroad.

The aim of the program is to increase access to study at master's degree programs abroad and to implement the acquired knowledge in Georgia.

Funding involves full or partial reimbursement of tuition fees and/or study-related and/or living expenses in the relevant country during the study period.

 

Funding Opportunities for Master’s Studies in the Arts – State grant program offers citizens of Georgia, as well as holders of a neutral identity card and/or neutral travel document, the opportunity to receive funding for studying in master’s degree programs abroad in the fields designated as priority areas under this program.

The program aims to expand access to master’s degree programs abroad and to support the application of acquired knowledge in Georgia. It also seeks to train qualified professionals essential for the country’s economic and social development, in line with labor market demands, and to facilitate their integration into relevant sectors and institutions within Georgia.

The grant is awarded for one academic year in full or in part, for the purpose of studying in a master's program of one year or more (with the condition of continuation of funding for the next academic year within the official duration of the program).

 

Funding Opportunities for Master's Studies for Contribution to Regional Development in Georgia - Within the framework of the program, Georgian citizens, holders of a neutral identity card and/or neutral travel document, who are recommended by a potential employer in a region of Georgia, are given the opportunity to obtain funding for studying in master's educational programs abroad.

program aims to expand access to master’s degree studies abroad and to promote the application of knowledge gained abroad within Georgian municipalities for regional development. It also seeks to train qualified professionals essential for the country’s economic and social advancement, in line with labor market requirements, and to support their integration into relevant sectors and institutions across the regions of Georgia.

To participate in the competition, the applicant needs to be recommended by a potential employer in the Georgian region.

 

Support for Qualification Enhancement Abroad - Within the framework of the state grant program Georgian citizens, as well as holders of a neutral identity card and/or neutral travel document, employed in state (budgetary) institutions, are provided the opportunity to receive a state grant for the purpose of improving their qualifications abroad, in alignment with their official duties.

The goal of the program is to train highly qualified and competent personnel essential for the country’s economic and social development.

Funding includes full or partial reimbursement of the program fee and/or living expenses in the relevant country for the duration of participation.

 

Qualification Enhancement Abroad for Employees of Local Self-Government Bodies - is a targeted program of the International Education Center’s state grant initiative "Support for Qualification Enhancement Abroad 2025-2026." Within this framework, employees of local self-government bodies in Georgia can receive funding to participate in the qualification improvement program (“Fundamental Issues in EU Education“) of European Public Law Organization (EPLO) for professional development purposes.

The program aims to prepare highly qualified and competent personnel for the economic and social development of the country, and to implement the acquired knowledge in the relevant municipalities of Georgia.

 

Graduate Program for Professional Experience or Further Studies at Higher Academic Level Abroad – Program regulates the procedures for accumulating professional work experience and continuing education abroad by the Center’s graduates, as well as the procedures for granting the associated rights.

The target group of the program comprises grant holders from previous years’ grant/scholarship programs of the Center who were awarded funding to study abroad in master’s or doctoral programs lasting more than one year.

In accordance with the grant/scholarship program and the grant agreement, the graduate should apply to the committee no later than 1 month after completing his/her studies (unless the scholarship program and grant agreement provide for a different condition).

 

Alumni Grants Program - The International Education Center offers graduates the opportunity to implement projects upon their return to Georgia, with the aim of supporting their integration into the labor market, employment, and career development. The submitted projects must align with the field and qualifications of the education they received abroad.

Eligible participants are graduates of the Center’s programs who have returned to Georgia upon completing their studies, have fulfilled all contractual obligations, and intend to implement projects that align with the knowledge and qualifications they acquired abroad.

 

Partnership Program with Italy - Since 2019, the LEPL International Education Center, in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy in Georgia, has offered Georgian citizens the funding opportunity to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees at top Italian universities. The program is based on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI).

 

Bilateral Program with Hungary - Since 2017, the LEPL International Education Center has been running a bilateral program with Hungary under an Intergovernmental MoU. Each year, through the Stipendium Hungaricum program, the Hungarian Government funds up to 80 Georgian citizens to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, Integrated Master’s (OTM), and Doctoral degrees, as well as semester exchange and non-degree certificate courses. In return, Georgia supports short-term study and research visits for Hungarian citizens.

 

State Scholarship Program for High-Achieving Students under the “Stipendium Hungaricum” Scholarship Program in Hungary - The program aims to provide financial support from the Government of Georgia to high-achieving students who have been awarded scholarships within the “Stipendium Hungaricum” program in Hungary. 

Launched in 2024, the program offers high-achieving scholarship holders state funding of €1,250 per semester to cover living expenses in Hungary.

 

Partnership Program with France - Since 2016, the LEPL International Education Center has been running a partnership program with France in cooperation with Campus France and the French Institute at the Embassy of France in Georgia. Each year, up to 17 Georgian citizens receive funding — including both new awardees and those continuing multi-year Master’s programs. Beneficiaries hold the status of scholarship recipients of both the Georgian and French governments.

 

 

Partnership Programs with the USA

Fulbright – Since 2018, the LEPL International Education Center has been a partner of the Fulbright Program, based on an Intergovernmental Agreement and a contract with the Institute of International Education (IIE), aimed at strengthening educational cooperation between Georgia and the USA. Each year, the Center funds up to four Georgian students to study in the United States.

 

San Diego State University – Since 2018, under an MoU with SDSU and the Millennium Foundation, the LEPL International Education Center has supported Georgian students pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry at SDSU.

 

Bilateral Program with China - Since 2022, the LEPL International Education Center has been running a bilateral program with China in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Georgia. Each year, the program funds 20 Georgian citizens for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral studies, as well as researcher programs and Chinese language courses.

 

Bilateral Program with the Czech Republic - Based on a 2017 agreement between the Ministries of Education of Georgia and the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic provides short- and medium-term scholarships for Georgian citizens at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels, as well as research scholarships for university lecturers and researchers. Czech citizens can also undertake research visits in Georgia or participate in summer schools organized by Georgian universities, funded by the Georgian side.

 

Partnership Program with the Republic of Armenia - The scholarship program in the Republic of Armenia is a partnership program based on the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education and Science signed in 2011 between the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia. Since 2022, the International Education Center (LEPL) has been administering this program for Georgian citizens. The program provides annual funding for 10 Georgian citizens to pursue Master’s degree studies at partner universities in the Republic of Armenia, in any academic field.

 

Partnership Program with the Republic of Kazakhstan - Scholarship program in the Republic of Kazakhstan is a partnership initiative based on the Agreement on Cooperation in Higher and Postgraduate Education and Science, signed on 6 February 2025 between the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The International Education Center (LEPL) is responsible for nominating Georgian citizens for funding under this program. It provides scholarship opportunities for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral studies, enabling Georgian students to study at higher education institutions in Kazakhstan.