Higher education in Georgia
consists of three stages: bachelor program, master program and doctorate
program.
Educational program in the institution of higher education during one
educational year includes averagely 60 credits. Educational program of first
stage of teaching (bachelor) consists of no less than 240 credits. First stage
of higher education may include educational program of teacher's training. Only
holders of state certificates confirming full general education or persons
equalized with them, have a right to study in a bachelor programs. Educational
program of second stage of teaching (master) consists of no less than 120
credits. Only bachelors or persons with degrees equalized with them have a
right to study in a master programs. Medical/dentist educational program is
one-stage higher educational program which ends with awarding academic degree
of certified physician/dentist. Academic degree received after completing
educational program of physician with 360 credits or dentist with 300 credits,
is equalized with academic degree of master. Third stage of studying (doctorate
program) consists of no less than 180 credits. Only masters or persons with
degrees equalized with them, have a right to study in doctoral programs.
After completing of each stage
of higher education, respective diploma is issued. Institution of higher
education is authorized to award student with intermediate qualification, in
case of completing a part of educational program. Awarding an intermediate qualification
is allowed after reaching of results in studying, defined for completing a part
of educational program which should not be less than half of credit number
defined for educational program.
Types of higher education institutions:
In Georgia, three types of
higher education institutions are active:
- University
- institution of higher education which carries out higher educational programs
of all three stages and scintific researches.
- Teaching
university - institution of higher education which carries out higher
educational program/programs (except doctorate programs). Teaching university necessarily carries out educational programs
of second stage - master program/programs.
- College
- institution of higher education which carries out only firts stage
educational program of higher academic education.
Obtaining of status of institution of higher
education and implementation of respective educational activity is possible
only in case of authorization of higher
education institution defined by the rules of authorization
provision. Authorization is a procedure of obtaining of a status of higher education institution purpose of which is to ensure compliance with
standards necessary for implementation of respective activity required for
issuing of education confirming document recognized by the state. Authorization
is carried out by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement,
according to the rules defined by the authorization provision. The state
recognizes only diplomas issued by accredited or equalized with them
educational institutions.
Acceptance:
In the institutions of higher education, in bachelor, certified physician/dentist educational
programs, only those enrollees have a right to study who completed respective
Unified National Exams according to the rule defined by the Ministry of
Education and Science of Georgia. In higher educational institutions of
Orthodox theologian direction, enrolment of students in bachelor's theologian
educational program is carried out on the basis of proposal presented by
Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, according to the rule defined by the Ministry
of Education and Science of Georgia, on the basis of result obtained in certain
subject of Unified National Exams.
National Examinations Center is a
legal entity of public law which ensures execution of Unified National and
Joint Master Exams, is authorized to carry out national estimations and
international researches, carrying out other authorities defined by the
Georgian legislation.