Programmas
Par augstskolu
Central University of Europe (CUE, formerly Kutaisi University) is a private university founded in 1991, with campuses in Kutaisi and Tbilisi. It runs one medical programme in English, Medical Doctor: 6 years (12 semesters), 360 ECTS credits. Tuition for foreigners is 5,000 USD a year in Kutaisi and 5,500 USD a year in Tbilisi. The candidate applies online, and the admissions office invites them to a remote English exam (speaking, listening, reading); the description of the procedure for foreigners does not mention an exam in biology or chemistry. The programme is accredited by the Georgian agency NCEQE (a positive decision with conditions of 26 April 2022, valid until 26 April 2028), and the student guide does not list dormitories.
Key points at a glance
- Our offer includes medicine (Medical Doctor): full-time single-cycle studies in English, 6 years (12 semesters), 360 ECTS credits, with the status “Accredited” on the university’s pages. The programme runs on two campuses, in Kutaisi and in Tbilisi; the university describes it as currently its only single-level medical programme, open to foreign and Georgian students.
- Annual tuition for foreigners: 5,000 USD in Kutaisi and 5,500 USD in Tbilisi (the pages from April and June 2026 agree on the amounts). The pages we read give no application fee, no exam fee, no instalments and no deposit, and we did not find a description of scholarships for foreigners, so we confirm these matters with the university.
- Admission of foreigners: an online form (a Gmail account is required), attachments (proof of education, a copy of the passport and a document required in some countries), a check of the documents by the admissions office, a remote English exam, then the agreement, payment of the tuition and the documents for the student visa. The page does not say whether an English certificate can replace the exam.
- The pages give no application deadlines. The calendar of the Faculty of Medicine for 2026/27 has the autumn semester from 7 September 2026 (studies until 1 January 2027), the spring semester from 1 March 2027 and a second group (“MD II session”) from 26 October 2026; the timetables also show a first-year group with the start of the spring semester on 25 May 2026. Which group a new student of a given campus joins, we confirm with the university.
- Accreditation: according to the EQAR register the Georgian agency NCEQE gave the “Medical doctor” programme a positive decision with conditions or restrictions on 26 April 2022, valid until 26 April 2028. The university writes that the programme is based on the WFME standards, that the faculty is in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and that the university is in the ENIC-NARIC database; it is worth checking the WDOMS entry yourself.
- The NCEQE expert report of April 2022 (the English text is in the EQAR register) lists 17 hospitals in which practical classes take place, 149 members of the programme staff and a simulation centre with 8 rooms. However, it assessed three standards as only partially met (practical placements and skills, student assessment, staff) and pointed to the space for clinical classes as student numbers grow and to the fact that part of the clinical staff do not speak English. The report is two years old, so we ask the university what has changed since.
- Housing: the student guide does not list dormitories; it points to portals with rental ads. The university leaves the cost of living to the Numbeo service: according to it (May 2025, a small sample) a one-room flat in Kutaisi costs from 653 to 820 GEL a month.
- What the pages do not give: the number of places, the number of students in the programme, the names of the clinical hospitals (except in the 2022 report), the rules for transfers from another university and the application deadlines. We ask the university about this before you apply.
- 5,000 USD a year in Kutaisi (in Tbilisi: 5,500 USD)
- 360 ECTS credits in the Medical Doctor programme (6 years, 12 semesters)
- 1991 the year the university was founded
- 2028 the year to which the programme’s accreditation decision is valid (NCEQE, April 2028)
About the university
CUE was founded in 1991 as the first private higher education institution in western Georgia. According to Wikipedia it began as the Kutaisi Institute of Law and Economics, in 1992 it was called the Kutaisi University of Law and Economics, and from 2010 Kutaisi University; the university’s pages do not say when the name changed to Central University of Europe. It is the same institution: the European register EQAR lists it under the name Kutaisi University (founded in 1991), and events of 2024 on the university’s site still take place under that name.
The university has two faculties: Medicine, and Social Sciences, Business and Law; the programmes at three levels are in Georgian and in English. It is an individual associate member of the European University Association (EUA; according to the university the fifth private university in Georgia in this association) and a member of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE), and according to its page it has cooperation agreements with 67 universities in 21 countries (the page gives no date). In November 2026 the university announced a call for students of the Faculty of Medicine for clinical practice in Germany and named the winner of an internal Erasmus+ competition; we do not know the details of these programmes. The pages do not give the number of students.
Kutaisi and Tbilisi
The campus in Kutaisi, at 13 Tsereteli St, is the seat of the university administration. Kutaisi lies in the Imereti region on the Rioni river, is the second city of Georgia and a former capital of the country; among the monuments the page about the city lists the Uchimerioni castle, Gelati and the Bagrati cathedral. The campus in Tbilisi, at 77 Merab Kostava St, is close to a metro station; according to the university it has lecture halls, a library, laboratories of anatomy, biochemistry, immunology and microbiology, histology and pathology rooms and a simulation centre.
Both campuses run the Medical Doctor programme in English; tuition in Tbilisi is 500 USD a year higher. The pages do not say whether the whole programme can be completed on one campus, how the years of study are divided, or how the clinical bases of the campuses differ, so we confirm this before you apply.
Programme in English
- Medicine (Medical Doctor, full-time single-cycle): 6 years (12 semesters), 360 ECTS credits, in English, the title Medical Doctor (MD). The university writes that the programme is accredited under the law of Georgia and based on the standards of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
- First semester: the first-year timetables (Year I, Semester I) of the academic year 2025/26 list English B2.1 and B2.2, Georgian A1, communication skills, Body System I (anatomy, histology and embryology, radiology), Principles of Life Sciences I (biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, physiology, medical genetics), bioethics and Clinical and Professional Skills I. The pages give no plan of the later years and no ECTS credits per course, so we do not present them.
- Laboratories and simulation: the Simulation Center works on both campuses: mannequins, simulators and medical equipment, cameras and microphones in the rooms, practising procedures on adult and paediatric patients (from injections and intubation to resuscitation, lumbar puncture, sutures, obstetrics and gynaecology) and an OSCE after each training programme. The faculty has laboratories of biochemistry, histology, physiology, microbiology and immunology, a 3D anatomical theatre and an interactive cabinet of bodies.
- Clinical classes: the faculty page speaks of a “network of partner clinics” and gives no names. The 2022 accreditation report lists 17 hospitals in which practical classes take place; we do not know the current list, so we ask the university about the hospitals on each campus.
- Languages: the programme is in English, and already in the first semester there is Georgian at level A1. The pages do not describe in which language contact with patients takes place in clinical classes, and the 2022 report noted that part of the clinical staff do not speak English.
- Outside our offer: the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Law runs programmes in Georgian and in English (according to the tuition page and the EQAR register, among others economics, law, accounting, finance and tourism). We did not read their descriptions, so we do not describe them here.
Intakes and dates
The page on the admission of foreigners gives neither application deadlines nor the number of places. The academic calendar of the Faculty of Medicine (the page changed on 27 May 2026) shows several groups with different starts; it does not say which group is on which campus or how it relates to the intake. Before you apply we therefore ask the university when a new student starts and by when the documents must be submitted.
| Group and semester | Studies | Sessions: midterm, final, resit |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn semester 2026/27 | 7 September 2026 – 1 January 2027 | 26 October – 6 November; 4–15 January; 18–29 January |
| Spring semester 2026/27 | 1 March – 26 June 2027 | 19 April – 1 May; 28 June – 10 July; 12–24 July |
| “MD II session”, autumn semester | 26 October 2026 – 19 February 2027 | 14–25 December; 22 February – 5 March; 8–19 March |
| “MD II session”, spring semester | 19 April – 14 August 2027 | 7–18 June; 16–27 August; 30 August – 10 September |
| Spring semester 2025/26 (a first-year group) | 25 May – 18 September 2026 | 13–24 July; 21 September – 2 October; 5–16 October |
Admission step by step
- Online application The candidate fills in the CUE application form (a Google form that requires a Gmail account and includes instructions). They attach proof of education, a copy of the passport and a document required in some countries.
- Check of the documents The office of selection and admission of foreign students checks the documents and informs the candidate by e-mail that they can take the remote English exam. The page does not list required translations or legalisation of documents, so we confirm these requirements with the office.
- Remote English exam The exam takes place remotely, from home, and covers speaking, listening and reading. The description of the procedure does not mention an exam in biology or chemistry. After passing it the candidate receives further instructions. The page gives neither the cost of the exam, nor the grading scale, nor whether an English certificate can replace it.
- Agreement and tuition After obtaining the right to study the candidate signs an agreement with the university and pays the tuition. Only then do they receive the admission documents needed for the student visa. We confirm the amount of the first payment and the schedule with the university.
- Visa and arrival The visa rules are given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on its consular services page. We help to collect the documents and plan the arrival so that you are in time for the start of the semester.
Contact: info@cue.edu.ge; Kutaisi, 13 Tsereteli St, tel. +995 431 23 79 79; Tbilisi, 77 Merab Kostava St, tel. +995 322 14 35 83 (according to the student guide and the campus pages). The admissions office for foreigners has a separate e-mail address on the page about the admission procedure. We prepare the documents with you and check the dates before you submit the application.
Exam, dates and documents
Most unknowns concern the dates, the exam and the group you will join. Before you apply we ask the admissions office about the date of the nearest English exam and its cost, whether a certificate replaces it, the group and campus (a start on 7 September or on 26 October), the required translations and legalisation of documents, the number of places and whether the tuition rises in the later years.
Tuition and fees
| Programme and campus | Annual tuition (USD) |
|---|---|
| Medicine, Kutaisi (6 years) | 5,000 |
| Medicine, Tbilisi (6 years) | 5,500 |
- Payment of tuition: according to the description of the procedure the candidate pays the tuition after signing the agreement, before the documents for the visa are issued. The pages give no instalments, deposit, application fee or exam fee, so we confirm them.
- Scholarships: we did not find a description of scholarships or discounts for foreigners on the pages we read; we do not assume they exist, and we ask the university.
- Cost of living: the university gives no total and refers to the Numbeo service. According to Numbeo (as of 19 May 2025, 15 contributors in the last 12 months) one person in Kutaisi spends about 1,378.8 GEL a month without rent (about 505 USD), a one-room flat costs 820 GEL in the centre and 653 GEL outside the centre, and a monthly ticket 45 GEL. Tbilisi (as of 6 November 2026) is more expensive: about 1,738.7 GEL without rent, and a one-room flat costs 1,802 GEL in the centre and 1,203 GEL outside the centre. These are survey data from a small sample, so treat them as a guide.
- Getting around: in Tbilisi a bus, a minibus and the metro cost 1 GEL each, and according to the university students get a 50% discount on minibuses; taxis are ordered through the Bolt and Maxim apps. The fares in Kutaisi differ on two pages of the university, so we do not give them.
Transfer from another university
The pages we read do not describe a procedure for transferring from another university or the years to which you can transfer. The year of entry depends on the university and on your record so far, so before you apply we ask the university about your case; if the answer is unfavourable, we choose with you a university that admits to higher years.
Accommodation
The CUE student guide (November 2025) does not list dormitories or their prices. It points to portals with rental ads (myhome.ge, ss.ge, place.ge, gancxadebebi.ge and psh.gov.ge), banks, mobile operators (Magti, Geocell, Beeline) and insurance companies. Whether the university has its own places in a dormitory we ask before you apply, and before you pay anything we help you assess a private rental.
Accreditation and recognition of the diploma
- National accreditation: the Medical Doctor programme has an NCEQE decision of 26 April 2022, positive with conditions or restrictions, valid until 26 April 2028 (EQAR register, report 76068, with the English text of the report). The earlier decision of 28 April 2020 was also positive with conditions. The university’s page speaks of the status “Accredited” and does not mention conditions, so we ask which conditions apply today.
- Recognition according to the university: Georgia belongs to the Bologna Process, the faculty is in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and the university is in the ENIC-NARIC database. We did not check the WDOMS entry in the register, so check it yourself in the WDOMS search before you base your choice of university on it.
- Georgia is not a member of the European Union, so a CUE diploma is not recognised automatically under Directive 2005/36/EC, as diplomas from EU universities are. In an EU country you must go through the national procedure for recognising a diploma from a country outside the EU. The final decision is always made by the authority of the country where you want to work; before you apply, ask the chamber or office there about its requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is Central University of Europe the same as Kutaisi International University (KIU)?
No. CUE (formerly Kutaisi University) is a private university founded in 1991, with campuses in Kutaisi and Tbilisi. Kutaisi International University (KIU) is a separate university that admitted its first cohort in 2020. The names are similar and are sometimes confused on the internet, so we always check which university you are asking about, because they have different programmes, tuition and admission rules.
How much do studies at CUE cost?
Annual tuition for foreigners is 5,000 USD in Kutaisi and 5,500 USD in Tbilisi (the pages do not distinguish the years of study). The pages give no application fee, no exam fee, no instalments and no deposit. The cost of living comes on top: according to Numbeo a one-room flat in Kutaisi costs 653 to 820 GEL a month, and one person spends about 1,378.8 GEL without rent (May 2025 data, a small sample).
Is there an entrance exam?
Yes, but it is a remote English exam, taken from home: speaking, listening and reading. The description of the procedure for foreigners does not mention an exam in biology or chemistry, while citizens of Georgia take the national unified exams. The page does not give the cost of the exam or whether an English certificate can replace it, so we ask the university.
Which campus should I choose: Kutaisi or Tbilisi?
The difference in tuition is 500 USD a year in favour of Kutaisi. Tbilisi is the capital, has a metro and more expensive housing (according to Numbeo a one-room flat in the centre costs 1,802 GEL there against 820 GEL in Kutaisi), and Kutaisi is smaller and cheaper. The pages do not describe differences in the programme or the clinical bases, so before you choose we ask the university on which campus the individual years take place and which hospitals serve each campus.
When do studies begin and by when must I apply?
The page gives no application deadlines. According to the calendar of the Faculty of Medicine the autumn semester 2026/27 begins on 7 September 2026, the spring semester on 1 March 2027, and the second group (“MD II session”) begins on 26 October 2026; the timetables also show a group with the start of the spring semester on 25 May 2026. Which group a new student joins we confirm with the university.
Is the programme accredited?
Yes, but with conditions. The EQAR register gives an NCEQE decision of 26 April 2022, positive with conditions or restrictions, valid until 26 April 2028. The experts’ report from that procedure assessed three standards as partially met (practical placements and skills, student assessment, staff), so before you choose we ask the university what has been improved since 2022.
Is the diploma recognised in Poland and the EU?
Georgia is not in the EU, so a CUE diploma is not subject to automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC, as diplomas from EU universities are. In an EU country you must go through the national procedure for recognising a diploma from a country outside the EU, and the final decision is made by the authority of that country. The university states that the faculty is in WDOMS and that the university is in the ENIC-NARIC database; check the WDOMS entry yourself.
Do I have to learn Georgian?
The programme is in English, but already in the first semester the timetables list Georgian at level A1. The pages do not describe in which language contact with patients takes place in clinical classes, and the 2022 report noted that part of the clinical staff do not speak English, so we ask the university how much Georgian you need in the clinical years.
Where do I live?
The student guide does not list dormitories; it points to portals with rental ads (myhome.ge, ss.ge, place.ge and others). According to Numbeo a one-room flat in Kutaisi costs 653 to 820 GEL a month, and in Tbilisi 1,203 to 1,802 GEL (a guide only). Whether the university has its own places in a dormitory we ask before you apply.
Can I transfer from another university or start in a higher year?
The pages we read do not describe a transfer procedure or the years to which you can transfer. The year of entry depends on the university and on your record so far, so before you apply we ask the university about your case; if the answer is unfavourable, we choose with you a university that admits to higher years.
What about the visa?
The university issues the admission documents needed for the student visa only after the agreement is signed and the tuition is paid. The visa rules are given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on its consular services page, and we help to collect the documents and plan the arrival so that you are in time for the start of the semester.
Official sources
- Admission procedure for international students (changed 18 May 2026)
- Why CUE: programmes, tuition and recognition (changed 15 June 2026)
- Tuition fees (changed 14 April 2026)
- Academic calendar (changed 27 May 2026)
- Faculty of Medicine
- Simulation Center
- Tbilisi campus
- About the university
- About Kutaisi
- Student guide (PDF, November 2025)
- EQAR register: the institution (Kutaisi University)
- EQAR register: accreditation report of the Medical doctor programme (26 April 2022)
