Georgian American University

About Georgian American University

Georgian American University, commonly called GAU, is an independently operating private university in Georgia’s capital. The institution traces its development to a university project formulated in 2001, but its official history identifies 2005 as the year the operating company and its initial business and law schools were established. GAU later expanded into social sciences, engineering, humanities and medicine. Georgia’s National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement lists the legal entity Georgian-American University Ltd. as an authorized university. In Georgia, institutional authorization is the regulatory status that allows a higher-education institution to operate and issue state-recognized qualifications. GAU is organized around a compact set of professionally oriented schools rather than a broad residential-campus model. Its official catalogue lists programs in business administration, law, diplomacy, philology, history, design, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, computer science, IT management, construction, cybersecurity and related fields. A separate Medical School delivers an English-taught, one-cycle Medical Doctor program. The institution operates from 10 Merab Aleksidze Street in Tbilisi. Its official history describes a 6,000-square-metre building with classrooms, a library and computer laboratory, café, gym and auditoriums. Prospective students should evaluate GAU program by program: languages, admission routes, fees and scholarship arrangements differ between Georgian-market programs and the international English-taught portfolio.

Admission depends on the applicant’s citizenship, previous education and chosen level of study. Georgian-market program pages may require Georgia’s national examination route and program-specific internal assessments. Graduate applicants must also satisfy the prior-degree and selection requirements published for their chosen course. Because those conditions differ across schools, domestic applicants should use the current page for the exact program rather than treating one school’s criteria as university-wide. International applicants use GAU’s electronic application process. The university requests academic records and transcripts, a passport copy, a recent photograph, evidence of English proficiency and proof that the application fee has been paid. Documents must be in English or translated into English. For English-taught study, GAU states a B2-level requirement that may be demonstrated through an internationally approved test or a video interview arranged with the International Student Admission Office. The official page does not prescribe a single universal IELTS or TOEFL minimum. After an initial academic review, successful candidates may receive a conditional offer. Enrollment remains conditional while the applicant’s foreign education documents undergo recognition through Georgia’s National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. GAU says this stage takes approximately one month. A place is not guaranteed until recognition is completed and tuition is paid. The published international application fee is US$100 and non-refundable. No universal 2026–2027 application deadline is stated; applicants are advised to apply early during the relevant application period because places may be limited.

GAU’s current academic catalogue confirms provision at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, plus a one-cycle Medical Doctor qualification. Bachelor’s choices include business administration, law, diplomacy, English and Georgian philology, history, media products and visual methods in design, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, computer science, IT management and construction. Master’s offerings include business administration, law, diplomacy, European integration and employment relations, IT governance and strategy, computer science, cyber and information security, and reconstruction of buildings and structures. Doctoral study is listed in business administration, law and diplomacy. Teaching language must be checked at program level. The 2026–2027 international portfolio lists English-taught BBA, MBA and EMBA routes; bachelor’s programs in IT management and computer science; master’s programs in IT governance and strategy and cyber and information security; and the English-taught Medical Doctor program. The broader catalogue also includes many Georgian-language degrees. Published international programs use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System: most listed bachelor’s programs comprise 180 ECTS over three years, standard master’s programs generally comprise 120 ECTS over two years, and medicine comprises 360 ECTS over six years. The EMBA is a 60-ECTS, one-year course, while the GAU–IPAG double-degree MBA has separate arrangements. GAU also advertises student mobility through Erasmus+ and other institutional partnerships. Availability is competition- and program-specific, so applicants should review active calls rather than assuming that every destination is open to every student.

Key Highlights

• Authorized as a university in Georgia’s national higher-education register
• Established in 2005 as a limited-liability institution backed by Georgian and American investors
• Operates from 10 Merab Aleksidze Street in Tbilisi
• Current portfolio spans five academic schools, including a Medical School

Student Life & Environment

Student life at GAU is centered on its Tbilisi campus rather than a university-owned residential complex. The university’s student-life page identifies a band, theatre, student ambassadors, a public-relations club, volunteer projects, excursions and creative competitions. Organized sport includes football and basketball teams as well as internal competitions in activities such as table tennis, billiards and chess. These offerings can change between semesters, so students interested in a particular club or team should confirm its current activity before enrolling. Academic and support facilities named by GAU include a library and electronic catalogue, computer facilities, an academic portal, a Career Center and a university ombudsman. The ombudsman is presented as a channel for protecting student rights, while the Career Center publicizes internships and vacancies and organizes training and employment events. Public lectures and student-led social-responsibility projects add to the co-curricular program. Housing requires separate planning. GAU’s international FAQ states that the university does not own student accommodation, although it may assist students in finding a place. International students should therefore compare private rental options, commuting time, deposits and contract conditions before arrival rather than treating tuition as inclusive of room and board.

Location & Surroundings

GAU is located at 10 Merab Aleksidze Street, 0160 Tbilisi, in the Saburtalo area of Georgia’s capital. This is an urban campus rather than a separate residential university town. The official institutional history says GAU moved to this site for the 2012–2013 academic year and describes a 6,000-square-metre building containing classrooms, a library and computer laboratory, café, gym and auditoriums, with grounds and parking around the building. Tbilisi places students in the country’s principal governmental, commercial and cultural center, which may be useful for programs connected with business, law, diplomacy, technology and medicine. The central-city setting also means students need to make practical choices about private housing and travel. GAU does not operate its own residence halls, so proximity to campus, public-transport access and rental terms should be assessed together. International students should use the university’s pre-arrival guidance for orientation but verify current transport fares, rental prices and immigration requirements independently, since those details can change quickly.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Costs vary substantially by program and applicant category. For international students in 2026–2027, GAU lists annual tuition of US$4,500 for the three-year BBA; US$4,000 for the two-year MBA; US$4,500 for the one-year EMBA; and US$4,200 for the listed bachelor’s and master’s computing and IT programs. The six-year English-taught Medical Doctor program is listed at US$6,480 per year. The GAU–IPAG double-degree MBA has a published full fee of €21,000. Applicants should rely on the amount shown in their individual invoice because the domestic Georgian-lari fee structure is different and fees may not include repeated credits or other charges. The US$100 international application fee is separate and non-refundable. Tuition does not include university housing: GAU owns no student accommodation, so rent, utilities, food, transport, insurance, visa or residence-permit expenses and travel must be budgeted separately. The international FAQ says scholarships are not available to international students. Domestic program pages describe grants or merit discounts under separate eligibility rules, which should not be assumed to apply to non-residents. For career preparation, GAU identifies a Career Center that distributes internship and vacancy information and runs training and employment forums with partner organizations. Student Services also shares job opportunities. These services may improve access to employers, but GAU’s promotional employment claims are not accompanied by a current audited placement rate, salary data or employer-level outcomes; applicants should request program-specific evidence before using employability as a deciding factor.