Georgia | Est. 2002Georgia | National Medical Commission (NMC) India, World Health Organization (WHO) directory, World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), and FAIMER; listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) | English medium
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Every Georgia MBBS blog leans on the same three words for this one: affordable, English-medium, NMC-approved. All correct, all unremarkable, and all true of roughly a dozen other Georgian universities too. What actually separates Tbilisi Open Teaching University from the pack is a detail most pages skip entirely, and it cuts both ways.
TOTU was founded in 2002 as a private teaching university in central Tbilisi, on Egnate Ninoshvili Street. But its English-medium MBBS program for international students was launched only in 2018, nearly a decade after most of its Georgian competitors and roughly a century after Tbilisi State Medical University, the country's oldest medical school. That's not disqualifying, but it does mean the medical faculty has a shorter independent track record than the ones usually compared against it, and fewer full graduating cohorts to point to.
The campus itself runs on fairly standard private-university infrastructure for the region: simulation labs, a library, Wi-Fi-covered common areas, and clinical placements arranged through affiliated hospitals in the city rather than a dedicated on-campus teaching hospital. Tbilisi's setting works in the college's favor: a walkable European capital with a mild climate, a well-established Indian student community, and direct flight connections that make trips home realistic rather than theoretical.
Eligibility is where TOTU quietly differs from most of its local competition. The minimum PCB requirement is 60%, which is higher than the 50% baseline set by most Georgian medical universities for general-category Indian applicants. It's a small detail, but if you're comparing several Georgian colleges side by side on a shortlist, it's worth checking before you assume every option has the same cutoff.
What the Cost Actually Looks Like
Fee figures for TOTU vary widely depending on when the source was last updated; some older pages still quote a total course cost of around USD 17,500, using an exchange rate of 70 INR per dollar that hasn't been current in years. More recent sources converge on USD 4,500/year in tuition plus roughly USD 1,000/year for hostel, which is the basis for the table below. Treat any total-cost figure under USD 25,000 as outdated, and get TOTU's current fee letter before committing.
Cost Item | Per Year (USD / INR approx.) | 6-Year Total (INR approx.) |
Tuition Fee | USD 4,500 | INR 3.87 lakh | INR 23.2 lakh (6 years) |
Hostel Fee | USD 1,000 | INR 86,000 | INR 5.2 lakh (6 years) |
Food & Meals | USD 1,200–1,800 | INR 1–1.55 lakh | INR 6.2–9.3 lakh |
Insurance | USD 210 | INR 17,500 | INR 1.05 lakh (6 years) |
Travel (India–Georgia) | Depends on airline and season | INR 40,000–70,000 total |
Total Estimated (course + living) | — | INR 30–36 lakh approx. |
Note: INR conversions assume roughly 86 INR per USD. TOTU or independent consultancies report no donation or capitation fee; admissions are based on NEET scores and document verification.
Why TOTU Gets Bundled in with Bigger Georgian Names
Most "MBBS in Georgia" roundups list TOTU somewhere in a table of eight or ten universities, sandwiched between Tbilisi State Medical University and the University of Georgia, with identical bullet points copied across every entry, NMC-approved, WHO-listed, English-medium. What almost none of them do is flag the one number that actually distinguishes an established program from a newer one: a published, university-specific FMGE pass rate. TSMU publishes theirs (30.58% for 2024, per NMC screening data). TOTU does not appear to have an independently verified, university-specific FMGE pass rate published anywhere online as of this writing. That's not proof the outcomes are worse; it may simply reflect a smaller, newer graduating pool that hasn't been tracked separately yet, but it's a fair question to put directly to the admissions office rather than assume the answer.
The 60% PCB eligibility bar is the other thing nobody mentions. If your PCB aggregate sits between 50% and 60%, you may qualify for several other Georgian universities but not for TOTU specifically, a detail that matters if you're applying to multiple colleges as a backup strategy and assuming the eligibility bar is uniform across the country. It generally isn't.
On the plus side, the FMGE/NExT coaching TOTU, delivered by visiting faculty from Indian medical colleges at no extra charge, is a genuine value-add that many competing private universities charge for separately. It won't substitute for a strong published pass rate, but it does show the institution is oriented toward the exam Indian graduates actually need to clear.
No hidden charges, no donation. The full picture of costs at MBBS In Tbilisi Open Teaching University Medical Faculty.
Tuition Fee
approximately USD 4,500/year (~INR 3.87 lakh); some sources cite USD 5,000
approximately USD 4,500/year, totaling roughly USD 27,000 across
Hostel Fee
approximately USD 1,000/year (~INR 86,000)
approximately USD 1,000/year (~INR 86,000)
Food & Meals
USD 200–300/month depending on lifestyle, so roughly USD 1,200–1,800/
per month
Insurance
USD 200–250/year (INR 17,500)
per year
Donation
No Donation
No Hidden Fees
Total Estimated Cost
approximately INR 30–36 lakh
6 year
25–35%
Average FMGE first-attempt pass rates for students from many overseas medical universities. Students from structured programs consistently score higher.
Students returning to India need to clear the FMGE/NExT exam. MBBS In Tbilisi Open Teaching University Medical Faculty integrates exam-oriented coaching into the regular curriculum so students are prepared from day one.
A structured program that takes you from foundational sciences to clinical mastery.
● In addition, Medical Ethics and basic Georgian language orientation are introduced for day-to-day campus life
● First, Anatomy, Histology, and Biochemistry build the pre-clinical foundation for the rest of the program
● Furthermore, the first university-conducted assessments close out the pre-clinical phase
● Next, Physiology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology form the core coursework for this year
● Moreover, students begin ward observation at TOTU's affiliated teaching hospitals in Tbilisi
● Then, Pathology and Pathophysiology are taught alongside the first structured clinical postings
● In addition, Pediatrics and the allied specialties are introduced through shorter postings
● After that, rotations cover Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Obstetrics & Gynecology
● Furthermore, university-level final examinations are held toward the end of this year
● Subsequently, advanced clinical rotations continue with greater patient responsibility across Medicine and Surgery
● Also, FMGE/NExT preparation is provided free of charge through visiting Indian faculty during this year
● Finally, a 12-month rotating internship covers Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynecology
Furnished hostel rooms with Wi-Fi, laundry, 24/7 security, and Indian mess on or near campus.
Indian restaurants and mess facilities serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian home-style food daily.
Strong Indian community with cultural events, festival celebrations, and peer support groups.
Students get hands-on clinical training in government and private hospitals affiliated with the university.
Practical information for students planning to study at MBBS In Tbilisi Open Teaching University Medical Faculty.
Prepare for all seasons. Thermal wear for winters, light clothing for summers. University provides heating in hostels.
Student visa processed with university invitation letter. Direct and connecting flights from major Indian cities.
Health insurance included in fees. Medical facility on campus plus city hospitals easily accessible.
Local SIM cards available. WhatsApp and video calls keep you connected with family back home.
Average monthly expenses of $150–$250 covering food, transport, and personal needs.
University library, online databases, and study groups. Seniors mentor juniors through academic challenges.
Our team guides you through every step — from application to arriving on campus.
Shortlist universities based on admission status, fees, city, and FMGE track record, not marketing alone.
Verify recognition independently on the NMC's own approved list and WDOMS before applying anywhere.
Submit the application directly to the university or through a verified representative, along with academic transcripts and a NEET scorecard.
Receive a provisional or conditional offer letter confirming a seat, pending document verification.
Complete document verification, including attestation of mark sheets and certificates where required.
Pay the first tuition instalment directly into the university's official account, never in cash or to a personal account.
Receive the formal invitation letter, which is the document required for the student visa application.
Apply for the student visa, allowing at least 30 days for processing.
Travel to Georgia and complete local formalities, including residence permit registration where applicable.
Complete final enrolment and orientation at the university, including hostel check-in and academic registration for the semester.
Admission Helpline — Contact our counsellors for step-by-step assistance.
“The faculty here is incredibly supportive. The clinical training during hospital rotations has given me real confidence in patient care.”
“Affordable fees without compromising on quality. The campus facilities and hostel life made my transition abroad very smooth.”
“English medium instruction and WHO-recognized curriculum were the deciding factors for me. No regrets so far — excellent experience overall.”
“The university helped with everything from visa to accommodation. Hospital exposure from year three has been invaluable for my FMGE prep.”
“Just cleared my licensing exam on the first attempt. The structured coaching and mock exams during final year were a game-changer.”
“Safe campus, good food options, and a strong Indian student community. The teaching methodology is very practical and hands-on.”
Yes. TOTU is NMC-recognized and listed with WDOMS, WHO, WFME, and FAIMER. Always verify current status on the WDOMS website before enrolling, since listings are periodically reviewed.
Realistic current estimates land around INR 30–36 lakh for the full 6 years, including tuition, hostel, food, and insurance. Older pages quoting amounts under INR 20 lakh use an outdated exchange rate and should be ignored.
Yes, NEET UG qualifying score is a necessity for all Indians, and no other entrance exam is necessary.
60% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, which is higher than the 50% many other Georgian medical universities accept — worth checking carefully if you're applying to several colleges as backups.
Not that it is independently verifiable as of this writing, unlike some older Georgian universities that publish year-by-year NMC screening data. It is probably because the program itself has been established only in 2018 and therefore there are not so many graduates as yet, not due to bad results.
Hospital postings usually start at about 3rd year and clinical rotations start from 4th year.
YES, provided that they clear their FMGE or NExT (Licensure Exam for all Foreign Medical Graduates who wish to practice in India).
Yes, entirely in English, though basic Georgian is useful for daily life and some patient interactions during hospital postings.
NO. The admission process will be based on the NEET score and documentation check, and there are no donations or capitation fees quoted from the university side nor any other private consultants.
Yes, it's a compact, walkable European capital with a mild climate, direct flight connections to India, and an established Indian student community, which makes day-to-day adjustment easier than in some other MBBS-abroad destinations.
Our expert counsellors will guide you through the complete admission process — from documents to airport pickup.
