Accreditation and Authorization — Quality Control in Higher Education

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For what terms are accreditation and authorisation granted?

The term of accreditation of an educational programme is 7 years, conditional accreditation — no more than 4 years, and authorisation — 6 years. Upon expiry or cancellation of authorisation, accreditation becomes void.

Which decisions may the Accreditation Council adopt?

The decision may be of 4 types: on accreditation (the programme fully or mostly satisfies the standards), on conditional accreditation (it partially satisfies them), on refusal and on cancellation of accreditation. Conditional accreditation may not be adopted twice in a row.

What happens to students when accreditation or authorisation is lost?

The student's status is suspended for 5 years from the expiry of the term set by the council or the entry into force of the decision, and the student may use the right to mobility. Upon expiry of the accreditation term, studies may continue with state funding until the end of the current semester.

Which programmes are regulated?

The regulated academic programmes are law, medical, pedagogical, maritime, veterinary, nursing and midwifery programmes. Their accreditation rule and fee are approved by the ministry on the submission of the centre, and the list of regulated professions may be established only by law.

How does a foreign university branch operate in Georgia?

A branch of a foreign higher education institution needs, for educational activity in Georgia, the determination of compliance with authorisation standards. The foreign institution passes authorisation on the basis of the branch's compliance with the authorisation standards established by Georgian legislation.

9 min·26 Aug 2026

The Essence, Purpose and Standards of Accreditation

The purpose of accreditation is to raise the quality of education by establishing systematic self-assessment of higher education institutions and promoting the development of quality assurance mechanisms, through determining the compliance of an educational programme with accreditation standards. The accreditation standards are: the aim of the educational programme, the learning outcomes and the programme's compliance with them; the methodology and organisation of teaching and the adequacy of the assessment of the programme's assimilation; the achievements of students and individual work with them; the provision of teaching resources; and the opportunities for the development of teaching quality.

There are exceptions to the general rules of accreditation: these rules do not apply to the theological programmes of an Orthodox theological higher education institution, nor to the educational programmes implemented by Kutaisi International University. At the same time, accreditation of a higher education programme, including a joint programme, may be carried out by a foreign organisation of relevant competence recognised in the manner established by the accreditation regulations of the Education Quality Development National Centre. A Georgian-language preparation programme, however, may be implemented only after passing accreditation.