Bachelor's Studies — Right of Admission and Aims
The right to study in a bachelor's programme belongs to a person holding a document certifying full general education issued in Georgia, or a document recognised as equivalent. The aim of bachelor's studies is the comparatively deep assimilation of the theoretical aspects of the disciplines of study, together with professional preparation at a level higher than full general education; through research-type programmes this prepares the person for further study in a master's programme and for work, taking into account the restrictions established by Georgian legislation. After completion of a bachelor's educational programme, the name of the qualification to be awarded must be determined according to the classifier of fields of study. In practical terms, the formal name of the qualification reflected on the diploma must rest on the common classification system established by law, and not on the discretion of the institution.
Master's and Doctoral Studies — Qualitative Requirements
The right to study in a master's programme belongs to a person holding at least a bachelor's degree or an academic degree recognised as equivalent. The aims of master's studies are: the acquisition of deep and systematic knowledge and the development of appropriate skills in the relevant direction, field or specialty, preparing the person for work and/or further study; a change of specialty, except in the case of a regulated educational programme; preparation for scientific-research work and for pedagogical activity in a higher education institution; and professional development and the raising of qualifications.
The right to study in a doctoral programme belongs to a person holding at least a master's degree or an academic degree recognised as equivalent. At the same time, the law sets a special requirement for admission to doctoral studies: the master's academic degree must have been awarded to the person on the basis of completing a master's educational programme of no less than 120 credits (as a whole or in parts), or an equivalent programme, as determined by the minister. In practice this means that a graduate of a shortened or reduced master's course will be able to enrol in doctoral studies only if his or her programme corresponds to the volume of credits established by law.
Recognition of Education Received Abroad
A qualification received at a foreign higher education institution, or education received during a period of study abroad, is recognised where its compliance with the corresponding qualification awarded by Georgian higher education institutions is established. It is important that compliance, taking into account learning outcomes and the awarded qualification, may be established despite differences in the period of study — a programme of different duration is not in itself a ground for refusal of recognition.
A qualification received at a foreign higher education institution, or education received abroad, is recognised by the Education Quality Development National Centre, in accordance with the international treaties of Georgia and the rule established by the ministry. The decision on the enrolment of an applicant or student holding an educational document of a foreign country in a Georgian higher education institution is taken by the relevant institution, in the manner established by Georgian legislation, on the basis of the recognition document issued by the Education Quality Development National Centre. Thus, if you hold a foreign diploma, the path to enrolment begins with a recognition document.
Recognition of Learning Outcomes and Credits
The law separately regulates the recognition, for the purposes of another qualification, of learning outcomes achieved within one qualification. A higher education institution is authorised to recognise the learning outcomes achieved by a person within an educational programme of the relevant level of academic higher education, for the purposes of awarding the corresponding qualification through another programme of the same level. Recognition covers the credits received within a higher education programme on which enrolment and study take place in the manner established by Georgian legislation.
For the purpose of recognising credits, the institution determines the compatibility of the learning outcomes achieved within another programme of the same level with the corresponding programme and takes a decision on the recognition of the relevant credits. As a result of a content-based study of the courses envisaged by educational programmes, the correspondence of those courses may be established despite the differences in their names — what is decisive is content, not formal title. The institution is also authorised, in the manner established by legislation, to calculate the student's workload in credits for a programme that has not been implemented in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System. Recognition of credits takes place in the manner established by the charter of the institution, while in cases of mobility and recognition of education received abroad — in the manner established by the minister.
The National Assessment and Examinations Centre and the Examinations
The National Assessment and Examinations Centre is a public law legal entity which ensures the conduct of the unified national and common master's examinations and is authorised to carry out national assessments and international studies. In exercising its powers, the centre ensures the operation of databases in accordance with the rule established by the minister, and is authorised to use various means to ensure the accessibility of information, including telephone, insured postal items, e-mail and short text messages. A fee may be set for services rendered by the centre, the amount and payment procedure of which are determined by the minister.
The statute of the centre is developed and approved by the minister, while the director of the centre is appointed to and dismissed from office by the minister in agreement with the Prime Minister of Georgia. The centre has the right to receive, store and issue any document in written or electronic form. Particularly important is that the results of the unified national examination conducted by the centre are mandatory for every higher education institution. The right to participate in the unified national examination belongs to every person wishing to do so who presents a document certifying full general education issued in Georgia, or a document recognised as equivalent.
Admission Rules, Joint and Exchange Programmes
The rules of admission to master's and doctoral programmes are determined by the statute of the relevant basic educational unit of the higher education institution, taking into account the requirements of this law. The preparation and conduct of the unified national and common master's examinations are ensured by the National Assessment and Examinations Centre, while the minister, on the submission of the centre, approves the regulations on the conduct of the unified national examinations and on the conduct of the master's examinations. In other words, the detailed rules of the format of the examinations are laid down in subordinate acts.
Higher education programmes may be implemented jointly by several Georgian higher education institutions and/or by a foreign higher education institution recognised in accordance with the legislation of a foreign country — for the consolidation and optimal distribution of resources, for integration into the international educational space and for promoting regional development. The rule of implementation of a joint programme is established jointly by the participating institutions.
In the case of an exchange educational programme, a Georgian higher education institution is obliged, before concluding an agreement on student exchange with a foreign higher education institution, to obtain from the Education Quality Development National Centre written information on whether that foreign institution is recognised in accordance with the legislation of that country. An exchange-programme student whose status was obtained at a recognised foreign institution continues studies at the Georgian partner institution at the relevant level of higher education, on the basis of an act issued by the head of that institution. A participant holding status at a Georgian institution continues studies at the foreign partner institution in the manner established by the legislation of that country. At the same time, it is impermissible to suspend the student status of an exchange-programme student who has left Georgia within the framework of the exchange programme — participation in the exchange does not affect the status.