As the lengthy conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to impact student mobility and opportunities for global education, Indian students intending to study medicine are eyeing Georgia as another place to study, based on emerging data and education experts. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially noted that Indian students are making large remittances for education to foreign countries, but this trend points more broadly to the shift in preferences of Indian students pursuing medical studies.
The conflicts, now in their third year, have disrupted Ukraine and Russia’s status as it is a major study abroad hub for Indian students. With safety, visa, and logistical issues reaching a boiling point, students and parents are changing their plans. In this context, Georgia, located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, has become a low-cost and accessible English-taught course of study for Indian students.
Independent estimates suggest that the number of Indian medical students studying in Georgia has significantly increased from approximately 8,000 Indian medical students in 2021 to between 12,000 and 16,000 students by 2024. The Indian Embassy in Tbilisi cited unofficial figures for Indian students at Georgian universities as more than 16,000 for the school year 2024.
Key Factors Behind This Shift
There are numerous factors leading to the shift. One primary factor is that competition for medical seats in India continues to be a significant barrier. Even with additional UG medical seats now available, the demand is still overwhelming, and the reality is that many Indian medical aspirants look to medical pathways abroad. The second consideration is that cost is a large factor as well. Even if tuition rates are increasing, with Georgian medical programmes, tuition (plus living costs) is still considerably less than many private colleges in India and even lower than many schools in the West. The third consideration is that Georgia offers English medical programmes, some of which are accredited by the NMC and by international standards, to the extent allowing Indian students to return to India to practice, but with more options overseas as well.
In addition to our observations, the RBI data show that Indian students remitted around INR 29,000 crore in 2023-2024, specifically for overseas education. While this amount encompasses students studying in a number of different countries and courses, spending outside India is indicative of the trends happening with Indian students moving to newer locations, including Georgia.
Nonetheless, this trend is not free of exceptions. Students on foreign soil will still have to clear India’s Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practise in India, which is an additional hurdle. And, in the case of other Indian students in Georgia, some reported troubling experiences with visa regulations, local rules, and even instances of racial profiling.
From a policy perspective, the implications of this shift are noteworthy. Geopolitical disruptions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, are causing student migration flows to change, triggering other Indian families to rethink their alternatives. The shift also indicates the need for clearer regulatory pathways for both individuals going abroad and their return and re-entry into the medical ecosystem in India.
Things to Keep In Mind
For Indian aspirants exploring this option, the lessons are clear; while Georgia could provide a next step, it is important to be aware of the challenges around the recognition of degrees, the quality of degree programs, eligibility for licensure, and the safety of students while abroad. As the war drags on, India’s future physicians are going farther away, but caution coupled with optimism will provide the path forward.
