Georgian Universities to Admit Applicants from Abkhazia and South Ossetia Without Exams

Georgia’s Ministry of Education has opened applications for prospective students residing in the self-proclaimed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2026, they will be able to enroll in the country's state universities without taking the Unified National Exams, and their tuition will be fully covered by the state. Registration is already underway and runs until September 5.

Eligible applicants include graduates who attended schools in Abkhazia or South Ossetia for the past two years, obtained a certificate of complete general education there, and subsequently had that qualification recognized by the Georgian Ministry of Education.

Applications can be submitted either in person or online. Paper applications are accepted at the offices of state representatives in the Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, and Khashuri municipalities, while electronic applications are processed through the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

This program has been in place for some time and is designed to allow residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to enroll in Georgian state universities via a special procedure, bypassing the mandatory Unified National Exams.

According to Georgian authorities, during the 2023–2024 academic year, the state funded the education of 2,301 students participating in support programs for residents of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and settlements located near the dividing line.

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