More than half of all international students studying in Georgia are from India, with most enrolled in healthcare-related programs, according to a new education sector review by investment bank Galt & Taggart. The report highlights the growing concentration of foreign students by both country of origin and field of study.
According to the review, higher education sector revenue grew at an average annual rate of 11.5% between 2019 and 2025, reaching GEL 1.3 billion in 2025, largely driven by rising international student enrollment. The number of foreign students tripled during the period to 44,000, increasing their share of the total student population to 19.8%, one of the highest proportions globally.
Galt & Taggart notes that Georgia has become an attractive destination for international students due to its affordable tuition fees and relatively low cost of living. However, the report warns that 53.8% of foreign students come from India, with the majority studying medicine and related disciplines, increasing the sector's reliance on a single market and academic field. The investment bank says diversifying student recruitment by both nationality and study program should become a strategic priority.
The report also points to a mismatch between graduates' qualifications and labor market needs. Georgia has an unusually high share of students enrolled in business, law, and social sciences, while vocational, technical, and education programs remain underrepresented. Galt & Taggart says the higher education reforms planned for 2026 aim to address these structural imbalances through greater specialization, curriculum changes, and restrictions on foreign student admissions at public universities, though their success will depend on effective implementation.
