Students awarded Prime Minister’s scholarships set to study abroad

More than 100 Georgian students have been selected to receive the Prime Minister’s scholarship to fund their continuing studies in world leading universities.

The International Education Centre of Georgia announced 115 Masters and Doctorate students were recipients of the Prime Minister’s scholarship and would further their studies in top universities in Europe and the United States (US) for the 2015-2016 academic year.

The selected students – 38 more than in 2014 - will have their tuition and/or accommodation expenses fully or partially covered by the scholarship for their chosen Masters or Doctoral courses.

Applications for the program were open for two months, in which 1,317 applicants went through a rigorous selection process.

The successful candidates were chosen by the Centre’s commission, staffed by employees from state institutions as well as representatives from international academic organisations.

Study fields covered by the program were chosen according to official state priorities:       

• Agricultural Science
• Education
• Engineering
• Natural Science
• Social Science
• Humanitarian Science
• Law
• Business Administration

The International Education Centre was established in 2014 by the initiative of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The aim of the scholarships was to improve the quality of education and improve the country’s workforce.

Once the students completed their studies they are required to return to Georgia and spend three years working in their home country. Garibashvili said this was imperative and he believed the country needed more qualified professionals who had the knowledge and skills of international standards.