All Disciplines
Georgia
Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in area of specialization and assist with student advising and curriculum development, as needed. Conduct research. Applicants wishing to undertake teaching/research grants should determine the percentage of the grant dedicated to each activity with the host institution but no less than 25% of the grant activity should be dedicated to teaching or teaching-related activities. For Flex grants, see Flex Option box.
For professional and/or artistic projects in the scholar's area of expertise, the project may include professional consultations, mentoring, arranging exhibitions, preparation of print materials (books, articles, reviews), exchange of experience with other professionals, and participation in public events. Projects may be carried out with local NGOs or not strictly academic institutions.
The government of Georgia’s educational priorities include promoting internationalization in higher education, which refers to the process of integrating an international and intercultural aspect into teaching and research in order to increase competitiveness and improved performance in higher education. It also includes efforts to introduce modern teaching and evaluation methodology in line with international standards with the ultimate goal of further integrating Georgian higher education institutions with their counterparts in Europe and the United States. For those Fulbright Scholars who have expertise and are interested, there may be opportunities to assist with developing internationalization strategies at the host institution through participation in training, conferences, research, discussions, and knowledge acquisition.
Scholars selected for this grant will be required to attend a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in Summer 2025.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Georgia, Donna Farina, 2019-2020
Scholars may affiliate with institutions including but not limited to:
Akhaltsikhe: Samtskhe-Javakheti State University
Batumi: Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
Kutaisi: Akaki Tsereteli State University
Tbilisi: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi: Ilia State University
Tbilisi: Georgian Institute of Public Affairs
Tbilisi: Georgian National University SEU
Tbilisi: Free University of Tbilisi
Tbilisi: ALTE University formerly Tbilisi Open University
Tbilisi: The University of Georgia
Tbilisi: Business and Technology University
Tbilisi: Tbilisi State Medical University
Tbilisi: Sokhumi State University
Tbilisi: V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire
Tbilisi: Tbilisi State Academy of Arts
Tbilisi: Caucasus University
Tbilisi: International Black Sea University
Tbilisi: Georgian American University
Four months or nine months for teaching/research; four to six months for research-only. For Flex grants, see Flex Option box.
One-semester grants may begin in September 2025 or February 2026; two-semester grants must begin in September 2025. For Flex grants, see Flex Option box.
Flex awards are offered for teaching/research and research grants.
The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
August is traditionally a summer vacation month in Georgia and responses to inquiries may be delayed. Applicants are advised to contact the Georgian host institution well ahead of time to solicit an invitation letter for their application. If needed the U.S. Embassy is ready to assist applicants with contacting the potential host insitution.
All teaching will be in English; additional language proficiency not required.
For research, language proficiency sufficient to complete the proposed project is required. When applicable, applicants should submit the Self Evaluation and External Evaluation sections of the Language Proficiency Report.
For applicants without local language proficiency, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement.
Preferred qualifications: at least a Masters Degree and two years of teaching experience in a chosen field of research. Adjunct and community college faculty members are encouraged to apply.
For additional information, please contact Tamar Todria at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi: todriat@state.gov
Blog by 2017-2018 U.S. Scholar to Georgia John Pijanowski
Grant benefits include a monthly maintenance allowance, comprised of a base stipend and living and housing allowances. The base stipend varies based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent). Living and housing allowances vary based on the city of placement, and the number of accompanying dependents. Dependent housing and living allowances will not be provided to Flex grantees.
$4,550
For Flex grants: round-trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant for the grantee only.
$1,000 books and educational materials allowance for teaching and teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $200/month to $400/month.
In addition, a travel allowance of $3,250 is provided for one dependent and $6,500 for two or more accompanying dependents.
Reimbursement for dependent education expenses may be available on a limited basis, depending on funding availability and grant duration. Grantees should confirm with IIE that proposed expenses meet eligibility criteria; however, availability of funds may not be known until the end of the academic year.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
Applicants may find the below resources useful:
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Tbilisi
https://pbservices.ge/blog/cost-of-living-in-georgia-prices/#summing-up
Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Georgia
Situated at the strategically important crossroads where Europe meets Asia, Georgia has a unique and ancient cultural heritage and world-renowned cuisine. From green valleys with vineyards to old churches and watchtowers perched in stunning mountain scenery, Georgia’s natural beauty belies its modest size, and its legendary hospitality invites visitors to further explore the country and its rich history.
Overall, there are currently 54 higher education institutions in Georgia of three main types:
- 30 universities - institutions of higher education that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs and scientific research
- 20 teaching universities - institutions of higher education that offer only master's degree programs
- 4 colleges - institutions of higher education that offer only undergraduate programs
Georgia joined the Bologna Process in 2005, a Europe-wide mechanism to ensure compatibility between higher education standards, and has largely shaped its higher education system according to these international guidelines. The language of instruction is predominantly Georgian. Only those programs that aim to attract international students are delivered entirely in English. Some joint programs with European universities are offered in German or English.
Over the past two decades Georgia has made significant changes in its higher education system; its main recent focus was on accreditation standards and internationalizing its campuses and programs. Depending on the institution, there may be opportunities to assist with developing internationalization strategies at the host institution for those Fulbright Scholars who have expertise and interest.
Georgia is a unique teaching abroad destination that offers diverse opportunities to influence the development process of the education system and be directly engaged with both ethnic majority and minority groups.
The U.S. Embassy encourages scholars to research appropriate institutions and correspond directly with potential hosts. The U.S. Embassy is happy to play an advisory role in the process should a scholar have questions or concerns about potential host institutions. Affiliation outside of Tbilisi is encouraged.
Please refer to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website or the U.S. Embassy in Georgia website for current information about travel to Georgia. For specific questions related to educational institutions in Georgia, please write to the following e-mail at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi: TbilisiExchanges@state.gov
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.