Georgia National Overview
Updated in June 2018 by Nana Sharikadze, Head of International Relations Department at the V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire.
Overview of Higher Music Education System
Professional music education in Georgia might be characterized as “NON STOP music education”, which starts from the primary level (at the age 6/7). A total of approximately the 5 % of the age group 7-16 study music on a professional level with the aim to apply to a Conservatoire. It should be mentioned that the musical education was brought to Georgia by Russian model. However, that model was copied from Europe, particularly from Germany. German musical educational model widely developed in the Soviet countries was finally formed as an extremely powerful and successful system. Ca 98% of Higher Music Educational Institutions students have gone through the nonstop music education process.
Higher Music Education is provided by the several universities in Georgia: there is a music department at the Art University in Batumi (Adjara autonomous republic of Georgia) (specialty: piano, Academic Singing, Orchestra, Music Theory, Choir conducting); approx. 50 students and 20 academic staff) providing studies on BA as well as MA level; St. Giorgi Mtatsmindeli teaching university offering the studies for BA as well as MA program (specialty: Georgian chanting; Church musicology; approx. 60 students, academies staff 30); a Bachelor program is also offered by the Musical College in Kutaisi (specialty: piano, Orchestra instruments, academic singing, choir conducting, approx students 20, staff academic 10); vocational studies are provided by the Gori vocational music college ( specialty: performer illustrator, academic choir conducting, ensemble and choir singer; approx students 28, staff 10).
The V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire (TSC) is the main Higher Education Institution in the field of music in Georgia; Since 1924 it bears the status of State Conservatoire. It is an independent, state university‐type institutions – LEPL (legal entity of public law) and is listed in the Universities Act of Georgia among the 31 universities (12 state funded, and 13 – private) of the country. The graduates of the TSC are awarded the academic degrees (BA, MA, PhD, DM), like those of the big universities.
All the Georgian public universities have developed a new structure and completelynew curricula since 2004. There is 3 cycle structure in the majority of Georgian HEIs including TSC: 4+2+3. Consequently TSC runs the Bachelor, Master and Doctorate programs. The V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire (TSC) offers classical music specializations (since 1917) including musicology; It should also be mentioned that TSC also offers 5 BA programs (performing arts – all specialties, jazz music, composition, music theory, “Music and Today “consisting of following specialties music technology, music journalism, music management); 3 MA programs(performing art – all specialties, composition, musicology ); 3 Doctorate programs (performing arts – all specialties, composition, musicological research – music theory, music history, ethnomusicology, church musicology, history and theory of performing arts). In total 465 students have been registered at TSC. 96 academic staff members have a permanent position and around 70 are invited as guest professors/teachers.
Professional music education is part of the general higher education system. Georgia joined the Bologna process in 2004 and since that time the ECTS has been implemented in all HEIs of the country including TSC. The National Qualification Framework(NQF)) system was adopted, and an internal and external QA system has been implemented. A diploma supplement has been issued in all HEIs and has been recognized by the state since 2005.
Higher Music Education falls under the Ministry of Culture and Monuments protection and gets funding from the state budget through the above mentioned ministry; although all regulations regarding the Higher Education are coming from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.
| Total number of institutions |
There are four following institutions on the higher level:
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| Total number of music students |
In total approx. 750 on BA level in the whole country, ca 200 MA level; 20 on Doctoral level.
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| Funding | The largest part of the funding (approx 90%) of Tbilisi State Conservatoire comes from the state through Ministry of Culture and Monuments protection, another part from tuition fees. Regional universities get funding by the autonomous republic state budget. |
| Curricula |
The curricula are controlled by the state, they are registered by the Ministry of Education. Studies at the institutions providing Higher Music Education are organized in both ways one-on-one as well as group.
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| Genres | classical music, classical composition, musicology, music technology, jazz music, music journalism, music management, church music. |
| 2-cycle system |
All the Georgian public universities have developed a new structure and completely new curricula since 2004.
There is a 3 cycle structure in majority of Georgian HEIs including TSC: 4+2+3 years:
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| Qualifications |
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| Entry requirements 1st cycle |
Applicants for BA studies at the Higher Music Education are obliged to go through following steps:
Those applying for performing specialties, composition and musicology have to pass exam in specialty and music theory (dictation, harmony test, music literature) at Tbilisi State Conservatoire. In case of a satisfactory grade they are allowed to continue with the next step
Those applying for BA program Music and Today (music technology, music journalism, music management) have to go through only
Prerequisite for applicants for the first cycle of the education is full general secondary education confirmed by the school leaving certificate N.B. It’s impossible to get BA student status without going through the United National Exams in Georgia since 2004. |
| Entry requirements 2nd cycle |
Applicants for MA studies at the Higher Music Education have to meet following requirements:
Those applying for performing specialties have to pass exam in specialty at HEI;
Those applying for composition and musicological studies first have to take
In the end of the process the grades obtained through National exams and the specialty exams are summarized and the priority is given to the highest grade holder candidate and according to that the applicants are sorted within the limited places.
A prerequisite for applicants for the second cycle of the education is Bachelor Degree in music.
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| % of students who continue with 2nd cycle | Approximately 90% of all the graduates of the 1st cycle will apply for the 2nd cycle. but only half (50%) will be accepted due to the limited number of places. |
| 3rd cycle |
Applicants for Doctorate studies at the Higher Music Education are obliged to take 3 exams at the HEI
TSC is the only HEI for Doctorate studies in the whole country in the field of music. In the end of the process the priority is given to the highest grade holder candidate and according to that the applicants are sorted within the limited places.
It should also be mentioned that Doctorate studies are not free at TSC.However, it is possible that TSC announces the place free of charge according to the institutional strategy. In the end of studies following qualification could be obtained: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD); and Doctor of Music (DM). |
| Credit point system |
BA – 240 ECTS
MA – 120 ECTS Doctorate – 180 ECTS |
| Internationalization |
The Conservatoire’s International Relations Department was established in 1991. Since then, the Office has been actively involved in shaping the Conservatoire’s policy on relations with foreign higher academic institutions and other international organizations. The TSC’s international strategy is to contribute to the internationalization of study process, taking advantage of ooverall international co-operation, in particular European dimension and Erasmus framework. Therefore, TSC aims:
TSC has a strong focus on international exchange and international networks. TSC is involved in the following international projects and networks: Erasmus+ credit mobility program. In 2015 TSC joined the Erasmus family and is involved in a wide range of international collaborations with the leading institutions and Music Academies of Europe; TSC holds an Erasmus PIC and since 2015 and has actively been using the different possibilities in the Erasmus program: Mobility of students and staff, research and capacity building of academic/administrative staff. TSC also has an inter-institutional cooperation beyond the Erasmus program with the 20 HEIs from Europe; Cooperation covers various activities from music performances and music making over educational training, improvement of study learning environment. |
| Quality assurance |
All programs that give qualification have been accredited at TSC since 2005. Accreditation is done by national centre of quality enhancement of Georgia. All HEIs with the state status in Georgia including TSC have established the internal/external QA evaluating system. The process is handled in the following way:
It should also be mentioned that Georgia is an affiliated member of the ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education)
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| Employability | Over 90% of graduates within the performing specialties are working on their specialty. Over the 60 % of musicologists are able to work on their specialty Most of the students are educated for the professions related to practical musicianship (orchestral musician, solo and chamber music performer, composer). Many of the students take also the 60 ECTS pedagogical Module subjects that prepare them for the music teacher’s profession. |
| Academic Year |
The academic year starts on the September 15th and ends at the middle of July. The academic year is divided into two semesters: autumn semester (ends on January 30 including exams) and spring semester (ends on July 15th including exams).
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