IMCEERES Digital Programme Guide
Ilia State University
Ilia State University, located in Tbilisi, Georgia, is one of the leading higher education institutions in South Caucasus region focusing on scientific advancement and transferring top notch knowledge to facilitate societal development.
Established in 2006 as a merger of six different institutions, each having a long history and a diverse institutional profile, Ilia State University justly occupies the top position among research universities in South Caucasus (according to SCimago Institutions Rankings).
Its 4 schools (School of Arts and Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, School of Business, Technology and Education, School of Law) offer distinctive training in their respective directions and along with 30 large and small scale research institutes, centres and stations create in-depth research opportunities in social sciences, humanities, business, law, life sciences, earth sciences, and hard sciences.
ISU has secured unique position in Georgia’s educational system for its contribution to science popularization, boosting entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country and actively carrying out social responsibility projects.
With the highest competition rate for PhD programs in the nation, extensive international ties, more than 16,000 students, over 1100 highly qualified academic and research staff, and with renovated research infrastructure in several Georgia’s regions, ISU has become one of the most desirable universities to study and work for in the country.
ISU is the first university in Georgia to award diploma within Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Program.
International School of Caucasus Studies
ISU’s prestigious International School for Caucasus Studies (ISCS), headed by the prominent Georgian scholar Professor Ghia Nodia, is a leading academic centre in the growing field of Caucasus studies, where students and scholars from different countries will engage in research and teaching activities. Courses are offered in Georgian, English and Russian languages.
School of Arts and Sciences
School of Arts and Sciences, which implements International Master Program in Central and East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (CEERES), is one of the largest and oldest schools of ISU carrying out all three levels of academic programs, some of the most reputable being: Liberal Arts, Philosophy, Education, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Psychology, Sociology, European Studies, Soviet Studies, etc.
This school is particularly interesting for those who aspire to gain an insight into ongoing political, social and cultural processes in the modern world; learn history, languages and traditions of foreign countries; learn more about literature, art, theatre and music; obtain broader education in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The programs of the School of Arts and Sciences focus on maximum integration of teaching and research. The basis of achieving this ambitious but important goal, along with other contributing factors, is the internationally recognized academic staff of the faculty.
Further information can be found on the Ilia State University website.
| Name, Surname | Scientific interests / Research interests |
| Nodia, Giorgi | Nationalism; Democracy/Democratization; Georgian, Caucasian and post-Communist cases of Nationalism; Democracy and Political Development |
| Aphrasidze, Davit | Post-Soviet transformation, Democratization, Political Institutions, Foreign Policy decision making |
| Reisner, Oliver | Remembering the Soviet past in Georgia and Caucasia, History of Caucasian Studies from 18th century until today, Georgian Traces in Germany |
| Gvalia, Giorgi | Theories of International Relations, Foreign Policies of Small States, Alliances in International Relations, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Europeanization in the Post-Soviet Space, Russian Foreign Policy |
| Japaridze, Dimitri | Development Economics, Rural Development, EU Economic Integration, Global Political Economy,South Caucasus Economy |
| Phavlenishvili, Nino | Political Science/IREthnic Conflicts, Comparative Perspective, Caucasus and Central Asia, Conflict Transformation, Resolution and Peace processes |
| Blauvelt, Timothy Kevin | Russian and Soviet, and Caucasus political history, Nationality policy and Nationalism, The Establishment of Soviet Power |
| Darchiashvili, Davit | Europe-Asia Studies, Communist & Post-Communist Studies, Theory and methodology of history, Theory of international relations and security studies, Civil-military relations, Political Ideologies, Theories of Political Elites, History and Modernity of the Caucasus and Russia |
| Javakhishvili, Nino | Social and Personality Psychology, Gender Equality, Gender Based Violence. |
| Mühlfried, Florian | Politics (Egalitarianism, Citizenship), Religion (Ritual, Sacred Sites)(Mis-)trust, Migration, FoodMethodology, Caucasus |
- Political History of the Caucasus (6 ECTS)
- Research Seminar on Stalin and Stalinism (6 ECTS)
- Democratization and Political Development in the South Caucasus (6 ECTS)
- Security and Geopolitics of the Caucasus (6 ECTS)
- Energy and Economics of the Transition in the South Caucasus (6 ECTS)
- Ethnic Conflicts in Comparative Perspective: The Caucasus and Central Asia (6 ECTS)
- Foreign Policies of the States of the South Caucasus: Comparative Perspective (6 ECTS)
- Attitudes to Others in Georgia (6 ECTS)
- Remembering the Soviet Past in Georgia: Between Memory and History. An Introduction into Interdisciplinary Memory Studies (6 ECTS)
- Forms & Consequences of Europeanisation in the Caucasus: Introduction to the Concept and its Application (6 ECTS)
- Internship (6 ECTS)
- Citizenship from Below in Post-Soviet Societies (6 ECTS)
- Introduction to Mountain Cultures of the Caucasus (6 ECTS)
Language options:
- Russian and Georgian (6 ECTS): language of instruction is English
Prof. Ghia Nodia, Full Professor, Head of the CEERES programme: ghian@iliauni.edu.ge
Mr. Zviad Zalikiani, Quality Assurance Manager/Local coordinator of the CEERES programme: zviad.zalikiani@iliauni.edu.ge
An exact date will be announced in August, before the beginning of the academic year.
Before arrival, students are supposed to complete an online registration form (sent by ISU in June/July) and upload the documents listed below:
- International Passport
- Photo 3×4
- Diploma(s) and Diploma supplement;
- Transcript of Records from UoG, UT;
- Certificate of Student Status/Enrollment Letter from UoG;
- Student Agreement (signed).
Once you submit an online application form, we will translate and notarize your documents on your behalf. After processing the documents, you will get a short note on how to register on the Ilia Argus system for year 2 of your studies.
Please be aware of any visa costs prior to travel.
For detailed information (Visa, housing and services) please visit our website at: https://iliauni.edu.ge/en/international/student-life-services
Page last updated: 15.01.2024
