STUDENT LIFE

TSMU, Tbilisi and by extention Georgia will become your second home. Below are some details on ways for TSMU to help you feel at 'home, away from home'.

ACCOMMADATION

"Tbilisi Georgia," © 26 January, 2010 neiljs, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

At present there is only one available option which is renting flats (apartments).

This is due to the unavailability of the other alternative, which is hostel accommodation. This is due to its reconstruction. Hostels reflect the traditional ‘student life’ type of living. They provide meals, internet and other amenities, which are normally at cheaper rates.

There are one-room studio flats in the suburbs to much larger family sized one in the centre. These shared flats are generally more economical. One will always be able to find a flat with basic amenities such as heating, hot water and laundry service. If this isn’t already installed, you can simply negotiate for one.

Rental prices of these flats in private establishments typically ranges from $200-$500 USD per month.

Your arrangements will be made prior to your arrival to Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU), but keep in mind that you can change your accommodations to suit your preferences and wallet.

When searching for a flat, one can try the ‘Student Times’, ask a friend or for professional help, a real estate agent.

DINING

"Floating Restaurant," © 28 May 2005 ImposterVT', used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

The cost cooking meals are relatively cheap as fruits and vegetables can be sourced at locally convenient green grocers. Additionally local supermarkets are also available which facilitates for the cost of cooking to remain relatively low.

Furthermore dining out is also a good economical option. Fine dining at restaurants that serve international and local cuisine, such as Turkish, Chinese, European, Italian, just to list a few, are easily available. As well as international fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, are also near by.

If you have a special dietary requirement due to medical, religious or personal preference, all these can be catered to in Georgia.

"Tbilisi They're Everywhere," © 6 July 2008 Adam Harvey, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

STUDENT CONFERENCES

During the Academic year there are many conferences in which students can participate both passively and actively. These allow for students to express their interest and research skills while encouraging and building presentation skills. Most are students organized and the most prominent is the European Medical Students Association.

CULTURAL PROGRAMS

TSMU acknowledges that there are students from varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds, enrolled at the university. Thus the university allows both international and local students to express their talents and culture via their cultural programs. There is an annually cultural program, ‘The Riviera’ which showcases both the cultural aspects of international and Georgian students. This fosters unity not only in the foreign students’ body as well as local students.

THE VOICE OF STUDENTS

‘Samedicino Gazeti’ is TSMU’s very own newspaper. It publishes a monthly student based English publication, entitled the ‘Student Times’.

The ‘Student Times’ is the university student equivalent to a typical newspaper. It features student articles of varying genres, from poetry to recipes to latest medical research. There is also a classified ads section. One can find anything a university student might need there, from laptops to flats. It contains a comic and humor section, and a monthly student collage. Additionally, there is an address from the Dean of studies.

YOUR FOREIGN STUDENTS UNION (FSU)

The Foreign Students Union (FSU) is the current mediatory between the foreign student body and the deanery.

The FSU is comprised of both elected and non-elected representatives. The officials are responsible for:
-organizing and coordinating events within the foreign students’ body,
-facilitating the needs of the foreign students’ body,
-creating new ways to alleviate issues that affect the forign students’ body.

The president of the FSU decides based on the input of the student body the direction of the student governance and represents the student body collectively.

The FSU is also responsible for all co-curricular activities for the foreign students at the University.

WHERE WE PRAY

"Church in Tbilisi," © 18 September 2007 ritingon, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Georgia even though a pre dominantly Orthodox Christian country, is freely open society, where any one can practice his or her religion without prejudice. There is no discrimination amongst different denominations and religions. Furthermore, the law in Georgia prohibits the attempts of any religion to have substantial influence in educational institutions. As a result the University is listed as a public University.

Many major denominations and religions have established places of worship within the city. There is such freedom that these varying places of worship can be found mere meters apart from each other.

There are Catholic and Orthodox churches, Hindu temples, Muslim Masjids and Jewish synagogue. There are also religious groups within the University, which allows fellow university students of the same religion to provide support and assistance to each other.

"Mosque in Tbilisi," © July 30, 2007 George Kvizhinadzeused under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

SPORTS

Sports at the University is headed by the department of Physical Training and Sports. TSMU has a stadium with a football field as well as all round sectors. Halls for sporting activities, gymnastics and wresting, open and closed tennis courts, chess club, open basket ball, mini football and volley ball pitches.

There are official University teams as well as amateur teams for differing nationalities, faculties and courses. There is also Championship cups for football, badminton and cricket.