International Black Sea University
International Black Sea University is a private higher education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, operating five schools (Business, Law, Computer Science/Architecture, Education/Humanities, Medicine) and 80+ accredited programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, serving Georgian and international students through an MIT-partnered curriculum and 150+ exchange partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersTbilisi, Georgia
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What International Black Sea University does
International Black Sea University (IBSU) is a private higher education institution headquartered in Tbilisi, Georgia, founded in 1995. It serves Georgian domestic students — admitted via the unified national examination system under university code 064 — and international degree-seeking students via a dedicated International Relations Office. The university operates five schools (Business, Law and State Governance, Education/Humanities/Social Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture, and Medicine, the last established in 2023) and offers 80+ accredited programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, including 26+ delivered in English.
The core academic technology stack is centered on a strategic partnership with MIT's Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Through this agreement IBSU provides students and faculty unlimited access to the MIT ORBIT platform (5,000+ MIT-curated articles, 200+ interactive courses), MIT's Universal AI suite spanning AI in Business, Medicine, Technology, Management, and Media, the StartMIT accelerator program, and the Disciplined Entrepreneurship (24 Steps) methodology developed by Bill Aulet. AI-powered teaching tools such as Eship Jetpack and an ORBIT-integrated AI assistant for business plan analysis are embedded directly into entrepreneurship and business curricula. The university is a co-founder of the Global Leaders of the Entrepreneurship Educators Network (GLEEN) alongside MIT and is a member of NISPAcee and ELFA for its Law and State Governance School.
IBSU's revenue model is tuition-driven and recurring on an annual billing cadence. Domestic Georgian students pay 3,190-6,190 GEL per year (medical school at the high end; teacher training at the low end, partially state-funded), while international students pay in USD — Computer Science at $4,900/year (grants up to $1,000) and Medicine at $5,900/year (grants up to $500). Internal grants (25-50% tuition reductions) are available to top-ranked admitted students, gold medal holders, and priority applicants, retainable by maintaining a GPA above 71. Domestic fees can be split into 8 installments. Distribution is direct: Georgian students apply through the national examination system, international students apply via [email protected], and exchange students are sourced from 150+ partner universities under Erasmus+ and bilateral agreements across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Corporate partnerships (100+ memoranda for the Business School) support internships and the reported 80% graduate employment / 93% Business School employment outcomes that anchor the university's recruitment narrative. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
International Black Sea University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Black Sea University
- Legal name
- შპს შავი ზღვის საერთაშორისო უნივერსიტეტი
- Website
- https://ibsu.edu.ge
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- International Black Sea University is a private higher education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, operating five schools (Business, Law, Computer Science/Architecture, Education/Humanities, Medicine) and 80+ accredited programs across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, serving Georgian and international students through an MIT-partnered curriculum and 150+ exchange partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Black Sea University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)
Keywords
Where International Black Sea University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tbilisi
- HQ country
- Georgia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
International Black Sea University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Domestic Student Tuition: IBSU charges tuition fees to Georgian domestic students admitted through national unified examinations. Tuition varies by program, ranging from approximately 3,190 GEL to 6,190 GEL per year depending on the school and program.
- International Student Tuition: International students pay tuition in USD, with programs such as Computer Science priced at $4,900 per year with grants up to $1,000 available, and Medical programs at $5,900 per year with grants up to $500 available.
- Internal Grant-funded Tuition Reduction: Students ranked TOP 50 or TOP 51-150 in the university's admission rankings, or holders of gold medals, receive tuition reductions of 25-50% through internal grants funded by the university.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Business School - Georgian language programs (Marketing, Management, Finance, Accounting, Tourism, Economics) |
| Subscription | Annual | Business School - International student programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Computer Science and Architecture School |
| Subscription | Annual | Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School |
| Subscription | Annual | Law and Public Administration School |
| Subscription | Annual | Medicine School - Domestic students |
| Subscription | Annual | Medicine School - International students |
| Subscription | Annual | Internal Grant - TOP 50 Rank |
| Subscription | Annual | Internal Grant - TOP 51-150 Rank |
| Subscription | Annual | Internal Grant - Gold Medal Holder |
| Subscription | Annual | Internal Grant - IBSU Priority |
| Subscription | Annual | Creative Portfolio Grant (Architecture and Graphic Design) |
| Subscription | Annual | Teacher Training Program - Domestic students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
International Black Sea University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
International Black Sea University is a private higher-education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and English-language Medical Doctor programs across five schools (Business, Law and State Governance, Education/Humanities/Social Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture, and Medicine). It enrolls Georgian students via the national examination system and international students through a dedicated International Relations Office, with tuition paid annually in GEL (domestic) or USD (international) and supported by merit-based internal grants. Course delivery is on-campus in Tbilisi and supplemented by MIT digital platforms (ORBIT, Universal AI), Erasmus+ exchanges with 150+ partner universities, and 100+ corporate internship agreements.
Product overview
International Black Sea University (IBSU) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across five schools: the School of Business, School of Computer Science and Architecture, School of Law and State Governance, School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Medicine School. The university provides undergraduate (Bachelor's), graduate (Master's), and doctoral degree programs in both Georgian and English languages across disciplines including Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, Medicine, International Relations, Psychology, Journalism, and American Studies. IBSU maintains a strategic partnership with MIT providing access to entrepreneurship platforms and AI education. The institution also offers exchange programs, research centers, and professional development through its various schools and departments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MIT x IBSU: Technology and Entrepreneurship Center partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology providing access to MIT's entrepreneurship ecosystem, ORBIT platform, and startup development programs.
Products and services
- Bachelor's Programs Undergraduate degree programs across multiple disciplines including Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, International Relations, Psychology, Journalism, American Studies, English Philology, Architecture, Graphic Design, and Tourism, available in both Georgian and English languages.
- Master's Programs Graduate-level degree programs providing advanced specialized education in various academic fields, including an internationally accredited double-degree master's program in Computer Science.
- Doctorate Programs Doctoral degree programs in Education Sciences, American Studies, Business Administration, and Computer Science.
- School of Business One of the largest and most in-demand IBSU schools, offering programs in Management, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Tourism, and Economics at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels; reports a 93% graduate employment rate with 74% employed in their qualified field.
- School of Computer Science and Architecture School offering Computer Science, Architecture, and Graphic Design programs at undergraduate and graduate levels, including an internationally accredited double degree master's program.
- School of Law and State Governance School providing legal education at bachelor's and master's levels, with programs in Law and Public Administration; holds NISPAcee and ELFA memberships.
- School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School offering programs in English Philology, American Studies, International Relations, Journalism, Public Relations, Psychology, and Teacher Training.
- Medicine School Medical school offering an English-language Medical Doctor program consisting of 350 mandatory ECTS credits including integrated courses, preclinical courses, clinical courses, clinical rotation, and clinical skills training.
- Medical Doctor Program English-language Medical Doctor program consisting of 350 mandatory ECTS credits including integrated courses, preclinical courses, clinical courses, clinical rotation, and clinical skills training; tuition is ₾6,190/year for domestic students and $5,900/year for international students (grants up to $500 available).
- Teacher Training Educational Program 60-credit program preparing teachers for primary and secondary English language education, available in English at ₾2,990 per year for domestic students, with ₾2,250 funded by the state.
- International Relations and Exchange Services Services including student exchange programs (Erasmus+, bilateral agreements), international admissions, and partnerships with over 150 universities worldwide.
- University Library Library services providing approximately 18,000 printed and 2,000 digital resources, with access to scientific databases.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% graduate employment rate across all programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use International Black Sea University
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
International Black Sea University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
International Black Sea University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
44 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)coreIBSU is a strategic partner of MIT through the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. IBSU co-founded the Global Leaders of the Entrepreneurship Educators Network (GLEEN) with MIT. The partnership provides IBSU students and faculty unlimited access to MIT ORBIT platform (5,000+ articles, 200+ courses), Universal AI tools, and StartMIT acceleration program. Students can attend fully funded StartMIT programs at MIT's US campus. IBSU also incorporates MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship methodology and MIT-based certification modules into its curriculum.
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)minorErasmus+ exchange partner offering 3 student slots for autumn semester in Business School (Marketing, Management bachelor's programs).
- University of West Attica (Greece)minorErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Business Administration bachelor's).
- Varna Free University Chernorizets Hrabar (Bulgaria)minorErasmus+ partner with 2 student slots for autumn semester in Computer Science and Architecture School (Architecture bachelor's).
- University College of Enterprise and Administration in Lublin (Poland)minorErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Management bachelor's).
- West Saxon University of Applied Sciences of Zwickau (Germany)minorErasmus+ exchange partner with 2 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science and Architecture bachelor's).
- Polytechnic Institute of Bragança IPB (Portugal)minorErasmus+ and bilateral exchange partner with multiple student slots across Computer Science and Architecture School for bachelor's and full-year exchanges.
- HTW Dresden (Germany)minorErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Computer Science (Computer Science bachelor's).
- Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)minorErasmus+ partner with 4 student slots for autumn semester in Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology bachelor's).
- European Business School ISAG (Portugal)minorExchange partner for Business School and Law School (Management, Economics, Public Administration bachelor's).
- Krakow University of Economics (Poland)minorErasmus+ exchange partner with 1 student slot for Business School (Management, Marketing bachelor's).
- Akademia Mazowiecka w Płocku (Poland)minorExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, American Studies bachelor's).
- NEWTON University (Czech Republic)minorExchange partner for Business School (Management bachelor's) - 2 student slots for spring and autumn semesters.
- Open University of Cyprus (Cyprus)minorExchange partner offering 2 student slots for Business School and Computer Science School master's and bachelor's programs.
- Universidad Internacional de Canarias (Spain)minorExchange partner with 4 student slots for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology bachelor's) plus internship opportunities.
- Rzeszów University of Technology (Poland)minorExchange partner with 2 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science, Architecture bachelor's) and master's level.
- Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania)minorBilateral exchange partner across all IBSU schools for autumn semester (Law, English Philology, Psychology, Computer Science, Business, Public Administration).
- Algebra Bernays University (Croatia)minorExchange partner with 5 student slots for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science bachelor's, spring semester).
- University of Western Brittany (France)minorExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (American Studies bachelor's, autumn semester).
- Kozminski University (Poland)minorExchange partner for Business School, Computer Science School, and Law School (Management, Tourism, Law, Computer Science, Business Administration bachelor's and master's).
- Collegium Civitas (Poland)minorExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School and Business School (Management, International Relations, Journalism bachelor's).
- Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (Latvia)minorExchange partner for Business School (Economics bachelor's, 2 student slots for autumn semester).
- Yerevan Haybusak University (Armenia)minorExchange partner for Medicine School (2 student slots for Medicine program).
- Istanbul Aydın University (Turkey)minorBilateral exchange partner for Business School and Computer Science School (Computer Science, Architecture, International Relations, Management).
- University of Lodz (Poland)minorMajor bilateral exchange partner with 5 student slots across Business School, Law School, and Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (Economics, Management, Computer Science, English Philology, International Relations, Law).
- EPHEC University College (Belgium)minorExchange partner for Business School (Management, Marketing bachelor's) - both autumn and spring semester placements. Also offers summer school programs.
- Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan)minorExchange partner for Law and State Governance School (Criminal Law, International and Comparative Law, Civil and Business Law, State Law - 10 student slots for spring semester).
- Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya University (India)minorExchange partner for Business School (Psychology, Management, Journalism bachelor's).
- North American Private University (Tunisia)minorExchange partner for Business School (Management, International Relations, Journalism bachelor's and Business Administration master's).
- Metropolitan University Prague (Czech Republic)minorExchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School and Business School (English Philology, American Studies, Economics bachelor's).
- INSTITUT SUPÉRIEUR DE GESTION (France)minorExchange partner for Business School (Management bachelor's).
- Lyfe Institute (France)minorBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Tourism - International Hospitality and Restaurant Management, spring semester, 2 student slots).
- University of Groningen (Netherlands)minorBilateral exchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, International Relations).
- VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic)minorBilateral exchange partner for Business School and Computer Science School (Computer Science, Economics).
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (India)minorBilateral exchange partner for Computer Science and Architecture School (Computer Science).
- Albstadt-Sigmaringen University (Germany)minorBilateral exchange partner.
- Chung-Ang University (South Korea)minorBilateral exchange partner.
- CIELS Linguistic Mediators Higher School (Italy)minorBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Marketing, Tourism, spring semester, 2 student slots).
- Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)minorBilateral exchange partner for Business School (Economics, Finance, Management, spring semester, 2 student slots).
- University of Applied Sciences in Nysa (Poland)minorBilateral exchange partner for Education, Humanities and Social Sciences School (English Philology, spring semester).
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)minorDAAD provides exchange program opportunities for IBSU students and faculty with German universities.
- Startup Grind GeorgiaminorPartnership with Startup Grind Georgia through IBSU's Technology and Entrepreneurship Center. Provides students and aspiring entrepreneurs access to international network, inspirational events, and networking with successful entrepreneurs.
- Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee)minorIBSU's Law and State Governance School is a member of NISPAcee, which provides networking in public administration education across Central and Eastern Europe and publishes the Journal of Public Administration and Policy.
- European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)minorIBSU's Law and State Governance School is a member of ELFA (founded 1995), which coordinates legal education reform, joint programs, and publishes the European Journal of Legal Education across European law schools.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
International Black Sea University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ilia State University: Major public research university in Tbilisi offering multi-discipline bachelor/master/doctoral programs and competing with IBSU for both domestic and international students through English-language tracks.
- Caucasus University: Private Tbilisi university offering business, law, and social science programs in English; directly competes with IBSU's Schools of Business, Law, and Education/Humanities.
- University of Georgia (Tbilisi): Leading private Georgian university with comparable multi-school structure and English-language programs, directly competing with IBSU for international students and domestic tuition-paying enrollees.
- Tbilisi State University: Georgia's oldest and largest public university, competing with IBSU across the same five disciplinary schools and serving as the primary benchmark in the unified national examination rankings.
- Georgian American University (GAU): Private Tbilisi-based university with English-language programs modeled on Western curricula; directly competes with IBSU for international students seeking affordable English-language degrees in Georgia.
- European University Georgia: Private Tbilisi university delivering English-language multi-discipline programs targeting similar domestic and international student segments as IBSU.
- Free University of Tbilisi: Private research-oriented university in Tbilisi with English-language instruction and international partnerships; overlaps with IBSU in computer science, business, and social sciences.
Emerging players
- BAU International University Batumi: International branch-campus model in Georgia affiliated with Bahçeşehir University (Turkey); targets international medical and business students in the same Caucasus market as IBSU.
- Kutaisi International University (KIU): New private Georgian international university focused on STEM and medicine; an emerging international education competitor with English-language positioning similar to IBSU's.
Regional players
- Stockholm School of Economics in Riga: Regional peer in the Baltic/Caucasus corridor offering English-language business programs; listed as an IBSU bilateral exchange partner and represents comparable business-school positioning in internationalisation strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
International Black Sea University social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Black Sea University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Black Sea University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
International Black Sea University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Black Sea University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Black Sea University
What does International Black Sea University do?
International Black Sea University is a private higher-education institution in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and English-language Medical Doctor programs across five schools (Business, Law and State Governance, Education/Humanities/Social Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture, and Medicine). It enrolls Georgian students via the national examination system and international students through a dedicated International Relations Office, with tuition paid annually in GEL (domestic) or USD (international) and supported by merit-based internal grants. Course delivery is on-campus in Tbilisi and supplemented by MIT digital platforms (ORBIT, Universal AI), Erasmus+ exchanges with 150+ partner universities, and 100+ corporate internship agreements.
Is International Black Sea University a public or private company?
International Black Sea University is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was International Black Sea University founded?
International Black Sea University was founded in 1995. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is International Black Sea University based?
International Black Sea University is headquartered in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the Asia region.
How does International Black Sea University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Domestic Student Tuition is the primary driver. The others are international Student Tuition and internal Grant-funded Tuition Reduction.
Who are International Black Sea University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ilia State University, Caucasus University, University of Georgia (Tbilisi), Tbilisi State University, Georgian American University (GAU), European University Georgia and Free University of Tbilisi. Emerging players are BAU International University Batumi and Kutaisi International University (KIU). Stockholm School of Economics in Riga is listed as a regional player.
Does International Black Sea University have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Black Sea University.
What industry is International Black Sea University in?
International Black Sea University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAI, International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint), with a secondary code of EDAHAHAJ, International Business & Global Management Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.